I don’t know whether to continue this article now or just to stop and save myself mental anguish, but No Doubt has just released one of the worst albums known to man. Well, I guess I can explain my accusations a little bit, considering that I took the time to listen to their new album, titled Rock Steady, hoping for something that resembles Tragic Kingdom, which was their second release. I formerly enjoyed No Doubt’s ska and rock tones back in 1997 when they were, as many people say, in their own genre. Now, times have changed and No Doubt has obviously lost touch with what they were and now believe they are Destiny’s Child. Too bad this isn’t a world where horrible and uninspired tracks, such as, a featured song on their new album,“Hella Good,” are considered the rage. For goodness sake, KROQ pulled their highly anticipated single, “Hey Baby,” because the kids were not feeling it (or in other words, requesting it). After debuting “Hey Baby,” KROQ’s morning talk show hosts Kevin and Bean were laughing and cracking jokes. All jokes aside, it seems that the record company decided that there would be no instruments at all, except for an annoying keyboard. It sounds as if they just tracked everything and let Gwen spout out catch phrases and lame redundant quips from the early 1990s.
There is little on the album that makes a person want to purchase it, even more horridlyMDsisten to it. Naming the album Rock Steady is farther from the truth, considering there isn’t a rock song to be found on the album. It seems to drag on and on with Gwen straining her vocal chords and wanting to prove to listeners that she has a diva lying inside of her. That’s nice, but the fascination with R&B infects the album with an eerie aura which makes the common suburban kid feel out of place.
Frequently, keyboards ruin whatever is semi-salvageable, and the eighties influenced Devo-like keyboards serve more for annoyance than for listening pleasure. No Doubt’s experimenting with dance was probably the worst idea ever: It not only provides for gut wrenching listening sessions; (if there is more than one) but also makes you feel mindless since the lyrics have no purpose but to make noise. Seemingly, there really is less substance to make a plead that there is actually an album on the over priced compact disc. My advice to anyone who thinks I may be exaggerating or being sarcastic is just to remember once you sell out, you sound like No Doubt.
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