Album review: No Doubt - Push And Shove

By COLIN SOMERVILLE
Published on 22/09/2012 20:03

NO Doubt haven’t released an album in 11 years and still peddle the synthetic ska that powered their early material, but now with added smug satisfaction.

No Doubt

Push And Shove

Interscope, £12.99

Star rating: * * *

No Doubt haven’t released an album in 11 years and still peddle the synthetic ska that powered their early material, but now with added smug satisfaction. But what’s this? The title track delivers some radical roots reggae not previously in their repertoire, an authentic edge courtesy of guest vocalists Busy Signal and Major Lazer.

With Madonna’s commercial star finally on the wane, and Gwen Stefani’s voice holding up so much better, could this be perfect timing? The horns on Sparkle trumpet yes, the pop chops of Heaven second that, as does the “so bizarre it just works” cover of Adam Ant’s Stand And Deliver. Indeed if you were curious to know how a mutation of Kylie and Debbie Harry might sound, Heaven is the buoyant pop tune you have been missing.

Dreaming The Same Dream, though, limps on the scene with lyrics that are embarrassing beyond cliché and do no-one involved any favours.

The album starts ferociously with Settle Down, which is rough and ready in the right ways; back-up muscle follows in the bouncy shape of Looking Hot and One More Summer. The title track is great, but that sound should permeate the entire record rather than the media-friendly ska pop autopilot which appears to be the fallback position. Come on, Gwen, what have you got to lose at this stage of the game?

Download this: Push And Shove, Sparkle