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Rock Steady
by
Rock Steady Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 109 Ratings

  • Summary: The follow-up to 'Return of Saturn' finds Gwen Stefani & co. working with a variety of producers (Sly and Robbie, Ric Ocasek, William Orbit) in a variety of styles.

Top Track

Underneath It All
There's times when I want something more Someone more like me There's times when this dress rehearsal seems Incomplete But You see the colors in me... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. E! Online
    83
    The disc is bubbling with techno effects, a loose interpretation of Jamaican production and a (welcome) severe case of ADD.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    This beat-heavy quickie turns out to be the best album they've ever hatched.
  3. Billboard
    80
    Sure to convince doubters and win new fans, the set roars with the sort of fire rarely seen from a group with four albums under its belt.
  4. CDNow
    70
    The scattershot recording technique seems erratic for a quartet of chums who've spent upwards of fifteen years gelling together, and most of the rock tracks like "Hella Good" and "Platinum Blonde Life" suffer from a mix of overproduction and lack of urgency; missing is the California garage band vibe that was the trademark of their earlier, more energetic material.
  5. The A.V. Club
    60
    Everything its predecessor wasn't: bouncy, joyful, carefree, and mostly engaging.
  6. Playlouder
    60
    It doesn't strictly feel like a No Doubt album at all.
  7. Neumu.net
    50
    Rock Steady certainly isn't that good, and at times it's rather bad (usually when Ocasek gets a bit Cars). But it does have its moments, most of which come at the hands of [co-producer Nellee] Hooper...

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 4 out of 17
  1. JosefS.
    Aug 18, 2002
    10
    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I'm glad i got to listen to it for a while, beacsue when i first heard it, I would have given it a 6--only because I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I'm glad i got to listen to it for a while, beacsue when i first heard it, I would have given it a 6--only because it was NO DOUBT. but this album got better the more i listened to it! with genres flying off the walls, I love the fresh, intense vibe coming form it! what a hella good time!~ … Expand
  2. JordanA
    Jan 6, 2007
    10
    Amazing record.
  4. john
    Dec 30, 2001
    10
    this album is WAY better than i expected it to be... so thats why it gets the 10. 'dont let me down', 'in my head' and this album is WAY better than i expected it to be... so thats why it gets the 10. 'dont let me down', 'in my head' and 'platinum blonde life' are great, if not brilliant, tracks. 'waiting room' seems overly out of place, and it also happens to be the worst track off the album. funny, cosidering the talent behind it, it should have been one of the best.… Expand
  5. MicheleM.
    Dec 26, 2001
    9
    this album is fresh, full of energy and diverse. I love it!
  6. MarkW.
    Jul 27, 2002
    8
    An exciting and mature departure for No Doubt. Excellent and exciting. I love the Jamaican accent to the CD, which yet made excellent use of An exciting and mature departure for No Doubt. Excellent and exciting. I love the Jamaican accent to the CD, which yet made excellent use of Gwen's vocal capabilities.… Expand
  7. JamesF
    Aug 27, 2005
    7
    I rather liked it. I can't really compare it with the older stuff because it's just a different direction. I definitely enjoyed it I rather liked it. I can't really compare it with the older stuff because it's just a different direction. I definitely enjoyed it more than the Saturn CD; it was just different good, rather than almost as good as the same. And I couldn't disagree more with the last journalist above, what is he talking about? It's Ocasek getting a bit Cars that makes the record worth it. "Don't Let Me Down" is an unabashed blast! The best moment of the record. Sweet 80s sugar!… Expand
  8. zileto
    Sep 28, 2005
    1
    this album shows how much no doubt old out in mainstream pop culture

See all 17 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Most Discussed Album of 2001

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