Gwen Stefani and her band "No Doubt" have been on the pop charts since the mid 90s, with their third album selling over 10 million copies worldwide, there was no doubt in my mind (pun intended) that Tragic Kingdom's successor would be equally as popular.

Apparently the name of the album had everything to do with her age (30 years old) and coming of age. I'm really not sure what happens at age 30, but apparently it has something to do with the planet Saturn (please excuse my ignorance, if you know please leave a comment). It's hard to believe how far Gwen Stefani has come with her pipes. That once annoying whine that she would emit when singing songs like "Tapped in a Box" is completely gone. Just like her songs on the first album, however, the music on Return of Saturn are mostly about her X-boyfriend, Tony Kanal, who is also in No Doubt.


Gwen does get just a bit repetitive with some of these songs, however they are all very well written and I can't name one that isn't catchy. In-fact, I find myself singing along to most of them almost every time I'm in my car; I thank the car gods for inventing tinted windows so people can't see me.

Songs include:

1.Ex girlfriend: This is a very melodramatic song, which I'm assuming is about her breakup with Tony Kanal. Nonetheless, it is a very catchy song. The only gripe I have with this track is it's tendency to get old very fast. I usually can only get halfway through this song before I need to swtich to song 2.

2.Simple Kind Of Life: Again, I'm assuming this song is about her X-boyfriend, only this time Gwen expresses her feelings of having kids with him. This song is my favorite song on the entire album. It's catchy, sweet, sad, fun, and offers a great beat; all in one.

3.Bathwater: Gwen sings about bathing in her X-boyfriends old bath water ~ interesting~. Like the first two tracks, Bathwater is also a very catchy song that an entire carload of people can sing along to.

4.Six Feet Under: I don't know what this song is about, but my best guess is, it's about her X boyfriend, again. This track is probably my least favorite song on this album.

5. Magic's In The Makeup: This is a song that that has good base line and is fun to listen to. I find myself making up new words for this song all the time.

6.Artificial Sweetener: This track is probably my second most favorite one this album. It's just so incredibly catchy. It's also a song that doesn't get old with time. Three years after this album made its debut, I still find myself singing this song. Why this song didn't come out as a single is beyond me..

7.Merry Me: NO comment really, I usually use the skip feature on this song. This is one of the two tracks on this album which are very repetitive and depressing.

8.New: Perhaps the most catchy song on this album and the video for it was on MTV/VH1's top 20s for what seemed like forever. I know you all have heard it this one.

9. Too Late: This is a mellow song, gets depressing after awhile. Next to Six feet under, this is probably my 2nd least favorite song. Sounds more like elevator music than Gwen's typical ska-rock.

10.Comforting Lie: No Comment.

11.Suspension Without Suspense: At first thought, I thought this song would be about a cars suspension.. It wasn't-Oh well. A very good song, nonetheless that is extremely catchy and offers a great beat.

12.Staring Problem: Although super catchy, I do not care for this song. Gwen repeats the letters S-T-A-R-I-N-G so often that I feel as though I'm in English class. I have four letters for this song- S-K-I-P

13.Home Now: A very good song, however I have a sneaky suspicion that this song is yet another ditty about her X boyfriend.

14. Dark Blue: No comment

I don't know how much influence the other members of the band had in writing the songs, but from what I hear Gwen Stefani writes darn near all of them. Not to keep all of the attention on Gwen Stefani, the other band members are also very good at what they do, drums, base, etc.

Not that this has anything to do with No Doubt's album, but what's with her being married to Gavin from Bush? As my wise Mother would say " ewww, as if." Gwen's male preferences aside, this album is one of No Doubt's best ever. I recommend Return of Saturn 150%

If you like No Doubt, you have to get Gwen Stefani's solo debut; Love Angel Music Baby.

...Someone drag me back to the car review section!


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving