Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Gwen Stefani | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00064AEJW
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (924 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,972 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On No Doubt's great Rock Steady, Gwen Stefani was a "girl that hangs with the boys... just sippin' on chamomile." Three years and a KROQ-nerd Talk Talk cover later, she presents a solo debut that wants it all--Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, backseat love and lifetime devotion, '70s pop throwbacks and hip-hop beats as well as Clash adoration (she continues to be managed by the firm of Rebel Waltz, named for a mournful Sandinista! cut). Among the standout tracks are the stomping, Neptunes-driven "Hollaback Girl," the tongue-in-cheek Eve/Dr. Dre collaboration "Rich Girl," and the girl-power manifesto "What You Waiting For?"; another tune, "The Real Thing," nods toward role-model Madonna's "Holiday." Though it can't match Rock Steady's inexorable track-by-track flow, Love, Angel, Music, Baby is such state-of-the-art pop that the description almost feels like damning it with faint praise. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

In her own unique way, Gwen Stefani has managed to shift our culture since coming onto the scene as the lead singer of No Doubt. With years of defining style and 30 million in record sales under her belt, she will again turn heads with this debut record that is as fresh as it is retro and as progressive as it is feel-good familiar. With this project, she has enlisted some of the biggest names in music (Dr. Dre, Eve, The Neptunes, Andre 3000, Nellee Hooper, Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Linda Perry and Tony Kanal) to create a genre bending masterpiece that is guaranteed to be one of the most talked about records of this year and beyond.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loving this Angel's Music, Baby (wow, such a cheesy title) November 24, 2004

By socalledboothy

Format:Audio CD

Love Angel Music Baby Review

No Doubt has been one of the best ska bands of the past decade and has provided many songs for everyone to enjoy. My personal fave is "ex-Girlfriend". The popularity of its lead singer Gwen Stefani has since grown and Gwen has decided to make a new album without her band, though some songs on this CD (named after her new clothing line) are collaborations with her former bandmates. Led by the hot single "What You Waiting For", Gwen provides us with an eclectic mix of songs on her debut solo CD, showcasing her fascination with Harujuku girls and her own insecurity with making a solo album and how it will be recieived.

Track List

1) What You Waiting For- This is definitely something I have never heard before. Gwen's voice is all over the place with this song and it makes the song so good. This is the first single and it's a great song. This is an excellent song to dance around to (as well as sing to, which I have done several times today, lol.) 5/5

2) Rich Girl (featuring Eve)- Another collaboration with Eve that fails to match or even surpass their previous collaboration on that song "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", but it is still a good song nonetheless. 4/5

3) Hollaback Girl- Although a bit repetitive, this is still a great song. Backed with a stomping sound and trumpets, this song is good, but still could be better. But it is still a fun track. 4/5

4) Cool- A synth filled track, this song talks about a breakup, but puts a positive spin on things by being friends with the person you broke up with (*coughTonyandGwencough* lol). This is a perfect example of Gwen's 80s influences on this CD. 5/5

5) Bubble Pop Electric (featuring Johnny Vulture aka Andre 3000) - Produced by Johnny Vulture (who is also featured in the song), this is another danceable track. Even though it has a weird title, this is a really good song. I love this song! It does have a weird beat. When I was listening to this CD for the first time and I saw that title, I was like "I can only imagine what this song sounds like." 5/5

6) Luxurious- With a more R&B feel, this song is kind of mid tempo and isn't a really good song. It has pretty, beautiful music but the lyrics aren't good enough. It samples a piece from Notorious B.I.G's "Big Poppa". 3/5

7) Harujuku Girls- This song defines Gwen's fascination with the Harujuku girls and has an Oriental feel to it in the beginning. With occasional Japanese words thrown in, this is a good song with a catchy chorus. This is the longest song on this album, coming close to 5 minutes. 5/5

8) Crash- This is a REALLY good song! I love this song, and it sounds a lot like the song "Push It Real Hard" (I think it's called that...) by Salt N Pepa. It talks about driving, but the lyrics could definitely mean something else. Produced by Tony Kanal. 5/5

9) The Real Thing- Starting off slow like a ballad, it moves into mid tempo territory. The lyrics in this song are meaningful and are very beautiful. This song is very mellow and soothing. 5/5

10) Serious- Beginning with string instruments playing, it goes straight into an electronic beat. Written by Gwen and Tony, this song does sound like an 80s song done by Kylie Minogue that kind of combines her early career and her indie period. This is a good song, but not good enough. 3/5

11) Danger Zone- With an electro bass sound, this is one of my favorite songs. It does get a bit repetitive, but it is still a good track. 4/5

12) Long Way to Go (featuring Andre 3000)- This song deals with interracial dating and features clips from Martin Luther King Jr's famous speech. The clips are weird just because they are spliced with the beats and it sounds weird. With clever poetic lyrics, this song is sure to provoke some thought on this issue. 5/5

Despite her constant references to her new clothing line, this is still a good album to get. I would suggest getting it at Target because it's only $10 there. The booklet that comes with the CD contains the lyrics to each song, which I always like to have when I buy a CD. There is also a deluxe edition of the CD that costs anywhere from $25 to $35 that contains a "Fabric wrapped, gold embossed, hardcore digipak - Book style layout with gold ribbon bookmark - Plus a custom CD case designed by Gwen (taken from amazon.com)" So go out and buy it!

162 of 209 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gwen enters the "Madonnasphere" of reinvention and variety.. December 28, 2004

By Mr. Stanley M. Schmidt

Format:Audio CD

Well...it's a bit hard to start this review since this recording is so diverse and totally all over the place! I wasn't expecting very much from this CD, but I was pleasantly surprised! She weaves 70s, 80s, 90s, dance, hip-hop, electronica and R&B into a very unique package. I'm not sure if L.A.M.B. will be a classic, but it deserves recognition for its brazen originality.

It starts out with the driving "What You Waiting For?" - a great tune, that doesn't get boring, as some reviewers have noted. Then the hit "Rich Girl", which I didn't really at first listen, but I'm hooked now. "Hollaback Girl" is reminiscent of "Mickey", by Toni Basil. Then, my favorite!, "Bubble Pop Electric" takes you on a wild ride. I hit the replay button more than once on this song. "Luxurious" is totally laid back and full of soul. The balance of the CD continues on its signature course of individuality.

Bottom line: The strength of this album is its originality. Consequently, the weakness of this album is its originality. I'm glad I own this CD. I will pop it from time to time when I want to hear something that is not overproduced and transparent. Nice debut Gwen - you've got a hit!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars disapointing :( April 18, 2005

By Harro

Format:Audio CD

Just not the Gwen I have always known and loved....a real turn off.

I ran out and bought this the minute it was released just knowing that I would love anything from Gwen. Boy was I wrong...I won't try to convince you one way or the other...I see some good reviews here so apparently some must like it. Just check this album out before you spend your money. Not the same girl who used to rock out with Bradley back in OC.