"Return
of Saturn is an almost defiantly mature record about two things: Stefani's
exploration of a troubled romance and her own romantic ideals, plus a serious
attempt by the group to not only keep new wave alive, but to make that
adolescent music relevant to an older audience. It's a high concept, but Return
of Saturn is filled with satisfying contradictions. It's melodic, but
deceptively complex; it can seem frothy, but it's never frivolous. No Doubt's
desire to expand the emotional template of new wave is the perfect match for
Stefani's themes -- she may be writing about love, but she's not writing
adolescent love songs. Fragments of her teenaged romantic fantasies remain, but
she's writing as a woman in her late 20s. She's tired of being another "ex-girlfriend"
-- she wants to fall in love, get married, and have a family. It's a subject
that's surprisingly uncommon in pop music, which would alone make Return of
Saturn an interesting album. What makes it a successful one is that the band
delivers an aural equivalent of Stefani's lyrical themes. They also begin with
their adolescent musical ideals, adding depth and detail to their pop-ska
foundation. They balance their non-ironic love of new wave with contemporary
production and a sensibility borrowed from classic rock: that albums are
greater than the sum of their parts. Surprisingly, they pull it off -- it's a
far stronger record than Tragic Kingdom, even if the catchiest numbers don't
have the same swagger and punch as their previous hit singles. So be it. With
Return of Saturn, No Doubt have made a terrific, layered record that exceeds
any expectations set by Tragic Kingdom. Not only have they found their voice,
they know what to do with it."
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic.com
