GWEN STEFANI - The Sweet Escape Review

GWEN Stefani is one of the most exciting artists working in the mainstream. She oozes style in just about everything she does, while her music is consistently innovative and always inventive.

The former No Doubt lead singer showed with her debut solo album Love Angel Music Baby that she had what it takes to compete at the forefront of the mainstream scene, mixing it capably with the likes of Madonna, Pink and Beyonce yet delivering things in a style that was distinctly her own....full text The No Doubt singer's solo output should be the blueprint for any aspiring pop star who doesn't want to sacrifice credibility for the sake of commercial success. Stefani is saleable, yet as cool as it's possible for a California girl who has been "off making babies" (to quote the song Yummy) to be. Several tracks date back to the 2003 sessions that produced her first solo album, LAMB, but generally The Sweet Escape feels minty-fresh....full text Most surprising pop news story in recent weeks: Gwen Stefani plans to ditch the solo career and return to No Doubt. Why? There's no tail between her platformed, mile-long legs, no egg on her alabaster face. "The Sweet Escape" shows the trick she pulled off on quadruple-platinum debut album "Love Angel Music Baby" was no one-off. She sounds so eager to start things up again here, you can hear the leash straining. "I know you've been waiting / But I've been off making babies / And like a chef making donuts and pastries / It's time to make you sweat," she informs us early on in characteristically earthy-and-bonkers fashion....full text