Gwen Stefani’s first solo outing feels like the assortment of singles and aborted studio experiments of a long lost 80s dance diva. One that’s hugely obsessed with Japanese subcultures and having sex in cars. There are obvious nods to Madonna, Prince, New Order and random hip-hop and one hit wonder dance acts. In today’s painfully serious, but utterly ridiculous, pop landscape this still sou... read more
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On No Doubt's great Rock Steady, Gwen Stefani was a "girl that hangs with the boys... just sippin' on chamomile." Three years and a KROQ-nerd Talk Talk cover later, she presents a solo debut that wants it all--Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, backseat love and lifetime devotion, '70s pop throwbacks and hip-hopI
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On No Doubt's great Rock Steady, Gwen Stefani was a "girl that hangs with the boys... just sippin' on chamomile." Three years and a KROQ-nerd Talk Talk cover later, she presents a solo debut that wants it all--Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, backseat love and lifetime devotion, '70s pop throwbacks and hip-hop beats as well as Clash adoration (she continues to be managed by the firm of Rebel Waltz, named for a mournful Sandinista! cut). Among the standout tracks are the stomping, Neptunes-driven "Hollaback Girl," the tongue-in-cheek Eve/Dr. Dre collaboration "Rich Girl," and the girl-power manifesto "What You Waiting For?"; another tune, "The Real Thing," nods toward role-model Madonna's "Holiday." Though it can't match Rock Steady's inexorable track-by-track flow, Love, Angel, Music, Baby is such state-of-the-art pop that the description almost feels like damning it with faint praise. --Rickey Wright
"6 ~ A Song That Reminds Me Somewhere
What You Waiting For ?
It's stupid but I used to hear that song everyday in my former house. It reminds me that place."
“Gwen Stefani’s first solo outing feels like the assortment of singles and aborted studio experiments of a long lost 80s dance diva. One that’s hugely obsessed with Japanese subcultures and having sex in cars. There are obvious nods to Madonna, Prince, New Order and random hip-hop and one hit wonder dance acts. In today’s painfully serious, but utterly ridiculous, pop landscape this still sounds playful, cheeky and like a load of fun. Even if some of it just isn’t very good.
First off, “Harajuku Girls” is the worst song on the entire record. The sound effects, tweaked vocals and bordering on lesbianism fetishization of the girls just are awkward and clunky. The lyrics aren’t her best, not even on this record where heartfelt and meaningful lyrics fall by the wayside f” read more
FreakShowMusic added this to a list 3 years, 7 months ago