Across the 10-track, the powerhouse singer leans into the melodic rock of her youth — think Hall & Oates, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac — with country vibes here and there. Her sound is timeless, unchanged and distinctive, instantly reminiscent of the early aughts when No Doubt still existed, and Stefani was still kind of a ska girl.

However, thematically, the songs are about a woman who’s been through the ringer – but life gives her a reprieve in her second act, and she finds stability, lots of flowers and no mo’ drama. In this way, “Bouquet” is a not-so-secret ode to her husband Blake Shelton – whom she met and fell in love with when they were both coaches on the singing reality competition show, “The Voice.” At the time, they were both divorcing Gavin Rossdale and Miranda Lambert respectively.

On “Bouquet,” Stefani-Shelton’s romance comes through in yacht rock sounds and floral language in songs like “Marigolds,” “Late to Bloom” and “Empty Vase.” When the album reaches its end, it is with a duet with Shelton on “Purple Irises”.

If the album tells the story of her relationship, it begins with “Somebody Else.” Stephanie begins the proceedings by listing her past romantic entanglements and bad choices. She sings, “I don’t know what a woman like me/In love like me was doing, ahh.” ,

It’s a direct response to the title track, where the focus seems to shift back to Shelton: “We met when my heart was broken/Thank God yours was broken too,” she shares. “So lucky you were going through what I was going through.”

In “Late to Bloom” she decries the fact that they met so late in life.

A good bass progression, a clever turn of phrase and a great voice are all it takes to carry this album. Add a cohesive theme, a pleasant vibe, and a charismatic star – and that’s Rose coming.

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