This is What the Truth Feels Like.

I participated in this sponsored album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided the album to review but all opinions are my own. It was also incredibly exciting to hear the new album of a longtime favorite artist of mine.

Like any kid who went to high school or college in the mid – late 1990’s, Gwen Stefani has always been an icon and inspiration to me. I can’t remember a single high school or college party without her music pumping through the room. What’s rewarding is to see her, as beautiful and talented as ever, putting out a new album I was lucky to get the chance to review.

As both the front woman for the band No Doubt, and as a multi-platinum solo artist, Gwen Stefani has sold close to 30 million records! I was always impressed that No Doubt’s five albums showcased her songwriting and poignant lyrics. Back then, and with her new album – This Is What The Truth Looks Like – I’ve always been impressed with how much I can feel what she’s gone through in life to write her individual songs. Remember “Don’t Speak”? That song used to be able to draw tears from me. Actually, it still can. Off of her new album, I feel strongly for the song “Used to Love You”, with the video here:

I love the way her songwriting, lyrics and vocals are still on point, and she is as expressive with her eyes as she ever was. It reminds me of all the number one hits over the years – like “Don’t Speak, “Just a Girl”, “Hey Baby”, and “Underneath It All”.

Stefani released a multi-platinum selling solo album in 2004. It was called Love.Angel.Music.Baby and had the number one single “Hollaback Girl” – which was also the first digital download to sell over a million copies in the United States. She then released The Sweet Escape in 2006. In 2009, she went on a 50+ city North American tour – reuniting with No Doubt. They then released their sixth album Push and Shove in 2012. That’s a LOT, right? She took her time with This Is What The Truth Looks Like, which is her most personal work to date. I love hearing the years and the miles in her song, but also thinking that she is as fresh as she is mature these days. “Misery” is another new song off of the new album, video here:

Her intimate songs are combined with stellar tracks from producers Mattman & Robin, Greg Kurstin, JR Rotem and Stargate. Her emotional songwriting with its themes of love and loss are as universally felt worldwide as ever. Actually, now even more: