The Sweet Escape
by Gwen Stefani
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

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  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 between Madonna and Kylie Minogue...
  2. vina
    Jan 3, 2007
    10
    Wow..a lot of people saying Gwen should go back to No Doubt. Well I personally think that No Doubt suck and Gwen should stick to her far more interesting solo work - this album is pretty good.
  3. TylerM
    Jan 4, 2007
    9
    I enjoyed it a lot. True there are some *weird and horrible* songs but i love... Wind It Up Orange County Girl Yummy Don't Get it Twisted
  4. Sublimonade
    Dec 10, 2006
    9
    I Absolutely LOVE Gwen's New Album. All the songs are wickedly infectious! The tunes are catchy and upbeat. I know "The Sweet Escape" ft Akon will hit the top charts next. I love Pharrell's work too. She's got the LAMB and he's rocking the Ice Cream blend it together they got something fresh and kinda in between.
  5. SkyM
    Dec 22, 2006
    9
    I absolutely loved this album, personally I like it better than the first one which is saying alot. I find it intresting that so many people are calling her a "wigger" when the whole album is much more pop based than hip-hop. You should listen to it in it's entirety more than once and I promise you won't be disappointed.
  6. tonyg
    Dec 4, 2006
    7
    I like most of it. I like the music and beat of breaking up but it is too monotonous for me fast becomes annoying. stand out tracks in my opinion: sweet escape, 4 in the morning, yummy. Wind it up would have been better with more mature lyrics and less rap. worst songs: dont get it twisted and orange county girl. Still, I have listend to the whole album a million times already.
  7. PaulR
    Dec 5, 2006
    9
    This album is completely amazing. Almost all the tacks are instantly memorable and catchy...and doesn't that make for a great album?? I hate these little comments about Gwen trying to catch up to Fergie....excuse me if I'm wrong but Fergie's "London Bridge" sounds like Hollaback girl with a little more melody...and Fergie's "Glamorous" sounds an awful lot like This album is completely amazing. Almost all the tacks are instantly memorable and catchy...and doesn't that make for a great album?? I hate these little comments about Gwen trying to catch up to Fergie....excuse me if I'm wrong but Fergie's "London Bridge" sounds like Hollaback girl with a little more melody...and Fergie's "Glamorous" sounds an awful lot like gwen's "Luxurious"...if anything..Fergie's a few years behind..though both album are very good....Gwen's sound isn't for the older type of listeners..which seem to be the professional critics rating her… Expand
  8. ShamekaJ
    Dec 5, 2006
    10
    A triumph. Yes, some of its songs are a tad sappy, but every one (besides the wretched "Breakin' Up, but I'll ignore that) is a pleasure to listen to. "Wind It Up," "Don't Get It Twisted," and "Yummy" are among the most fun and the funniest songs of Gwen's career, and "The Sweet Escape" is positively brilliant. On the whole, a spectacular album.
  9. JohnW
    Dec 5, 2006
    10
    This album is 1000 times better than L.A.M.B., though the first single "wind it up" is a horrible song.. the rest of the album has amazing songs, such as Wonderful LIfe with Depecho mode,, or Early Winter with Keane... go and get it...
  10. Pee-DroughA
    Dec 6, 2006
    9
    This Album is something speacial, this breaks into her R&B side. Gwen did an awesome job. Sounds to me like the Hills still have music! ha!
  11. Scott
    Dec 9, 2006
    7
    It has its hits, and its misses. But all in all, it's a pretty decent album. Most of the best tracks are in the ballads, like "Early Winter". Some of the powerpop songs seem a bit forced and recycled.
  12. ToniK
    Jan 1, 2007
    10
    great album.. lamb was better but... gwen is awesome
  13. AmandaC
    Jan 3, 2007
    9
    IF you haven bought this album i do recomend it. If you Havent listen to the album and only listend to the single wind it up. i recomend that you hear the single The Sweet Escape featuring Akon. i have heard that the single Wind it up wasnt a big big hit but it was good. Just beacuse u didnt like the first single that doesnt mean that the album is annoying
  14. ficlare
    Jan 9, 2007
    8
    it waz real gd!
  15. GauravS
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    Excellent Album.Though it is not as good as the previous Gwen Stefani's previous album,But our of the 13 songs,i liked 9 of them.Excellent album.
  16. EmoKid
    Mar 5, 2007
    8
    Really well done with catchy beats. But still not the best album of the world.
  17. MC
    May 14, 2007
    7
    I Rated Each Song: Wind it up - 8/10 The Sweet Escape- 9/10 Orange County Girl - 6/10 Early Winter - 6/10 Now That you Got It - 7/10 4 in the morning - 10/10 Yummy - 9/10 Fluorescent - 7/10 Breakin' Up - 7/10 Don't Get It Twisted - 6/10 U Started it - 6/10 Wonderful Life - 8/10
  18. paulac
    Dec 10, 2006
    10
    This album is so catchy i loved it although there are some songs that i wasnt particularly fond of they all were sweet i hope she keeps making more cds like this their all so catchy and u cant stop singing them.
  19. JerrodL.
    Dec 4, 2006
    8
    The Sweet Escape is great. Its highs may not be as high as those on L.A.M.B. but it doesn't have as many low points as that album did. Pharrell's productions on The Sweet Escape are overshadowed by songs by Swizz Beatz, Akon, Nellee Hooper and Tony Kanal. Overall, it's a mindless fun CD.
  20. BonnyB
    Dec 5, 2006
    7
    L.A.M.B. was better, but the more you listen to Sweet Escape the more you're gonna appreciate it. Song 12 Wonderfull Life is wonderfull and Song 4 Early Winter is one of the best songs by Gwen.
  21. [Anonymous]
    Dec 5, 2006
    9
    almost as much fun as the first album! cheers to Gwen...what a funky peice of hot ass she is! :)
  22. Tristan
    Dec 5, 2006
    10
    Wow!! Gwen has done it again. She has made another decent fully-listeneable album, which is also an album which you don't feel like skipping a single track... thats a rareity these days. Love every moment of "The Sweet Escape". standout tracks = "4 In the Morning", "Yummy", "Now That You Got It", "Breakin' Up". What a delight it is to see Ms. Stefani back at it!!
  23. WayneC
    Dec 6, 2006
    8
    It's no L.A.M.B - but it is still a respectable album - and Fergie needs to back off on the cloning of Gwen- keep it up- and bring back No Doubt!
  24. sams
    Dec 6, 2006
    10
    It is a great fun follow-up .... Gwen rules
  25. JordanI
    Dec 8, 2006
    10
    This album is great, it has great songs and it can do no wrong. There's an 80's dance vibe on some songs but she does it well
  26. RafaelS
    Dec 8, 2006
    9
    Most of the songs in "The Sweet Escape" are GREAT. I mean, just great! You can find so many diversity, like the crazy beats in "Wind It Up" and "Yummy", the circus theme in "Don't Get It Twisted", the reggaeton-ish "Breakin' Up", and the CLASSIC ballads (which are the best thing off the album), "4 In The Morning" and "Early Winter". The problem is (and that's why Im not Most of the songs in "The Sweet Escape" are GREAT. I mean, just great! You can find so many diversity, like the crazy beats in "Wind It Up" and "Yummy", the circus theme in "Don't Get It Twisted", the reggaeton-ish "Breakin' Up", and the CLASSIC ballads (which are the best thing off the album), "4 In The Morning" and "Early Winter". The problem is (and that's why Im not giving a 10 to the album), is that all the songs together in 1 album are not quite interesting. It's sort of like they were rushed and picked up randomly. Except for that, the songs are amazing! Even though I can't wait for Gwen to return to No Doubt, which should be soon!… Expand
  27. AlfredoM
    Dec 8, 2006
    9
    I enjoyed it very much. The track "The Sweet Escape" is brilliant..I also love Yummy. It's a lot of fun. Gwen brings interesting music.
  28. JorgeS
    Jan 6, 2007
    9
    I think it is really good music, perhaps not a deep album, but it works well, here my review of every song: 1. Wind It Up.- Fun, upbeat, neptunes-production 7/10 2. The Sweet Escape.- Damn! What a great tune. Reminds me the old Gwen 10/10 3. Orange County Girl.- Love the beat 8/10 4. Early Winter.- Nice down-tempo, coulda sound better 7/10 5. Now That You Got It.- Mmmm I didn't like I think it is really good music, perhaps not a deep album, but it works well, here my review of every song: 1. Wind It Up.- Fun, upbeat, neptunes-production 7/10 2. The Sweet Escape.- Damn! What a great tune. Reminds me the old Gwen 10/10 3. Orange County Girl.- Love the beat 8/10 4. Early Winter.- Nice down-tempo, coulda sound better 7/10 5. Now That You Got It.- Mmmm I didn't like this song, but it's pretty catchy 6/10 6. 4 In The Morning.- What can i say?? Just a piece of art 10/10 7. Yummy.- I can almost be sure this would be a single, it's a great tune, like it was Hollaback Girl 4 L.A.M.B. 9/10 8. Fluourescent.- At first I skip this song but then it just start to grew up on me and now I really like it 8/10 9. Breakin' Up.- Nice beat, bad lyrics, too boring 5/10 10. Don't Get It Twisted.- Another outstanding song, I just can't get sick of this 10/10 11. U Started It.- Cool but something's missing 7/10 12. Wonderful Life.- The only left-over of L.A.M.B., enjoyable 8/10 Avarage: 7.9… Expand
  29. HennyH
    Feb 12, 2007
    10
    WOW! amazing CD!
  30. MarcusL
    Feb 5, 2007
    10
    This was a great album Gwen Did Great Job!
  31. JakieM
    Apr 8, 2007
    8
    I think it is a good CD. The quality and sound of her music is great and I think she gets an 8.
  32. inad.
    Sep 15, 2007
    10
    love this so much!!
  33. JamieW
    Dec 11, 2006
    10
    More of a mix bag then anything, but it's a mix bag where everything is awesome. I love the different styles and stuff she's used, totally unique album
  34. Ouas
    Dec 13, 2006
    7
    if you liked L.A.M.B then you will like this one not as much but it's still good though.
  35. DericMC
    Dec 13, 2006
    10
    Excellent stuff that grows on you with more listens. It's not better than L.A.M.B but it's just as good. More cohesive, just as crazy as before, but maybe less diverse. I love the futuristic and modern feel to the music. No bad tracks here too.
  36. JosephA
    Dec 17, 2006
    7
    Great CD, Got some great tracks, some good tracks and some really interesting ones. The melodies and hooks will have you back for more, and upon repeated listens the good tracks and interesting ones get better. Excellent "straight-thru" CD
  37. EricW
    Dec 4, 2006
    10
    i love her almost as much as i love gary. i love to dress like her and sing to her music and she is really popuular at the gay bar i go to its called the dirty sattle i love her
  38. BonnieL
    Dec 4, 2006
    8
    There are a few clunkers... but the tracks Wonderful Life, Early Winter, Flourescent, and The Sweet Escape abolish any bad feelings I have toward the other songs.
  39. zachh
    Dec 5, 2006
    10
    YUMMY!
  40. steoC
    Dec 8, 2006
    8
    ohh yess
  41. andrewarctic
    Feb 17, 2007
    9
    best pop album of 2007
  42. ValtteriH
    Dec 19, 2006
    8
    "Early winter" is an absolute beaute of a song - best track on the album. "Wonderful life", "4 in the morning" and "U started it" are good poptunes as well. She got lucky with "Wind it up", "The sweet escape" and "Now that U got it". The rest we have already heard... Gwen, a word of advice: get rid of The Neptunes and look for new talent.
  43. ixata
    Dec 21, 2006
    10
    i dont understand d critics... n evn allmusicguide gave less den 80 when diz record shud be 100!! i agree wit Valterri, "early winter" is a masterpiece... an emotional number, too... wind it up is an ingenious production and the sampling of "the sound of music" is a hell of an idea -in a good way-! this rocks even better than LAMB!
  44. GagaForGhibli
    Nov 7, 2012
    8
    I Like This Album Alot! I Do Feel Like A Few Of The Songs Felt Rushed Which Effected This Album With Critic's And Fans.. But I Really Enjoyed It Alot! Gwen If Fore Sure Not Going Down Hill!
  45. Frogmime
    Jul 11, 2012
    9
    The songs that are best are The Sweet escape , Early winter , 4 in the morning , Don't get it twisted and Wonderful life The other songs are ok and good but the worst song is breaking up which is totally stupid but ignore that its a good album :)
  46. MusicForever
    Dec 23, 2012
    8
    Just A Great Classic Album!
  47. BWETMatangi
    Aug 14, 2013
    9
    I love it! With songs like "Orange County Girl", "Don't Get It Twisted", and "Breakin' Up", what's not to love? Gwen is a much better solo singer than in No Doubt.
  48. Glitter
    Aug 30, 2013
    8
    Cementing herself as a pop staple with her debut, L.A.M.B., Stefani returns with a sophomore album that boasts as an athenaeum of marriage between zany dance-pop and classic slow-jam. Tracks such as Wind It Up, Breakin' Up, and Yummy are bizarre, jarring, and alien to the mainstream pop world. But with glistening production and perfect execution, Stefani delivers avant-garde in a time whenCementing herself as a pop staple with her debut, L.A.M.B., Stefani returns with a sophomore album that boasts as an athenaeum of marriage between zany dance-pop and classic slow-jam. Tracks such as Wind It Up, Breakin' Up, and Yummy are bizarre, jarring, and alien to the mainstream pop world. But with glistening production and perfect execution, Stefani delivers avant-garde in a time when pop was lacking such. The Sweet Escape is equally solidified by the aforementioned slow-jams. With tracks such as Fluorescent and U Started It, balancing out the upbeat circus that precedes them. In album where the product is complete, Early Winter and Wonderful Life beg to steal the show, as planets in a sky of stars.… Expand
  49. Annah305
    Aug 18, 2018
    10
    Gorgeous iconic album, I don't know why people on here have been so negative.
  50. RARE
    Aug 8, 2016
    10
    "The sweet escape" remains one of the best albums of Ms Stefani, the divergeance is incredible include all different styles but this mixture wonder is always something that stopped me in this creation, it is really great
  51. gabsgomes
    Jul 10, 2018
    10
    The album is incredible. Early Winter, 4 In The Morning and so many other tracks are well performed.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. The Guardian
    80
    Pharrell Williams' production and Stefani's fizzy personality make for an unexpected Christmas treat.
    Read full review
  2. 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.
    Read full review
  3. 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.
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