It’s been too long since we had some Gwen Stefani realness on the radio. “Push and Shove” starts off strong with lead single “Settle Down,” a bold, bouncy pop romp with a hook reminiscent of “Hey Baby” that reminds the listener of everything great about No Doubt. “Looking Hot” pumps up the momentum with the driving guitar that Stefani’s solo work was always missing, while club tracks like “Undercover” and trip hop-tinged ballads like “Easy” show the band’s versatility. The album brings together the best elements of No Doubt’s catalogue, from garage rock roots to reggae and ska influences to ’80s-infused pseudo Europop sounds. “Push and Shove” doesn’t try to prove No Doubt’s relevance by sounding like what’s on the radio right now — it shows how much the radio has been missing them.

Grade: A