They broke unto the mainstream MTV audience with Tragic Kingdom, now No Doubt releases its third album since hitting the big time and announces it’s here to stay with Rock Steady.
This is not your pre pubescent listener’s album. Move over one hit wonders and stay in retirement Britney, the real artist and musicians are here. During the early pre Tragic Kingdom years, No Doubt fused punk and reggae and other genres to form a happy go lucky type of music; ska punk. Now it defies to be pinned under any commercialized profit genre and go back to the roots of Eric Stefani days. Don’t be stingy with the reggae, it makes ears happy. Hella Good is the first track that prepares the listener for a serious turnaround. This isn’t your grandma’s introduction...well maybe my grandma, but not your’s. I defy anybody not to feel their body connect to the rhythmic pulses of Adrian Young’s drumming, Tom Dumont and Tony Kanal’s bass and rhythm guitar skills and of course the ethereal Gwen Stefani statement of ...’’keep on dancing.’’ Then there was the single that everyone and their uncle al heard and still hears, ’’Underneath It All.’’ Fans felt sad during the Tragic Kingdom tracks: Gwen lamented over the break-up of her 8 year relationship with Tony. Now she’s happily married and in love with Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale. Who cares? The listeners because now we can be happy and carefree. One more song about a woman’s (not just any woman but specifically Gwen) need to have a man and a child and I think Garbage would have made a comback for the title of best guy band with a girl singer/songwriter. ’’Hey Baby’’ probably the only song that I only like not love. Speaks about the effect fame has towards the way people treat celebrities...’’knew your mom and went to your high school.’’ Great video, great making the video, good/ok song and Bounty Killa’s inclusion was fantabulous, best part of the song for me, someone who usually like choruses.
So when you’re looking for something to buy for your ska, reggae, punk, rock, dance listening self or friend pick up this CD. Guaranteed to make you want to boogie down, slow dance, sway, relax, or get pumped up.