Gossip "A Joyful Noice" (2012)

A Joyful Noice
release date: May 11, 2012
format: vinyl / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Brian Higgins, Gossip
label: Columbia / Sony Music - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Melody Emergency" - 4. "Move in the Right Direction" (4 / 5) - 5. "Casualties of War" - 7. "Get Lost" - 8. "Involved"

[reviewed Jun. 3, 2012]

5th and final studio album by Gossip follows three years after Music for Men (Jun. 2009) is made with English pop-producer Brian Higgins (from the songwriter / production-team Xenomania) and it contains eleven new compositions with a total running time just below 45 minutes.

Stylewise, the band has clearly turned towards a poppier style - with Xenomania, Higgins earlier worked with Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, Cher, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and many others producing bold pop-and dance-oriented music, which of course has an impact on Gossip's sound.

After reading several reviews on this release, I understand that some people might be disappointed after having released two dance-punk-influenced albums BUT this is much more than just a lesser Gossip release. First and foremost it's a much more coherent and mature album. Lead vocalist Beth Ditto utilizes all her voice's technical repertoire making it no lesser in that respect, and I find that she explores more deep territory in her lyrics. Yes, the punk rock-element is not as apparent as earlier and the popular music is becomes more present, making it more mainstream - and ouch, what a bummer... Or: no actually! As much as I like the harder punk rock-based alt. dance and alt. rock up-yours-attitude of the 2006 and 2009 albums this is on other terms nearly as successful an album simply because it's very much of a whole! This would be like imagining M People meeting Madonna with a nice funky twist of Red Hot Chili Peppers or something... I concede that it's no longer indie rock, nor punk rock revival but the resulting effect is modern dancable synth pop with an attitude, and it's far from a lesser release. Put it on the cd-player in your car - the kids love it and you'll soon find yourself singing along.

[EDIT Jul. 2016]

Unfortunately, A Joyful Noice is the band's final album as Ditto in Feb. 2016 declared that the band had split after which Ditto initiated a solo career.

Recommended.

[ 👍allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Clash 3 / 5, PopMatters 2,5 / 5, Drowned in Sound 2 / 5 stars ]