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ROCK STEADY
No Doubt
(Universal)
Could someone please explain how and why No Doubt gained their credibility?
One good, not great, album -- Tragic Kingdom -- and then their vocalist teams up with anyone that asks?
Now you can't turn on the TV without seeing Gwen Stefani -- OK, it's not the seeing that's the annoying part -- or the rest of the group accepting and dishing out bogus music awards alongside pop stars with talents as equally arguable.
The band's latest album, Rock Steady, doesn't do much to clear up the mystery.
It features tolerable disco, funk and dance hall pop songs that are bumped up to the level of interesting thanks, for the most part, to producers such as William Orbit, Ric Ocasek, Prince, Sly & Robbie, and Nellee Hooper.
Stefani's girly-girl pout of a voice does have some character -- infinitely more than the songs themselves -- but even that gets a bit cloying by the middle of the album.
The only award No Doubt should be accepting on the strength of this album is for getting the most out of the least. (More on: No Doubt).
Track Listing
1. Rock Steady (Intro)
2. Hella Good
3. Hey Baby (featuring Bounty Killer)
4. Making Out
5. Underneath It All
6. Detective
7. Don't Let Me Down
8. Start The Fire
9. Running
10. Platinum Blonde
11. In My Head
12. Waiting Room
13. Rock Steady