“Diddy’s House Of Dolls” – Review Of Danity Kane’s Welcome To The Dollhouse
ALBUM REVIEWS By TSSCrew on March 26, 2008 at 11:08 amWords By Jada G.
“I can be your addiction if you want to get hooked on me…”
Danity Kane’s sophomore album Welcome To The Dollhouse opens with a wind-up melody from a little girl’s jewelry box, complete with a fairy tale from P. Diddy. Once upon a time, he became a Gippetto of sorts. He breathed life into the career of one of the greatest rappers of all-time and helped turn Mary J. Blige into a household name. But that was the 90’s, the golden era of his Bad Boy empire. In 2008, he’s perfectly crafted five beauties with adequate voices and the requisite pop and lock moves. With all their Diddy-tuning, it’s up to the ladies of Danity Kane to break out of their packaging, or become obsolete models placed on the back shelf.
Danity Kane has benefited greatly from this era’s ultimate accessory: a reality TV show. For three seasons, we have seen them plucked from small town talent competitions and thrust onto TV screens, becoming a platinum selling debut girl group. On this season of Making the Band, we witnessed a few budding romances with their labelmates. When the girls weren’t in the midst of drama or fighting to keep their hair extensions, Diddy upped the can’t-miss ante with this year’s catchphrase: “Bitchassness.” T-shirts available at a Sean Jean near you.
Diddy’s hype, ear for hit songs and image consulting have crafted an infectious pop album. Welcome To The Dollhouse boasts dance tracks that are both club and tween sleepover friendly. Although he holds the strings, the girls tugged back for fifteen tracks of female empowerment, to give them, as Aubrey puts it, “a pop international sound.” By this, she must mean a futuristic Spice Girls sound. “Pretty Boy” has an undeniable Spice Girls high-on-Ritalin feel, from the “Hey hey” chorus and girly-girl raps.
“Pretty Boy” aside, Welcome… finds the girls of Danity Kane both sexy and sweet. They give us vampy sex appeal with doe-eyed innocence, offering tracks like “Lights Out” and “Secret Place.” On the space-age sounding “Bad Girl,” the girls leave the naughtiest lyrics to guest star, Missy Elliott: ” “I could do it all night. I can flip the pretty young thing on you.” The lead single “Damaged” has already found a home on pop radio, and its colorful video is a first since Justin last waved “Bye, Bye, Bye.”
Danity Kane thrives on the understated, non-glitzy tracks. “Sucka for Love” has a melody catchy enough to hook, but gives their vocals a chance to shine without all the flash and fuss. The only ballad on Dollhouse, “Poetry,” provides enough melodrama for the entire album: “You’re hiding behind the words. I’m lost in the verbs…” The angst is more polished on the slightly staccato “Key To Your Heart”—a break up song you can dance to. The budding Danity Kane sound is a smart approach, less hand-hippy than Destiny’s Child, more refined than their competitors of the moment, Cherish.
Despite their talents, Danity Kane still must face their ultimate nemesis: obscurity. Although the girls do have vocal chops, their voices are not distinct. Out of the five members, only Dawn and Aundrea have voices that are easily identified. The Danja hands produced “Strip Tease” sounds like a Britney B-side—in fact, the first verse sounds so much like Britney you would think she left rehab long enough to make a guest appearance.
In an industry in which twentysomething popstar hopefuls are being manufactured and distributed daily, Danity Kane will have to bring more distinction to their game. It’s easy now because they’re cruising on a pop lane that’s wide open. But what will happen when the new models enter the dollhouse?
Reality shows can guarantee a spot on Billboard’s Top Ten.
But longevity? That’s sold separately.
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55 Comments
First…Finally
too bad I don’t give a **** about Danity Kane
^ Werd.
WTF?
can someone please delete this post so i don’t have to look at it all day.
Everything aint for everybody… h8ters
Good write up Jada… now lets see what you say about Day 26
Isnt this blasphemy?
It’s all good. I had to get my google blog search on the other day for this. Request from the wifey
this looks like shit.
I don’t really fuck with the R&B shit too much but you have to switch it up every now and then. I’m more into the Dudley Perkins/Georgia Anne Muldrow/Aloe Blacc type of music. I like my shit with more soul to it ya dig???
boogie tonight ain’t even remotely related to the Flinstones, but can make yo “Bed Rock!” Says:
Everything aint for everybody… h8ters
Agreed.
very well-written, it just might motivate me to give the album a listen…
anyone peep that new AZ yet?
*smh* I try not to be a hater, but they make it so hard…
Nice write-up though, Jada. Can’t hate on that.
yeah, i can’t say i’mma be checkin for DK anytime soon, but the review was solid
Danity Kane does have some fans (1x plat, anyone?). And they’re #1 this week too. Perfect timing and good post.
“I just take the I Got A Lot Of Cheese Award” – ‘Ye
Great review! I personally love the album…I havent taken it out of my cd player since i bought it. Can’t say that for many other albums… And let me say DK kinda shitted on Day 26 in my humble opinion… I need to listen to their album again tho to say for sure!
Free your mind & your ass will follow. In these quiet fuckin times, I’ll give damn near anything @ least a few spins.
Do I listen to DK? Can’t say that I do.
But I told J yesterday that this joint was so well written that I’ll @ least grab it, give it a listen & shoot it to the lady & my sister to see how they feel about it (b/c I know they’ll listen more than me).
And yeah, platinum first time out. Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don’t.
Big Daddy Ka…..????
heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, wait a gawdamn minute!
I thought TSS had a Victoria’s Secret ad up in here for a second….
nice review tho’, Jada….
http://sharebee.com/62e822ef
I just wonder how long before I can get a Ness record? And I find it hilarious that this review came from a lady. That’s assuming that Jada G. is a female. Because you know NO MAN would ever dare put this on his iPod or CD player
AC- New Soul (Prod. By Phenom & J. Glaze For Mental Instruments)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/9547900c1157a3/
dj noodles- itws dj drama and willie the kid
http://www.zshare.net/audio/957846413a57dc/
The Game feat Ya Boy, Crooked I, Jay Rock, K.Dot, Juice, Dubb & Ab Soul – Big Dreams
http://www.zshare.net/audio/95807394c4e91c/(Massive Westcoast Remix)
gotty and kareem, here’s the scan of the TriggerHappy article. i’ll email to you as well gotty so you can shoot it to Kareem in case he misss this post
http://www.zshare.net/download/9581943eb0336c/
i gotta admit that i am a DK fan. Both of the show and the albums. I know this may hurt my rep and people may not come to my gigs or site but just keepin it real…and I am still bumping the Dream’s Love Me/Hate Me.
@ the DK h8ters….
you wherent saying that about TOTAL when they where popping
King Sun, “Sippin’ Brandy”
http://rapidshare.com/files/89325221/King_Sun_-_Sippin__Brandy.mp3.html
Kind of a holy grail for vinyl collectors, on eBay right now for $200.
GET A LITTLE HIP HOP HISTORY LESSON IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF WAXPOETIC MAG
http://www.republicaupdate.com/files/waxpoetics_FlashFuriousFive.pdf
My iPod has 50 GB left. I’ll put everything on it. Just never know when that album might come in handy.
DK isn’t all that bad. Like Boogie stated, think Total, with 3 white chicks.
Title – Doggystyle
Artist – Snoop Doggy Dogg
Genre – Rap
Label – Death Row Records
Rip Date – Jan-18-2003
Tracks – 18
Rip Quality – 192kbps / 44.1kHz / Full Stereo
Playing Time – 52:27 min
Release Size – 72,3 MB
Source – CDDA
Grabber – EAC
Encoder – Lame
| 01.| Bathtub | 01:50 |
| 02.| G Funk Intro | 02:24 |
03.| Gin and Juice | 03:31 |
| 04.| Interlude 1 | 00:36 |
| 05.| Tha Shiznit | 04:04 |
| 06.| Interlude 2 | 00:37 |
| 07.| Lodi Dodi | 04:24 |
| 08.| Murder Was the Case | 03:38 |
| 09.| Serial Killa | 03:35 |
| 10.| Who Am I? | 04:06 |
| 11.| For All My Niggaz & Bitches | 04:42 |
| 12.| Aint No Fun | 04:07 |
| 13.| Interlude 3 | 00:34 |
| 14.| Doggy Dogg World | 05:05 |
| 15.| Interlude 4 | 00:44 |
| 16.| Gz and Hustlas | 03:51 |
| 17.| Interlude 5 | 00:56 |
| 18.| Pump Pump | 03:43 |
Uploaded:
http://uploaded.to/?id=7k89kr
Rapidshare:
http://s2.saug.us/folder-zecwq7i02n3uq3sescc8gf0jpdhebww.html
i aint a fan of their music but i did watch the the show whenever i was bored, mainly because every single one of these beezy’s can get it even the chubby white one
That’s a really thorough post. I like the way J finished it off. I might have to check this out. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but for the sake of the review, why not.
“Reality shows can guarantee a spot on Billboard’s Top Ten.
But longevity? That’s sold separately. “
Where’s MZ on this post? MZ… you know this is all you.
I think the Total comparison – although fairly accurate – is superfluous. Yeah, I listened to Total. But that was 10-12 years ago. I’m not really rocking Total anymore, or anything like it. I’d like to think my tastes are more refined than when I was in middle school. I probably wouldn’t hate at all if I was still 13… I just think this is like little girl music.
where the fuck is the new drama/L.A.D NOTORIOUS L.A.D gangsta grillz
upposed to drop today
anyone got a link
GUN RULE
I gave this joint a listen last week. It didn’t do anything for me. Truthfully, I only gave one of the tracks a second listen. Sounded a little too techno-ish to me. No soul.
Regardless of the numbers, I think eventually we’ll be chalking this one up as a “sophomore slump” in the quality category… but now that I think about it, the first album went platinum, I never saw more than one single from that album.
Puff is going platinum off of reality show fame. That nigga’s a genius!!!!
I’ll check this out just cause ‘Right Now’ off the last album was my sheeeeeeit.
How can Boogie call someone a hater?
@ amp
easy i just type H8ter… see comments 1 – 4
@ Boogie
I’ve seen You “hate” just as much as the next Cat…
^^^
nah i dont hate… im just not on the bandwagon like everyone else of certain artists…
like i said everything isnt for everybody…
enuff said (see comments 1 -4)
You call it what You call it, it’s the same thing…
Whenever You make comments just bashing an artist, without offering an opinion or any rational reasoning behind it, it’s hate. The pot shouldn’t be calling the kettle black.
@ Boogie…I understand your frustration..but Total’s joint started with:
“Give me all the chicken heads from Pasadena to Medina”
DK has no Frank Whizza to save them….
^^^^
no frustration at all… i never said i was a DK fan… its just a fact that comment 1 -4 just h8ted from jump without reading… cant you see…
I dont see whats all the fuss about, if you are not interested in reading about Diddy’s angels then DONT READ IT!!!
No one put a gun to your head, this isn’t a Jigsaw test for SAW V, it’s just a review of an album. Lawd
Can’t you see like Total
HAHAHAHA
DEAD @ BIGGA
LMAO….
I work in retail and have been curious about the Danity Kane
phenomena. I don’t watch Making of the Bland so I didn’t even know who Day26 was.
It’s interesting to see the variety of people who purchase this music, and find out what moved them to buy it, besides being curious about the finished product from the show.
@ Boogie:
It blew my mind that so much anger was generated by a simple review. Everyone is entitled to their opinions; but in the words of Clay Davis Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!!!!!!! Cats were acting like someone posted pics of their mama on Luke’s Freak Fest!!!
lol
i knew this would stir up the pot, which is exactly why i wrote it. ;)
i thank those who didn’t judge the book by it’s cover and actually read my words.
as the title says, they’re diddy’s dolls. the music is catchy, it’s fun, and essentially, that’s what pop always has been and always will be. and we know that in diddy’s house, no one stays for long.
“Reality shows can guarantee a spot on Billboard’s Top Ten.
But longevity? That’s sold separately.”
WOW…People are really going hard on Danity Kane…I really think that their Sophmore album is pretty good…I didn’t really listen to the 1st one {okay not at all…LOL}…BuT I think its pretty good and their gorgeous–So0o HEY!
true, but why waste your time? im mean, theres GOTTA be something else worthy of speaking on. which i think mi breddin are tryin to say.
It’s not anger. More like confusion…
It all seems so contrived. But what isn’t these days?
Ms. J.,
Your point is noted, the pop field is wide open and screaming for talent. A good business strategist know how to take ADVANTAGE of opportunities. Fabulous review.
really nice write up
Nice review as always Jada. Especially the last line where you wrote about longevity which is something that the Badboy lable is not known for. As great as a buisness man Diddy is he never pushes his artist to succeed and that really sucks.
Danity Kane might be good right now and may even have the talent to be great, but with Diddy holding the cards how far can they really go?……Well knowing his track record (112, Dream, Carl Thomas, etc..) not very far unless they change lables. Though I’m not a fan of DK I do watch the show from time to time, so it couldn’t hurt to listen to it.
I am curious to hear your thoughts on the new Gnarls Barkeley album.
I had to come to this review after reading some of the comments from “JABBA WHO?” and I must say, although not a fan of Danity Kane, I can appreciate a good write up when I see one. KUDOS to Jada for diving in and critically reviewing a group that’s rather “cookie-cutter” to the R&B/Pop music brand. Isn’t that’s what being a true music critique is all about? Great way to bring the review to a close too.
Although, I must add, not all Diddy’s artist are destined for short-term careers. If you don’t know about a cyborg named Janelle Monae, who’s recently partnered up with the BadBoy label, you betta ask somebody! Talk about a a leader who believes in the word “musical creativity” in every good sense of the word.
Don’t sleep!
this album is amazing. i listened it here: http://lavamus.com/Album/2446298/Danity_Kane/Welcome_To_The_Dollhouse/mp3/