Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination
[Polydor]

They're sassy, they're sexy and they're back! Pussycat Dolls return with 'Doll Domination' and although the group have lost a member, they've lost none of the sizzling style that makes them one of the best girl groups on the planet. The ladies' second album definitely takes a step up from their debut. This feisty effort has more of an electro-pop influence to it and veers away from the (often old sounding) R&B style that took up a lot of their first release.

'When I Grow Up' was a great single and a good song to start the album with, so I was pleasantly suprised that what followed was a trail of equally as good - if not better tracks. Numbers such as 'Bottle Pop' which features Snoop Dogg, is funky and modern, and although nothing much happens in the track it still manages to be fun and quite catchy.

'Whatcha Think About That' featuring Missy Elliott is more similar to their previous work, as is 'Out Of This Club' with R Kelly. These aren't poor songs, they just don't match the more upbeat tunes. There are lots of semi-ballads on 'Doll Domination' - by this I mean slower songs but still with an upbeat tempo. Examples are 'I Hate This Part', which would do well as a single, and 'Halo' produced by Timbaland.

'Who's gonna Love Ya' sounds very dated and is definitely the let down of the album - other than the odd contemporary beat, the music sounds as though you're back in 1990. In contrast, 'Happily Never After' is a totally different type of ballad and is a sweet little song. Vocals on this track sound a little bit like Britney, and it's nice to hear the girls sounding less aggressive.

'In Person' doesn't add much to this record, the vocals are screechy and annoying, and the music, despite being produced by Timbaland, is nothing special. The album ends with 'I'm Done' which is similar in style to 'Happily Never After' - it's another sweet number that shows off the softer side of Nicole's vocal abilities. This is the nicest piece on the album, but if you're more into dancier songs you might find it a bit soppy.

'Doll Domination' is much better than 'PCD'. It's full of funky beats but with welcome glimpses at a more gentle side to the girls. It's a mixture of Rihanna, Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls' own unique style. Not very often do you like 90% of a CD, but this is a great album and if this is only their second release, I already look forward to see what they have in store for their third.