The artist honors someone whose “Wonderful Life” had a profound impact on her. Songs emphasize the need for fidelity and transparency in romantic relationships (“Early Winter” and “4 in the Morning,” respectively). Eager to assure people that fame hasn’t changed this “Orange County Girl,” Stefani is grateful for her success while recalling the simpler days of her youth. However …
The line “I really don’t give a f—” spoils that song, while the profanities “s—” and “d–mit” pop up elsewhere. On “Now That You Got It” Stefani acts as if she’s doing a lover a favor and challenges him to come through (“This better be the best thing I ever felt”). Making babies leaves her eager to feel sexy again on “Yummy” (“So much heat beneath these clothes … [It’s] time to make you sweat”). With an air of anticipation, the hit “Wind It Up” suggests that dance rhythms turn girls on and start the boys salivating.
Gwen Stefani said recently that until she discovered songwriting all she wanted to do in high school was eat and sleep. Eating and sleeping would be an improvement over cursing and sensuality. This album’s few Sweet sentiments can’t compensate.
After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.