Fans of MTV's "Making the Band 3" have been waiting for three seasons to get P. Diddy's latest music sensation's CD. They endured the wait and drove Danity Kane's self-titled debut album to the top of the Billboard charts. A new band trampling over veterans like OutKast and Christina Aguilera becomes even more incredible considering Danity Kane had almost no media presence -- except for their reality show.
Viewers of the show watched as the girls were constantly groomed by choreographers, vocal coaches and producers who have worked with the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige. The album certainly shines from high production values.
Their first single, "Show Stopper," features predominant snapping that blends with the sultry dance song perfectly. The track also features Yung Joc (another of Diddy's artists -- one of many cameos Diddy employs). While its danceable beat will certainly be a fixture at parties, the rest of the album can stand on its own.
"Heartbreaker" competes with "Show Stopper" for dance-worthy material but truly plays to the girls' strengths by showcasing their perfect harmonizing and flawless vocal tumbles as the girls swap around lead vocals.
If their single didn't make it obvious that they feel they're worth our attention, (with lyrics like "The boys stare / we smile back... yo, we superstars"), then "Heartbreaker" certainly gets the point across: "If you think you could be mine / you buggin' / I swear / you couldn't handle it even if you were me." However, the track shines after the song break halfway through, as things lead up to a solid finish with fast beats and whispery vocals.
While the majority of the songs are R&B melodies that could put anyone in the mood for dancing, Danity Kane also makes an attempt at soulful songs. "Stay With Me" seems more Aguilera than The Pussycat Dolls and while acceptable, it doesn't make the same impact as their faster, less serious fare. With its place near the end of the album, "Stay With Me" seems more like a plea to fans to stick around lest the girls face the same short careers as former "Making the Band" bands.
Danity Kane debuts a bunch of great songs that are good because of Diddy's production, though the girls' talents manage to shine through. However, the forgettable lyrics will prevent them from posing too much of a threat to current girl-group leaders. Their solid debut gives them a chance to break the "Making the Band curse" that struck down O-Town and Da Band.
However, success also depends on whether people can stomach their horrible name. Taken from a random cartoon character drawn by Dawn (who made up the name on the spot when Diddy asked about it), the pointless moniker was one of the funnier moments of the show. Interviewers made a joke of it, and Shannon threw a fit saying, "No one knows what Hoobastank or Coldplay means!"
While that's a good point, the name stinks, though the group and their debut album definitely don't.
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