Doll Domination fails to dominate

The Pussycat Dolls' sophomore album doesn't live up to the first.

By Derek Reagan

Published Sept. 25, 2008

About this time three years ago, Pussycat Dolls released their debut PCD, an extremely popular album that had mainstream success thanks to multiple singles like "Don't Cha" and "Buttons." Since its release, lead singer Nicole Scherzinger attempted to release her solo album Her Name is Nicole. That album was never released because its single, "Baby Love," had no staying power.

With their sophomore effort, Doll Domination, Pussycat Dolls aim to dominate the competition, like Danity Kane, that has sprung up in their absence. The Dolls are trying to rekindle their initial success with "When I Grow Up" and Doll Domination's other singles. But in an attempt to create singles and fuel album sales, the group made an album full of bubble gum pop music that doesn't quite have the same combination of shocking sex appeal and "it" factor of its predecessor.

With the first single, "When I Grow Up," the Dolls have created a song with sounds reminiscent of those on their first album. The siren that begins the song later builds into a very catchy beat, an anthem for the me-too generation, with lyrics that depict a youth's yearning to be famous in later life.

Immediately following "When I Grow Up," listeners are doused in the Snoop Dogg-assisted "Bottle Pop." It's another song with the potential to climb the radio charts. This is due in large part to an electro-pop beat with large helpings of synth and whistles. The song sounds oddly similar to the group's previous Snoop collaboration "Buttons" from PCD.

The Dolls follow the popular trend of looking for radio play by collaborating with larger artists in an attempt to combine fan bases. With both "Bottle Pop" and Snoop, the Pussycat Dolls look to join up with other radio legends. Further help comes in the form of Missy Elliott on "Whatcha Think About That." The bhangra-guitar filled beat doesn't quite have the power of the previous two songs, though, and it marks the beginning of a downhill turn for Doll Domination.

"I Hate This Part" is the best of the slower songs on the album. In the same vein as "Stickwitu," "I Hate This Part" is a song dedicated to relationships, this one about ending a relationship rather than sticking with one. The piano and shaker percussion mix to create a memorable beat following a larger Scherzinger vocal range than those appearing on "When I Grow Up" and "Bottle Pop."

After listening to the opening four songs you would think Doll Domination was on pace to show PCD how electro-pop music is made, but right when you come to this conclusion the rest of the album disappoints. There are four Timbaland songs ("Magic," "Halo," "In Person," and "Whatchamacallit") on the album, and (sadly) Timbaland's magic doesn't help the very forgettable songs. Doll Domination has some good songs, just not enough to dominate.