CDNOW 樂評
For their fifth album (second post-stardom), Gwen Stefani and the No Doubt
go back to their roots for a new sonic growing up: an '80s-obsessed,
island-inspired, super hi-fi fiesta.
For this, the band jetted to Jamaica, London and all points between, recording
with a gaggle of sound maestros in a handful of different styles: Rock Steady
feels like a hip-hop record, dotting from signature producer to signature
producer (Unfortunately, tracks with actual hip-hop beatmakers Dr. Dre and
the Neptunes weren't finished in time for inclusion). For the synth-heavy new
wave candy tracks "Don't Let Me Down" and "Platinum Blonde Life," Cars frontman
(and Weezer/Nada Surf hitmaker) Ric Ocasek sweetens Stefani's coo and
guitarist Tom Dumont's crunch.
Reggae legends Sly and Robbie handle the slow burners "Hey Baby" and
"Underneath it All"; relative newcomers Steely & Clevie merge analog with
dancehall on "Start the Fire," and Madonna's go-to guy William Orbit even
shares in the fun, imbuing "Making Out" with his trademark drones to go with
the band's potent disco groove.
The scattershot recording technique seems erratic for a quartet of chums
who've spent upwards of fifteen years gelling together, and most of the rock
tracks like "Hella Good" and "Platinum Blonde Life" suffer from a mix of
overproduction and lack of urgency; missing is the California garage band
vibe that was the trademark of their earlier, more energetic material.
But what Steady lacks in the consistency of Saturn's nuanced guilty pleasures
it makes up for in a number of sparkling moments -- the "Rapture"-era Blondie
fetish of "Detective," the sly dub of "Underneath it All," and the way
"Running," with its little Devo-esque keyboard chirps, is the album's
"Simple Kind of Life" moment.
Better still, there's "Waiting Room," a genius piece of chopped chaos provided
by Prince and bandaged up by the band; it's a mishmash of languid breakbeats
and digital squeals with a gospel hook so flirtatious, Prince and Stefani
steal it back and forth from each other. This, you can say, is where the
party's at.
Brad Cawn
CDNOW Contributing Writer
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