There's nothing like a Gwen Stefani disc to rip you from your pop comfort zone and, in the pleasantest way possible, knock you around a bit. On The Sweet Escape, the blows arrive roughly every four minutes: a yodel ("Wind It Up") skitters off ceremoniously before the title track, featuring Akon, catches you off guard with its infectious yelps of "Woo-hoo, YEE-hoo!," and the pouty rap of "Orange County Girl" has barely petered out before we're vectored somewhere back toward the '80s with the indie rock-ish "Early Winter." That the sound of these songs doesn't follow a formula--that they pounce wherever they please, without regard for genres or decades--is no big whoop; this is Gwen Stefani, after all, and her up-for-anything, play-along fans probably wouldn't have it any other way. More surprising is the extent to which Stefani inserts what seems to be her genuine self into the music: "4 in the Morning," a Madonna-reminiscent midtempo groover, drops the wide-eyed Betty Boop pose and basks in a rarely plumbed depth of feeling ("I give you everything that I am / I'm handing over everything that I've got / 'cause I wanna have a really true love," she sings with something like sincerity). A single track later, she's owning up to motherhood in the sexiest, most unapologetic way possible: "I know you've been waiting," she pants, "but I've been off making babies / And like a chef making donuts and pastries / It's time to make you sweat." Lyrics don't get much cleverer than the ones to "Breakin' Up," a kiss-off disguised as a dropped cell phone call, and sounds don't get much swizzier than the ones on "Now That You Got It." Which is to say that Gwen's got game--as much as on Love.Angel.Music.Baby, if not more--and that anytime she's prepared to hollaback, the world will do well to listen. --Tammy La Gorce

Limited Edition Enhanced Japanese pressing of the sophomore album from the No Doubt vocalist and fashion icon features one bonus track ('Wind It Up'-Harajuku Lovers Live Version) plus two bonus enhanced videos: 'Orange County Girl' (Live) and 'Wind It Up' (Harajuku Lovers Live Version). On her second album, the music and fashion icon takes you on a wild musical and visual ride featuring some of the most creative collaborators of our time, including Pharrel Williams, Nellee Hooper, Tim Nice-Oxley Of Keane and Tony Kanal Of No Doubt. Other contributors to the album include Akon, Sean Garrett, Swizz Beatz, Dave Stewart and Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley. This album is surprisingly different than the last one. "I started recording it last year before Kingston was born and it's definitely evolved over the last year. The dance sound is very `now.' It's modern not so retro," says the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.

I've listened to a few songs and listened to the rest of the track lists for a few minutes."The Sweet Escape" is not as good as "Love.Angel.Music.Baby.".I hope Gwen Stefani's next album will be awesome!!.

Product came in 3 days. Plays all but last song on CD. Contacted the seller a week ago about the problem but have received no answer from them. Not their fault as it was sealed and new but the Customer Service seems to suck.

Two stars are awarded for the three most listenable tracks
on the disc (Sweet Escape, 4 in the Morning, Early WInter).
The rest is immature, non-melodic, syntho-pop/rap garbage.
This is not a mature album, nor is it much of a stretch for Gwen
Stefani, who, now being a 35 year-old mother of two, can't seem
to harness the power or maturity of her chronological age and
apply it to her work as an "artist." Note to Gwen: the bubblegum
rap/pop/syntho gunk about boyfriends and cell phones that your
adoring 12-18 year fan base swoons over isn't broad or appealing
enough to keep you singing much longer. This stuff ain't gonna fly
when your 40, girrrrrl. Find a new way to represent.

My favorite song on there is "don't get it twisted." I like the CD it's good, but I it's not one of her greatest. She did better music when she was with No Doubt. She's prettier now than she was back then, but her compilation of music on this Cd wasn't my favorite.

Having been the quirky lead singer of No Doubt ever since the late eighties, Gwen Stefani (and her fellow band members) have evolved over the years. When it was decided that she would take a break from the band to pursue a solo career, she unleashed Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which was an exhilerating odyssey of catchy retro tunes. Unfortunately, her second stab at solo work does not fair quite as well. With The Sweet Escape, Gwen ditches the electro-pop of L.A.M.B. for an R&B approach. Although lyrically her wit is as sharp as ever in "Yummy" and "Breakin' Up," the music isn't always as good as it should be . Ranging from the synth-rich rock of "Wonderful Life" to the emotionally-tinged pop of "4 In The Morning," most of the other songs sound like standard R&B tunes that have played on the airwaves constantly for the past ten years. The main thing that keeps this album together is the undeniable talent with words that Gwen possesses. Although this is nothing close to the masterpiece that L.A.M.B. was, this album isn't particularly terrible. It is merely aggravating that someone with so much talent delivered something that is mostly mediocre.