Artist: Gwen StefaniTitle: The Sweet EscapeRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Alex Thornton
2004’s Love.Angel.Music.Baby. was intended to be a one-off vanity project by No Doubt front-woman Gwen Stefani, but popular demand
prompted her to record The Sweet Escape (Interscope). On her
sophomore attempt, the good news and bad news are the same: Escape
keeps the hectic pace and stylistic variety of Stefani’s L.A.M.B. Given
the success of “Hollaback Girl,” Gwen logically leans a little more
towards the Hip-Hop side this time, but still touches all four corners
of her musical map.
Simply put, there is way too much going on with The Sweet Escape. The
lead single, “Wind It Up,” is an imaginative blend of The Sound of
Music’s
“The Lonely Goatherd” with Pharrell’s signature drums andleaves just enough breathing room to not overwhelm. Things often get
out of hand, though, especially on “Now That You Got It” where an
exhausting Swizz Beatz track fights Gwen’s directionless vocals to a
standstill. Akon handles the task better on the title track,
integrating the brassy horns and Caribbean rhythms of Stefani’s ska
roots into her current sound. The simple melody fits into Gwen’s range
perfectly, letting her shine as a vocalist much better than tracks like
“Breakin Up” where she again strains to stand out among the busy
backdrop.
The overdone dance material also does a disservice to selections like
“Early Winter” and “4 In the Morning,” which feel the most like No
Doubt records. Tony Kanal’s productions are well-executed reminders of
Gwen’s original appeal, but sadly, the more dense forays into Hip-Hop
they’re partnered with drown them out. Stefani’s vocal range is
limited, but her talent with harmony and emotion shows on “U Started
It,” with light string arrangements that work with the singer instead
of against her.
At a time when everyone is trying to be Prince, for The Sweet Escape
Gwen tries to follow Madonna’s footsteps instead but misses the point.
While Madonna is known for integrating a wide variety of styles into
her catalogue, she typically sticks to a single theme per album rather
than trying to cram every impulse into each release. While it’s better
for Stefani to experiment as a solo artist than with her band, trying
to juggle both styles may not work. The Sweet Escape has its moments,
but if she has to choose, then it’s time to start working on that Rock
Steady follow-up.
