With the release of Rock Steady, No Doubt's fifth album, the band has left the past behind and jumped on the hip-hop bandwagon with lead singer Gwen Stefani who has appeared recently with Moby and rapper Eve.
The group's Ska influence has fallen by the wayside, giving the band the opportunity to reach a wider audience with sounds that range from Jamaican dancehall to New Wave.
The members of No Doubt traveled from Los Angeles to London and Kingston, Jamaica, to find the beats and sounds they were looking for. After working with many different producers, the band has created an album that is simple and enjoyable to listen to.
Working with different producers on each track gives Rock Steady a sound that mixes many genres. Jamaican producers Sly, Robbie, Stevie and Clevie, Nellie Hopper, William Orbit and the Eurythmic Dave Stewart each bring a different mix to the table, eclectically melding various genres and melodic styles. Even Prince shows up on track 12, "Waiting Room," a song that was made for 2000's Return to Saturn but was bagged prior to the album's release. Prince's smooth voice works well with the dancehall beats that accompany him throughout the song.
Stefani still has the ability to sing a ballad and she does so on track nine, "Running." The use of elegant keyboards and simple drumbeats - a sound that was thought to be dead when the '80s ended - has reemerged and been given new life. Track five, "Underneath It All," co-written by Dave Stewart and featuring Lady Saw, is reminiscent of earlier No Doubt.
Rock Steady has many good songs, but you always have those few songs that suck.
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Track four, "Making Out," features a repetitive beat with lyrics that are simpler and more ridiculous than anything that has come out of Pink's mouth. "Hey Baby," the first single from the new album, is reminiscent of Stefani's stint as Eve's alter ego, its only advantage is the guest appearance by dancehall great Bounty Killer.
With the exception of a few songs Rock Steady is solid album that breaks away from the Ska-soaked albums of No Doubt's past. The band may lose some fans because of the different sound, but more may be interested in the new attitude found on Rock Steady. Grab a Red Stripe and a spliff, sit down and listen to the new No Doubt.