Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape
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Music CD Cover Artist: Gwen Stefani Edition: Music CD Format: Explicit Lyrics CD Release Date: 2006-12-05 Music Label: Interscope Records Soundtracks:
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Free Music Notes for The Sweet Escape Album
Free Music Review: Escape To The Sweet World Of Pop!
Hit: 5 Stars
There are few good pop albums these days, infact it seems like the whole concept of "Pop" has been both outwatered and turbid by time. In the 70's and 80's there was clear distinguishing factor between Pop, Rock and R&B, but nowadays there is hardly any real Pop left. Just take a look at the Billboard charts where Pop-Rap, Contemporary R&B and Commercial Rock has replaced the classic Pop we know of the 80's leaving a huge vacuum behind. Thus, when a real pop album arrives which can rely on good hooks, catchy electronic beats and overwhelimingly well penned lyrics it will get my attention. Gwen Stefani made the huge transformation from a cool rock chick from No Doubt to a sexy, street smart Pop artist on her own. Although it was already apparent on No Doubt's last album "Rock Steady" that a major change was on the way it would have been impossible for Gwen to record some of the songs on her debut album "L.A.M.B" if she had still been with her band. Her debut album was perhaps the best Pop album of 2004, with strong retro Synth-Pop songs that at the same time were modern with an extravagant and flashy production. Gwen had basically archived what other pop stars wanted to do but never had the guts to do. And the result was that she suddenly had become one of the most popular and in-demand artists of the new millenium and at the same time re-create a winning formula that always worked in the past.
The Sweet Escape, her sophmore release seem to follow the same path as her debut, atleast partly. And why change a winning concept?, Gwen's debut was brlliant. For the major part this album picks up where "L.A.M.B" left off with more great uptempo songs with good sing-a-long hooks, funky synthsizer beats and a rich and modern production. All songs follow a concept, hence there are no odd numbers of Ska, Alternative Rock or Reggae here for instance but a few songs are a little diffrent with a more rock-pop edge which is good considering that most songs of her debut sounded like Electro-Pop. The production list is once again very rich of talent. Tony Kanal her ex-boyfriend and fellow bandmember of No Doubt will once again produce a large number of songs, Neptunes which only produced one on her last now are upgraded to producing 5. Other producers are Nellie Hooper, Akon, and Swizz Beats. Which actually means there are much less variety on the production side then on "L.A.M.B" where there was almost as many producers as songs. I know some people complained about it on her last album!. Another thing that is evident here also is that Gwen seems to have more impact on the songs then on her last album, Neptunes produce 5 songs here and only 1 on the last but the overall sound of "L.A.M.B" was much closer to Neptunes then anything even if they had minimal impact on the production side. Here we'll even find 1-2 Neptune songs sounding more like Gwen being in control over it. Hence, Before starting to review the songs, I'll just sum it up as the concept here is much tigher even if I liked most of the songs on the previous album aswell.
First song and single, "Wind It Up" a Neptunes production which is evident at first listen is simular to the previous song "Hollback Girl" and just like the latter it's a uptempo club song with corny but funny lyrics and absurd sound. Here we'll find a sample from "The Sound of Music" and Gwen yoddling!. This is mostly a feel good song but the lyrics deal with ther clothing line "L.A.M.B and how boys like to stare at her and her fellow girls. Second song and probably second single aswell is the title track "Sweet Escape" which is produced by Akon and was co-written between him and Gwen. And this is perhaps the best song, it's a really catchy uptempo pop song with a killer hook and feautured horns. I'm so surprised that Akon could produce this! He's far from a Pop artist, but perhaps he should chance?. It's listed as a duet, but Akon is only singing backround vocals on the hook. "Orange County Girl" is another Neptunes production but doesn't sound much like it. Orange County is the place where Gwen comes from and the song seems to deal with her "just being a ordinary Orange County girl living in extra-ordinary world" Perhaps it was strange imaging herself as a mega-popular singer 11 years ago when "Tragic Kingdom" was just released. This song is a midtempo without much of the "Neptunes sound" but defenitely a grower. "Early Winter" is excellent! it's a melancholy midtempo love song co-written between Gwen and Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane! who also plays the piano here. This song is more of a rock-pop song and one of the best songs of the whole album. Great to see Gwen releasing something like this again!. Perhaps the song deals with the hearbreak and sorrow of breakup with Tony Kanal, the song "Cool" from last album dealt with it afterall. "Now That You Got It" is a Swizz Beats production and you can tell on it's bouncy sound and it even samples police car sirenes. However, the hook is just too repetitive and perhaps my least favorite song here, even if it growns on you with time. "4 In the Morning" is a really good song. It was produced by Tony Kanal and is a midetmpo lovesong. What is good with this one is that it got a good structure, verse-hook and is also more towards the pop-rock territory.
Neptunes continues with a trademark called "Yummy" with sexy lyrics, synthesizer and drum machine sound. Pharell is credited as a guest, but just like Akon he's not singing much. The song is defenitely alright, but during the last minute it becomes instrumental with what sounds like sounds from a car or machine, little bit odd. "Flourescent" is by Tony Kanal but Angelo Moore also appears on saxophone. This is a midtempo with synth-pop sound but with limited force. It grows on you alot and is one of the better songs. It's another of those love-songs. Nepunes third song is called "Breakin It Up", it's very bouncy and Hip-Hopish and would perhaps be better suited for Gangsta Rap then Gwen Stefani Pop. During the verse it sounds like they are aping The Police song "Wrapped Around Your Finger" but I don't know if this was on purpuse. This is also one of my least favorites. "Don't Get It Twisted" is produced by Tony Kanal and it sounds like a hybrid between Electro-Pop and happy Circus Music, it's very uptempo. I don't like the hook, but otherwise it's a more then adequate addition. "U Started It" is the best Neptunes song I think. It's a midtempo with good beats and structure. Pharell sais a few words but isn't really involved much in the song. Closer is called "Wonderful Life" and is produced by Nellie Hooper and Martin Gore also appears on guitars. This song is also more Electro-Pop-Rock, if you like Depeche Mode, you may like this song. It sounds like No Doubt a little but with more electronic sound. A good closer that proves Gwen versability.
Overall, It took 12 months of 2006 before one of the years best albums came out, Other then Nelly Furtado's "Loose" no other real pop albums comes close. If you liked Gwen's last album you will also like this one, which is a little more diverse and personal then "L.A.M.B, but just as good if not better. Gwen got more control this time and will also release some songs resembling her rock past. While Madonna isn't getting younger and her music is getting more repetitive and desperate for each attempt, Gwen Stefani is only getting better and better and her music is always fresh in sound and production. If she continues like this, she'll be a serious contender for "Queen of Pop"anytime soon. This album is warmly recommended.