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No Doubt vocalist Gwen Stefani grabs
the solo spotlight with a can’t-miss collection that hearkens
back to the past even as it dances toward the future.
The singer says she gave her bevy
of super producers — Andre
3000, Dallas Austin, Dr. Dre, Nellee Hooper, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,
and The Neptunes — one dictate at the outset: she wanted to make
a record that reminded her of the music she loved in the ’80s.
They have responded in spades, with tracks that recall the glory days
of new wave (“Cool,” “Serious,” “What
You Waiting For?”), synth pop (“Crash,” “The
Real Thing”) and electro (“Bubble Pop Electric,” “Long
Way To Go”).
Four of the album’s dozen tracks buck the
musical formula, however, in favor of contemporary beats. Dr. Dre’s
contribution, “Rich Girl,” reunites Stefani with her “Let
Me Blow Your Mind” costar Eve and should explode at radio as
the second single. The Neptunes lend their minimalist thump to the
sassy “Hollaback Girl,” while “Luxurious” samples
the sultry hook from The Isley Brothers’ “Between The Sheets.” (Stefani
practically purrs the latter cut, her sex-kitten meter set to 11.)
Jam and Lewis add an appropriately Asian slink to the album’s
thematic cornerstone, “Harajuku Girls.”
In a savvy marketing ploy, Stefani
is pushing the set and her new fashion line (L.A.M.B.) by cross-promoting
the
titles. It’s no surprise that the singer, the only female pop
star on the scene with a credible claim to Madonna’s fashionista
crown, makes style a recurring motif in her songwriting for the album.
What is surprising, however, is that it’s not her own style that’s
celebrated but rather that of the Harajuku Girls — Tokyo’s
youthful fashion plates who effortlessly blend couture and casual in
a way that’s unique, sexy and fun.
On “Harajuku Girls,” the most direct
of the three tracks that reference these trendsetters, Stefani sings, “Putting
on a show, when you dress up in your clothes, wild hair color and cell
phones, your accessories are dead on … Harajuku Girls you got
the wicked style, I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan.” Clearly,
Stefani feels a kindred spirit.
Other subjects tackled on “Love, Angel,
Music, Baby” include her finally settled relationship with No
Doubt mate — and former lover — Tony Kanal (“After
all that we’ve been through, I know we’re cool”),
her reportedly rocky marriage to Gavin Rossdale of the band Bush, in
the wake of tabloid revelations that he has a teenage daughter (“Are
your secrets where you left them, cause now your ghosts are mine as
well”) and interracial dating — on the closing track, a
duet with Andre 3000 (“Beauty is beauty whether it’s black
or white, yellow or green baby you know what I mean, what if Picasso
only used one color?”).
There’s a lot of ground covered here and
the project could have easily become a muddle. But Stefani’s
immense gravity keeps everything tightly rotating around her. Since
she’s easily the most compelling female figure in current pop
music, that’s a very good thing.
Sound Bites
Swing Out Sister returns
with “Where
Our Love Grows” (Shanachie), a fab collection of loungy, latin
pop highlighted by Corinne Drewery’s dreamy voice and an intoxicating
Bossa Nova sheen… Tears For Fears principals Roland
Orzabal and Curt Smith bury the hatchet and reunite after 14 years to
drop “Everybody Loves A Happy Ending” (New Door/Universal).
Like their last album together, 1989’s “Seeds Of Love,” it’s
Beatles influenced and a bit complex, but certainly a rewarding listen… Shania
Twain’s 1997 blockbuster “Come On Over” was
recently certified double diamond (20 million units shipped) by the RIAA.
Already the bestselling country album of all time, “Come On Over” is
just the sixth set in history to reach this commercial milestone and
the only one recorded by a woman. Now comes the release of Twain’s “Greatest
Hits” (Mercury), a 21-track coronation that is likewise guaranteed
to rack up sales… Live AID (Warner Music Vision)
has been released as a four-DVD box set. The historic July 13, 1985 concert — broadcast
live around the world from shows at London’s Wembley Stadium and
Philly’s JFK Stadium — has been sold in pirated form for
years, which is what motivated organizer Bob Geldolf to sanction this
set. The performances are uneven, although U2 and Queen shine, and the
audio/visual transfer could be better, but nothing detracts from the
paramountcy of this once in a lifetime effort to fight hunger… Mary
J. Blige issues two new DVDs of her own. “Live From Los
Angeles” captures Blige in full R&B superstar mode performing
for 5,000 rapt fans at the L.A. Amphitheatre on her Love and Life Tour. “An
Intimate Evening: Live From The House Of Blues” strips away the
star trappings to fine affect, putting the emphasis squarely on Blige’s
evocative vocals. Guests Sting and Elton John appear for stirring duets.
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