"First, I would like to respond to the review by M. Goss. (scroll down or check the next page). If you are buying Gwen Stefani's album, expecting to hear No Doubt, then you are certifiably idiotic. That is the whole POINT of a solo album, to do something NEW, something DIFFERENT.
Which Gwen does with class, style, and smarts to spare. This album is very sleek, sort of like an obsidian shard. It's edgy, it's sharp, but it's pleasing to experience. She gets into her sex on this album, and to anyone not used to the dirty side of Gwen's mouth...well...get used to it. She curses, she groans, she purrs...and most importantly, she BEGS for it. It's insane.
The music accomplished just what she intended. It is all very 80's, from the sock hop on acid "Bubble Pop Electric", to the Tony Kanal produced ode to hospital raunch, "Serious".
This album is a no brainer as it is, but with the presentation, it surpasses any Limited Edition released this year. Easy.
Most limited editions give you a poster, maybe some extra tracks, but this one? It gives you a true gift. Not only do you get a hardback booklet (which contains the lyrics, and the CD), but you get a small CD wallet designed by Gwen Stefani, from her clothing line named L.A.M.B. She plugs the brand in a couple of her songs, so listen out for those as well.
Her collaborations on this disc, as well, are stellar. Eve makes a glorious Gwen-style featuring on "Rich Girl" (one of the cutest songs on the disc) and Andre 3000 shines on "Long Way To Go". The latter track is a great song telling us how stupid it is that two people in love can't be accepted if they are of different skin colors. The song is true, right on target. These days, "Jungle Fever" just isn't accepted.
Keep on preachin, Gwen...you've got the stuff."
Deluxe CD Review
Michelle | San Diego, CA USA | 11/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought the Deluxe CD today without knowing much information about it, so if anyone else is in the same situation I figured I'd let you know just what's so "Deluxe" about it.
Opposed to coming in a standard CD Jewel case, it comes in a hard-cover blue book style case (With gold foil lettering spelling out her name and the album title as well as a symbol in the corner with japanese lettering around it. That flips open with the CD on the left side and the book attached to the right side, Inside the book is a golden ribbon type thing (attached). That whole case slides inside of a thin cardboard case which has the same image as the standard CD (Much like the slipcase on certain DVDs).
In addition to that, it comes with a CD-Wallet case, The wallet is a light brownish color with various designs on it (And the Love Angel Music Baby logo on it). A red ribbon ties it together with a little metal lamb pendant attached to the middle (All together it looks like a birthday present)
Once you open it (It seals together with a velcro strip) it folds out into 3 sections. The left and middle section each have a real cool 'lambskin' print on them, the right section has the CD Sleeves (6 total), Once you flip past all 6, there is a little pocket to hold whatever you may have (Not sure what exactly). Overall, a real nice package, only downsides to it all being that its a bit of a pain to deal with the CD Wallet (Since you need to "tie" and "untie" the ribbon as well as strap/unstrap the velcro to open it, and inside it only holds 6 CD's.
Onto the CD Itself.
I really liked:
Track 1) What you waiting for
Track 2) Rich Girl
Track 3) Holla Back Girl
Track 4) Cool
Track 5) Bubble Pop Electric
Track 8) Crash
Track 11) Danger Zone
Also Liked:
Track 7) Harajuku girls
Track 9) The Real Thing
Track 12) Long Way to Go
I was a big fan of No Doubt since the early days, and I thought this was a real good CD (I rated it 5, but it's more of a 4.5 or so, I just didnt want to rate it a 4 when it deserved more).
This CD really isnt like a typical No Doubt CD though, It has one or two no-doubt's "slower" type of music on it, but overall its a pretty fast paced techno'ish CD.
Which one to buy though?
Most stores are selling the original CD for $8.99 and the special edition for $24.99. If you're a big fan, or a collector like myself, the Deluze set is nice (I just really wish it included a DVD Single of her new video), if you're not (or cant spare the extra $15), its not much you're missing out on (New CD packaging and a CD Wallet). :)"
"Excellent!!!"
Michelle | 01/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this cd about one week ago, and ever since I have been listening to this cd, non-stop! I love the songs "What You Waiting For?" & "Rich Girl". Gwen Stefani has always been one of my favorite music performers. So I thought this would be a wonderful cd,and it is. My favorite songs are #1.) What you waiting for?
#2.)Rich Girl, #4.) Cool, and #9.) The Real Thing. This is defintaly a good cd and if you are a fan of Gwen Stefani Buy this."
I Love L.A.M.B
Andrea | Bucaramanga, Colombia | 12/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No Doubt has been one of the best ska bands of the past decade and has provided many songs for everyone to enjoy. My personal fave is "ex-Girlfriend". The popularity of its lead singer Gwen Stefani has since grown and Gwen has decided to make a new album without her band, though some songs on this CD (named after her new clothing line) are collaborations with her former bandmates. Led by the hot single "What You Waiting For", Gwen provides us with an eclectic mix of songs on her debut solo CD, showcasing her fascination with Harujuku girls and her own insecurity with making a solo album and how it will be recieived.
Track List
1) What You Waiting For- This is definitely something I have never heard before. Gwen's voice is all over the place with this song and it makes the song so good. This is the first single and it's a great song. This is an excellent song to dance around to (as well as sing to, which I have done several times today, lol.) 5/5
2) Rich Girl (featuring Eve)- Another collaboration with Eve that fails to match or even surpass their previous collaboration on that song "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", but it is still a good song nonetheless. 4/5
3) Hollaback Girl- Although a bit repetitive, this is still a great song. Backed with a stomping sound and trumpets, this song is good, but still could be better. But it is still a fun track. 4/5
4) Cool- A synth filled track, this song talks about a breakup, but puts a positive spin on things by being friends with the person you broke up with (*coughTonyandGwencough* lol). This is a perfect example of Gwen's 80s influences on this CD. 5/5
5) Bubble Pop Electric (featuring Johnny Vulture aka Andre 3000) - Produced by Johnny Vulture (who is also featured in the song), this is another danceable track. Even though it has a weird title, this is a really good song. I love this song! It does have a weird beat. When I was listening to this CD for the first time and I saw that title, I was like "I can only imagine what this song sounds like." 5/5
6) Luxurious- With a more R&B feel, this song is kind of mid tempo and isn't a really good song. It has pretty, beautiful music but the lyrics aren't good enough. It samples a piece from Notorious B.I.G's "Big Poppa". 3/5
7) Harujuku Girls- This song defines Gwen's fascination with the Harujuku girls and has an Oriental feel to it in the beginning. With occasional Japanese words thrown in, this is a good song with a catchy chorus. This is the longest song on this album, coming close to 5 minutes. 5/5
8) Crash- This is a REALLY good song! I love this song, and it sounds a lot like the song "Push It Real Hard" (I think it's called that...) by Salt N Pepa. It talks about driving, but the lyrics could definitely mean something else. Produced by Tony Kanal. 5/5
9) The Real Thing- Starting off slow like a ballad, it moves into mid tempo territory. The lyrics in this song are meaningful and are very beautiful. This song is very mellow and soothing. 5/5
10) Serious- Beginning with string instruments playing, it goes straight into an electronic beat. Written by Gwen and Tony, this song does sound like an 80s song done by Kylie Minogue that kind of combines her early career and her indie period. This is a good song, but not good enough. 3/5
11) Danger Zone- With an electro bass sound, this is one of my favorite songs. It does get a bit repetitive, but it is still a good track. 4/5
12) Long Way to Go (featuring Andre 3000)- This song deals with interracial dating and features clips from Martin Luther King Jr's famous speech. The clips are weird just because they are spliced with the beats and it sounds weird. With clever poetic lyrics, this song is sure to provoke some thought on this issue. 5/5
Despite her constant references to her new clothing line, this is still a good album to get. I would suggest getting it at Target because it's only $10 there. The booklet that comes with the CD contains the lyrics to each song, which I always like to have when I buy a CD. There is also a deluxe edition of the CD that costs anywhere from $25 to $35 that contains a "Fabric wrapped, gold embossed, hardcore digipak - Book style layout with gold ribbon bookmark - Plus a custom CD case designed by Gwen (taken from amazon.com)" So go out and buy it!"