No Doubt Album: “Rock Steady [2 Song Bonus CD]”

Exposed navels, bleached blondes, three guys and a cheeky charismatic lead singer are usually the images that come to mind when describing the Southern California quartet No Doubt. Now with that, add a seasoning of Caribbean style rhythms and catchy hooks to get the band's latest offering, Rock Steady. The foursome's fifth studio longplayer is a collection of delectable island-splashed pop with dance club appeal.

Always the explorationists, the group takes a new creative step in their sound and music. Released only a year after their 2000 smash Return To Saturn, the boys and girl of No Doubt fall into no particular formulaic pattern. Rather than boring their listeners by treading the same musical ground of past hit albums, the band expands and further defines its own unique brand of So Cal ska.

Innovating instead of reduplicating, Rock Steady takes chances and experiments with new soundscapes. The album takes its cue from dancehall-reggae, hip hop and new wave, never juxtaposing but intermixing - exploring their influences in the genres like never before.

Songs indicative of this newfound exploration include the lead single, "Hey Baby," the dance numbers "Hella Good" and "Start The Fire" and the retro-pop of "Underneath It All," which harks back to the second wave ska of The Specials.

Vocally, it's still Gwen's show, but the album offers one noteworthy guest appearance. The artist once again known as Prince, a long time No Doubt collaborator who offered his services for the group's last LP and various B-sides, reappears with "Waiting Room," a tribal, funk-laced duet. On a majority of the songs, Stefani's vocals are strong and assured accentuating nicely with her band's sound.

Lyrically, the songwriting is less confessional and regret-oriented due in large part to No Doubt's decision to include new writers. You won't find a syrupy ballad in the vein of "Don't Speak" or "Simple Kind Of Life" here; the vibe of Rock Steady is contextually mid-tempo with emphasis on bass speaker approval - dealing with everything from raucous fans to the typical Stefani templates of longing love and bedazzlement. All night parties and good times seem to be the principal theme of the group's dancehall tinged melodies and upbeat subject matter.

Rock Steady, after all, is a celebration of No Doubt's influences and appreciations combined with a forward-thinking inimitability. Though inventive, their native So Cal punk origins are still visible. While other members of the ska-punk community opt for re-creation, No Doubt continually pushes the supposed limitations of the genre and gerrymanders its boundaries.

The previous review is a little bit off target. It turns out that the track listing on Amazon.com is incorrect - the bonus tracks are featured on a supplemental second disk, and the first disk contains the entire album in its original form. No tracks have been removed.

First of all, for all the incompetent morons who say they hate all the songs on this album because it just repeats the chorus over and over again and have no additional lyrics, it's because you downloaded a preview of the song! To share all the tracks on programs like AudioGalaxy and Kazaa, users simply took a 30 second preview of the chorus and repeated it for the length of about 4 minutes. These are not the full songs and try actually buying the record, before criticizing it.

1. Intro - This is just the chorus of the last track "Rock Steady."

2. Hella Good - I really liked this song before it was released to radio. It got pretty annoying then. I really like the song though. (8/10)

3. Hey Baby - This song is, in my opinion, one of No Doubt's best ever. It's a catchy, undeniably good song. (9/10)

4. Making Out - This is a good song and reminds me of classic 80s stuff. (8.5/10)

5. Underneath It All - Gwen's vocals are great on this track. It definitely has a reggae feel to it. Some of the best lyrics on Rock Steady are in this track. (7.5/10)

6. Detective - I really like this song, but the chorus is annoying. Not much new. (8/10)

7. Don't Let Me Down - One of the more poppish sounding songs, but a good one. Reminds me of hearing it at a party once. Good track. (9/10)

8. Start The Fire - I don't care too much for this one. It doesn't really flow well. (5/10)

9. Running - A lot of my friends like this one, but it's a little too contrived for me. A pop ballad. (6.5/10)

10. In My Head - This is a good song on the album. The lyrics aren't great, but the background music is. (8.5/10)

11. Platinum Blonde Life - Probably the most rock song on the album. A good job by the band. (9/10)

12. Waiting Room - Prince helped out on this one and it has an R&B flavor to it. Not a personal favorite. (7/10)

13. Rock Steady - This one grows on you and in end, is probably the record's most impressive track. (9.5/10)

For those fans who are ONLY looking for "Tragic Kingdom Part 2" should skip right past No Doubt's latest release. "Rock Steady" is the band's most experimental release to date, pushing away from a hard-core ska base onto a more radio-friendly, electronica/reggae/techno level. While listening to "Rock Steady," you can definately recognize the usual No Doubt vibe, but this album gives your ears more twists and turns that many fans of "Trapped in A Box" and "Don't Speak" will not appreciate to the max.

The album begins with an "Intro" which lays down the chorus for the title track on the album. Then, "Hella Good," one of the most catchy, energetic tracks on the album pumps through your speakers. "Hella Good" is some of No Doubt's best work to date, and its chorus remains in your head all day long. Other tracks that follow the footsteps of "Hella Good" are "Making Out," "Detective," and "In My Head."

The new single, "Hey Baby," foreshadows the new album perfectly because it mixes pop-influenced beats with R&B influenced vocals. Since Gwen teamed up with rapper Eve for the amazing track "Let Me Blow Your Mind," it shows that her musical tastes are diversifying and expanding to other musical genres. Gwen's duet with Moby, "South Side," shows her choice to dive into the electronica wave that has captured many artists such as Madonna and Janet Jackson. I have a lot of respect for bands who aren't afraid to experiment with their music to remain fresh. It is not condsidered "selling out," but an opportunity to branch out and experience new types out music while keeping an original sound as a basis. No Doubt is a perfect example of a band who can shine through many different musical tastes.

Even though the whole album is worth a complete listen, songs like the Ric Ocasek produced "Don't Let Me Down" and the title track, "Rock Steady," are incredible, along with the others I listed above. However, the best song on the album is "Waiting Room," a duet with Prince which has the whole package. Its techno-influenced beats make the track one you can dance to, and it gives Gwen the opportunity to expand her vocal range unlike ever before. Both Gwen and Prince collide together and connect perfectly on this track, and the chorus is incredibly catchy.

Once again, "Rock Steady" is simply a unique album for No Doubt that can do no wrong. The energy that the whole band holds throughout each song is unlike any of their other efforts. Even though both "Tragic Kingdom" and "Return of Saturn" are solid releases, I believe this album is the epitomy of No Doubt's best musical work to date. This style is unlike the two albums before "Tragic Kingdom," too, but it is definately talent-influenced music. If you are a No Doubt fan and OPEN-MINDED, do not be afraid. "Rock Steady" will give you everything you need to quench your "No Doubt fix" and then some. However, if you only like the band for their previous efforts, then remain thirsty and wait for the new Limp Bizkit CD.

When I first heard this album's lead single, Hey Baby, I was less than enthused about No Doubt's new direction. Then I realized that it all makes sense. No Doubt have never been the band to pin themselves on one style, and this was simply another evolution of their unique sound.

Rock Steady opens with a 27 second introduction set over a few spacey blips and fueled by Gwen Stefani's echoing voice, and moments after this ends, the thudding drum beats of Hella Good begin. The song sounds like a b-side from an 80s Madonna song, but its fusion with Tom Dumonts guitar riffs and electro fuzz surrounding every note he plays give it the originality it deserves. Very danceable song.

Next up is the reggae/hip hop/dancehall hybrid of Hey Baby, and with its infectious chorus, guest rapping and smooth keyboard sounds, you become very aware of why this was chosen as the first single; it's pure fun and pure pop. Following this blending of styles is the somewhat calmer Making Out, featuring Stefani's sing-speak alternations (speaking on the verses and singing on the chorus). The band taps Blondie here, and then adds some dance in for flavor.

Track 5, Underneath it All, is the most sedate track so far. The song has a reggae beat and some gorgeous lyrics, plus the addition of Lady Saw singing a tricky bridge.

Detective follows up the previous track and marks the band's return to Gwen's romantic issues as a trademark resource for lyrical content. The entire song is awash in synthesizers and sounds a bit dark, giving the song a moodier feeling.

The second half of the album seems better than the first, if thats possible..

Don't Let Me Down is a return to 80s new wave-pop, and it is VERY nicely done. The song sparkles and shimmers as Gwen's voice wraps itself around every synth produced buzz and poppy keyboard note played. The guitar whines right along with the other instruments, and it has a very nostalgic effect.

Start the Fire is a bit on the slow side; the song is a very sexual dancehall tune with Gwen's voice taking on a smoother sound than normal.

Running is this album's masterpiece. The song opens with a chiming keyboard lullabye which soon evolves into a spiderweb-fragile sounding guitar and Gwen's equally fragile vocal mannerisms. Gwen is backed up by a breathy version of her voice as the drums kick in and the beautiful, head over heels lyrics penetrate your heart. Eventually, the instruments become sparse and become stars with trailing tails as the vocals break up and echo, and then once again become a solid entity. The entire thing sounds like it comes from a music box.

In My Head is an odd song that sounds like a rather half hearted attempt at trying ska again, but without horns or Gwen's slicing lyrics, No Doubt can seemingly never traverse that road again. It is a good song, however, and Stefani's wail of 'IN MY HEAD, ITS ONLY IN MY HEAD!' adds a dimension of darkness to the lyrics.

Platinum Blonde Life is the album's weakest track. The guitars are a bit too jagged in comparison with the rest of the album, and Gwen's voice is far too layered. Its still not THAT bad, though.

Waiting Room is a very jumpy collaboration with Prince that sounds better than most of his recent solo work.. go figure. The beats are fast and furious and it's a very danceable song.

Rock Steady, the title track, closes this album with a purr. It features a very uncluttered instrumental section with blips and synths going off all over the place; its very calming.

This album is definetly a must have. It's a refreshing thing to see No Doubt flipping through a different end of the pop rolodex for once.