MUSIC REVIEW
Push and Shove
—
No Doubt
.
No Doubt, an American rock band formed in 1986, saw their prime from the 90s into the early 2000s, ranking on the top of local and international charts with hits such as “Just a Girl,” “Don’t Speak,” “Spiderwebs,” “Underneath It All,” and “Hella Good,” to name a few.
Originally aimed towards a ska-punk audience, No Doubt started experimenting with pop-rock in the 90s and the early 2000s. However, No Doubt always stayed true to their roots. The band’s 1995 album “Tragic Kingdom,” heavily dominated by a ska influence, helped spark a revival of ska music, selling 16 million copies and becoming one of the best-selling albums in history.
After the band achieved success in the 2000s with their albums “Return to Saturn” and “Rock Steady” (the former containing “Just a Girl” and the latter containing “Hella Good” and “Underneath It All”), No Doubt went on hiatus when lead singer Gwen Stefani started a solo pop career in 2004. Some questioned whether the band would ever play together again, due to each member working on other projects through the years.
No Doubt, however, proved that the band’s ties were still strong. In 2008, the band reformed and started touring again. The band also announced that they would release a new album “Push and Shove” in September of 2012. After listening to the album, I can personally say that No Doubt has done it again.
The opening song of the album is “Settle Down,” the first single for the album. The song is a great opener, with the lyrics and music video depicting the return of the band and how they “settle down” after being apart for so long. No Doubt had good reasons to pick this song as their first single; the chorus is catchy, the Jamaican-styled beat is alluring, and the “I’m a rough and tough” bridge gives the song a “fun” sing-along segment.
The second song on the album and the second single released is “Looking Hot,” one of my personal favorites from the album due to the attractive beat and memorable chorus. The song is one of the faster-paced tracks of the album, and for most of the song, Stefani asks the audience if she’s “looking hot.” Fans have responded very positively to the song, but the video was not as well-received. The video depicted Stefani as a Native American woman going to war along with No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal and a few other natives against western cowboys, portrayed by No Doubt members Adrian Young and Tom Dumont. The video was deemed offensive to members of the Native American population, due to Stefani being tied to a building by cowboys and her “inappropriate” use of the Native American ceremonial clothing. No Doubt removed the video and issued an apology on their website.
The next song on the album is “One More Summer,” an up and coming fan favorite focusing heavily on its “feel good” chorus. The song starts off slow with its opening verse about a relationship that sometimes doesn’t work out, but speeds up in the chorus. In the end, the love between the two prevails.
The titular song of the album, “Push and Shove,” is definitely the most reggae-infused song of the album and is the only song to feature guest performers: singer Busy Signal and DJ producers Major Lazer. The song perfectly displays No Doubt’s experimental side, switching between different beats and rhythms during the entirety of the song, with the verses and chorus portraying the attraction between two people who just met and want to party with each other all night. “Push and Shove” has become a favorite among critics and fans alike, with members from both sides proclaiming that the song is reminiscent of the stylized hit album “Tragic Kingdom.”
The next track, “Easy,” rarely deviates from its driving rhythm. In the song, Stefani sings about living the high life, but returning to simpler times in order to be with her loved ones. This feeling of relaxation acts as a counter to the some of the other songs on the album that promote partying. However, the song does deviate from its main rhythm, with Stefani saying in the ska-infused bridge that she had to “get the taste of greenery” for a while before lying down to “take it easy.”
“Gravity” is the sixth song and one of the most basic rock songs on the album. While most of the songs on the album tend to go in the direction of new wave, ska, and reggae infusion, “Gravity” takes a more simplistic alternative rock path with its constant guitar line and reoccurring instrumental rifts. In the song, Stefani describes her relationship as lucky due to the “gravity” the pair shares and how they can never be apart.
“Undercover” is the seventh song and the album’s other alternative song. The song maintains a constant beat throughout in terms of its instrumentals, with a slight deviation midway that detours but returns to the original beat to finish the song. Stefani sings about not being able to get into a relationship with someone due to their concealed personality. Throughout the song, Stefani pleads with the person to remove the disguise and reveal their true colors.
The next track, “Undone,” takes a more acoustic route. The basis revolves around Stefani singing softly along with an acoustic guitar. The song is about Stefani losing everything and begging for support from a loved one. The slow-paced rhythm deviates from the rest of the album and the band’s usual style, but works well with Stefani’s unique voice taking the stage.
“Sparkle,” the ninth song, has a very similar vibe to the ska guitar riffs of their early works. The song is about a couple who used to be together reminiscing about how the relationship fell apart when one of the pair started to change.
The next track, “Heaven,” is the most pop-oriented track on the album, likely inspired from Stefani’s experiences during her solo career. The song keeps a “fist-pumping” beat throughout the song and repeats the main chorus a good amount. Stefani’s lyrics describe her lover as her personal “heaven” because of the way he treats her.
The final song, “Dreaming the Same Dream,” is the most techno-oriented song on the album. In the song, Stefani asks her lover if their views on their relationship coincide or differ. The song features the most diverse instrumental section in the album, with the guitar, bass, violins, and drums all symphonizing during the interlude.
(Due to copyright issues, some of the songs linked are slightly edited; for original versions of the songs, please check out the links below by clicking the highlighted words)
The Paper Wolf 