When No Doubt released Rock Steady in 2001, it was one of a kind. It was a danceable record by all means - No Doubt's experience playing clubs during their 'Return of Saturn' tour inspired this - But it still combined the natural rock elements that made No Doubt. Songs like 'Hey Baby' were just dancehall fusion yet 'Platinum Blonde Life' is a very one of a kind, rock out new wave track that is excellent. No Doubt was very innovative with this album - Making rock and dance come together in a very cool way.
When Gwen released LAMB in 2004, it was very different from Rock Steady, in my opinion. It is pure dance music. It was very 80s at points, Urban at others - But there is NO way No Doubt could or would have made a record like that. And Gwen's newest, which is very 90's dance inspired (ie. Breaking Up, 4 in the morning) and urban with the exception of maybe one or 80's sounding tracks (ie. Fluorescent, Sweet Escape) is definitley not like No Doubt.
Anyway, come on, Rock Steady BLOWS Gwen's stuff out of the water. Songs like 'Don't Let Me Down', 'Platinum Blonde Life', 'Making Out', and 'In My Head' are pretty damn priceless IMO.
Anyway, that's just me and I'm obviously open to hearing your opinions.

i like no doubt better than solo stuff.

i love platinum blonde life and in my head. and start the fire. you know, i haven't listened to that c.d. in a while.

Rock Steady is a more solid and consistant than the rest of NDs albums minus TK. If if isn't your thing as far as the style goes, you can't fault it's production. It is wonderfully produced. And if all of Gwen's solo songs were of the caliber of What You Waiting for, I'd have more respect for as a solo act. But a good portion of her solo material is very uneven.

Rocksteady kicks the solo stuffs ass. And don't even mention the latest Gwen album. *sigh* Rocksteady was fucking cool compared to this new stuff. And to think everyone thought it was so god awful back in 2001. They learned... lol Rocksteady was way better than the solo stuff... soooo much better.

It's just a lot of people LOVED the mellowness and depression rock LOL of ROS so when they heard RS they were like wtf? Most ND fans at that time were not into dance music at all.