For a group of dancers, turned singers, the first Pussycat Doll album had a surprising number of workable singles on it. Now back to prove it wasn't a one-off, 'Doll Domination' reads like a who's who's of urban pop. Darkchild, Cee-Lo, Lady Gaga and Missy Elliot are just some of the impressive names that have worked on this album.
Surprisingly it's the midtempo songs that seem to stand out. There are of course some dancefloor stompers that shine with Snoop Dogg popping up on the vocoder heavy 'Bottle Pop' and New Kids on the Block (!!) going space electro with them on 'Lights Camera Action'. Unsurprisingly nothing can compete with Timbaland's trademark clean beats and he steals the show with the hypnotic, Middle Eastern vibes of 'Magic'.
Proving that he can do the ballads just as well, old Timba has also conjured up gorgeous 2nd single "I Hate This Part". Bizarrely "inspired by Sting", according to Nicole, it's melancholic piano is haunting. Similarly 'Hush Hush' produced by label boss Ron Fair is an epic ballad promoting the Dolls as strong women who "never asked for help" from their men. Unnecessarily long with 18 tracks on the album, there must be some duffers and this falls mainly down to a disappointing R Kelly duet on the dull "Out of this Club".
Closing with a cover of "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" as a nod to their cabaret past, Doll Domination is a surprising listen. Who ever could have dreamed they would end up being queen of the ballads?
Originally published at Orange Music
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