The Singles 1992-2003

iTunes Review

No Doubt had to put in years on the Southern California club circuit before its rambunctious ska-punk revivalist sound found a mass audience. Once No Doubt did connect, though, they churned out a steady stream of ear-snagging hits, collected on The Singles 1992-2003. Gwen Stefani’s emotive (if exaggerated) singing style and outsized personality dominate these recordings. Her blend of girly-girl coyness and tough-chick attitude are best appreciated on manic numbers like “Excuse Me Mr.,” “Ex-Girlfriend,” and “Hey Baby.” Just as important to her persona are lovelorn ballads like “Don’t Speak” and “Simple Kind of Life.” Stefani isn’t the whole show here though — the band’s combination of brawny guitar riffs and supple Jamaican rhythms defined them from their first single “Trapped in a Box” through later releases like “Hella Good.” Rounding out this album is a newly-recorded cover of Talk Talk’s plaintive “It’s My Life.” The Singles shows off No Doubt’s crisp ensemble playing as well as their madcap spirit. Stefani’s solo career has made the band’s future uncertain, but these tracks assure their place in pop/rock history.