Album Review: Push and Shove by No Doubt

As I've said in reviews before most artists produce their most important work at around age 24, but there are exceptions to this and Gwen Stefani of No Doubt is one of the exceptions.

She was 26 when No Doubt made their initial splash with Tragic Kingdom. It went to number one and made No Doubt a household name. In many ways that was the band's peak moment. It was their only number one album and as they moved toward pop and away from alternative with their sound they became somewhat irrelevant. In 2002 you could easily have made the argument that Gwen Stefani had in fact done like so many artists and hit her peak at around 24.

Then she put out her first solo album at 35 and that album, Love.Angel.Music.Baby, would actually be her most important contribution to the pop music scene. In 2004 she was at the fore of the 80's pop rehash that helped to drive artists like Lady Gaga to the top of the charts.

Now at 43 she and No Doubt have gotten back together after ten years and seem happy to make an album that is a combination of No Doubt and Stefani solo. Problem is they are not cutting any new ground here, the good thing is it is a solid collection of songs and quite entertaining. The energy level is there, the hooks are there, everything is just as good as it's always been with No Doubt or Gwen Stefani. Problem is it is no different than Stefani's second solo effort in that it sounds a bit played out at this point.

I realize I'm being a bit overly critical, but maybe that's because I feel these guys have more to offer than we are getting. It would be interesting to see them push the edge a bit and try to write an album that deals with life at 40, but maybe that's asking something of them that they simply aren't capable of delivering. Still it would be great if they could find that place inside themselves and make one more critically important album.

One thing I have to say about this album. If you grew up, like No Doubt did, in the 80's then it is hard not to appreciate what these guys are doing with all of their 80's influences. These guys were heavily effected by Blondie, Missing Persons, etc. and it really comes out on this album. "Looking Hot" is the best Lady Gaga song you'll never hear Lady Gaga perform. It makes me think of David Lynch.  Back in 1997 when Lynch put out Lost Highway, Pulp Fiction was still a big deal.  I've always thought that the tailgating scene in Lost Highway was Lynch's take on Tarantino's odd mix of violence and conversation.  Lynch takes the whole idea and twists it in a way that is very disturbing and takes all the cuteness and humor out of the idea.  To me "Looking Hot" is No Doubt's take on Lady Gaga's sound and personally I think they do a great job of tearing it down to expose all the 80's influences that live underneath it.  Of course they also have to put their little No Doubt stamp on it.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 2 out of 5 stars for Not Bad.



Language and Violence Warning