Still milking her solo album Love Angel Music Baby for all its worth, Gwen Stefani unleashes another offering of slick, shrill pop that makes one pine for the creative highs of her former band No Doubt.
Calling her new single Cool may be asking for a snippy one-line review along the lines of: "Not by any current definition of the word." But actually it's not quite as objectionable as I expected. Lacking the Outbreak-level infectiousness of What You Waiting For but far more palatable than the execrable Rich Girl Cool has a breezy easiness about it and, with its synthy simplicity and bubblegum lyrics, an undeniable (and presumably intended) 1980s vibe.
You can easily imagine this song playing in the background of a John Hughes film and, if it hasn't already, it's bound to soon crop up soundtracking something pink-hued and perky starring Hilary Duff. Yes, for some reason known only to her, tonight Matthew, Gwen Stefani will be...Tiffany!.