Led by the infectious, pseudo-
new wave
single
"Just a Girl,"
No Doubt
's major-label debut,
Tragic Kingdom
, straddles the line between '90s
punk
,
third-wave ska
, and
pop
sensibility. The record was produced by
Matthew Wilder
, the auteur behind
"Break My Stride"
-- a clever mainstream co-opting of
quirkiness, and, as such, an ideal pairing.
Wilder
kept his production lean and accessible, accentuating
's appealing mix of
melodicism,
post-grunge
rock
, and West Coast sunshine. Even though the band isn't always able to fuse its edgy energy with
melodies, the combination worked far better than anyone could have hoped. When everything does click, the record is pure fun, even if some of the album makes you wish they could sustain that energy throughout the record.
might not have made much of an impact upon its initial release in late 1995, but throughout 1996
"Just a Girl"
and
"Spiderwebs"
positively ruled the airwaves, both alternative and mainstream, and in 1997
cemented their cross-generational appeal with the
ballad
hit
"Don't Speak."
~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine