Historically, it's a tricky endeavor for the singer from an enormously successful band to embark on a solo career. Gwen Stefani, the glamorous vocalist for No Doubt, sidesteps the issue on her first solo album, LOVE, ANGEL, MUSIC, BABY, by largely eschewing the No Doubt sound. In its place, there's a strong emphasis on the R&B and hip-hop flavors that were hinted at in preceding No Doubt records. Towards that end, Stefani gamely enlists the assistance of Dr. Dre, the Neptunes, Andre 3000 of Outkast, and others, on an album that references everything from Japanese pop culture ("Harajuku Girls") to FIDDLER ON THE ROOF ("Rich Girl," featuring rapper Eve). Sensual R&B rhythms, frenetic hip-hop beats, and yes, the occasional pop/rock echo of No Doubt, all share space on LOVE, ANGEL, MUSIC, BABY, filtered through a fun-loving, party-starting sensibility.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.173) - 4 stars out of 5 - "It's an irresistible party: trashy, hedonistic and deeply weird."
Rolling Stone (p.152) - Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "A candy-scented love letter to New Wave, dance pop and Harajuku girls..."
Uncut (p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A]s adventurous and alluring as mainstream pop gets...LAMB is not just her best record, it's one of the most audacious pop albums of the year."
