By Megan King
Think way back to 1995. Beanie babies were all the rage, Bill Clinton was president, and No Doubt’s “Spiderwebs” was the number one song in the country. Way before any boy band or pop princess reigned supreme, Gwen Stefani and the rest of the band were topping the charts with their very own brand of ska-punk-dance music. With their breakout album, Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt found themselves with a platinum record, four Top Ten singles, and four Grammy nominations. Not too bad for a previously unknown band from Anaheim, CA.
Ten years later, it’s hard to imagine the music scene without the infectious pop/ska tunes of Tragic Kingdom. The unforgettable “Just A Girl” highlights Stefani’s powerful and unique voice, while guitarist Tom Dumont provides a catchy instrumental line underneath. Others like “The Climb” and the title track present a harder, edgier sound, but the band’s trademark sound is still evident throughout.
Themes of pain and regret are evident on Tragic Kingdom, as displayed on tracks like “Don’t Speak” and “Happy Now?”. Yet, No Doubt somehow manages to give even these songs a sunny and uplifting feeling. Other tunes like “Hey You” and “You Can Do It” use interesting instruments like the sitar, saxophone and trumpet to create that bouncy and fun sound so synonymous with the band. The emotional “Don’t Speak” is another favorite on the disc. Clearly documenting the aftermath of Stefani’s break-up with bassist Tony Kanal, “Don’t Speak” really showcases the expressive, distinctive, and strong vocal ability of the lead singer. Finally, tracks like “Different People” and “World Go ‘Round” give a philosophical, thoughtful view of the world with lyrics like “But the most amazing thing that I’ve seen in my time / Are all the different people / And all their different minds / And different ways / It would take a lifetime to explain.”
Overall, Tragic Kingdom has produced so many different music styles that it’s almost impossible for the average listener to not like at least one of the songs. No Doubt’s eclectic mix of ska, pop, rock and dance grooves was a different and refreshing style, and even now, ten years later, Tragic Kingdom ranks as one of the most popular records of the ’90.