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.
Japanese edition contains two bonus tracks.
Japanese release featuring 2 bonus tracks
Recorded at Royaltone, NRG, Hang Suite and Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, California; Aerowave, Encino, California.
Producers: Glen Ballard, Jerry Harrison, No Doubt, Matthew Wilder.
Engineers: Karl Derfler, Alain Johannes, Thom Panunzio.
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).
Rolling Stone (1/4/01, p.114) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 50 Albums of 2000". Rolling Stone (4/27/00, pp.65-6) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A rare achievement: a superstar follow-up that not only betters its predecessor but also radically departs from it....a collection of uniformly well-crafted, vigorously performed tunes that run the gamut from grungy to giddy, playful to pensive..." Entertainment Weekly (4/14/00, pp.71-2) - "...[They] still bounce around on the kind of perky, reggae-inflicted trampolines that can give you motion sickness....concentrating on smoother, layered mid-tempo ballads as creamily textured as extra-thick napoleon pastries..." - Rating: B Q (5/00, p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A clutch of well-crafted songs....Pale and sometimes interesting." CMJ (4/24/00, p.24) - "...Once again, Stefani sits at the helm....Success hasn't freed [her] from her heartache, incessant yearning or self-analysis, but it has given the band the confidence to bring their new wave tendencies to the forefront..." Vibe (5/00, p.176) - "...Their aggro-ska construct has real legs, thanks to the group's strong songwriting chops....Stefani continues to play her compelling linchpin role...taking the familiar tropes of classic girlie pop, heartbreak, bad-boy attraction, and the matrimonial urge and turns them upside down..." Melody Maker (4/11/00, p.48) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A great pop album. In a strange incidence of role-reversal, SATURN runs rings around most of its rivals."
Best Band I've been following No Doubt from the very early years of their career. This album indicates how far they have come & matured. It is one of my favorites of the band & holds very deep memories for me. I anticipate the release of their new music & wonder what kind of milestones it will lay in my life. Submitted by cdirrane (North Hollywood, CA.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
NO DOUBT! this album is one of the best ive ever heard in my life. words cannot express its greatness. i bought this CD around late august 2004, and i havent gone more than two days without listening to it at least once. most of the songs on here make me cry, though. but I think gwen is being really stupid by leaving the band. but i love her. i am totally obsessed with no doubt. anyone alse who is, please e-mail me. Submitted by blueljg692 (Green Mountain, IA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
TIED WITH TRAGIC KINGDOM!!!!! ok "blah" if u listen and understood what no doubt is and was, u should know that the WERE a ska band, they were pure ska in the 80's and the kept it with them throughout the ears but lost it in this album, and no doubt has a tendance to change looks and musical identities with each album, so why not get rid of the ska, ok, they made that album and u can hear there emothions in that album, who cares if its not ska, i mean, its no doubt, dude! best cd Submitted by nodoubter1017 (near philly, pa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Mature songs with vibrant music I just want to say "Thank you very much" to No Doubt for releasing a fabulous successor to Tragic Kingdom. There have been many, many performers who have fallen flat when trying to follow up a breakthrough success. They spend an extended time touring, get worn out, then succumb to the pressure to rush in and put out new material. Too often, that new release sounds too much like the prior one, but stale, and the lyrics are inevitably about "this hotel room is lonely, I miss my home, stardom is such a burden" blah-blah, while exhibiting none of the honesty and awareness that endeared them to fans in the first place. No Doubt has instead produced a winning set of songs with mature lyrics which build from song to song and involve related themes of growing up and growing in and out of love. The music covers many styles, while always retaining a core new wave funky beat. The recording is polished, but the individual instruments stand out and there are plenty of solos and riffs where Tom, Tony, and Adrian really shine. This is proud music for which No Doubt is to be congratulated. Instead of a watered down copy of Tragic Kingdom, they have given us challenging new songs - especially Simple Kind of Life, New, Ex-Girlfriend, and Artificial Sweetener, which are all battling for favorite track. This is a band who knows who they are and are not ashamed to try on new sounds and styles. Submitted by a reviewer (Ashville, OH) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
No Doubt- Return of Saturn Great music. Loved the CD. Submitted by a reviewer (Bismarck, ND,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
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No Doubt- Return of Saturn
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