If you like the Pussycat Dolls, or even don’t like them, you need to know about one of the former “dolls” who is now going solo with a whole new sound. No, it’s not Nicole Scherzinger, the annoying winner of last season’s Dancing With The Stars. This artist’s name is Melody Thornton, and if you don’t know who she is you will soon.

Thornton joined PCD in 2003, and was widely considered to be the group’s best vocalist, though Scherzinger always pushed her way into the spotlight took center stage. Thornton was “introduced” more prominently on the PCD track “Space” which appears on the 2008 Doll Domination album. Now Thornton has left the Pussycat Dolls and is currently working on her first solo album. Although it has not been released yet, someone has leaked a little preview of it to the world. Let’s just say Christmas came early.

“Love Gun” leaked onto the web late last week. If you listen to Thornton sing sweetly on PCD’s “Space” and then listen to her on “Love Gun” you realize this former pussy cat is now a tiger. This is 1960s revival with teeth. The best possible way to describe this track would be to imagine what you would hear upon watching the intro credits for the next James Bond movie.

Behind the headway made by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and what Janelle Monae has recently put out this is still forward thinking stuff. It takes early 1960s du-wop revivial a step further and starts to segue into mid-60s mod. Yes Amy Winehouse broke some major motown-sound ground in 2006 but I think it’s safe to say that she and Mark Ronson pretty much took the money they made on Back To Black and partied for a few years vanished off the face of the earth. (In fairness, Winehouse and Ronson are releasing a new single in November on a Quincy Jones tribute album. Expect to hear Ronson-produced Winehouse on a remake of Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party.”) Right now Thornton is picking up where they left off.

Unfortunately “Love Gun” it’s not available on itunes yet. But enjoy it below until they they take it off the web because of copyright issues.

Tags: 1960s, Amy Winehouse, Janelle Monae, Melody Thornton, music, PCD, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

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