The Los Angeles Times (April 8th 2001)

The Ska Connection

No Doubt's last album, "Return of Saturn," was made with a strict game plan overseen by producer Glen Ballard, who helped craft the band into a maturing, versatile pop-rock unit.

For its next album, though, the Orange County group is taking the opposite approach. It's in Jamaica working with the production team Sly & Robbie. But the attitude is as laid-back as the setting, says bassist Tony Kanal.

"We're just exploring, having fun," he says, noting that the band has also recorded with hip-hop combine Dr. Dre, an outgrowth of singer Gwen Stefani's recent collaboration with rapper Eve.

"All this stuff is experimental," he says. "Some may be on the album, some may not."

The Jamaica sessions came after years of urging from Wayne Jobson ("Native" Wayne, a former KROQ reggae show host) and his brother Brian, who wanted the group to explore the roots and branches of the ska that has always been its musical starting point. The Jobsons are serving as executive producers of the sessions, and are hooking the band up with dancehall reggae duo Steelie & Cleevie this week for more recording.

"Return to Saturn" was so focused, and we spent two years on that," Kanal says. "We wanted to prove ourselves as songwriters and musicians. That gave us the confidence this time to say, 'Let's have some fun.' I want to make some music more groove-orientated. I'de be stoked to hear some of this stuff in dance clubs. We can do that stuff. The heart of our band is true rock 'n' roll, but there's so much more we can do after 14 years together.”