Pussycat Dolls - PCD (CD 2005)

Currently riding high in the UK singles chart with the boyfriend-baiting R&B hit Don't Cha, much has been made of The Pussycat Dolls' burlesque LA origins. Little mention, though, has been made of the slightly disappointing fact that Nicole Scherzinger is in fact the only genuine singer in the six-strong group of pretty faces (the sleeve notes state rather prominently: "ALL LEAD AND BACKGROUND VOCALS BY NICOLE SCHERZINGER", if you're in any doubt), so as girl bands go, this lot are a bit of a sham.

Still, Nicole has a powerful, slightly Shania Twain-ish voice, and she carries the majority of these spunky pop/R&B numbers without difficulty. Trouble is, once the heavyweight guest producers/rappers - namely Busta Rhymes, will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas and Timbaland - clear off, things take a dramatic turn for the worse. What we're left with, as the dust of the first few knock-em-dead singles settles, is a by-numbers ballad (the dire Stickwitu), some ropey covers (Hot Stuff, Tainted Love and even a butchered Feelin' Good), and, rather bizarrely, a camp showtune (Right Now).

My advice - don't be deceived by the singles, these pussycats wouldn't say boo to a mouse...