I was a big fan of Love.Angel.Music.Baby, especially the slick pop songs like "Luxurious." This new album sticks to the formula that worked so well on that first album, but it tones down the 80's art pop that could be found in songs like "What You Waiting For." The interesting thing about Love.Angel.Music.Baby was that rehashing a lot of those 80's dance and art pop sounds into a modern mix worked and provided a unique sound that had some real gotcha moments. Since The Sweet Escape moves away from that odd mix, it feels a bit flat, a bit too packaged, and so is a bit tired. There are times when songs seem to be a simple attempt to build on the back of songs that were hits on the first album, like "Now That You Got It" seems to build off of "Hollaback Girl." It doesn't work because the newer songs sound rehashed where the first album songs sounded experimental and legitimate takes on older themes like "Hollaback Girl" being a fresh take on "Mickey" by Toni Basil or "What You Waiting For" being a take on the Missing Person's sound. In fact you could break down almost every song on L.A.M.B like this. That is the originality and fun of L.A.M.B and all that is missing with this new album.
Despite all of its failures it still works as a pop album and has entertaining moments, but it is a fairly weak effort. It would have been much more interesting to see Stefani gravitating towards something newer, but maybe she's not sure on where to go. She has lead No Doubt through a sound change and rebirth and then her own solo effort went off in an even different direction. She is, in the end, a pop artist and it gets hard to reinvent a new pop sound for each album. But in order for a chosen sound to work time and again you need very strong material, with good hooks and good lyrics. These are simply not that strong on The Sweet Escape.
