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No Doubt, The Singles 1992-2003

Reviewed by Sean Finney

How do you write a review for a greatest hits package?

I mean it's full of songs we've all heard over and over on the radio. In the case of the current No Doubt release, there are some saving graces to such an endeavor. One, the songs are great and provide a punch no matter how many times you hear them. Two, they are one of those special bands that can reinvent themselves while keeping true to their own unique pop/ska/rock sound. It definitely has become the soundtrack for us late 20, early 30 something's. I can't listen to "I'm Just A Girl" without flashing back to some backyard college party. The disk is thoughtfully put together with the song selection evenly spread over their eleven year run on a major label. They focus as much on the earlier songs such as "Excuse Me Mister" and "Sunday Morning" as they do the current smash hits like "Hella Good." It's not just an excuse to promote the singles that didn't do so well on the last records, which is usually the case for greatest hit packages.

Now, here are some things I wish they had done on this release to make it a true "must buy" for No Doubt fans. Since the band has been together for close to twenty years, it would have been very cool to hear some really old recordings from the early days. Maybe some cut from a demo that landed them a deal or a live recording from a hometown Orange County gig back in the day. Also, they didn't really add any "Enhanced Features" that have become the norm on most other current releases. It would have been nice to have the corresponding music videos that helped launch them on MTV. Also, let's not kid ourselves here, one of the main attractions of the band and this compilation is Gwen Stefani. For the guys she is just plain nice to look at; and for the gals she provides a strong female role model and is also nice to look at.

I would definitely suggest you get this if you are a fan, or even a fence-rider. The disk will provide many hours of enjoyment that's well worth the money.

Bottom Line: You can't go wrong with this one.

Rating: (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)