Umm, has anyone heard that new Gwen Stefani album?




I've tried hard to hate her but I just can't do it. There's something too cute about her, plus she collaborates with good musicians and makes perfect little candy pop gems.



edit: I just found this review. I'm somewhat discouraged to hear that this going to be a more of hip-hop flavored album .

2004's Love.Angel.Music.Baby. was intended to be a one-off vanity project by No Doubt front-woman Gwen Stefani, but popular demand prompted her to record The Sweet Escape (Interscope). On her sophomore attempt, the good news and bad news are the same: Escape keeps the hectic pace and stylistic variety of Stefani's L.A.M.B. Given the success of "Hollaback Girl," Gwen logically leans a little more towards the Hip-Hop side this time, but still touches all four corners of her musical map.

Simply put, there is way too much going on with The Sweet Escape. The lead single, "Wind It Up," is an imaginative blend of The Sound of Music's "The Lonely Goatherd" with Pharrell's signature drums and leaves just enough breathing room to not overwhelm. Things often get out of hand, though, especially on "Now That You Got It" where an exhausting Swizz Beatz track fights Gwen's directionless vocals to a standstill. Akon handles the task better on the title track, integrating the brassy horns and Caribbean rhythms of Stefani's ska roots into her current sound. The simple melody fits into Gwen's range perfectly, letting her shine as a vocalist much better than tracks like "Breakin Up" where she again strains to stand out among the busy backdrop.

The overdone dance material also does a disservice to selections like "Early Winter" and "4 In the Morning," which feel the most like No Doubt records. Tony Kanal's productions are well-executed reminders of Gwen's original appeal, but sadly, the more dense forays into Hip-Hop they’re partnered with drown them out. Stefani's vocal range is limited, but her talent with harmony and emotion shows on "U Started It," with light string arrangements that work with the singer instead of against her.

At a time when everyone is trying to be Prince, for The Sweet Escape Gwen tries to follow Madonna's footsteps instead but misses the point. While Madonna is known for integrating a wide variety of styles into her catalogue, she typically sticks to a single theme per album rather than trying to cram every impulse into each release. While it's better for Stefani to experiment as a solo artist than with her band, trying to juggle both styles may not work. The Sweet Escape has its moments, but if she has to choose, then it's time to start working on that Rock Steady follow-up.

Haven't heard it all yet, but here's an entertaining Nation review of Beyonce's latest in which the reviewer gives Sugar Mama credit for defying the odds "by delivering a collection of songs that refract the emotional and material stress of post-Katrina Southern life."

Jelly Girl done got angry-arty

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061218/brooks

Funny how Beyonce is a dozen years younger than Gwen but they're going for the same audience.

You just know Gwen wants to do a total Berlin/Missing Persons kinda rekkid but her people keep telling her to stay urban.

Dear god, that first single sucks. And I'll admit to liking The Sound of Music

Wow. That's crazy. Thanks for posting that. Wonder how it actually sounds. Very interesting though. Now if she'd just lay off wearing those dead animals I think I'd be a real fan.

<--- used to think Gwen was cool, back in the no doubt days.


<--- finds it hard to resist the urge to barf at the site of her current perfume-creating, baby-accessorizing, bling-ness.

I feel the same way, except I also have sort of a "oh, I can't stay mad at you" feeling about her too.

i haven't heard the record, but wow do i hate that cover. awful.

booo

Totally. No one is more upset that Electro Clash didn't last

But there's something there with her that makes her viable still to this day. I remember when Grunge crashed & all those undeserving OC Ska & LA Swing bands were getting gobbled up by the majors. I just knew No Doubt was the one that would last. Whereas Reel Big Fish & Save Ferris you knew had maybe 1 hit in them.

Isn't this supposed to be a collection of toss outs from her last album?

that cover makes me want to kill myself.

*puke*

If you like that, then you need this:


that is, if you don't already have it.
A solid record, through-and-through. And it still holds up surprisingly well, 16 years later.

i downloaded it to give to my sister

there was a coupla songs much better than that single - one with Depeche Mode, and a coupla other ones

its not that great though

i downloaded a couple of songs but there was nothing as good as the hits from her first album besides yummy.

I can't hate Gwen.

(and yes, I even like the first single)

Except No Doubt dissolved, and RBF is still going strong in their remained genre of skacore. No Doubt changed directions (several times) and lost out to their lead singer. So in fact, RBF has lasted with the likes of Less Than Jake.

I don't know how to feel about her. I find some of her songs catchy for about a week. Would probably not buy her album, but if it comes on a friend's ipod over their speakers, I'm not going to hurdle myself out a window.

Do you losers like the Black Eyed Peas, too?

don't.get.me.started.

That new "Fergie" song is the worst thing I've heard in years.
It's like some group of dudes were all: "let's write a song that incorporates all that has 'worked' in pop music these days."

It's got:
- The "____ -licious" thing stolen from Beyonce
- The dancers stolen from Gwen
- the word "promiscuous" stolen from Nelly Furtado
- the sleazy electro-rap feel from MIA/Peaches
- and the red and white candy theme stolen from the White Stripes
- and um, the outfits stolen from drag queens everwhere.

Paging Theodore Adorno....