DANITY KANE: WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE [ALBUM REVIEW]....

Danity Kane strikes back with their new sophomore album Welcome to the Dollhouse, which will hit stores on March 18. The girls recorded the album in under five weeks, whilst filming the second season of Making the Band 4 with fellow label mates Day 26 and Donnie J in Miami, Florida. The new album boasts an elegant charade of breathy synth pop/electronica and R&B cuts ranging from soft rock ballads to sassy dance/pop floor grinders. It features gritty production from super talented producers Danja, Stereotypes, Bryan Michael Cox, and Seven Aurelius amongst others as well as high profile collaborations from Missy Elliott, Rick Ross and their label mates Day 26 and Donnie J. And then you have the man himself - Diddy, who annoyingly has his vocal dialogue protruding over the music/interludes here and there.

The most stunning song on the album that caught my attention is the soft rock/pop power ballad Poetry, which without a doubt would be a huge hit on mainstream radio. If there were any justice in this world and Diddy knew what was right to ensue the album has a continuity of success, I feel that this would be a great contender for the second single choice. This song could be what Beautiful was to Christina Aguilera's career, not to mention that both tracks have a similar vibe. Whilst the lead single Damaged is fun, light and catchy, it was definitely a messy choice for lead single. Matter of fact, I find it funny that their lead single is entitled Damaged when this is something Diddy has been guilty of in terms of artists and their careers - damaged goods without a doubt. Maybe, they were secretly trying to tell us something.

Ecstacy which features critically acclaimed singer Rick Ross is immaculately fierce and Lights Out has a gritty funkiness that can't be denied. Bad Girl which features Missy is an infectious dance-pop number which I enjoyed from the jump. Striptease is my second favourite alongside Poetry. The beat is nothing short of contagious. It's sexy but fresh. The roaring europop Sucka For Love is probably the most distinctive-sounding song on the album because it's very contrasting especially with its disco/electro-ed driven beat. I wasn't feeling it at first but after hearing it again, I found it rather appealing. Key to My Heart is an interesting ballad, whilst not a radio-friendly track, it's edgy but a little more subdued. Pretty Boy and 2 Of You are my least favourites. Upbeat-wise, they are hyper and feisty club stompers but not as ear engaging.

Finally, they save their most urban-sounding track for last by closing off the album with the Hip Hop heavy bound Aint Going, which features their reality castaways and label mates Day 26 and Donnie. Nice way for Diddy to introduce his future upcoming acts from the Making The Band franchise. Still, I am surprised he didn't throw Cassie up in there too! To summarise everything, Welcome To The Dollhouse is the conceived product between Britney's Blackout meets Amerie's Because I Love It. The gutsy attitude is fully magnified in their tact to introduce us to the electronic edge of their electro-pop era. And vocally, the girls really came with it. But most importantly, it was a fun sonic album that had it's shortcomings as well as it's standouts.

Rating: 3.5/5