Gwen Stefani Bouquet
Gwen Stefani's Bouquet arrives as a floral-tinged country-pop pivot that divides opinion, yet consistently crowns a handful of tracks as the album's lifelines. Across six professional reviews critics single out “Somebody Else's”, “Purple Irises”, “Marigolds”, “Swallow My Tears” and “Empty Vase” as the standout songs on Bouquet, moments where vocal personality or sharper writing cut through the record's softer veneer. The critical consensus registers at 58.5/100 across six reviews, signaling mixed reception rather than a unified embrace.
Reviewers agree that the pop-country stylistic shift frames much of the record: some praise the age-appropriate, tender approach and memorable choruses, while others fault bland arrangements and simplistic, botanical-heavy lyricism. Pitchfork and Slant underscore that “Somebody Else's” supplies the album's rare bite, while Sputnikmusic and Rolling Stone point to “Purple Irises” and “Marigolds” for melodic lift. Clash and Rolling Stone note genuine vocal vulnerability on cuts like “Empty Vase” and “Swallow My Tears”, crediting those tracks with emotional clarity even when the surrounding production feels safe.
Nuance matters: some critics call Bouquet a tasteful, mature rebrand that modestly succeeds at country-pop, others view it as a regression from Stefani's earlier, edgier persona. The consensus suggests selective payoff - the best songs on Bouquet are worth seeking out, but the collection as a whole lands as a cautious, sometimes bland detour in her catalog. Below, the full reviews unpack where the record blossoms and where its floral motifs wilt.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Somebody Else's
5 mentions
"Somebody Else’s takes a break from Shelton to take a stab at her ex"— The Line of Best Fit
Swallow My Tears
5 mentions
"Her latest single from the album ‘Swallow My Tears’ arguably sees Gwen Stefani back to her best as a pop singer"— Clash Music
Purple Irises
6 mentions
"Final track ‘Purple Irises’ features her husband Blake Shelton’s country-tinged vocals in the main chorus"— Clash Music
Somebody Else’s takes a break from Shelton to take a stab at her ex
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Somebody Else's
Bouquet
Pretty
Empty Vase
Marigolds
Late To Bloom
Swallow My Tears
Reminders
All Your Fault
Purple Irises
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 8 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In a voice that never quite sneaks back to her old spark, Gwen Stefani's Bouquet finds its liveliest moments in songs like “Purple Irises” and “Somebody Else's”. The review spots “Somebody Else's” as a rare bite of spunk and calls “Purple Irises” an instance where her vocal tension surfaces, but otherwise frames Bouquet as countrified, bland, and age-appropriate to a fault. The critic argues the album favors tasteful, HomeGoods-ready arrangements over the jagged energy that once defined her work, which is why the best tracks stand out by retaining a hint of that old edge. Overall, the reviewer positions “Somebody Else's” and “Purple Irises” as the best tracks on Bouquet because they show the most personality amid otherwise flavorless material.
Key Points
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The best song is "Somebody Else's" because it retains spunk and scathing lyricism amid bland arrangements.
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The album's core strengths are tasteful arrangements and age-appropriate soft-rock direction, but these also make it feel bland and rushed.
Themes
Critic's Take
The review treats Gwen Stefani’s Bouquet as a disappointing genre sidestep, yet highlights the best tracks that reveal her pop instincts peeking through, notably “Marigolds” and “Purple Irises”. The critic praises “Purple Irises” for its pleasant vocal melodies and on-brand inflections, and singles out “Marigolds” as one of the stronger moments where Stefani’s spirited pop imprints pulse through. A mid-album shout goes to “Swallow My Tears”, called an admittedly catchy, anthemic cut whose tuneful chorus conveys scrambled desperation effectively. Overall the verdict is that these best songs are too sparse to save a collection mired in bland musicianship and simplistic lyricism.
Key Points
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The best song moments, like "Purple Irises" and "Marigolds", succeed because Stefani’s pop vocal character briefly animates the country veneer.
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The album’s core strengths are occasional melodic hooks and consistent nature-infused themes, but these are overwhelmed by simplistic lyricism and bland musicianship.
Themes
Critic's Take
Checklist: 1) Identify sentences that single out songs and quotes. 2) Match those mentions to the tracklist and extract precise offsets. 3) Infer sentiment per track and compute heat scores per rules. 4) Select a single best quote about the album overall. 5) Produce ranked tracks, reasons, and final takeaways. 6) Validate offsets and confidence. In the reviewer's clipped, sardonic voice she frames Gwen Stefani's Bouquet as a lukewarm, flower-soaked detour, but she names clear standouts - “Somebody Else’s”, “Swallow My Tears” and the title track “Bouquet”. The reviewer praises “Somebody Else’s” for its sharp ex diagnosis and applauds “Swallow My Tears” for admitting emotional guardedness, while calling “Bouquet” emblematic of the album's overly labored botanic conceit. The tone is wry and slightly scolding, noting that as a first country album Stefani sounds fine but the lyricism and concept make these the best tracks by default rather than triumph.
Key Points
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The best song is "Somebody Else’s" because it breaks from the album’s sameness with a sharp, ex-focused lyric.
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The album’s core strength is Stefani’s voice and relaxed country sheen, but its overused botanical concept weakens the songwriting.
Themes
Critic's Take
Gwen Stefani arrives with Bouquet, a country-tinged return that finds its best moments in the hooks and heart of songs like “Swallow My Tears” and “Purple Irises”. Brendan Sharp praises the vocal versatility on “Marigold” and the vulnerable lyricism of “Empty Vase”, noting how those tracks balance playfulness with emotional depth. The review highlights “Pretty” as a distinctive, carefree, country-tinged rocker and frames the album as Stefani evolving her pop craft while keeping irresistible choruses. Overall the best songs on Bouquet are credited for marrying classic influences with sharp songwriting and memorable choruses.
Key Points
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“Swallow My Tears” is best for its irresistible, mid-Noughties-style pop chorus and marks Stefani back at her pop strength.
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The album’s core strengths are its blend of country-tinged instrumentation, vulnerable lyrics, and evolved pop songwriting.
Themes
Critic's Take
Maura Johnston finds the best songs on Bouquet to be those that marry Gwen Stefani’s past fire with her new country hues. Gwen Stefani lights up the opener “Somebody Else’s” with resentment-turned-victory, and the slide-guitar heartbreak of “Pretty” is another clear peak. The record’s floral leitmotif ties together moments like “Empty Vase” and “Marigolds” into a surprisingly pleasant, if occasionally bland, whole. Johnston’s ear privileges vocal immediacy and emotional clarity when calling out the album’s best tracks.
Key Points
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The best song is the opener “Somebody Else’s” because it channels resentment into a vocal high point.
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The album’s core strengths are Stefani’s vocal immediacy and cohesive floral-country motifs that make the record pleasant if occasionally bland.
Themes
Critic's Take
Gwen Stefani's Bouquet finds its clearest moments in the handful of songs that resist the album's regressive comfort, and the best tracks on Bouquet are the ones that still bite. The opener “Somebody Else’s” has the only real bite here, a new wave sting that cuts through the country-gloss like a necessary reprisal. Elsewhere, “Late To Bloom” registers as bittersweet and nostalgic, the best track for capturing midlife romance without artifice. The rest of the record - from the title cut “Bouquet” to “Marigolds” and “Empty Vase” - too often settles for middle-of-the-road arrangements and floral metaphors that grow heavy-handed.
Key Points
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The best song is “Somebody Else's” because it is the only track the reviewer says has real bite and new wave energy.
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The album’s core strengths are nostalgic moments like “Late To Bloom” but overall it leans into regressive marriage themes and heavy botanical imagery.