★★☆☆☆

Gwen Stefani returns to the music scene with her latest album. bouquet

In her fifth studio album, Stefani delves deeper into the country genre, most likely inspired by her relationship with her husband Blake Shelton, who appears on the album.

bouquether first original album since 2016, has been long-awaited by Stefani’s fans and the general public alike. Stefani has made a name for herself in both pop and rock music with her album The sweet escape and her work in the early 2000s rock band No Doubt. However, in her latest release, Stefani doesn’t do her musical legacy justice.

In Bouquet, Nothing new or fresh is explored, neither sonically nor lyrically. The album’s songs fall into the musical traps of modern country radio, sounding monotonous and merging with each other without any clear distinction.

Stefani’s full vocal talent is underutilized on this album, her voice falling into a limited range.

Additionally, the song’s lyrics rely on trite, overused metaphors about falling in love and dealing with toxic exes. They often contain clunky uses of modern slang that very easily take you out of the album listening experience.

“Had to go and heal something / I’m sorry I ghosted you (ghosted you) / But what should I have done?” Stefani sings in “Swallow My Tears,” for example.

bouquetThe first track is aptly named “Somebody Else’s”, Stefani’s tribute to the person currently dating her “narcissistic, semi-psychotic” ex-boyfriend, as described in the song’s lyrics. It initiates the album’s trend of upbeat country songs and features the same sound found in most, if not all, of the album’s tracks. It is intended to be a more confident anthem, showing that Stefani no longer cares about that relationship as she is now in love with someone who appreciates her. It establishes its purpose, but its lyrics are full of clichés.

“I didn’t know something so wrong / It could really hurt so real, ah,” is just one example in the nearly four-minute track.

“Late To Bloom” is another track that exemplifies what’s missing from the brand Bouquet. Right from the start, it establishes itself as another upbeat country track, complete with acoustic guitar plucks and a twangy electric guitar driving the beat. Stefani sings about falling in love “later in life,” and the audience can only assume it’s Shelton, even though the song doesn’t contain any specific details about the aforementioned lover. Complete with common country references, including “Driving in your Truck,” this track tells a story about falling in love as you get older. However, this song is ultimately forgettable in the overall context of the album. It achieves neither sonically interesting nor lyrically profound.

“Reminders” establishes itself as the album’s standout track, a welcome change of pace with slow, ballad-like vocals and instrumentals amidst the harsh, upbeat noise of the rest of the album.

The gentle guitar and strings in the eighth track create a gentle atmosphere that allows Stefani’s voice to shine. The lyrics are still a bit corny, but emotional and sweet.

“Can I stay here under your shadow / If I’m afraid? / I just need some reminders / Sometimes I forget, it slips away,” Stefani sings.

“Purple Irises,” the final track, features Shelton. A love song between the two, in which their love is compared to purple iris flowers. Unfortunately, the vocals on this track start off awkwardly and don’t get any better as time goes on. The song comes to an abrupt end, consisting of a fast guitar riff that ends the album on a rushed note.

bouquetOverall, it seems like a misstep on Stefani’s part. Country as a genre does not lend itself to Stefani’s praised and widely recognized talents. Neither her songwriting nor her voice shines when used to create a country song. Hopefully their next album will feature a return to their acclaimed pop or rock roots.

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