Gwen Stefani is Unapologetically Herself on ‘Bouquet’
Review – Gwen Stefani shares her signature style on her latest album, “Bouquet.” – Author: Cat Badra, Gwen Stefani photo via Ellen von Unwerth
One of the queens of pop and alternative rock, Gwen Stefani, is back with a new album, “Bouquet,” and in true Stefani fashion, this album shows off the kind of genre-bending for which she’s so known. Stefani started out as a pop-rock chick of sorts in No Doubt in the 1990s. She rose to fame in No Doubt and ruled the alternative rock airwaves with a alt-rock-meets-ska kind of sound and spunky, inventive vocals. Then, she decided to release solo music that was much more pop in nature, and that’s when Stefani really became a superstar. Suddenly, even those who didn’t know who No Doubt was totally knew Gwen. Her pop music was all over Top 40 radio and solidified her as a force in her generation.
Gwen Stefani Continues to Show Genre-Bending on ‘Bouquet’
Now, on “Bouquet,” Stefani is entering the country music world. She, of course, is married to country superstar Blake Shelton, so we shouldn’t be surprised. But, don’t worry if you aren’t a country fan, because this album isn’t a pure country album. It’s still very pop and shows how Stefani can mold genres into something all her own.
From songs such as “Pretty” to “All Your Fault,” “Bouquet” is truly a bouquet of different sounds, all with a little country twang and pop pizzaz. Standouts include “Somebody Else,” which is a catchy number, and “Marigolds,” which is especially beautiful, but they all have their charm. What’s great about this album is that you can tell the second you start listening that this is Stefani. It has her signature style all over it, even if it is a bit more country.
“The idea of seeds of hope that you plant, and life’s seasons runs throughout “Bouquet,” serving up endlessly quotable lyrics that are full of clever turns,” a release explains of the album’s theme and meaning.
“Bouquet represents a blend of everything that I’ve ever been and who I’ve evolved into,” Stefani said in a statement. “Each one of the songs was picked like individual flowers to create a bouquet of the past, the present and the seed of hope for the future.”
Stefani recorded the entire album, from start to finish, backed by a full live band at Smoakstack Studios with famed producer Scott Hendricks.
What makes this album so special is that Stefani is unapologetically herself on this release. That might seem obvious, but in a world where everything is about trends and trying to copy whatever it hot at the moment, Stefani never fell into that. Stefani was always the one to make the trends not follow the trends. All these years later, she’s the same way, and she does it all over again on “Bouquet.” One more thing: The album’s title, “Bouquet,” is appropriate, because each song on here is unique, just like one would find in a bouquet of flowers. It’s simply a delightful listen and one that closes out the year nicely. Rating: 9/10.
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