It's going to be impossible to get through this review without comparing B*witched -- a foursome of girl singers who hail from Ireland -- to the Spice Girls, so let's just get it out of the way. Like their British predecessors, B*witched, whose debut is due in stores Tuesday, spin bubblegum pop best suited for slumber parties and pre-adolescent heartbreaks.

The group's backing music attempts to blend traditional Celtic folk music with modern synth sounds. Unfortunately, the combination is no more than a gimmick, with none of the innovation achieved by musicians like Ashley MacIsaac and Loreena McKennitt.

For what it's worth, B*witched's music does its job, from the upbeat candyfluff of "C'est La Vie" and "Freak Out" to wet-pillow ballads like "Castles in the Air" and "Oh Mr. Postman." Their voices are pretty but indistinguishable -- not only from one another, but from the dozens of girl groups who have come before.

B*witched attempts to cash in on the "pop is back" trend, and blatantly so. At least the Spice Girls were marketed with distinct personalities, however manufactured they may have been.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle.