There have only been a handful of rock break-up albums but rarer still are rock break-up albums documenting a relationship split between two members of the band making the album. Obviously Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours holds the title, a record where everyone in the group was splitting up with everyone else, but a close second is No Doubt’s huge 1996 breakthrough Tragic Kingdom.
Success was not a given for Gwen Stefani & co. at the time. Their self-titled 1992 debut had sold modestly and self-released 1995 second The Beacon Street Collection did a little better, well enough that Interscope (who’d put out the band’s first record and then dropped them) wanted back in for the third. Released later in 1995, Tragic Kingdom was a giant leap forward, giving No Doubt's previously grunge-y ska-tinged sound a sophisticated pop sheen, full of earworming hooks and playful, heartaching lyricism. After the departure from the band of her brother Eric, Gwen had taken control of the lyrics, and boy did she have a lot to write about.
