No Doubt

Despite No Doubt's punk influences, they weren't included in the grunge boom of the early '90s. Much of the cause is due to the band's debut album, a work of polished production inspired more by '80s synth than No Doubt's heritage. Compared to Southern California's accepted ska/punk fusion, the album is overly pop-oriented, with new wave keyboards and punchy brass proving a foil to the basically ska framework. Gwen Stefani's extroverted vocals rescue the affair, however.