The Lincoln Log

Gwen Stefani

It’s 7 in the morning I open my eyes turn onto my other side and fall back to sleep. At exactly 7:05 a.m. with my iPod blasting my room is filled with music from the new Gwen Stafani CD, “The Sweet Escape.” The CD sweeps me away as I get ready. Each song takes me to a new place that I didn’t see from her first album hit solo album, “Love.Angel.Music.Baby.” (LAMB). The CD is a new and different direction than her first; it takes in a ride with fresh new beats, her fresh new look that compliments her new baby and lifestyle.

This CD was Gwen’s first experiment with rap music. There were certain songs that clicked great with her new sound, for example, “Don’t Get It Twisted.” However, some did not work at all, such as “Breakin’ Up” and “Orange County Girl,” which turned out horrible. Even so I enjoyed Gwen trying something new and experimenting with these great sounds.

How she even thought up the idea of using a circus sample as the background for “Don’t Get It Twisted” amazed me because it was something I didn’t expect; it made the song funkier. If you want something that makes your steps a little lighter or sends you to LAMB’s fashion shows, you will love the track “Now That You Got It.” Several critics commented that this album is similar to Fergie’s first new solo album. I say sure it sounds like Fergie’s CD if Fergie was original like Gwen. I believe “The Sweet Escape” is like Fergie, but without the incorrect spelling, including better and riskier beats. “Don’t Get It Twisted” and “Now That You Got It” are the examples how Gwen’s sophomore album beats Fergie’s freshman album.

If you are looking for a great disco inspired song, then this album answered your prayers. However if you are looking for a stale disco beat, then you have entered into hell for your ears. I thought that “Yummy” answered my dreams. If you didn’t know, I dream of songs that sound like disco on acid. “Yummy” is exactly what Gwen says it sounds like, disco tetris and I agree if there was such a thing. That’s what made me like “Yummy.” What made me love the song was the cameo Pharrell, the ending that takes you somewhere I didn’t expect to find and awesome beat, a construction site. Once you hear that sound of riverters and staple guns you will think that you stepped into a construction site where the sweaty steel workers and welders are making music with their machines. If you add the construction site beat with and old horror movie suspense sound you get an awesome finish that I never expected and loved.

If you loved “Cool” from LAMB then you will love the songs “4 In The Morning,” “Early Winter” and “Wonderful Life.” They all have that slow beat and personal meaning that she loves to write about. She is able to put these songs in a unique beat which sounds incredible.

Listen to the “Wind It Up” Original Neptune mix, if you really want to know how different and experimental she has become. It’s missing the “Sound of Music” backbeat and her yodeling is replaced by hints of Pharrell’s deep voice. The new mix is something that I didn’t expect. I never in a million years would think the words ‘Gwen’ and ‘yodeling’ would be in the same sentence without sounding horrible. But I don’t feel like that instead I found myself saying Gwen, yodeling and great in the same sentence. My absolute favorite song is also the CD’s title, called “The Sweet Escape.” When I hear it, I feel like I’m escaping into my own world because the beat and her voice is easy on my ears. It has a melody is mixed with drums, guitars with a hint of tambourines. The song also speaks to me because she’s singing about if she could escape to a world of her own.

Overall, the new Gwen is my favorite and I thought she beat the dreaded sophomore curse with a fresh sound despite what the critics have said. I think that everyone should stop listening to the harsh reviews and listen to the album for themselves. You might agree with me, or you may agree with other critics that Gwen needs to stop hurting your ears. I do encourage to give this album a chance and maybe you will be pleasantly surprised.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars