Danity Kane lack standout sound

After their self-titled debut garnered mixed reviews yet platinum success and a No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, rumors began circulating about Diddy proteges Danity Kane staying together for another album. Their debut had its moments and showcased the group’s vocal talent, but Danity Kane seemed to fall short of Diddy’s aspirations for them as the next En Vogue or Destiny’s Child. Regardless, the “Making the Band” survivors kept it together and put the rumors to rest with the release of their sophomore effort Welcome to the Dollhouse.

After Diddy opens the record with a self-titled spoken-word intro (a must for any Diddy or Bad Boy record), Dollhouse fires off strong with “Bad Girl” featuring Missy Elliott. “I can be your addiction if you wanna get hooked on me,” sing the girls over the song’s liquid, programmed production.

The single “Damaged” follows with a solid dance-club bounce and layered vocal harmonies. The group really shines here, as they showcase their spot-on harmonizing ability. Diddy makes yet another appearance here with more words of wisdom – equally engaging and cheesy.

Around the fifth track, the album starts to wear on the listener as the dynamics never change. The interludes tide over the listener with little variety, until the bumping R&B of “Poetry.” The strong dance-pop of “Is Anybody Listening” and hidden track “Ain’t Going” make the last section of the album worthwhile.  

Although there are several strong tracks on “Dollhouse,” the songs again seem to miss Diddy’s high aspirations for the group. These girls can sing, as they recently proved with an a cappella version of “Damaged” on MTV’s Total Request Live. And with Diddy at the helm, they’ve got enough juice backing them in the industry.

Alas, the group doesn’t have the appeal nor the standout sound of groups like En Vogue or Destiny’s Child or even the Pussycat Dolls. This is passable dance music, but none of these songs will be the hottest track in the club. After releasing such an average album, it’s hard to imagine another release from Danity Kane.