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No Doubt were never really a hip band, were they? Endearing and quirky, maybe, but never cool. With Gwen recently collaborating with Moby and Eve - men were probably hoping these girls blow something else - you couldn't ignore that something was afoot. Now there's the release of 'Rock Steady'. Although nothing much has changed style-wise, they are still a band who take cues from Eighties new wave and ska. Now they have ironically gone full Madonna-mode (instead of just being inspired by her on 'Don't Speak'). This is most clear in the use of William Orbit, Prince, and Nellee Hooper as producers who take them to higher levels. 'Rock Steady' is a pop record first and foremost. Sexy, fun, and full of catchy hooks. There's also dancehall. Take original Rhythm Killers Sly'n'Robbie's influence with toasting deejays on 'Hey Baby', on which Gwen celebrates partying with the gang. Here the toasting of Bounty Killer might work; on some of the other tracks - like on the downtempo 'Underneath it all' - it is superfluous. Aside from being a ska band, No Doubt always injected some new wave into their sound. The use of ex-Cars Ric Ocasek is super-effective. He injects the necessary candyfloss to sweeten songs like 'Don't Let Me Down' and 'Platinum Blonde Life'. Part tough girl, part kandy-kolored lolita, Gwen Stefani has, right from the start (with their first hit single 'Just A Girl'), addressed feminist issues. Here, it manifests itself most prominently on 'Platinum Blonde Life'. Mostly though the lyrics centre around love ('Underneath It All'), the absence of Gavin Rossdale, Mr. Grunge Lite ('Making It out'), or Stefani's insecurities ('In My Head'). So there you have it, an accessible pop record with enough hooks to reel in the audience.
http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/no-doubt/rock-steady/904/
Meer No Doubt op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/no-doubt
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