Nicole Scherzinger - Killer Love, a review

After a pretty disastrous first attempt at the solo game back in 2008, a few promotional appearances were necessary in order to keep Scherzinger in the public eye. Since the Pussycat Dolls appear to be over, or at least rivalling the Sugababes in the lineup-changes charts, it was essential that her appearances on various talent shows throughout the Western hemisphere made sure we didn't forget about her. And with the release of 'Poison' it was mission accomplished.

All Euro-pop mastery heralded by the current pop producer du jour, RedOne, the track is a gritty synth hook with sirens and alarms ensuring an assault on your ears that's not altogether unpleasant, even with some repetitive lyrics that might make Ke$ha blush - and a video with Nicole in skimpy superhero outfits certainly helped. The title track follows and it's as Eurovision as they come, all predictable lyrics over an unrelenting backdrop that's actually a little too brash to make you want to dance.

The unexpected smash follows - 'Don't Hold Your Breath' has staggered critics and propelled her to the top of the UK charts, even ahead of the Comic Relief single by the Wanted and ever-present soulstress Adele. It's a woman scorned, delving into a previous troubled relationship set to another fine electro-pop tune; the video's minimalist and suggestive sexiness a welcome change from the "Hi I'm Lady GaGa, here's my vagina" approach. There's an obvious early-2000s vibe about 'Right There', where Scherzinger suddenly adopts a Rihanna voice with Caribbean twang and rapid delivery; the song is pretty unremarkable.


Yodelling is a trend dabbled in loosely, courtesy to Gwen Stefani's notorious Wind It Up. But slow-building pianos akin to a Beyoncé vibe about the track 'You Will Be Loved', certainly pleasant enough and Nicole's voice is just about able to compete. There's an obvious "Only Girl (in the World)" rip-off with 'Wet', so blatant I could almost smell a lawsuit if it weren't likely the same unimaginative producer. The same production machine continues into 'Say Yes', a no-holds-barred plea for love that's as desperate as the music.

The sheer fact that 'Club Banger Nation' was a legitimate title suggestion says a lot about the tone aimed for here; the track is suitably catchy enough to ensure an inevitable single release (although the inclusion of the signature RedOne! at the beginning probably has something to do with that). There then follows perhaps one of the most unusual duets I could have conjured, 'Power Out' with Sting. It seems appropriate that pop's longest-enduring irritating balladeer makes an appearance - his voice as welcome as a Jihad. Sorry, I'm just using this opportunity to realise how fucking awful he actually he is.

There's an air of the Timbaland "If We Never Meet Again" tune about 'Desperate', which is just...there. The lights are dimmed in 'Everybody' where imaginative lyrics take hold ("everybody needs somebody and I need you" seems to do fine as a chorus...) and it's...just impossible to write anything interesting about. The Enrique Iglesias 'Heartbeat' single then finds its way onto the album, apparently a remix but I genuinely can't tell the difference. It's a pleasant enough tune but really gets quite boring after a while - the same can be said of my attraction to Iglesias himself.


'Casualty' is a pleasant surprise, showcasing Scherzinger's voice without the bleeps and sirens but instead an earnest uplifting tune similar to The Saturdays' underrated 'Here Standing'. The album bows out with 'AmenJena' another whispery ballad that is a decent attempt to assert the point that Nicole is a bit more than our latest RedOne whore - and it's effective. Her voice is strong but not overbearing (Leona, take note), a cute piano tune accomplishing a staggering round-off.

It's a bold album with a lot of dancing. If that's your thing.

Rating: 6/10
Highlights: Don't Hold Your Breath, AmenJena, Poison, Casualty, Say Yes, Wet
Avoid: Power's Out, Right There, Everybody, Desperate