Customer Reviews

Doll Domination

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The Pussycat Doll's second album, 'Doll Domination', is a decent follw-up album. I don't think it really lives up to the hype or even the title, though. With a title like 'Doll Domination' I expect each track to be really good, radio friendly and just mind blowingly good. Yet, some tracks are just okay while others come off as nothing more than a purr and are timid.

The Good: PCD is at their best on songs where they are singing something upbeat and being a bit provocative. Some of the best tracks on the album are 'Magic', 'Elevator', 'Whatchamacallit' and 'When I Grow Up' because they're fun and dance/pop orientated and very entertaining. I enjoyed these songs because they weren't what you hear on the radio and have the same production of some of the group's best songs from their previous release.

The Bad: There are a few things that kept this from being a five-star release. First, yet again we're faced with Nicole (the lead doll) pretty much being featured throughout the album. I can only hear and pick out her voice on most tracks. This was something of a let down because on the special edition, we are treated to the other members of the group having songs they're featured on and, to no one's surprise, they can sing as well! Yet, this CD is more 'Nicole Scherzinger feat. The Pussycat Dolls' than anything else. This probably contributes to some songs simply not standing out from the others. Second complaint is that while the slow songs are okay, on this album, they simply sound like B-side tracks. There was something off about the production and that excitement and edge captured in the upbeat songs are just lost when the tempo is slowed. Every song isn't good. Probably, I'd say this is an average dance/pop album and not all the songs vibe and go well together. There was more than one or two tracks that sounded like B-sides to me with a lack of spirit and effort.

In all, it's a good album, but could be better. I enjoyed the dance and up-beat tracks, would have appreciated hearing some other voices featured on the songs, but otherwise, better than a lot of other CDs released in this genre. Check it out.

To those who are reading these comments, note that this type of music isn't for everyone. If you are curious why their music sounds this way I suggest you first take some time to do a little research. This album is very catchy and fun, meant to be fresh and young. I believe someone further down the comment list will tell you that in the song, "When I Grow Up" the word "boobies" is brought up in the song. This is false information, she says "groupies". Other than that I found the album interesting, some songs seemed repetitive, but there were variences in style as well like the song "In Person" Coming from this source, and album with this many tracks is a deal at $2.99. I would recommend it if your a fan, and if you want some light hearted poppy cool music.

This is in my opinion a very good album. I bought it because of 'out of this club' but there are other great songs-the mid tempo stuff that will make great singles too. Reminds me of some nice songs by Atomic Kitten.
Great album!

I really love this CD. The dance tracks are on fire and the slower songs bring it. It's all amazing. They surprised me with this CD. The first PCD CD was ok. It has a couple of awesome songs but not all together amazing, but they have definitely grown with this CD.

Everyone hates on them because they all think they are a bunch of sluts who think they can sing. But I think they are really good. You can hate on them, but listen to the songs. They are really good!

My Favorites :

When I Grow Up, Bottle Pop, Whatcha Think About That, I Hate This Part, Takin' Over the World, Out of this Club, and Halo.

Bottom Line : Look past the outfits and the slut image everyone places on them, and focus on the songs, which are bangin! :D

`Doll Domination' was certainly worth the wait. The dolls delivered all of their tracks real well. I feel they were really well put together and had a good production as well as great writing (i.e. I'm Done, I Hate this Part, Happily Never After & Elevator). It was a sort of disappointment to find some of Nicole's failed solo attempt tracks included in here, not saying the tracks are bad, but they should have re-record them at least, as they are exactly as they were off the `Her Name is Nicole' sessions. Overall the album was pretty good. In my opinion, I think they did step up from PCD, by crossing over to other types of music, such as the stirring `In Person', where they follow the steps of their official second single, "Whatcha Think About That" and their previous track "How many times, how many Lies", off their debut, in a different manner.
Most of the songs are standouts as they are pretty diverse, since they fall in the realm of a wide range of music genres. When I first gave the album a full listen I found it strikingly close to an Elevator as it goes "up and goes down, down" ranging from danceable, up-tempo, fast paced tracks to slow/deep melodious jams. I was personally waiting for this album due to the great success PCD had, I was hoping it would live up to their previous effort, and I personally think it did as `Doll Domination' captures the same or goes a bit beyond the magic the PCD album has; I see `Doll Domination' as a complement to PCD, as it gives a balance to the group between pure pop to pop, dance, hip-hop, R&B influenced numbers. Even though the album falls in a one single weakness, the R. Kelly featured track: `Out of this club' and the fact the `When I Grow Up' version included isn't the music video version featuring the dolls, but one mostly featuring Scherzinger's vocals, it doesn't really affect the rest of the record as the dolls keep it going with the up tempos such as the funky `Bottle Pop', the Timbaland produced `Magic' & ' Whatchamacallit', the sassy nod/throwback to what the Pussycat dolls originally were: `Watcha think About That', and the electrifying first single and opening track, `When I Grow Up'. We see a different side of the dolls as they also have more songs with a different feel rather than just corsets and sexy complex dance routines, as they are mellow to the ear with the highly emotive `I Hate this Part', `Hush Hush', `I'm Done' and `Halo'.
Its pretty intriguing how this album has been criticized for Nicole Scherzinger's "over presence" in it, even some refer to it as "Nicole Domination", but I feel this album incorporates and features the other dolls more than PCD did, as the dolls do more backing vocals than there were in PCD where Nicole indeed did fully "dominate" the tracks, as Melody Thornton would only would ad lib throughout a couple tracks (the dazzling singles: `Buttons' & `I Don't Need a Man'), when on the other hand, we hear the dolls in other tracks, most notably in `In Person', `Takin' Over the World', `Whatcha Think about That', `Elevator' and of course in the Deluxe version bonus disc where they all get a solo song.
To me, the dolls are dominating because there isn't anyone out there that delivers as they do with their classy, sizzling moves and unique style as well as their strenuous flawless performances; they have certainly put a great solid sophomore album, so in a sense, you could say they are sorta dominating, especially if they are doing real well around the world. This really has become one of my favorite albums of the year; it is really worth the money.

Carlos J Perez

WITH ALL THE BAD NEWS THESE DAYS WHY NOT JUST KICK BACK AND LISTEN TO A FUN ALBUM? WHO IS ANYONE TO CALL THE DOLLS"" SLUTS? ISN'T THAT JUST A BIT SEXIST? CAN'T A WOMAN WEAR SOMETHING REVEALING WITHOUT BEING LABELED A SLUT? THE PURPOSE OF THEIR MUSIC IS ENTERTAINMENT. THEY ARE NOT HERE TO CURE WORLD HUNGER. IF YOU LIKE THE ALBUM, BUY IT. IF NOT THEN DON'T BUY IT. NO ONE HAS A GUN TO YOUR HEAD FORCING YOU TO LISTEN/BUY/WATCH THE "DOLLS". AT PRESENT THERE IS A MUCH SCARIER WOMAN OUT THERE THAT MAY INFLUENCE OUR LIVES MORE THAN THE "DOLLS" EVER WILL! PCD'S ROCK!

I have been waiting for this CD for quite some time and it was well worth the wait!! It delivers and then some. Same sexy sound, great beats, awesome vocals (Nicole) all with the great melodic lyrics that has hit written all over it.

Standout tracks:

"When I Grow Up" - 1st single. Fun dance song that pretty much everyone knows.

"Bottle Pop" - WOW! I love this song. One of my favorites on this CD. Snoop is featured and does a rap at the beginning and in the middle. This will be a huge hit.

"I Hate This Part" - ONe of my other favorites on here. This has hit written all over it. A great mid-tempo that is very melodic and Nicole offers up some big vocals on this track.

"Out Of This Club" - Love this song. A great slow jam with R. Kelly (he is not very prominant on this song). You will be singing this song in no time because it is so catchy.

"Happily Never After"
"Magic"
"Halo"
"Hush Hush"

As you can see, I like most of songs on here. They are fresh, light and fun. All about the strong beats and the great melodies. Deffinitely worth the purchase. You will not be disappointed!!!

~~~~~JAC 08'

Fun CD! Good workout beats or singing-in-the-car tracks. Catchy songs might get stuck in your head, but in a good way. There are a few so-so tunes, but that is par for the course. This one stays in my CD changer.

I been waiting for new PCD material for a long time and i couldnt be happier with the album. PCD has grown so much. I actually meet the girls last nigh The Virgin Mega Store and they gave a performance. They were so nice and down to earth which is really rare.
My favorite songs
When I grow up
Bottle Pop
Watcha Think About That
Takin Over The World
Elevator (I told PCD that this was my favorite song on the album, they said it was one of theirs as well. I loves thoes girls.)
I Hate This Part
In Person

One wonders if the Pussycat Dolls wouldn't have been better served to release two separate albums rather than wait three years to release what basically amounts to two full CD's worth of music, especially if you buy the extended version with the five extra tracks.

Because aside from five tracks or so, the album is a hot mess, with the vocals and songwriting being inconsistent at best. Fans have to buy the expanded edition of the album to get the excellent dance-pop tune "Jai Ho" and the driving "Painted Windows." Aside from the hit "When I Grow Up," the girls make their way through a couple of other would-be hits ("Bottle Pop" and "I Hate This Part" try hard but can't manage to sustain a lasting hook).

Given the huge amount of assistance the Dolls got from professional cooks, like the VASTLY overrated JR Rotem, this effort should have been much better. But the girls can't sing, which puts them in a bind because they appear intent to deliver ballads as opposed to driving dance beats. When the professional cooks aren't whipping up anything good (the rap cameo by Polow The Don is beyond humiliating), none of the singles have killer hooks, the public is not buying records anymore, and the Dolls are approaching or exceeding age 30, perhaps they should take a cue from Destiny's Child: The Writing is On the Wall.