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NoDoubt HellaGood

No Doubt: Hella Good

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? by Mat Hocking
If you were shocked and, frankly, dumbfounded by Orange County’s finest, and most successful ska-punk troupe’s commercial dance-pop direction following the inconceivably successful ‘Tragic Kingdom’ album then ‘Hella Good’s filthy funk grooves and neo-electro flavour will set out to spin you even more.

Unlike the painfully catchy (and equally annoying) kiddy-pop bounce of ‘Hey Baby’, ‘Hella Good’ sets a more sinister tone, oozing a sexy, alluring quality that the distorted keyboard melody brings out before the groovy 70s break allows the guitarist to actually let his hair down for once in a short bluesy burst.

Overall, it’s a pretty weak track and as the second single it exemplifies a pretty dire future in pop for No Doubt. However, it is a daring choice for a single, not exactly Vengaboys fodder. Still, they’ve got a long way before they reach the effortless class of Pink. (Phwoaaarr!)

  • No Doubt 4 / 10
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No Doubt - Hella Good

personally I think this track is much better than Hey Baby. Though the bassline is clearly from something else.
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 May '02, 08:27 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: No Doubt - Hella Good

yeah, hey baby was awful. i think it's kinda cool that they're experimenting and showing what else they can do. the ska-punk stuff was all very fun, but one album of it was more than enough.

i like this song. it's funky and rawwky but also catchy and poppy... although i'm with you on the Pink thing :)

KPxx
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 May '02, 10:00 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: No Doubt - Hella Good

I think it's a really good song, from a really good album. It's pretty diverse and contrary to what you say, they haven't really veered that far away from the whole ska-punk thing, in that there is a very heavy reggae tinge to the album thanks to some production work from the legendary Sly&Robbie. The track produced by Prince is very iffy though...brilliant work from Nellee Hooper as ever...I'm very impressed by it all. Far sexier than Pink...she's rough as...
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 May '02, 12:02 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: No Doubt - Hella Good

HEY! No knocking Pink, please. Else I'll have to escort you from the message boards!
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 May '02, 14:51 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: No Doubt - Hella Good

Yeah I totally agree with the ol' Kimber. It's a wicked pop record. Though of course you are NME and therefore the enemy. But Hella Good is a rad track that just has a great sultry feel to it. If they were a HxC band, they deffo would make the pit posi haha!!
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 8 Jun '02, 06:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

No Doubt - Hella Good

<< Still, they’ve got a long way before they reach the effortless class of Pink. >>

You obviously haven't heard Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink. Fucking awful, bog standard and unimaginative fare. She's clearly pretty, so lines about hating Britney Spears for being trés belle are trite.

Still, I agree, Hella Good is a weird number for a single. Making Out or Running would've been much better... tracks so good they made me buy a No Doubt album, something I previously wouldn't do if you held a gun to my nuts.

Dale xxx
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 30 May '02, 17:51 | Send note | Report this | Reply


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