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 This album is nothing short of FABULOUS. Why? Well, "pop" has become a poisonous word in the industry of quality radio music ever since the emergence of Britney Spears, NSYNC, and their clones, et. al. This new album revives everything that's good about pop music: innovation, creativity, and likeability. What about oversexualized lyrics and grunts to boost album sales and hide poor musicianship? Nope (but there are a few well-placed moans)! All of that fluff is out the window with this album. Some reviews may tout this album as an extreme departure from Stefani's work with No Doubt, but I see this album as a natural progression from where she was trying to take the band, especially with the remake of "It's My Life," before it was confirmed that she was gonna see what she could do on her own. This album is full of Stefani's eclectic spirit, as each song is a nice surprise from the last. You've got your mix of semi-punk ("What You Waiting For") to mellow ("Cool") to ghetto ("Hollaback Girl") to parodic ("Rich Girl"). Don't worry. The drama that formed the basis for No Doubt's songs ("Don't Speak," "Underneath It All," etc.) is still there, highly evident in the words of the songs she's penned. This combination of fresh, upbeat, catchy music and lyrics with actual meaning makes for a terrific album out of Stefani. So, "what you waiting for"? Get it!
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After 11 or so impossible years of greatness, No Doubt and Gwen Stefani are finally finished. Although I respect No Doubt, the band, Gwen has finally screwed herself with this album, the Pepsi ads and the diva 'tude. I almost puked the third time I saw the Pepsi ad in which this teenage girl leers in awe at Gwen walking by with her friend, as if she were some idol. PUH-LEASE! The music on this CD is pretty bad, and I like Gwen Stefani too...when she's singing with No Doubt. And the obsession with the Harajuku girls IS scary. She reminds me of the freaks I took Japanese with in college. I also don't understand her obsession with West Indian music. She's really butchering it. She doesn't really understand it. Please, drop it. I don't recommend this album. It's sad to know that all great things must come to an end.
Haters, conspiracy theorists, and cynical No Doubt fanatics (myself included) can rest easy: Gwen Stefani's solo debut is a winner. LOVE ANGEL MUSIC BABY throws hip-hop, acid house, percussive pop, new wave, rap, and the kitchen sink into a blender and hits "liquefy", resulting in a whirlwind of conflicting yet complimentary musical styles. Stefani has terrific taste (musically if not fashion-wise), and LAMB features a veritable who's-who of hot pop producers, from Linda Perry and the Neptunes to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The album has an infectious try-anything atmosphere, and even the weakest tracks have something to offer. Solid, catchy, and insanely danceable, LOVE ANGEL MUSIC BABY is one of the year's must-have albums.
