LOVE. ANGEL. MUSIC. BABY. – GWEN STEFANI
Released: November 22, 2004
Genre: Electropop, Dance-Rock
Runtime: 51 Minutes
After the rock band No Doubt went on a break in the early 2000s, lead singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani decided to go solo and her debut was nothing to scoff at. Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (L.A.M.B. as I’ll refer to it) was the 35-year-old’s first real attempt at invading the Pop sphere, and she saw great success. The album is chock full of fun electropop bops and brilliant vocal performances.
Whether it’s going back into her rock roots with the opening track What You Waiting For?, to the moody rock infectious love song Cool, Gwen isn’t shy with her brash attitude and cheeky songwriting, with her lyrics on the anthem that taught us how to spell Banana on Hollaback Girl, or her little backseat drive-thru cinema antics on the thrilling Bubble Pop Electric.
Gwen doesn’t hold back on her love and appreciation for the Hip-Hop genre as well. She’s garnered features from the likes of rappers Eve and André 3000, as well as producer credits by the likes of Dr. Dre, The Neptunes and legends like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
L.A.M.B isn’t by any means a 10/10 record. Though she’s a seasoned artist by this point in her career, she’s just started to get her foot in the door as a solo artist with this album peaking at number 5 on the Billboard 200s. Gwen Stefani has melted into the hearts of a generation and cemented herself as one of the greats.
7.5/10
ELEPHUNK – THE BLACK EYED PEAS
Released: January 1, 2003
Genre: Hip-Hop, Contemporary R&B
Run Time: 59 minutes
Prior to this record, The Black Eyed Peas (TBEP) considered themselves as ‘alternative hip-hop’, and listening to their older material, you’d agree. It’s not until this Elephunk where the group changed in more ways than one. From little things like changing their name to THE Black Eyed Peas, the addition of R&B vocalist Fergie joining the group full time and with that inclusion came the change in genre and mass appeal for audiences.
During this era of TBEP, their sound was more Latin, funk and dancehall inspired such as on the hit song Hey Mama and even deep cuts such as The Boogie That Be. It wasn’t until this record’s reception did Fergie get the offer to become a full-time member, despite having contributed to five tracks, one of them being the smash hit Shut Up. Here we really get a good glimpse of Fergie’s vocal talents and chemistry with the group in action, those powerful vocal inflections which can switch to something more sober and emotional is something to behold.
This album’s first half is incredible, hit after banger after bop, it’s not really into the second half of the album where there is a bit of a decline in likeable songs in my opinion. You get the odd deep cuts and of course the international smash hit Where Is The Love?, but for a record where the conglomerate has basically reformed, it’s a great step up into the mainstream to where they eventually end up.
7/10
