Gwen Stefani has returned with a new pop album, Bouquet, emphasizing her love story with her husband, Blake Shelton.
The opening track, “Somebody Else’s,” speaks of regretting a terrible, toxic relationship. However, she also mentions how she is thriving now because of her decision to leave her ex. The drums in the song also give it an upbeat feature that complements her voice.
In contrast, her second song, “Bouquet,” is about finding Shelton, who was going through similar struggles, and connecting with him. The instrumentals are much slower and quieter than those on “Someone Else’s,” allowing listeners to hear her voice better.
“Purple Irises” features Shelton and is definitely one of the better songs on the album. It’s the only song that features another artist, and his vocals in the background enhance the song’s quality. Once again, the song is about her new lover at the time, Shelton, whom she hopes she does not lose.
However, while Bouquet is a modernized version of Stefani’s previous albums, the songs aren’t as good overall.
For example, “All Your Fault” has a good beat and lyrics, but it doesn’t fit with her voice that well compared to the other songs on the album. The track is very mediocre and underwhelming.
If newer listeners want to explore her music, there are definitely better choices, such as her 2006 album The Sweet Escape, which is a mix of many different genres.
