No Doubt

After the huge success of Tragic Kingdom in '95, this follow-up (released in 2000) managed to create a record that didn't try to cash in on their previous successes. Roping in elements of New Wave alongside stronger songwriting, they created an album that upped the ante for big league commercial pop.

The difference between obscurity and overexposure is only one video and a few million
Total Request Live votes. After languishing for years on the Orange County, California, ska
scene, No Doubt sold 15 million copies worldwide of their 1995 album, Tragic Kingdom,
largely on the strength of a power ballad that resembled nothing else on the album. Along
the way, the band lost an early member to suicide, forfeited Gwen Stefani's key... More >

Gwen Stefani is forced to battle the perception that she's shallow because shallow is what she is. Like any human being, she has real feelings, but they run about as deep as her hair color and her commitment to ska, and wasn't it polite of me not to bring up her gift for the pithy phrase and the catchy tune? Occasionally her pushing-30 doubts about the single life are touching, like when she imagines Gavin Rossdale would make a good dad. But after five years, two producers, one Spin cover, and one lead review in Rolling Stone, the single Interscope sent her back to the salt mines for is the best thing on her automatic-platinum follow-up. So maybe marriage wouldn't be such a bad idea. No no no, not to Gavin--better she should land a really nice accountant. They have feelings too. (Grade - C+)