Review - Nicole Scherzinger - Killer Love

Killer Love is the debut album from Pussycat Dolls front woman Nicole Scherzinger, and sees her take the reins as solo artist in some style. Showcasing a brand of catchy electro pop club bangers, interspersed with solid electro tinged ballads, some better than others, this is a highly accomplished set of tracks. Although some are not that great, there is plenty to love about this, and although she is a superstar in her own right, this will help her to take her place up their with the top females in the pop game.

Lead single Poison opens the album in stunning form, and is one of the best pop tracks of the last twelve months, somehow missing out on the top spot upon its release, which still stumps me to this day. Her latest single Don’t Hold Your Breath also drops early on this, and was a worthy number 1, with its punchy refrain being hugely catchy and memorable. These two tracks are sandwiched between another electro pop stormer in Killer Love, and the Rihanna tinged reggae swag of Right There. Will be Loved then follows the high standards with a dramatic and string enhanced power balled, interspersed with some crazy yodelling interludes. It is a solid and effective debut, in spite of some forgettable ballads, and a hideous song with Sting (the fact his name was anywhere near this makes it hideous, and it is the usual insipid dirge you would expect from him).

Throughout though, there are plenty of up tempo energetic club bangers, with pulsating beats, and her killer voice (no pun intended) shining throughout.

Towards the end it starts to get a little samey, and a couple of the unmemorable ballads get lost in amongst the highlights. Desperate is a mid tempo electro ballad, and a clear highlight, and the album ends on a stunning note, with AmenJena sounding beautiful, as Nicole’s vocal prowess excels, and sends the album out memorably.

Overall, a great debut collection, and something that should establish her as a player in the pop game on her own, independently from her tenure in the Pussycat Dolls. It is a well put together album, in that the mid tempo enormo ballads work and fit in well interspersed between the anthemic electro pop numbers. It works, and as I said, it comes across as slick and highly accomplished, with a solid musical foundation from a clearly tight backing band.

Considering her previously planned solo album Her Name Is Nicole got shelved, this is a reminder of the pure talent this girl possesses, and how far she will undoubtedly go in her own right.

A solid listen, in spite of a little bit of filler.

7.5/10