No Doubt
The Beacon Street Collection

THE REVIEW

This is a story with a happy ending: that of a band on the edge of the abyss, but looking up with the hope of one day knocking on heaven’s doors. They are called No Doubt, they come from Anaheim, California, and are led by the gritty Gwen Stefani. They spent five years cutting their teeth playing live in small clubs, got a record deal in 1990, and two years later released their self-titled debut album: a tremendous flop, just 30,000 copies sold, crumbs by American standards. The record label tried to drop them, so much so that "The Beacon Street Collection," their second album, was self-released in 1995 on the band’s own label, Sea Creature Records. Another flop, but at least it sold three times the debut album.

Far from being a compilation, "The Beacon Street Collection" assembles recordings previously discarded from various studio sessions: ten tracks with a rather varied style, attributable to a (pop) rock territory where you can detect grunge undertones (as in the opening track, "Open The Gate," or in "Snakes") and ska, the style that marked their debut (as in "Total Hate 95," in "Squeal," and in the concluding "Doghouse").

An interesting album that stays, without excelling, on a good overall level. It certainly lacks the spark, the touch of brilliance that would make it memorable for at least one or two tracks.

As mentioned, with this work, No Doubt dangerously leaned on the brink of the abyss: they’ve already had two chances and perhaps won't be given a third. But they have the merit of believing in themselves, of not giving up. Later that same year, in 1995, "Tragic Kingdom," the third album, was released, which was a resounding success: eight times platinum after its release, an international tour lasting 27 months, 16 million copies sold to date.

In 1995, therefore, a star was born: her name is Gwen Stefani. She and No Doubt have come so far as to knock on heaven’s doors.