With their second album, the Pussycat Dolls have grown something that was missing on their 2005 debut: a heart.

Beyond the latex, bare midriffs, breathy vocals, and sly dance routines, 2008’s Doll Domination features songs of loss and love that reflect the group’s budding maturity. While the Dolls could rather easily be dismissed as eye-catching products infused with studio enchantment and touch-ups, the burlesque troupe turned band doesn’t suffer from delusions of grandeur.

Instead, the Pussycat Dolls make fairly simple pop music for the masses.

Lead (and backing) vocalist Nicole Scherzinger has an easy, uncomplicated voice that doesn’t demand a lot of attention and cooperates well with the various filters and mechanized tricks that inculcate the music. She utilizes the breathiness of Britney Spears, but is also capable of a few surprises. The rest of the group, whoever they are, manage to fill in the few gaps behind her concisely.

The ladies work with an impressive array of producers, including Timbaland and Sean Garrett, to knock out 16 tracks of speaker-pounding dance-pop goodness. The record is fully packed, featuring a surplus of potential hit singles and highly danceable songs.

Leading off with “When I Grow Up,” Doll Domination aims to assemble the goods on a theme of maturity. Scherzinger leads the smart-alecky track through the motions, but things never really take off and the results are so-so at best. It’s one of the least appealing songs on the album.

Instead, the Dolls are at their best when emotion takes a front seat. Proving her heart with an dramatic performance, Scherzinger’s vocals on “I Hate This Part” are chilling and really, really good. Unfolding over a straightforward piano loop, her voice begins under a mass of programmed fur but quickly breaks through to a truly powerful and punchy performance. It’s the best PCD song ever.

The Ne-Yo-written “Happily Never After” continues the theme. With a tantalizing song structure, the vocals coo gently through a sweet chorus and pour through delicate verse after verse.

The Pussycat Dolls’ focus on balladry is a nice fit and nothing feels overly strained. Scherzinger handles things nicely, never overstating things and keeping the vibe silky and tender.

That’s not to say that the vivacious dance-pop that the group is known for isn’t present, of course. The Missy Elliot-spiked “Whatcha Think About That” is lippy and features resourceful vocals from Nicole. “Whatchamacallit” and “Magic” work the Timbaland set-up to full potential. And Snoop Dogg shows up on “Bottle Pop,” adding his entertaining presence to a swirling track ready for the dance floor.

Even R. Kelly gets in on the act, finally showing interest in a girl over 14 on “Out of This Club.”

Make no mistake about it, this is Nicole Scherzinger’s record and this is Nicole Scherzinger’s group. The other four are by and large transposable and have less to do here than on the debut. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Having grown up a little, it could be that the Pussycat Dolls no longer have any interest in your boyfriend, but they might still break a few hearts. Doll Domination isn’t as dominating as some of the year’s other pop efforts of course, but the group has no delusions about who they are and don’t press things too far.