DVD Talk Forum - New No Doubt CD

Just got No Doubt's new album and I am quite impressed!

I was very apprehensive in getting this one after being terribly disappointed by their last outing (great singles, terrible album tracks - too A/C).

The first track, Hella Good, is just about the best song they've ever recorded; it's an instantly likeable dance gem. Nellee Hooper produced this one. It's only problem is that Gwen breathes very reminiscent to Britney's I'm a Slave for You. Check this out ASAP.

All the Nellee tracks are great - especially Detective and Running (sounds like vintage Vince Clark/Depeche Mode/Yaz).

The Rick Ocasek tracks are also winners, although they have that instantly recognizable Weezer sound.

The William Orbit track, Making Out, is decent as well, although I now groan when I hear his trademark beeps and gurgles in his new material.

The biggest surprise is the Prince (billed as The Artist) track, Waiting Room. This really should be listed as a duet, since Prince has as much air time as Gwen. It's easily his best, in, well, a very long time. Surprisingly, this one has the most beats-per-minute of any tracks.

My only gripes:

1) The trademark ska No Doubt sound infused into a few of the songs really falls flat. It doesn't mix too well with electronic music.

2) Underneath It All is terrible...reminds me of Pass the Dutchie, the most overrated and irritating song of the 80's.

3) As with Music, it suffers a bit from having too many producers with distinctly different flavors. It is clearly a singles collection vs. a consistently flowing album.

Perhaps because of low expectations, Rock Steady is probably my best musical investment in several months.

- Matt C.