Push and Shove
by No Doubt
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
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  1. Q Magazine
    Oct 22, 2012
    60
    No Doubt have always been a platinum-haired party band, but, over 20 years into the game, such platinum pop perfection feels far less forced. [Nov 2012, p.108]
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  2. The Telegraph (UK)
    Sep 28, 2012
    60
    Too much of the record sounds like generic, Katy Perry-esque power-pop.
  3. The Guardian
    Sep 27, 2012
    60
    As a comeback, this is nice work.
  5. NOW Magazine
    Sep 27, 2012
    60
    Still charismatic, quirky and iconic into her 40s, the singer grounds whatever style the band takes on with a trademark confident and longing delivery.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Sep 25, 2012
    60
    Push and Shove leans toward synthpop-flavored ballads with grown-up themes: relationship struggles, the rewards of long-term romance. The songs are catchy, but Gwen Stefani doesn't have the voice, or the gravitas, for grandiose tunes.
  7. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Sep 24, 2012
    60
    There's an excess of bog-standard radio-friendly pop-rock, and a couple of wet weepies à la "Don't Speak".
  8. The Independent (UK)
    Sep 21, 2012
    60
    No Doubt makes only the most tentative divergences from previously tried and tested strategies, which gives Push and Shove a character that could be described as either dated or timeless.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Oct 2, 2012
    58
    The album sags in the midtempo-heavy middle, with Stefani's slang-laden lyrics transitioning from campy to corny without a boost from adrenalized production. But Push And Shove rallies in the end.
  10. Boston Globe
    Sep 25, 2012
    50
    It sounds like every last detail was worked out through numbing compromise.
  11. musicOMH.com
    Sep 24, 2012
    50
    Push And Shove is a decent, solid pop album, but it lacks the sense of occasion and excitement that you'd expect from a band's first album in 12 years.
  12. Mojo
    Oct 22, 2012
    40
    It doesn't help that the album features a glut of dull mid-tempos. [Nov 2012, p.95]
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  13. PopMatters
    Sep 26, 2012
    40
    After "One More Summer"... and the inconsistent but decent title song, the album becomes so filler-centric that even the tracks' titles are interchangeable. "Undone", Push and Shove's primary ballad, at least offers a change of tempo, but the song itself is a total bore.

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 76
  3. Negative: 4 out of 76
  1. jos95
    Sep 25, 2012
    8
    It's no Tragic Kingdom, but definitely a worthy comeback for No Doubt. It continues the band's perfect mix of rock, pop, ska and 80'sIt's no Tragic Kingdom, but definitely a worthy comeback for No Doubt. It continues the band's perfect mix of rock, pop, ska and 80's influences as well as keeping with current trends. The title track is awesome and fuses so many old and new genres amazingly! It makes the dancehall songs of Rock Steady look tired. My biggest issue with the album is that the best songs (Settle Down, Looking Hot, Push and Shove) seem to stand too high above the others, if there were even more amazing songs it could be on par with Tragic Kingdom. Apart from that, old fans will enjoy it and it should pick up a few new fans along the way.… Full Review »
  2. waldo632
    Oct 1, 2012
    0
    This album was just pure garbage. It's not No Doubt anymore.. they hav eturned into some stupid and horrible mix of lame pop/reggae/ (wannabe)This album was just pure garbage. It's not No Doubt anymore.. they hav eturned into some stupid and horrible mix of lame pop/reggae/ (wannabe) ska music. Bad comback after all this time on Hiatus...… Full Review »
  3. WadeVS
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    "To go forward sometimes you have to go back" seems to always have been the band's motto. For all those too uptight to join in the party"To go forward sometimes you have to go back" seems to always have been the band's motto. For all those too uptight to join in the party there are countless emo bands out there for you to get your lyric fix from. But for the rest of us we gonna party like it's 1984. The band's most perfected album and it's purely pop.… Full Review »
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