It isn't often that I will take to reviewing a single or music video. I personally believe that music videos should be just about obselete. Just download the song and use your imagination - the song should tell it's own story.
That being said, No Doubt has waited a decade to share a song with us. As a lifelong fan, I felt the need to share my thoughts on "Settle Down."
"It's My Life" was what No Doubt left the fans with back in 2002, the "bonus track" on a greatest hits album. They didn't even leave their fans with something original - they chose a cover! So, we're going to ignore that for right now and say that Rock Steady back in 2001 was the last thing we've really seen from No Doubt. A solid album, starting to dive more into a reggae vibe than the Orange County ska sound that originally catapulted them to fame. Well...
"Settle Down" picks up right where Rock Steady left off. There's a strong reggae influence, and the band is as tight as ever. You can tell this project was a labor of love, b/c Stefani's vocals were much cleaner cut and on target than any of the solo stuff she's put out. Maybe that's because her voice was clearly made for this type of music. But her voice isn't the only thing that shines - the quality of every layer of this track is off the chain. The song itself is over 6 minutes long - a gutsy move for a single. After ten years of waiting, at least the fans get more than 3 minutes of a teaser.
To be quite honest, I'm still working out the lyrics on this one. Usually Stefani's lyrics are pointed and straightforward. Her lyrics read like an open book under most cases. I don't know if she wrote these, or if it was a group effort. It's quite a catchy hook, "Get in line and settle down." But who on earth is supposed to settle down? Stefani? The band? The fans? The label? I've got nothing here. And the lyrics mention trying to "get a hold on this." And the band said that they chose this song specifically as the first single - what's the message?
Who cares?!?! It's a catchy number, and after just a few viewing of the video, it's looping in my head. It proves that No Doubt can still write a hit. But the real question is whether or not they can produce a complete, coherent album with a message. Tragic Kingdom struck a cord with so many fans back in the 90's because it had a message. Return of Saturn is, in my opinion, one of the greatest breakup albums every composed. Rock Steady was even a successful gamble. Let's hope Push and Shove was worth waiting 11 years for.
