ok just got her new cd, freakin fantastic
interested in what others think, bonus with Wendy & Lisa, Andre 3000 being on this cd.
oh and the new U2 cd, freakin brilliant
would love to hear others feedback on either or both of these cds.

love them both. nice to see gwen have so much fun with her debut solo effort. i'm glad she didn't feel the need to get all philosophical and/or political.

as for u2...easily one of their best records. a much better collection than all that you can't leave behind, in my opinion. i really like atyclb but i couldn't shake the feeling that it was just a little forced. kind of like "ok, let's give them what they want and try to be convincing while we're doing it." this record really seems like their was an urgency in creating it. some of the songs feel like they just HAD to be recorded.

two of the best of '04!!

I bought the Gwen Stefani cd and played it a few times, but I haven't been able to really get into it. Of course that might be because I haven't stopped playing the new U2 cd yet.

Axchi696 said:

i'm exactly the opposite - the new U2 is okay, but it's not really doing that much for me. it's a nice thing to listen to when i'm cleaning my apartment and i don't know what i want to hear, because to my ears, it's that perfect balance of melodic and bland. i'm LOVING the gwen CD, though. it's one of my favorites of the year.

The U2 album is great. I liken it to the pattern that both Bowie and The Cure have developed. A quieter, more manicured and subtle return to form a la Heathen, Bloodflowers and All That You Can't Leave Behind; followed by a rougher, louder more rocking version meant to be played live a la Reality, The Cure and Atom Bomb. Seemed like a good way to go to remind fans and critics why they loved them in the first place and then follow up with a great album to tour behind.

The Gwen is indeed very fun, but for some reason I just won't buy her record (same with No Doubt's in the past). I enjoy it while it's on, but as soon as it's over the music is immediately out of my head.