|
Published: December 14, 2006 11:18 am
REVIEW: Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape"
Gwen Stefani
“The Sweet Escape”
This is the type of album that makes real musicians cringe.
A long-held truth has been that pop stars can throw hastily scribbled lyrics behind a few funky-sounding samples and heavy beats to make a club hit.
But the former No Doubt frontwoman takes this nonsensical formula to a new level on her sophomore solo album.
From the album’s first moments, you know you’re in trouble. A yodeling sample taken from “Sound of Music” leads to lyrical gold like “This is the key that makes us wind up/When the beat comes on, the girls all line up” on the album’s first single, “Wind it Up.” There’s nothing wrong with a little experimenting, but superstar producers The Neptunes go too far on this track, taking it from potentially interesting to the kind of song you spend the rest of the day desperately trying to get out of your head.
Stefani spends much of the remainder of the record offering herself props for her Grammy win, mad skills behind the mic and overall greatness — the kind of insipid songwriting too flaccid for a half-bottle of Levitra to correct.
The Neptunes and other producers such as Swizz Beatz give the album that slick feel that moves a lot of units, but there’s nothing on this record worth remembering even six months from now. Stefani has vocal skills that used to shine through in No Doubt (former bandmate Tony Kanal produced one of the album’s few bright spots, “4 in the Morning,” a ballad that sounds a bit like “Don’t Speak” with a hip-hop beat behind it), but it’s obvious she’s more concerned with being a pop star than having any semblance of substance.
The only sweet escape from “Sweet Escape” will be when you turn the album off. [One star]
— Paul Lane
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Instructors
Join Our Team! Would you like to work on a top performing team who is ranked 17th in the nation and have the opport...>MORE
Auditor/Accountant
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS EXAM DATE: 1/9/10 FILING PERIOD: 11/9/09 -11/25/09 Applicants for both exams mu...>MORE
Nursing
NURSING. ElderWood Senior Care, "Care Without Compromise". We invite you to stop by and learn how you can become part of...>MORE
Service greeter
Service greeter wanted, PT entry level. Looking for someone with strong customer service skills to work in our fast grow...>MORE
Nurse Practitioner
NURSE Practitioner, PT including one evening, resume 533 Meadow Dr, Suite 2, N. Tona, NY 14120 or fax 693-4807...>MORE
Inventory Control
Inventory Control Carousel Pickers Order Pickers Receivers/Shippers Packers Pay: $10/hr Sh...>MORE
FLOOR ASSISTANT
Floor asst. needed for approx. 30-35 hrs/wk in a podiatry office, no exp. nec., will train, call between 12-2:30 pm for ...>MORE
Certified Pharmacy Tech's & Certified Medication Tech's
Certified Pharmacy Tech’s & Certified Medication Tech’s Competitive wages. Call Lisa McKensie Ransomville Manor 79...>MORE
COLLECTORS
Exp. collectors, high hrly., low cash goals, 20% overage, 500 4 hitting, Chuck @ 597-2538...>MORE
Driver
Drivers CDLA. Must be able to go to Canada Good pay, great benefits. Call 278-2000 Ext. 106...>MORE
See all ads |
Ford Windstar 1998
FORD 1998 Windstar $1000 or best offer. 298-5220...>MORE
Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer 531-3548 or 297-1526...>MORE
Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE
Ford 1999 Ranger
FORD 1999 Ranger, 5 speed, 130K, fair condition, $2000 or best offer, 716-310-0531...>MORE
Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT 25,800 mi, ext. warranty Exc. Cond, $16,500 297-2199...>MORE
1991 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1991 Caravan, exc body, runs great, full power, needs TLC. $1200 or BO. Call 754-4608....>MORE
Buick 2005 LeSabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE
VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE
Chevy 2003 Impala
CHEVY 2003 Impala 25,600 miles, loaded Exc. Cond. $10,000/bo 297-2199...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|