NO DOUBT
Rock Steady
No Doubt continues its platinum success with ROCK STEADY, led by the undeniably
adorable Gwen Stefani. Besides being a wonderfully charismatic front woman,
Gwen's cute quotient is so high you can't help but like this band. While
the group's last release, RETURN OF SATURN was more introspective and
had a slightly more pop-oriented approach,
STEADY returns the group to their roots sound of reggae and ska, while
still mixing in a pop/rock feel. "Hey Baby", the first single,
has an irresistible sing-along charm (including a rap by Bounty Killer)
that makes it a natural for radio play. "Hella Good", possibly
the album's standout track, is a funky, danceable tune reminiscent of
peak-era Blondie. Gwen's sweet vocals shine through on the pretty "Running,"
and "Underneath It All" is a fantastic slow-tempo number that
builds with a tight horn section.
An all-star cast of producers helped to make this the fun, polished album it is. Co-producer Ric Ocasek boosts "Don't Let Me Down" with a Cars-like synth hook, and injects "Platinum Blonde Life" with a crunchy guitar riff that also sparks memories of his former band. Other star producers include Prince, Sly & Robbie, and William Orbit. ROCK STEADY's musical mix has a wide appeal, custom-made for bringing in many new fans to the No Doubt fold.
