Rock Steady

Rock Steady is the fifth album by American rock band No Doubt, released December 11, 2001 on Interscope Records. The band began writing the album with initial recording sessions in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The group then traveled to London and Jamaica to work with various performers, songwriters, and producers. Sly & Robbie, The Neptunes, and William Orbit were among the many artists No Doubt collaborated with on the album.

As a result of the many collaborations, Rock Steady touches on many musical styles. The album focuses on the ska punk and reggae influences present in the band’s earlier work while incorporating dub, ragga, and dance styles. The band attempted to capture the vibe of Jamaican dancehall music, and experimented with writing songs without its standard instrumentation. Singer Gwen Stefani wrote her lyrics quickly in comparison to previous records, and dealt with topics ranging from partying to ruminations on her relationship with Gavin Rossdale.

Rock Steady received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics, and it was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 45th Grammy Awards. The album served as a commercial comeback for the band, surpassing sales of its previous offering, Return of Saturn (2000). Rock Steady yielded four singles, two of which won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.