Return of Saturn

1	Ex-Girlfriend 3:32
2	Simple Kind of Life 4:16
3	Bathwater 4:02
4	Six Feet Under 2:28
5	Magic's in the Makeup 4:21
6	Artificial Sweetener 3:54
7	Marry Me 4:38
8	New 4:26
9	Too Late 4:16
10	Comforting Lie 2:52
11	Suspension Without Suspense 4:10
12	Staring Problem 2:43
13	Home Now 4:34
14	Dark Blue 10:30

Barnes & Noble

Leave it to No Doubt to infuse the pop music scene with a booster shot of sunny retro pop circa 1984. Taking a page from the moxie manual of girl-driven new wave bands like Romeo Void and Missing Persons (most noticeably on the cheeky "Bathwater," which finds Gwen Stefani coyly purring "Why do the good girls always want the bad boys?"), the Anaheim band have expanded their sound beyond -- without completely forsaking -- the ska punk that permeated their work leading up to their Grammy-nominated disc TRAGIC KINGDOM. Each of the 14 tracks is packed with an infectious punch -- a fresh sound that was foreshadowed by the whirling synth and droning kick drum of "New," which first appeared on the GO movie soundtrack. The influence of goth forerunners the Cure is also felt, particularly on the haunting "Home Now," with its Spanish horns, bolero guitar licks, and ska-tinged bass line. RETURN OF SATURN also reflects the band's evolution as musicians and Stefani's growth as a songwriter. The thoughtful ballads "Simple Kind of Life" and "Marry Me" show that the songbird is no longer content with being just a girl. She's a young woman pondering such issues as matrimony and motherhood. And don't let her pink hair, wonderfully breathy vocals, or nostalgic '80s pop references undercut what's going on here: This is the sound of a great pop band, almost all grown up. Tracy E. Hopkins

All Music Guide

Return of Saturn is an almost defiantly mature record about two things: Stefani's exploration of a troubled romance and her own romantic ideals, plus a serious attempt by the group to not only keep new wave alive, but to make that adolescent music relevant to an older audience. It's a high concept, but Return of Saturn is filled with satisfying contradictions. It's melodic, but deceptively complex; it can seem frothy, but it's never frivolous. No Doubt's desire to expand the emotional template of new wave is the perfect match for Stefani's themes -- she may be writing about love, but she's not writing adolescent love songs. Fragments of her teenaged romantic fantasies remain, but she's writing as a woman in her late 20s. She's tired of being another "ex-girlfriend" -- she wants to fall in love, get married, and have a family. It's a subject that's surprisingly uncommon in pop music, which would alone make Return of Saturn an interesting album. What makes it a successful one is that the band delivers an aural equivalent of Stefani's lyrical themes. They also begin with their adolescent musical ideals, adding depth and detail to their pop-ska foundation. They balance their non-ironic love of new wave with contemporary production and a sensibility borrowed from classic rock: that albums are greater than the sum of their parts. Surprisingly, they pull it off -- it's a far stronger record than Tragic Kingdom, even if the catchiest numbers don't have the same swagger and punch as their previous hit singles. So be it. With Return of Saturn, No Doubt have made a terrific, layered record that exceeds any expectations set by Tragic Kingdom. Not only have they found their voice, they know what to do with it. Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone

...a rare achievement: a superstar follow-up that not only betters its predecessor but also radically departs from it. Barry Walters

Vibe

The band keeps things moving behind Stefani with thrust-and-parry beats and starburst hooks that lure you in against your will. Marc Weingarten