A lot has happened in the pop world in the last decade. Talent shows are relentlessly spewing out “stars”, Lady Gaga has entered the scene with little monsters in tow and Psy’s ‘Gangam Style’ has us galloping around on invisible ponies muttering goodness knows what in Korean.

Hallelujah! After eleven years, Gwen Stefani and her band of merry men have returned! Taking a break from making babies and singing about bananas, Stefani is back with the No Doubt guys to restore some credibility to a genre rife with gimmicks.

Just as they carved their own niche in a sea of grungy 90’s alt rock with their punk ska, So-Cal bop, Push and Shove aims to teach the auto-tuned whippersnappers that old-skool ingenuity and playful eccentricity stands the test of time in the fickle world of Pop.

Album opener, ‘Settle Down’ fills the energetic idiosyncratic dancehall pop void that Rock Steady left. Stefani sounds better than ever, and even with a faux Jamaican lilt she sounds credible (take note Nicki Minaj...) in this bouncy jam that fuses Indian sitars with rasta.  ‘Looking Hot’ exemplifies how well No Doubt can succinctly merge rock progressions into a dance hit, while the title track features their trademark world beat vibe and a chorus which fearlessly delves into a pulsing, mellow dub.

After the energetic opening, it seems regrettable that Push and Shove settles down into some serious crooning. ‘Heaven’ stands out as a new wave ballad, but is far from eclipsing what will forever be the newly single girl’s anthem, which on a first spin, could be dismissed as 80’s inspired faceless pop. Listen closer though, as under the veneer of dreamy synths you can appreciate the subtlety of Dumont’s hooks, undoubtedly air guitar worthy, and focused drums from Young. 

While we don’t expect No Doubt to sing about saving giant pandas or the proletariat struggle, the anodyne lyrics about love verge on being regurgitated drivel.  Musings fluffed up with kooky cotton candy lyrics,  “Curiosity/ A cat up in a tree” reflect the unpretentious nature of their songs, yet long-time No Doubt fans may feel a bit sick from the bubblegum pop spiel, a far cry from the Riot Grrrl days of Tragic Kingdom.

There’s no doubt that No Doubt are back with a bang. For the sake of Pop, let’s not leave it eleven years next time.