No Doubt - Return of Saturn (2 Lp's)

No Doubt: Gwen Stefani (vocals); Tom Dumont (guitar); Tony Kanal (bass); Adrian Young (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Stephen Bradley (trumpet); Gabrial McNair (trombone, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Mike Garson (piano); Theo "Hound Dog" Mondle (turntables); Bryan Carrigan, Michael Boddicker (programming).
Producers: Glen Ballard, Jerry Harrison, No Doubt, Matthew Wilder.
Engineers: Karl Derfler, Alain Johannes, Thom Panunzio.
Recorded at Royaltone, NRG, Hang Suite and Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, California; Aerowave, Encino, California.
RETURN OF SATURN was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.
Pop-ska rockers No Doubt make their long-awaited return with the follow-up to the hugely successful TRAGIC KINGDOM. The band's fiery dynamic remains intact as vocalist Gwen Stefani's penchant for emotionally charged tales of heartbreak drive the single "Ex-Girlfriend," "Simple Kind Of Life" and "Bath Water." In "The Magic's In The Makeup," Stefani's lyrics speak of yearning to be appreciated beyond surface beauty for who she really is while the band reaches for a thicker sound and more complex arrangements.
Illusions and metaphors exploring the darker side of love set the tone of "Artificial Sweetener." "Marry Me" uses a melodic, staccato bass line to drive the reggae-tinged tale of the insecurities and doubts surrounding commitment. In "New" Stefani metaphorically compares fresh batteries to the optimism and excitement of a new relationship. "Too Late" is an atmospheric, bittersweet power ballad while "Staring Problem" throttles with the quirky punk energy that long-time fans will embrace. With two years in the making, RETURN OF SATURN finds No Doubt a tighter, more mature unit, focused more on pop songs and production and leaning slightly away from the ska/horn dominated sound of their past.

• Genre: Rock
• Format: Vinyl