“”Rock Steady””

Trauma/Interscope

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After a month of hearing the nauseating, yet radio-friendly “”Hey Baby”” in the check-out aisles of supermarkets and waiting rooms of dentist offices, I couldn’t wait to tear the shrink wrap off of No Doubt’s fifth studio album, “”Rock Steady.””

Unfortunately, I’ll have to reserve my unkind words for another day because “”Rock Steady”” isn’t half-bad.

While No Doubt may have lived like nomads while making this album, recording everywhere from London to Jamaica, “”Rock Steady”” is closer to the original Orange County sound that sounded so fresh back when the band first burst onto MTV.

And the tried-and-tested formulas of songwriting that have proven successful in the past work yet again on this album. If anyone is wondering what it’s like to date Gavin Rossdale, there are plenty of songs on “”Rock Steady,”” such as “”Detective,”” “”Don’t Let Me Down”” and the beautiful “”Running,”” to engage your inquiring mind.

The only problem with “”Rock Steady”” is that, at times, it tries too hard to recapture what No Doubt was when they were kids. Part of the appeal of No Doubt was their youth and immaturity, but they’re not kids anymore (Gwen Stefani is 32).

When is she going to stop writing songs about making out with boys? On “”The Return of Saturn,”” Gwen had shown so much promise in her songwriting, not as “”Just a Girl,”” but a woman. I think it’s time Rossdale met that girl at the alter — for the sake of her next album.

— Lindsay Boyd

Senior Staff Writer