No Doubt will move from their Tragic Kingdom to explore an inner

universe in April, with the release of their first album in five years,

Return of Saturn, guitarist Tom Dumont disclosed on the band's

official website.

The album title refers to the time it takes the planet Saturn to circle

the sun, according to Dumont.

"We had a difficult time deciding on the title," the guitarist told

SonicNet Music News in an e-mail. " 'Return of Saturn' is from the

lyrics in one of the songs, and it refers to an astrological concept about

the turmoil in peoples lives in their late 20s. We're not into astrology

or anything, but the underlying concept seems to be a lyrical thread that

runs throughout the album."

The LP's first single, the midtempo, jangly pop song "Simple Kind of Life,"

carries the theme prominently, as frontwoman Gwen Stefani sings, "All I

wanted was a simple kind of life."

"Everyone around us just loves the song," Dumont said of choosing the

single. "It's one of two songs on the album that Gwen wrote all the music

and lyrics for all by herself." "Simple Kind of Life" was among the

handful of new songs that No Doubt previewed on their recent club tour.

The new material demonstrated the Orange County, Calif., pop foursome's

wide variety of approaches this time around, from the ragtime-esque

"Bathwater," to the reggae-inflected "Marry Me" to punchy-pop-styled

"Staring Problem."

Earlier this month, Dumont disclosed the title of the album and first

single on the band's official website (www.nodoubt.com), as part of his

frequent updates on the group's activities and musical endeavors.

No Doubt — Stefani, Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian

Young — initially had set a November release date for the disc but

decided to head back to the studio to record a few more uptempo songs.

In an interview in the current issue of Alternative Press magazine,

Stefani elaborated on the musical themes on the disc. "The whole record

was written during that stage of turning from 28 to 29, which is supposedly

this 'Return of Saturn' thing, a time of reflection," she reportedly said.

"I think everyone kind of goes through it and you start to second guess

everything and clean house and say, 'Who am I and what's going on?' I

think a lot of the songs on the record reflect the whole period of that

age for me."

As No Doubt's previous records have featured overtly personal lyrics by

the band's charismatic frontwoman, Young is also quoted in the magazine

as saying the new LP is no exception. "The last album was about Tony and

this album's about Gavin," he said, referring to Stefani's former boyfriend,

Kanal, and her current squeeze, Bush singer Gavin Rossdale.

Formed in 1987, No Doubt toured and released two albums, including their

1992 self-titled debut, before breaking through with 1995's Tragic

Kingdom. That record was the source of such hits as "Just a Girl"

(RealAudio

excerpt) and "Don't Speak." The band released the single "New"

(RealAudio

excerpt) in the summer; the song appeared on the "Go" soundtrack.

Stefani told SonicNet Music News earlier this year that the new

LP represents the culmination of the band's time together.

"The 13 years we spent being in this band is going to be reflected on this

one," she said.

(This story was updated at 5:45 PM EST on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1999.)