Led by the infectious, pseudo-{|new wave|} single {|Just a Girl,|} {|No Doubt|}'s major-label debut, {|Tragic Kingdom|}, straddles the line between '90s {|punk|}, {|third-wave ska|}, and {|pop|} sensibility. The record was produced by {|Matthew Wilde... Read more

Led by the infectious, pseudo-{|new wave|} single {|Just a Girl,|} {|No Doubt|}'s major-label debut, {|Tragic Kingdom|}, straddles the line between '90s {|punk|}, {|third-wave ska|}, and {|pop|} sensibility. The record was produced by {|Matthew Wilder|}, the auteur behind {|Break My Stride|} -- a clever mainstream co-opting of {|new wave|} quirkiness, and, as such, an ideal pairing. {|Wilder|} kept his production lean and accessible, accentuating {|No Doubt|}'s appealing mix of {|new wave|} melodicism, {|post-grunge|} {|rock|}, and West Coast sunshine. Even though the band isn't always able to fuse its edgy energy with {|pop|} melodies, the combination worked far better than anyone could have hoped. When everything does click, the record is pure fun, even if some of the album makes you wish they could sustain that energy throughout the record. {|Tragic Kingdom|} might not have made much of an impact upon its initial release in late 1995, but throughout 1996 {|Just a Girl|} and {|Spiderwebs|} positively ruled the airwaves, both alternative and mainstream, and in 1997 {|No Doubt|} cemented their cross-generational appeal with the {|ballad|} hit {|Don't Speak.|} ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Less