Return of Saturn

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Return of Saturn
Return of Saturn cover
Studio album by No Doubt
Released April 11, 2000
Genre New Wave, ska punk
Length 60:42
Label Interscope
Producer(s) Glen Ballard, Jerry Harrison, No Doubt
Professional reviews
No Doubt chronology
Tragic Kingdom
(1995)		 Return of Saturn
(2000)		 Rock Steady
(2001)


Return of Saturn is the fourth album by American ska punk band No Doubt, released by Interscope Records in April 2000 (see 2000 in music).

Contents

[edit] Background

After the success of No Doubt's breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom (1995), the band wrote more than twenty songs for a new album, influenced by artists such as the Cure.[1] Having toured extensively for two and a half years since the release of Tragic Kingdom, they initially had trouble producing material and decided to experiment with new sounds.[2] In early 1999, they released "New", co-produced by Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison, for the soundtrack of the film Go (1999). During early production of the album, the band worked with Matthew Wilder, who had produced Tragic Kingdom, and Michael Beinhorn.[3] When scheduling conflicts arose with Beinhorn, they decided on Glen Ballard, who had produced Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill (1995).[3]

The album's title was originally announced as Saturn Returns in November 1999.[4] The title refers to the astrological return known as the Saturn return. Saturn's orbit takes 29.4 Earth years,[5] and in astrology, the time when Saturn returns to its position during a person's birth is believed to be a period of self-evaluation. Lead singer Gwen Stefani was born October 3, 1969, and many of the songs were written during her Saturn return.[4]

[edit] Album information

The album is considered by many as their darkest. Most of this is true because here the group replaces their signature ska sound, which has always been colorful and giddy, by the artsy detachment of new wave, inspired by such bands like Split Enz and especially Missing Persons. Gwen Stefani's self-deprecating lyrical sense in this album also grabbed the attention of critics, who poked her about writing on such things like insecurity, marriage and settling down. The album, which leaned on the retro-smart production sense of Glen Ballard, was very celebrated and acclaimed, even though it slid down the charts (after a very good start) and only got one major hit ("Simple Kind of Life"), while "Ex-Girlfriend", "Bathwater", and "New" largely failed to reach expectations. "Magic's in the Makeup" was originally intended to be the fourth and final single.

[edit] Critical reception

The album was well-received by critics. All Music Guide gave it four and a half stars, calling it "a terrific, layered record that exceeds any expectations set by Tragic Kingdom".[6] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone referred to it as "a superstar follow-up that not only betters its predecessor but also radically departs from it".[7]

[edit] Chart performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, behind 'N Sync's No Strings Attached, and sold 201,000 copies in its first week.[8] It spent three weeks inside the top ten and 46 consecutive weeks inside the chart. The album was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards. In Canada it peaked at number four on the Canadian Albums Chart.[9]

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Ex-Girlfriend" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 3:32
  2. "Simple Kind of Life" (Stefani) – 4:16
  3. "Bathwater" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 4:02
  4. "Six Feet Under" (Kanal, Stefani) – 2:28
  5. "Magic's in the Makeup" – 4:21
  6. "Artificial Sweetener" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 3:54
  7. "Marry Me" (Kanal, Stefani) – 4:38
  8. "New" (Dumont, Stefani) – 4:26
  9. "Too Late" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 4:16
  10. "Comforting Lie" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 2:52
  11. "Suspension Without Suspense" (Stefani) – 4:10
  12. "Staring Problem" (Kanal, Stefani, Stefani) – 2:43
  13. "Home Now" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 4:34
  14. "Dark Blue" (Dumont, Kanal, Stefani) – 10:30
    • Contains the hidden track "Big Distraction" in Europe and Australia, "Too Late (instrumental)" in North America, and "Full Circle" in Japan

[edit] Personnel

No Doubt

Additional personnel

[edit] Production

  • Producers: No Doubt, Glen Ballard, Jerry Harrison, Matthew Wilder
  • Engineers: Sean Beavan, Scott Campbell, Bryan Carrigan, Karl Derfler, Alain Johannes, Thom Panunzio
  • Mixing: Jack Joseph Puig
  • Mastering: Bob Ludwig
  • A&R: Tom Whalley
  • Synthesizer programming: Michael Boddicker, Bryan Carrigan, Gabrial McNair
  • String arrangements: Paul Buckmaster
  • Horn arrangements: Gabrial McNair
  • Production coordination: Jolie Levine-Aller
  • Production assistant: Rachel Cleverley
  • Package coordinator: Cindy Cooper
  • Web service: Ray Ibe
  • Chart preparation: Orion Crawford
  • Art coordinator: Joe-Mama Nitzberg
  • Design: Robert Fisher
  • Photography: David LaChapelle, Joe-Mama Nitzberg
  • Personal assistant: Chris Fenn

[edit] Charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[10] 18
Canadian Albums Chart[9] 4
Finnish Albums Chart[11] 5
French Albums Chart[12] 21
German Albums Chart 5
New Zealand Albums Chart[13] 7
Swedish Albums Chart[14] 7
Swiss Albums Chart[15] 8
UK Albums Chart 31
United World Chart 5
U.S. Billboard 200[9] 2

[edit] References

  1. ^ "No Doubt Ready To Record 'Tragic Kingdom' Follow-Up". MTV News. November 11, 1998. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  2. ^ "No Doubt To Get Goth For Next Album?". MTV News. September 10, 1998. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "No Doubt Reschedules Release Date". MTV News. August 23, 1999. April 7, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Manning, Kara. "No Doubt Mulls Title As New Album Hits Home Stretch". MTV News. November 16, 1999. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
  5. ^ "Saturn: Facts & Figures". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Return of Saturn > Review". All Music Guide. Retrieved April 6, 2000.
  7. ^ Walters, Barry. "No Doubt: Return of Saturn : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  8. ^ "Santana : Second Saturn from the Sun". MTV News. April 19, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c "Return of Saturn > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". All Music Guide. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  10. ^ "No Doubt - Return of Saturn". AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  11. ^ "No Doubt - Return of Saturn". FinnishCharts.com. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  12. ^ "No Doubt - Return of Saturn". LesCharts.com. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  13. ^ "No Doubt - Return of Saturn". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  14. ^ "No Doubt - Return of Saturn". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  15. ^ "No Doubt - Return of Saturn". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved April 6, 2007.


No Doubt
Tom Dumont - Tony Kanal - Gwen Stefani - Adrian Young
Touring band: Stephen Bradley - Gabrial McNair
Former members: John Spence - Eric Stefani
Discography
Albums: No Doubt - The Beacon Street Collection - Tragic Kingdom - Return of Saturn - Rock Steady
Compilations: The Singles 1992-2003 - Everything in Time - Boom Box
DVDs: Live in the Tragic Kingdom - Rock Steady Live - The Videos: 1992-2003
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