Gwen Stefani

When Gwen Stefani first burst on to the international music scene in 1995, she was the quirky vocalist of No Doubt who has a whole generation captivated. The alternative icon who fronted a ska band but managed make them mainstream radio friendly with her endearing and honest vocal delivery managed a musical miracle when she decided to trial her own solo material with a very different angle. Teasing her audience into her new direction with the phenomenal Eve collaboration Let Me Blow Ya Mind, Gwen Stefani soon established herself as a playful pop innovator with 2004's Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Strangely by the time of her sophomore solo album, 2006's The Sweet Escape her saccharine songs seemed to have lost a huge portion of her audience. Even a return to No Doubt for Push and Shove in 2012 couldn't reignite the flame.

Four years on and having accepted her destiny may have been more prime time icon that alt starlet, Gwen popped up as a judge on The Voice and set tongues wagging when she hooked up with country crooner Blake Shelton. Given that the relationship developed on the wake of their marriage breakdowns, the tabloids had a field day. Although speculation of a duets album is still rife, Stefani has determined to focus her energies on what she does best - hence the arrival of album #3 - This Is What The Truth Feels Like.

As the title implies, This Is What The Truth Feels Like sees Stefani mulling over her current status. Torn between her love lost, her current partner and her personal ambitions, the collection is at times enlightening and at others disillusioning. Stefani is far from the first artist to use her personal woes to inspire her record, but the story being told feels almost too fresh. Written while still processing her situation, Stefani is not removed from the rawness of emotion but rather strangely stoic presence vocally does not reflect the depth of many of the lyrics.

As well as losing her own identity in her personal life, This Is What The Truth Feels Like appears to have lost the musical identity Stefani has developed over a recording career of 20 years plus. As she flits from Bieber wannabe on Send Me A Picture to faux Kelis on Naughty, very little about her musical return rings true.

There are fleeting moments of music genius - the disco tinged Make Me Live You and the authentic hurt of Used To Love You - that make the album worthy of dipping into, but on the whole this is a collection that is distinctly average. Such a shame when delivered by one of the music's most treasured innovators.