The Sweet Escape
by Gwen Stefani
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 211 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 151 out of 211
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 211
  3. Negative: 38 out of 211

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  1. stephenv
    Dec 13, 2006
    6
    best songs: early winter, 4 in the morning, wonderful life and the sweet escape. worst song: breakin' up.
  2. ScarTissue1990
    Feb 23, 2013
    5
    This album actually isn't a particularly "bad" album. It just has some major flaws. Highlight tracks: "Early Winter", "Sweet Escape", "4 in the Morning", "Wonderful Life", "Now That You Got It."
  3. J.J.Rouce
    Mar 30, 2007
    4
    i gave it a four....because thats how many songs on this album are any good.....the rest are abismal at best.....it fell WAY short of LAMB
  4. JulesM
    Dec 7, 2006
    4
    I love gwen, but this album has no edge. It sounds like everything on the radio.
  5. LeandraW
    Dec 10, 2006
    5
    Lackluster effort from Mrs. Stefani. Sounds rushed with no evident hits.
  6. josha
    Jan 25, 2007
    4
    this album is for fans only. and not necessarily fans of gwen's music, because we all are, but fans of gwen. people who may be perfectly content to sit around and think about gwen for the entire duration of the album. it's full of her personality but lacks the musical discipline that shot her to the top.
  7. JordanA
    Jan 6, 2007
    4
    Just isn't on par with the genuis of No Doubt. Fun for a day, gets old quick. Gwen is so forgettable.
  8. WK
    May 5, 2007
    6
    This album is not half as bad as some say, but L.A.M.B. was a far higher quality album than this. For overall strength this one was pretty weak; some good songs, some bad. But Gwen has conceded to the 'trends' and 'raps' way too much instead of singing, which she does best. And ironically enough, the best track would have to be 'The Sweet Escape'. This is This album is not half as bad as some say, but L.A.M.B. was a far higher quality album than this. For overall strength this one was pretty weak; some good songs, some bad. But Gwen has conceded to the 'trends' and 'raps' way too much instead of singing, which she does best. And ironically enough, the best track would have to be 'The Sweet Escape'. This is what pop should be, clean and simple. Other than that other good tracks would be Early Winter (9/10; emotional and a decent follow up to Cool, although not as good), Fluorescent (9/10; very well put together and catchy/retro), 'Wind It Up' (7.5/10; a little weird, but it's decent listen), Yummy (9/10; catchy and fun song lyrically), and Wonderful Life (9/10). But really there are some shockers on this album, like 'Orange County Girl' (3/10; horrible production values, and truly annoying), 'Now That You Got It' (4/10; not in Gwen's style at all and doesn't suit her), 'Breakin' Up' (1/10; this song is awful. Spare yourself and skip it). And the rest just aren't very strong, '4 in the Morning' (7/10; too sappy), 'Don't Get it Twisted' (5.5/10; an attempt to be quirky), and 'U Started It' (6/10; OK but nothing great). So with only five of the tracks being strong enough to comprise of a decent album, I'd only be able to say 'OK'. The others are just average or downright awful.… Expand
  9. JayM
    Dec 25, 2006
    6
    For the most part a great album, make no mistake, it's no L.A.M.B. From the lead "Wind It up" to the title track, and "Yummy" a dance track produced by Pharrell, and in my opinion the best song on the album is the final track "Wonderful Life" in lieu of a "The Real Thing"-esque light dance track. From its highest points, I beleive that "Breakin' up" was the worst excuse for For the most part a great album, make no mistake, it's no L.A.M.B. From the lead "Wind It up" to the title track, and "Yummy" a dance track produced by Pharrell, and in my opinion the best song on the album is the final track "Wonderful Life" in lieu of a "The Real Thing"-esque light dance track. From its highest points, I beleive that "Breakin' up" was the worst excuse for music Stefani has ever produced simulating a fake cell-phone conversation. All in all, if you're a die-hard fan, as am I, it is a great choice, otherwise, you may not like it, but it's worth a shot.… Expand
  10. Alexis
    Dec 4, 2006
    4
    4 good song. 1 point for each: 1. wonderful life 2. early winter 3. the sweet escape 4. 4 in the morning
  11. mikes.
    Dec 4, 2006
    5
    A confusing album, at first listen i was not sure whether i liked it or hated it. The whole album is a mess and lacks focus, but at the same time; it is what makes gwen unique and refreshing to listen to. However, I will have to say that this album does suffer from the lack of a consistent musical genre that gwen has still not chosen. She's at her best when she goes new wave pop. The A confusing album, at first listen i was not sure whether i liked it or hated it. The whole album is a mess and lacks focus, but at the same time; it is what makes gwen unique and refreshing to listen to. However, I will have to say that this album does suffer from the lack of a consistent musical genre that gwen has still not chosen. She's at her best when she goes new wave pop. The album is a hit and miss throughout. The album has a weird complexity to it that requires repeated listenings. Overall, there is a depth in gwen's new album that is not often found in major pop releases, but at the same time; the album is not instantly catchy and is off the wall weird on some songs.… Expand
  12. EDWARDS
    Dec 5, 2006
    4
    Save your money! I just bought this album and was very dissapointed. I could go on but it sucked the enrgy right out of me. Sorry Gwen
  13. RandyB
    Dec 6, 2006
    6
    THE SWEET ESCAPE, Gwen Stefani's follow-up to her multiplatinum debut solo album L.A.M.B. is point blank another perfect guilty pleasure candidate. To start off, you have to have a fondness for Gwen's quirky Debbie Harry-esque lyrical indulgences and genre-switching tendencies to really appreciate this album. Without it, the majority of THE SWEET ESCAPE will just get on your THE SWEET ESCAPE, Gwen Stefani's follow-up to her multiplatinum debut solo album L.A.M.B. is point blank another perfect guilty pleasure candidate. To start off, you have to have a fondness for Gwen's quirky Debbie Harry-esque lyrical indulgences and genre-switching tendencies to really appreciate this album. Without it, the majority of THE SWEET ESCAPE will just get on your nerves. That said, it's Gwen's personality that carries songs such as hit "Wind It Up", "Orange County Girl" and "Breakin' Up". If they had been recorded by someone else (such as Fergie) the songs would have been unbearable; "Wind It Up" for example is eventually infectious and grows on you with it's Sound of Music sampling, but there are parts of the song that still remain horrid after you've learned to like it, and it's only my soft spot for Gwen that made me give the song more than one chance. Not surprisingly it's her collaborations with frequent No Doubt producer Nellee Hooper that provide the album's best tracks. "Wonderful Life" is wonderful indeed, and the gorgeous ballad "Early Winter" is a nearly genius song. THE SWEET ESCAPE has a different vibe from L.A.M.B. and is unfortunately less fun as well, but that doesn't mean it's not fun at all. The thing that bugs me the most when discussing these solo projects is people saying how much better her work with No Doubt was, how she "sold out" and went pop. While her lyrical contributions to No Doubt were of a better quality most of the time, songs such as "Makin' Out" from 2001's much overrated ROCK STEADY are just as dumb and frivolous as anything off of L.A.M.B. and THE SWEET ESCAPE. It's not like Gwen was in a band like Hole and then suddenly decided to usurp Madonna's crown. There was always this poppy side to her waiting to fully explode. What many people fail to realize is that these albums are about having fun with a musical project, not about making artistic statements-Gwen was never trying to make VESPERTINE. At 47 minutes THE SWEET ESCAPE is a breezy listen. If you let it, it just might carry you away with it's sweet oddity.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2006
50
#50 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 24
  3. Negative: 3 out of 24
  1. The Guardian
    80
    Pharrell Williams' production and Stefani's fizzy personality make for an unexpected Christmas treat.
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  2. Slant Magazine
    60
    It's not that The Sweet Escape is an unwelcome diversion or that it comes too soon on the heels of Stefani's debut (it's been two full years), but it's starting to feel like No Doubt's future—you know, the one left in question after 2001's Rock Steady, the band's third consecutive creative zenith—is being squandered amidst all the solo stargazing.
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  3. AllMusic
    60
    If the dance production on The Sweet Escape were better, these hipster affectations would be easier to forgive, but they're not: they're canned and bland, which only accentuates Stefani's stiffness.
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