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No Doubt

Tom Dumont & Tony Kanal signal The End of Modern Rock

One this is for sure. The bell has tolled. Alternative rock is dead. Shut the coffin, tighten the bolts. After some brilliant contributions (Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth) to the music world over the last decade, the flame is now extinguished, sending its last, weakened plume skyward. Eh… better to burn out than fade away, right?

Though “serious” players may be breathing a collective sigh of relief at the news - alternative rock having served as a thorn in the side of many of you for quite a while - its death leaves a few questions unanswered. First how did it die> Wasn’t it just storming the airwaves? Second, what will take its place in the national market? And last, does anybody care? Read the rest of this article »

Gwen in doubt

Gwen Stefani’s survived a friend’s suicide, a flop record, and a band that was set on self-destruct. Now she’s a international sex symbol with a hit record, a hip boyfriend, and a whole new set of troubles. By David A. Keeps

Imagine being in high school back in the mid-80s. You play piccolo in the marching band. You hate math. You’re a little shy of confidence and creativity. And a little chubby. One day your older brother brings home a record by a nutty English group called Madness. It’s rad and it totally changes your life. You hang out with the punkers and the mods and start making your own clothes. Then your brother decides to form a band and makes you the lead singer. You are Gwen Stefani, sixteen going on seventeen. Read the rest of this article »

Ms. Doubtfire

SPIN: Are you sick of your song “Just a Girl” yet?
Gwen Stefani: No, not at all. Understand that for years we were this underground cult band that sat in the garage and made fun of every other band on MTV. Now that we have a hit single, it’s like a whole new fresh thing. It’s a really amazing feeling for a band that’s together nine years.

Do people get the satire in that song?
Enough people get it. I hate it when I’m asked what that song is about. The lyrics are so obvious. If you don’t think it’s sarcastic, you’ve got to be like an idiot. Read the rest of this article »