The Sweet Escape
by Gwen Stefani
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 24
  3. Negative: 3 out of 24
  1. Slant Magazine
    60
    It's not that The Sweet Escape is an unwelcome diversion or that it comes too soon on the heels of Stefani's debut (it's been two full years), but it's starting to feel like No Doubt's future—you know, the one left in question after 2001's Rock Steady, the band's third consecutive creative zenith—is being squandered amidst all the solo stargazing.
  2. AllMusic
    60
    If the dance production on The Sweet Escape were better, these hipster affectations would be easier to forgive, but they're not: they're canned and bland, which only accentuates Stefani's stiffness.
  3. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    There is little here to delineate her above her far less interesting contemporaries, Fergie and Nelly Furtado, both of whom have presented fresher minted records this year.
  5. Blender
    60
    Stefani gets her groove back when she sticks to two essentials: sex and the Neptunes. [Jan/Feb 2007, p.88]
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  6. Q Magazine
    60
    While The Sweet Escape is not as garishly over-the-top as its predecessor, Stefani maintains an admirably off-kilter sound, catchy yet electronically edgy. [Feb 2007, p.106]
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  7. Uncut
    60
    Delivers much of the same. [Feb 2007, p.86]
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  8. Stylus Magazine
    42
    No one listens to Gwen Stefani to hear her rap. Or sing a sentimental power ballad. In fact, if there’s a Gwen song that can’t be described by putting two (or more) genres together, I’d suggest skipping it altogether.
  9. New Musical Express (NME)
    40
    Identity is everything in pop, but the majority of this record serves only to bury what made Gwen Stefani unique in the first place.
  10. musicOMH.com
    40
    The trouble is that in the two years since Love Angel Music Baby she doesn't seem to have moved on or evolved at all.
  11. PopMatters
    40
    Escape‘s songwriting is woefully thin.
  12. Rolling Stone
    40
    She's doing the same thing she did last time, except it's not as much fun.
  13. Vibe
    40
    Erratic. [Feb 2007, p.126]
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Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2006
50
#50 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 211 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 151 out of 211
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 211
  3. Negative: 38 out of 211
  1. Rodkrieg
    Apr 3, 2020
    10
    People don’t know anything, this album is great and she sounds better than some other pop trashy female artists out there, she’s betweenPeople don’t know anything, this album is great and she sounds better than some other pop trashy female artists out there, she’s between Madonna and Kylie Minogue...… Full Review »
  2. stephenv
    Dec 13, 2006
    6
    best songs: early winter, 4 in the morning, wonderful life and the sweet escape. worst song: breakin' up.
  3. Annah305
    Aug 18, 2018
    10
    Gorgeous iconic album, I don't know why people on here have been so negative.
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