No Doubt - Rock Steady
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Free Music Notes for Rock Steady
Free Music Review: HEY BABY! HEY BABY!- YOU HAVE A HIT!
Hit: 5 Stars
No Doubt finally hit big 6+ years ago with "Tragic Kingdom", then it took them almost 5 years to release "Return To Saturn" which did not strike chords with the American public or me.With songs one by one faltering at radio "Girlfriend", "Simple Kind of Love" and "Bathwater", Gwen Stefano went her separate ways with the band to do duets with Eve and Moby- which put Gwen Stefano in a different light with MTV and teen audiences, and both those songs became Eve and Mobys biggest hits.
The band once again went into the studio and just a year after "Return of Saturn" was released and came out with their best album EVER!.
"Rock Steady" is a funky, rappy, new wave, R&B, rock delight.
With the first single "Hey Baby" already on the Billboard Top 40 and getting high rotation video play on MTV with great response their label decided to release the album one week earlier.
No Doubt show on "Rock Steady" an absolute talent with fun and danceable music with the catchy lyrics of "Hey Baby" to "Hella Good", and "Making Out".
The band also shows a new look with the three male band members taking a complete overhaul in the makeover department, and Gwen as a more funky get down kinda girl.
The band shows a funner side with great pop music. All of the songs on this CD are very strong and could all be singles.
"Rock Steady" has grammy written all over it and shows a lighter and more upbeat side to the serious "Return To Saturn". Though "Return to Saturn" was a okay album "Rock Steady" brings No Doubt to the top reigns of the pop market.
Free Music Review: Pure ear candy
Hit: 5 Stars
I haven't been very interested in No Doubt since "Tragic Kingdom". The release of "Don't Speak" as a single ruined the band for me for several years. What once was my favorite song off the band's seminal album, radio and MTV/VH1 played the song too death. I haven't heard "Return of Saturn" but I do like what I heard. Gwen's outside contributions to songs by Moby and Eve were either horrible ("Southside") or impressive ("Let Me Blow Yer Mind"). When I first heard "Hey Baby" when it came out before the album release, I was not particularly digging the song but it was one of the band's more interesting songs ever. "Hey Baby" has a Jamaican dancehall vibe to the song fused with electronic beats. Over time I grew to love "Hey Baby". The song is as catchy as "Just a Girl" after a few listens to it. So intrigued by what I heard from "Hey Baby", I decided I needed to check out "Rock Steady". I am so glad that I picked up "Rock Steady". This is a fun party album. I particularly loved the fusing of ska and reggae with techno beats. "Hella Good" is one of the best songs on the entire album. Famed producer Nellee Hooper (Bjork, Madonna) lends his talents to the song and creates a whole new sound for No Doubt. William Orbit contributes to "Rock Steady" with the charming "Making Out". "Rock Steady" takes No Doubt back to their earlier days when they first came out. All the songs on this album is catchy and fun to listen to. "Rock Steady" has renewed my interest in the band. Definitely one of this year's top best album.
Free Music Review: Time to Party
Hit: 5 Stars
No Doubt took five years to follow up Tragic Kingdom with Return Of Saturn, but they quickly turn around a year and half later with Rock Steady. Unlike their previous two albums, which were heavily weighted with emotional based songs like "Don't Speak" and "Simple Kind Of Life", Rock Steady is a good time party record. The band moves back to their earlier days with a heavier ska/reggae sound throughout the album, eschewing most rock sounds. There are liberal doses of 80's arcade game sound effects (pinging and popping effects) sprinkled through songs. Gwen Stefani is playing up the homegirl image she put forth on the big hit "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" she had with Eve. Songs like "Hella Good", "Making Out", "Rock Steady" and the first single "Hey Baby" all find her working the sex kitten angle. "Running" is the lone ballad on the album and it is a gorgeous song and one of their strongest. Former Cars leader Ric Ocesak produces two songs on the album including the superb "Platinum Blonde Life" while the band traveled to Paisley Park Studios and recorded with the Purple One himself, Prince, on the sultry "Waiting Room". Several other producers including Sly & Robbie, Nelle Cooper and William Orbit (most famous for Madonna's Ray Of Light album) produce tracks, but the album has a uniform sound despite this hodgepodge production approach. No Doubt has become famous for their turmoils, but they finally seem to have exorcised their personal demons and are letting loose and having fun. Rock Steady isn't as good as Tragic Kingdom, but it's got a great party vibe.Free Music Review: Fun CD- great progression for a great band!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard "Hey Baby" on the radio, I was glad to hear that No Doubt was back for a new album. Like many listeners out there, though, it was only great the first one or two hundred times I heard it on the radio. But once I heard "Hella Good" I knew I had to look into buying this CD. Thanks to Amazon, I was able to listen to snippets of the whole disc before clicking on the "add to cart" button (thanks Amazon!). Once I had the full album in hand, I was highly impressed by how No Doubt has grown. They still very definitely have their ska roots in their music, but now they are experimenting with new sounds- more a combination of ska, reggae, rock, and a little rap mixed in. Some die-hard No Doubt fans claim that Gwen & Co. are selling out. I most definitely beg to differ. Many lesser bands out there only have one claim to fame, and they need to stick to the same formula to keep their fan base listening. No Doubt, comfortable with the level of fame they have achieved thus far, are not afraid to try out new sounds to evolve as a band. Their experimentation has paid off.
If you're interested in knowing what each track sounds like, click on Amazon's links to the clips- I see no point in describing each song. But my highlights in addition to Hey Baby and Hella Good are Underneath It All, Running, and Platinum Blond Life.
If you truly can't get enough of No Doubt's old sound, listen to Tragic Kingdom some more- it's a great album. But if you're interested in hearing a new direction from one of today's great bands, give this album a chance. It's a lot of fun, and none of the songs hits a sour note.
Free Music Review: In my opinion...
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard "Hey Baby" on MTV, I was skeptical. No Doubt is my favorite band and I was looking forward to this album a lot. Then I heard this song (with the Bounty Killer reggae-rap thing in it) and I was praying that NO Doubt hadn't completly changed. Let me start off by saying that Hey Baby has grown on me (except for that rap) but it definetly not the best song on this album. Here is my play-by-play of the CD:
1)Intro- This is about 25 seconds long and it is basically a very short introduction to the CD.
2)Hella Good- An amazing, upbeat song with great lyrics. My brother likes artists like Ludicris and Mystikal and he keeps coming into my room and asking me to play this song.
3) Hey Baby- Excellent song, except for the rap (have I mentioned that I hate rap?)
4) Making Out- High energy song that is instantly reconizable
5) Underneath it All- A very slow song with the other reggae-rap on this CD in it
6) Detective- A very catchy song that you can memorize quickly.
7) Don't Let Me Down- The first full-out rock song that sounds like Tragic Kindom.
8) Start the Fire- Another rock song
9) Running- A slow song all the way through
10) In My Head- A song that is different from the other songs on the album. If I had to pick this is my least favorite song on Rock Steady.
11) Platinum Blonde Life- Another rock song that never once says "Platinum Blonde Life" in it.
12) Waiting Room- Co-written by Prince this is a great song
13) Rock Steady- The title track is techno, slow and fast all at the same time.