Lora's Album Review - 1/8

[lora]

No Doubt
The Singles: 1992-2003
2003


1. Just a Girl
The first of many tracks from the band's ultimate work of musical art: Tragic Kingdom. The song is really a paradox. "Poor me. I'm just a little girl. I wish I could be big and strong like you. *flutters eyelashes*" "They won't let me play because I'm a girl. That's not fair!" See what I mean?

2. It's My Life
I've never heard the original version of this song, by Talk Talk, but I love this remake. Reminds me of the good ol' days of No Doubt.

3. Hey Baby featuring Bounty Hunter
Not a bad pop song, but not typical No Doubt either. I have to be in a sell-out kind of mood to listen to this one.

4. Bathwater
Quirky theme. Love the symbolism. Excellent drums by Adrian Young.

5. Sunday Morning
Another great Kingdom single. I love the bass and drums in the building intro.

6. Hella Good
See my comments for #3. And I like that one better than this one. No wonder. The Neptunes have a writing credit.

7. New
Awesome guitar riff! Gwen wrote this with then-new boyfriend Gavin Rosdale in mind.

8. Underneath It All featuring Lady Saw
One of the better songs from Rock Steady, although I'm still not all that fond of the reggae feel...Somehow it works on this track, though.

9. Excuse Me Mr.
Love the frantic pace of this song. The instruments backing the third verse are awesome, making it my favorite stanza.

10. Running
Now this is more like it. The gorgeous lyrics and new wave beat make this song the best Rock Steady single, no doubt about it.

11. Spiderwebs
Excellent track that I've always loved...moving on!

12. Simple Kind of Life
This is my SONG, man. If you know me extremely well, you'd catch that after the first line. In fact, I love it so much that I will soon post the lyrics on the Lyrics board. Look out for them later on.

13. Don't Speak
One of the finest rock ballads ever written. A fave of many from my generation. I adore this song.

14. Ex-Girlfriend
This song's a little different from the No Doubt tracks I typically like, but it's a solid song.

15. Trapped In a Box
Cool, yet odd, track from the band's self-titled debut album many moons ago. Proof that there's always room for growth.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Sounds good!

My wife bought Tragic Kingdom when it was huge because she loved Don't Speak. I had previously heard Spiderwebs on MTV Springbreak. And then Just a Girl was in Clueless.

I didn't realize Sunday Morning was a single too! I wasn't gonna replace Kingdom because I figured this didn't have that song. Hmmmmm, I may have to replace!

Nice review!

[Dawn]

'Don't Speak' is a great song, one of my favorites from the 90s. I like their version of 'It's My Life' also - it keeps the spirit of the original, but with the group's own unique style.

Very good review!

[athompsen]

Excellent review, top notch, well done!

I really like their cover of "It's My Life". You should check out the original version by Talk Talk...great 80's song. And I also like "Simple Kind of Life"...I can relate too!

[Ken]

Great Review Lora:)

Don't Speak is a pretty good tune , and I like Underneath it all as well - the only thing that ruins it for me is the rap section in the middle.

[djdave]

Woo hoo! My fave new group of the last 10 years!
I have their 3 prior CD's from 1995-2001 (What was up with that 4 1/2 year gap, then just a 1 1/2 year gap???) Anyway, I got the new hits CD, getting it especially for the new song.

My comments:

1. Just a Girl
The tune I first knew of them, and this really took time for me to grow on. The guitar has always reminded me of the Cars. Always loved it.

2. It's My Life
Outstanding remake, loved it from the start, which is VERY rare for a new song with me these days.

3. Hey Baby featuring Bounty Hunter
First heard this on Launchcast.com in late November 2001, and I loved it, yup, immediately. One of my personal tops of 2002. Great video on the ECD of Rock Steady; that beginning always reminded me of the Electric Company "word silhouettes".

4. Bathwater
Not an immense fave of mine, but good. Much rather hear "6 feet under".

5. Sunday Morning
Man, I love this! Why it stiffed after the HUGE success of "Don't speak" was beyond me; I distinctly remember this making Casey's top 40 in the late spring 1997, yet failing to reach the Billboard Top 40 Airplay Monitor. Hmmm...

6. Hella Good
Crank it up! Sounds very pure 80's! Great follow-up to "Hey baby".

7. New
This originally appeared off the "Go" soundtack in the spring 1999, I eventually got that CD later in the same year (Len's Steal my sunshine!), and man, all I kept thinking for a full year was "NEW ALBUM, PLEASE!". Finally April 2000. Worth the wait.

8. Underneath It All featuring Lady Saw
Of the 4 radio tracks from "Steady", my least fave. Never raved over the mellow-reggae feel of their tunes as much. Lady Saw wasn't actually too bad.

9. Excuse Me Mr.
Another cranker! Even faster tempo than 2001's "6 feet under"! Incidentally, that 3rd stanza (bridge) with its horns (muted trumpet and all) always reminded me of those morning comedy radio shows!

10. Running
Great one. Not top-notch, but good enough to be my third fave from "Steady".

11. Spiderwebs
Sort of a slower feel than some, but I've always loved it. The horns really pull through here.

12. Simple Kind of Life
Kinda lame (sorry), but good when there's not much else to listen to.

13. Don't Speak
Same comment as you, Lora. I know very few who dislike this. And definitely not typical No Doubt. Should rank very high in my updated CRAZY list soon.

14. Ex-Girlfriend
Loved it outta the box, but (here it is again...) I took an even quicker love to "6 feet under" when I got the album "Saturn".

15. Trapped In a Box
Fine early tune, but I still don't play it as much. I just COULD get their debut album.

[Pete70s]

This is a CD I actually wouldn't mind owning, even though I'm not big on late 90's music. I heard the cover of "It's My Life" while grocery shopping last week. It's not bad, but I miss the synth keyboards on the original. "Don't Speak" got played way too much for my liking at the time, but 8 years years later (WOW! Has it been 8 years?!?) I don't mind hearing it. "Just A Girl" I always liked, the closest thing to the 80's New Wave sound that we had in the rather drab 90's.

[lora]

SAT-Sissy's said:

Sounds good!

My wife bought Tragic Kingdom when it was huge because she loved Don't Speak. I had previously heard Spiderwebs on MTV Springbreak. And then Just a Girl was in Clueless.

I didn't realize Sunday Morning was a single too! I wasn't gonna replace Kingdom because I figured this didn't have that song. Hmmmmm, I may have to replace!

Nice review!

By all means, DO NOT replace Tragic Kingdom. Then you'd be without the awesome title track, and the amazing The Climb, not to mention all the other tracks.

[lora]

Ken said:

Great Review Lora:)

Don't Speak is a pretty good tune , and I like Underneath it all as well - the only thing that ruins it for me is the rap section in the middle.

Yep, I totally understand about that. Really drags the song down.

[lora]

DJ said:

Woo hoo! My fave new group of the last 10 years!
I have their 3 prior CD's from 1995-2001 (What was up with that 4 1/2 year gap, then just a 1 1/2 year gap???) Anyway, I got the new hits CD, getting it especially for the new song.

My comments:

1. Just a Girl
The tune I first knew of them, and this really took time for me to grow on. The guitar has always reminded me of the Cars. Always loved it.

2. It's My Life
Outstanding remake, loved it from the start, which is VERY rare for a new song with me these days.

3. Hey Baby featuring Bounty Hunter
First heard this on Launchcast.com in late November 2001, and I loved it, yup, immediately. One of my personal tops of 2002. Great video on the ECD of Rock Steady; that beginning always reminded me of the Electric Company "word silhouettes".

4. Bathwater
Not an immense fave of mine, but good. Much rather hear "6 feet under".

5. Sunday Morning
Man, I love this! Why it stiffed after the HUGE success of "Don't speak" was beyond me; I distinctly remember this making Casey's top 40 in the late spring 1997, yet failing to reach the Billboard Top 40 Airplay Monitor. Hmmm...

6. Hella Good
Crank it up! Sounds very pure 80's! Great follow-up to "Hey baby".

7. New
This originally appeared off the "Go" soundtack in the spring 1999, I eventually got that CD later in the same year (Len's Steal my sunshine!), and man, all I kept thinking for a full year was "NEW ALBUM, PLEASE!". Finally April 2000. Worth the wait.

8. Underneath It All featuring Lady Saw
Of the 4 radio tracks from "Steady", my least fave. Never raved over the mellow-reggae feel of their tunes as much. Lady Saw wasn't actually too bad.

9. Excuse Me Mr.
Another cranker! Even faster tempo than 2001's "6 feet under"! Incidentally, that 3rd stanza (bridge) with its horns (muted trumpet and all) always reminded me of those morning comedy radio shows!

10. Running
Great one. Not top-notch, but good enough to be my third fave from "Steady".

11. Spiderwebs
Sort of a slower feel than some, but I've always loved it. The horns really pull through here.

12. Simple Kind of Life
Kinda lame (sorry), but good when there's not much else to listen to.

13. Don't Speak
Same comment as you, Lora. I know very few who dislike this. And definitely not typical No Doubt. Should rank very high in my updated CRAZY list soon.

14. Ex-Girlfriend
Loved it outta the box, but (here it is again...) I took an even quicker love to "6 feet under" when I got the album "Saturn".

15. Trapped In a Box
Fine early tune, but I still don't play it as much. I just COULD get their debut album.

We obviously have very different opinions on No Doubt...

I've never heard 6 Feet Under. I really do need to get ahold of Return of Saturn though.

[njamateurguitar]

I'm not really a fan of theirs but I thought they did GREAT with "It's my Life"