Tragic Kingdom - No Doubt > Reviews > There is NO DOUBT that this is a good album

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money

Advantages:	Entertain with some outstanding songs
Disadvantages:	A few fillers that sound very simular

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Remember when Don’t Speak made number one in 1995? It really doesn’t seem that long ago. Nobody seemed to hear of No Doubt before or after but that’s because they are an underground band.

This is one of many of their albums, their latest being ‘Return to Saturn’. So What All The Music About?

1: Spider Webs (4.28)
This is about an obsessed boyfriend. He constantly rings Gwen (lead singer) and it annoys her so much she screens the number before answering. It seems at first she puts up with it but after a while it’s got worse and worse until she is being woken up in the middle of the night.

Spider webs are a metaphor representing the bond she has with him. She is tangled in his web and can’t escape like prey can’t from a spider.

The music in the background features a range of instruments such as what sounds like a trumpet but I’m not sure. It has a very positive beat and is also very catchy. You will soon find yourself singing along.

2: Excuse Me Mr (3.04)
This is about love. It talks about how love is free but it causes so much pain and drives you mad that it costs loads in ‘mental custody’. Gwen asks for some time with the man she likes and in the end goes up to him and says ‘excuse me Mr’ I would like to spend some time with you.

3: Just A Girl (3.29)
This was released as a single. It is about how people protect women and how society reacts different to women and men i.e. you can’t hit a women. The lyrics talks about not being able to go out late and just cause she is pretty and petite she can’t have any rights.

It has a very jolly backing music maybe because she is releasing all he thoughts and she is glad to get rid of all her built up ground.

4: Happy Now (3.43)
This about breaking up in a relationship. Gwen has decided that even though she cares for her ex-boyfriend she wont take him back and is he really happy with his decision.
Just again there is a positive vibe in this song because she is looking forward to her revenge when he releases his mistake.

5: Different People (4.34)
This is about how brothers and sisters can grow up together and yet be so different. How one day you can hate each other and argue but there are times when you get along and its like you are best friends.
It talks about how famous people make the less difference in the world and the person who makes the difference are parents because they set the example for their child.

6: Hey You (3.34)
This is how someone is still like a child but instead of playing with dolls now they play with their own life. People’s hopes for the future can be so high and they are really just a dream because they will never happen. People will be disappointed unless they stop playing and take part in life.

7: The Climb (6.37)
This about people getting into something too deep so in the end they cant escape and they must just keep climbing up and up because there is no turning back. I don’t really like this song myself. It’s the longest song on the album and seems to drag on and on.

8: Sixteen (3.21)
This song is about growing up. Someone has only just turned 16 and they are starting to see what really goes on. They feel grown up but really they are still young (this is a lie I’M 16 AND I AM A BIG GIRL NOW!!!) Its one of the most upbeat and guitarist song on the album and its really good. It has extracts of a sample but I’m sure there is not a DJ in the band.

9: Sunday Morning (4.33)
This is about how she thought she knew someone but found out she really didn’t. They had changed and when she looks at how they are not they are not a very nice person. She is upset because the person is now a stranger and seems to her that they changed over night.
I don’t really like this song.

10: Don’t Speak (4.23)
I think that everybody has heard Don’t Speak, which made it to no.1 in 1996. If you haven’t where were you? It is a tragic song about the end of a relationship. She knows he is about to break up with her but she doesn’t want to hear the words so she tells him to ‘don’t speak’.
It’s a very soft song and suitable for a slow dance or relaxing.

11: You Can Do It (4.13)
This song has a very catchy happy beat. While just listening to it I’ve found myself dancing.
The song is about someone getting away from all their ties and living a wild life. She wants them to be normal again and live a normal life. She encourages them by saying ‘You Can Do It’.
Its not one of the songs I normally listen to but it is very catchy.

12: World Go Round (4.09)
This about the environment. Pollution, over population and cruelty to animals are all hidden issues in the song. The title suggests that we are tampering with nature too much and soon the earth will stop spinning and will have to find an alternative.
If you go back in the past there were no worries of the environment but now there are because the future is looking worrying.

13: End It On This (3.45)
This is about the end of a relationship (again). After being with her lover for years she realises that she doesn’t care for them and she is only with them for security. She dreamed of a family together but really she didn’t want it with them it was just an illusion. The person has changed and so has what they want in life, they are too different and so she says ‘lets end it’.

14: Tragic Kingdom (5.31)
The song starts with music that’s I’m sure is from a film when something ‘tragic’ happens. It is about a kingdom that has gone wrong. The king is cold and so cruel ‘icicles drip from his eyes’. He is over thrown by the people who then gain the power. Each person promises to be good but they all abuse the power and are the same as who they overthrown.
It’s basically like a tragic fairy tale told by music. It’s not bad however.

Over the entire album is a bit repetitive. There are songs I skip that are just fillers and a lot of the tracks are the same minus the lyrics. HOWEVER there are some brilliant songs on the album as well such as ‘Just a girl’ and ‘Don’t speak’

Its hit and miss but worth a listen!!!