Recorded in the aftermath of Stefani’s divorce from Gavin Rossdale, her third solo album was never going to be Vulnicura – the heart-wrenching 2015 breakup album by Bjork. Even so, the emphasis here is on bouncy, sonically unadventurous pop, and fixated on Stefani’s new relationship with The Voice co-star Blake Shelton. Former cooler producers like Pharrell Williams are conspicuous by their absence. There is plenty of truth-telling on songs like Used To Love You and the title track, but the epic, highly public aspects of this divorce and its aftermath aren’t really served by common-or-garden soundcraft, or perky, finger-wagging songs like Naughty. A little more courage would not have gone amiss.
