SLEEKWAVES Music, Arts, Lifestyle & Tech

   1. "Don't Cha" (featuring Busta Rhymes) 
Since the album version of this track features Busta Rhymes, the review rating i'm going to give is going to be lower than what I would have given to it. Busta Rhymes vocals, although are a great promotion to the band puts the song down.  The song isn't really one that you can listen to all the time, and over time it becomes more and more annoying. Annoying or addictive, though? It's repetitive beat and catchy-chorus makes it a fantastic debut single too. I wouldn't, however, call it the lead single of the album. Loaded with cheeky lyrics "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" and superstar Busta, the song was sure to be a hit. And, lived up to its potential it did, when it reached no.1 in several countries worldwide. Strictly speaking it is officially the second single by the Dolls, but after the poor response to Sway it was decided by Antin [the creator of the dolls] to release this as the lead single.
 
8.5/10




   2. "Beep" (featuring Will.I.Am) 
 The contract that the Dolls signed to allowed them to collaborate with top-producers and singers, and the second track off the album is no different.
 Beautiful beat, with and fantastic smooth backing vocals "hoo"s and "huh"s. The rap parts are amazing and proved to be great sing-along material. Will.I.Am pushed the track up. We hear vocals from various band members here also, starting to get a flavour of the band. Again another cheeky track "Imma do my thing while your playing wit ya.. ha ha ha ha hahaha!" and "I don't give a... keep looking at my.."
It follows through well from the also upbeat previous track and is quite a fuse of the pop feel of Dontcha with R&B roots.

 9/10





   3. "Wait a Minute" (featuring Timbaland) 
 The album is going along in its journey and this track seems to be completely R&B. Another catchy collaboration... It seems like the girls cannot go wrong. It is hit after hit, with this album!


 9/10



   4. "Stickwitu" 
 A fantastic slow-down to the past four up-beat numbers. Emotional, in an ambigously displayed sad/happy song. The lyrics are good, and is a great play on the words stick with you. A nice vocal composition of smooth notes and a sharp, downbeat, soft background beat. One of the best songs of the album. Another hit! Fantastic!


 10/10



   5. "Buttons" 
 By this time I think we have heard 99% Nicole and 1% Melody and then backing vocals. It seems this is probably the reason why Carmit bravely quit the scene after this album. Melody's voice in this song is pure, with vocal acrobatics reminscient to big pop diva's in the US industry and we only get to hear a fraction of it in the song at the end with adlibs. Drained vocals... Nicole Scherzinger takes the word lead a step too far! The whole album dissapointingly is saturated too much by Scherzinger and by this point in the album you realise, you aren't going to hear much more of the rest of the girls even if you try.
Despite my sheer anger at this fact, I adore the song. Heavy beat, super heavy bass and a doll-rapped bridge it is a great addition to the album. Snoop Dogg eventually recorded his vocals for the released-version of the track but the albgum version does not include him. Also another hit on the album...


 9.5/10
 N.B: The lack of Melody's vocals prevented the song from being ranked 10/10





  6. "I Don't Need a Man" 
 Silky smooth, bubblegum pop smash-hit. One of my favourites from the entire collection of The Pussycat Dolls material. The album seems to have a similar beat on lots of the tracks, so no difference there. The vocals are very strong and convey emotion effectively. A song flaunting independence and self-happiness, shows a glimmer a positive example. Lyrically it isn't better than the low level of sophistication in the music industry, neither worse.. this really doesn't effect the song. I have never had mixed feelings for this track, though. Wonderful!


10/10






  7. "Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)" 
A smooth-jam, dramatic and an uptempo beat. A weak slice of pop, but there is still shimmering light within the song. It definitely gives contrasting effects. I feel a little harsh ranking it this low since the song sometimes has  a certain energy about it.. but i'm afraid it is a little messy and fails to be powerful.  Unfortunately it is not very captivating.


 5/10



   8. "How Many Times, How Many Lies" 
Unfortunately, it seems we have been voyaging to a weaker part of our journey through this album. 
 The beat is too generic and there is no unique feel to the track that makes it memorable.It seems like a continuation of the previous song, slightly better perhaps.

 6/10



   9. "Bite the Dust"
 Despite the downwards spiral of the last two tracks, this song picks up. A nice smooth, marching, slicey track. Loving Melody's finale vocals/adlibs and the bridge. Quite mysterious and unique!

  8/10



  10. "Right Now" 
 Bizzarely clusterred within this Pop/R&B oriented album is a Jazz song. Remeniscient of Michael Buble, Scherzinger's voice is showcased once again but from a new perspective. Although it seems like the track shouldn't work it does. I love the ending of the song by melody which leads perfectly into the next song.


 8/10



  11. "Tainted Love"/"Where Did Our Love Go"
 A very strong cover, sound. A continuation of the orchestral feel of the song, in a more burlesque style though. A nice light-hearted song to listen to. The opposite of generic pop, the ending section of the song bumped up its ranking as it is divine; "I've got this burning yearnin.. feeling deep inside me."


9/10



  12. "Feelin' Good" 
It has dawned on me how much the album style has changed. I appreciate the jam-packed togetherness of styles to make a true journey. Take-your-ticket to "Feelin' Good!"  Not as good as other versions of the song and not as strong as the rest of the Jazz part of the album. It is a dissapointing leap.


 6/10



  13. "Sway" [BONUS TRACK]
Shockingly Bonus! A fantastic, romantic cover of the famous song Sway. It doesn't, however compete well with other similar type songs on the market. This was also the reason that lead to an early flop, before the lead single of the album was releasd. That's probably the reason for this being included only as a Bonus track



 7.5/10



  14. "Flirt"  [BONUS TRACK]

 I can see why this is bonus, it is completely random. It is randomly positioned but would have been a nice replacement for some of the weak middle parts of the album. A general high-end pop/rock track... Seems like even potential release material



8/10

1.    "Bad Romance"

10/10

2.   "Alejandro"  

 A future classic and today's upcoming success. Funky in a 2010 sort of way: as the years progress it is the nex step for electro-pop, despite is previous rockier, more raw acoustic demos which emerged on youtube. As the words spoken "You know that I love you boy hot like mexico" are being said all the tension and attention is being drawn to an uptempo BIG chorus. "Don't Call My Name." The lyrics are above average, unlike most of the trashy words of some of today's supposed "writers" have been producing. Gaga is really talented and being able to interpret this song in any positive creative light should reflect this. Some of the level of words could however be improved.

9.5/10

 




3.  "Monster"  

I hate that the album is short because everything loaded upon it is sheer genius. Megasmashhit, at least it should be. Hard hitting heavy bass beat with a Shakira style nighclub shewold scenario in a fun happy way. A unique piece of perfection. The emotional atmosphere of this track is mysterious yet it has happiness shining within it, simultaneously. Instantaneously addictive. Beautiful smooth electric vocals.

10/10

4.  "Speechless"      

Questionable admirable use of lyrics. Meaningful song, a poweful ballad with a dnew direction for Gaga. The album track however has slightly over-powering music accmpanying her voice; her live versions are undoubtedly better. I think if she had a simple piano melody in the background with a few chords it would have been more effective and drawn attention making it an absolute killer. Nevertheless another excellent piece of work by the artiste.
Finally, back tlo the lyrical structure of the song: it does have historical reference, a classical feel but some areas seem weak. The actual significance for the song, however DOES  shows a true deepness, in plea for her father to have open-heart surgery. If the simple words allow her to allow the understanding to the wider audience whilst still conveying maximum  emotion, which it does, then it is fine. It is the reason why I didn't rate it 10, because I feel its almost there. The song brought lots of media attention and really something different in the music industry. A fabulous effort by Gaga here, with some of her best work yet.

9.5/10

5. "Dance in the Dark"     

 A wailing, cry to the dark secrets to fame/beauty martyrs. A very emotional, exciting, strong musical construction. A haunting chant, with a drowsy Fame Monster feel throughout. It does seem however that "Telephone" is a blunt change to the theme. The song is average for the album, but way above average in all of the world's music at the moment.

9/10 

6.   "Telephone" (featuring Beyoncé)     

 It does unfortunately seem like a track more suited to the Fame, my least favourite track on the album, but still really rather good! The words are very addictive, it's a solid piece of pop and Miss Knowles' appearance also adds a nice R&B/electro combination which is very different. I may have rated this a bit harshly but it's because of the contrast with the other songs. The choice for release at first startled me, but after realising its potential I understand.

8.5-9/10

7.   "So Happy I Could Die"  

 Mysterious, revealing and another wailing cry. Reminiscent of "Dance in the Dark"
I commonly overlook this track, but every listen just brings out more and more from it. Groovy, but doesn't seem as strong release material as "Telephone"(despite my thoughts on it being less favourable), "Monster", "Teeth" or "Speechless" A consistent beat, definitely the definition of the Fame Monster. With two elements: the fame being the electro part and the monster being the darker twist. It has a strong chorus and satisfying vocals. Her voice is very different and we can see that here, a breath of fresh air. Perfectly finished and polished somewhere in between uptempo and chill-out so it doesn't completey go all the way.... But it's great. 

9/10

8.  "Teeth" 

Tribal, chanting. Brings me memories of Gwen's hit "Hollaback Girl" Very unique, very strange and a great shocking twist to the end of the electronic bass filled album. It's like a work of art has been broken up and scattered and fragmented all over an old style circus/carnival, in a good way. "My Religion is you" "Need a man, man show me your fangs" "Tell me something that willl..." "Open your mouth" "Teeth Teeth" "Whoaa-aaah" are amongst the lines that are incredibly memorable. It does have massive potential, like all songs on the album. Sneaky, creepy, cheating... "Show me your teeth."

9.5/10

OVERALL:

One of the very best albums.
Fantastic, legendary.
AVERAGE SONG RATING(to the nearest half): 9.5