Gwen Stefani - This Is What The Truth Feels Like

Gwen Stefani
This Is What The Truth Feels Like
2016
Spotify

It is an odd feeling going into an album where you somewhat know who/what the artist is talking about. That is the case with Gwen Stefani's new record, and her very public divorce from Bush front man Gavin Rossdale. From that place you can really contextualize songs like "Misery" and others on This Is What The Truth Feels Like. There is a very clear delineation on this record between what would be considered generic pop (the first 2/3 of the record) and the more out there kind of thing that Stefani's solo career has been known for. The first piece is totally fine, albeit pretty generic, pop songs about love and loss. It is not quite Celine Dion level adult love songs, but it also deosn't feel new or exciting either. If you are looking for that punk edge that has always been with Stefani this record certainly is not for you. She has shed it almost completely, which for a woman in her mid forties makes a lot of sense, but it was always that part of her that people really connected with straight from her No Doubt days. "Send Me A Picture" tries to harness just the smallest taste of EDM even using some of the same sounds that are on Jack U's "Where Are you Now?", but it is almost comical how out of place these feel on this track. The final third portion of the album however feels more like a cathartic yell out than anything else, and it is also where things begin to slide off the rails.

"Red Flag" is the first track in this movement, and it has some of the same chants that Stefani's solo debut Love.Angel.Music.Baby had but by this point the world really has moved on. The Fetty Wap inclusion on "Asking 4 It" feels totally forced and just a move to bring in some of his fans which is highly unlikely. His contribution is so small it is almost laughable that he is even on the track at all. "Naughty" with it's grunts and almost complete lack of chorus is an odd and really unsuccessful choice. The choices here just seem so far over the map that the album never really has any real cohesion. With fashion, family and heartbreak all on Stefani's mind, an album probably seemed like the right way to get back to basics, but this really is just not very good. One thing that has not lost a single step however is Gwen's voice, it still is crystal clear even after all these years. This Is What The Truth Feels Like feels like Gwen is chasing pop music rather than setting the pace of it, and for that reason you can easily avoid this record.  

4.1 out of 10