Gossip "Real Power" (2024)

Real Power

release date: Mar. 22, 2024

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]

producer: Rick Rubin

label: Columbia - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Act of God" - 2. "Real Power" - 3. "Don't Be Afraid" - 4. "Crazy Again" (4 / 5) - 5. "Edge of the Sun" - 6. "Give It Up for Love" - 8. "Tell Me Something" - 9. "Light It Up"

6th studio album by Gossip following 12 years after A Joyful Noise (May 2012), which up until this year has been regarded as the band's final album after which front figure Beth Ditto pursued a solo career and concentrated on her own clothing line. Ditto released her solo debut Fake Sugar in 2017 and in 2019 the band reformed to perform a ten year anniversary concert of Music for Men (2009) but it was still under the charge of Ditto with no announcements of an official reformation. In 2023 Ditto got together with Nathan Howdeshell to write material for Ditto's second solo album and when facing producer Rubin who took part in the band's 2009 album, Ditto and Howdeshell apparently saw it as a natural opportunity to include Hannah Blilie, thus basically making it a Gossip album instead.

The trio is back, which is a wonderful thing, as they have been sorely missed. Rubin secures a tight path on well-known soil, and Real Power comes out as something closer to the 2009 album than what was regarded their final breath in 2012. That said, time has passed, and obviously the three are somewhere else than they were more than a decade ago, and the album simply betters Ditto's fine solo from 2017, which in a way positioned itself in the outskirts of A Joyjul of Noise without really delivering a substantial stylistic footprint. All tracks here are credited Ditto and multi-instrumentalist Howdeshell and in that regard it's naturally something entirely different than Ditto solo working with other composers, and how could a legendary trio of this caliber come out with something new without people would compare it with their previous works?! It's a statement to call it a Gossip album, as opposed to Ditto's second solo, and it's still great news. Musically, it's original - of course, and with the band history and all in mind, I do think it's a fine accomplishment without it being absolutely great. And then: lesser will do. I think, they succeed in reproducing some of the band's original energy - the genuine garage-sound, and mixed up with a poppier mood they come up with a modernised version of Gossip. Officially, Ditto and Howdeshell are the providers of this new material but I wonder why they don't acknowledge that without Blilie they wouldn't be Gossip? It's a pity, but on the other hand, it's a not seldom seen practise to leave out the drummer in credits, but I just wonder how music is composed without a drummer adding his / her personal touch to the songs...

The album may not come with absolute stunning singles but the energy, the crafty output - and that voice on top of these simple, yet powerful arrangements!! And then there's still a certain quality lurking there all over, which lifts it above normality - 'cause what is that exactly?! Ditto belongs in front of Howdeshell and Blilie, and that constellation is all we need. It's like a living torch for humanity. Stay together, you three (PLZ), and the next album will be magic!

[ 👍allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 7,1 / 10, NME, DIY 4 / 5, 👎The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

Beth Ditto "Fake Sugar" (2017)

Fake Sugar [debut]

release date: Jun. 16, 2017

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,60]

producer: Jennifer Decilveo

label: Sony Music - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1."Fire" - 2. "In and Out" - 3. "Fake Sugar" - 5. "We Could Run" (4 / 5) - 6. "Oo La La" - 8. "Oh My God" - 9. "Love in Real Life"

Full-length studio album debut by Beth Ditto (aka Mary Beth Patterson) following more than six years after her solo EP debut EP (Jan. 2011). Since then, she released A Joyful Noise (May 2012) with Gossip, and then around 2016 she publically announced than she would concentrate on her solo career and her clothing line - meaning we should not expect any new albums from Gossip.

Fake Sugar is a much expected release - her EP debut was released to fine reviews, and that showed us a new side to her talent, and then people just imagined a full album was on its way, but it took much longer than anyone had foreseen. Musically, this is not styled in her new-found territory of dance-pop or electropop, but more like something following a stylistic pattern in-between the 'final' 2012 Gossip album and her EP - at times she 'goes hard rocking Gossip', whereas other songs ("Do You Want Me To") are closer to the dance-pop / electropop of EP, but no matter what: the album is held together by Ditto's wonderful vocal. In this regard the album isn't a strong coherent product that show us where she goes from here, but then again: she doesn't have to choose one style over the other 'cause she basically demonstrates that her vocal simply fits whatever she explores.

Fake Sugar is something as unusual as a synthpop, hard rock, electropop, and indie pop all-in-one album showcasing Beth Ditto as one of the most charismatic voices of modern popular music. To me, she represents a similar vocal grandiosity as Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, and Mariska Veres did in their time. She simply hightens the musical quality and lifts what appears as ordinary songs to something with a lasting potential. She's no less than a natural force.

[ 👍allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, The Guardian, PopMatters 4 / 5, 👎Pitchfork 6,1 / 10 stars ]

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 ]

Beth Ditto "EP" (2011)

EP [debut]

release date: Jan. 10, 2011

format: digital (4 x File, MP3)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

producer: James Ford, Jas Shaw

label: Deconstruction - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "I Wrote the Book" - 2. "Goodnight Good Morning" - 3. "Open Heart Surgery" - 4. "Do You Need Someone"

Studio solo debut by Beth Ditto, who has teamed up with producers James Ford and Jas Shaw as trio behind all four tracks. This solo effort follows two years after the acclaimed Music for Men by Gossip and it shows a new side to Ditto's talent, or: the style is different, but ultimately, Ditto contributes with her energy and brilliant vocal. Stylewise, this is uptempo dance-music - sometimes touching on alt. dance but mostly it's held in a dance-pop and electro pop universe. "Open Heart Surgery" comes closest to the music by Gossip, although, it's fused by a distinct electronic foundation.

I like it, it's goood, and it's a promising side-kick to the alt. rock by Gossip.

[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, SputnikMusic 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Gossip "Music for Men" (2009)

Music for Men
release date: Jun. 22, 2009
format: cd (2010 reissue)
[album rate 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Rick Rubin
label: Sony Records Japan - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Dimestore Diamond" - 2. "Heavy Cross" (4 / 5) (Live at Jonathan Ross) - 3. "8th Wonder" (5 / 5) (Live in Germany) - 4. "Love Long Distance" (Live at Reading Festival) - 5. "Pop Goes the World" - 6. "Vertical Rhythm" - 7. "Men in Love" (4 / 5) - 9. "2012" - 12. "Spare Me From the Mold"

4th studio album release by this fine American trio, Gossip, released almost 3½ years after Standing in the Way of Control (Jan. 2006). The line-up remains intact with Beth Ditto on vocals, Brace Paine [aka Nathan Howdeshell] on guitar, bass & keyboards, and with Hannah Blilie on drums & percussion. The album was originally released by Columbia as a 12-track standard album - the 2010 Japan issue contains three bonus tracks of which two are remixes of tracks #2 and #4.

Musically they continue their energetic indie rock-approach by embracing dance-punk and now also disco-elements, and at the same time they have now left behind a shallower garage rock-sound, which mostly characterised their first two albums. Rick Rubin is here key-producer in guaranteeing a solid rock sound with strong dance appeal. He's been a bit all over the place in terms of genres and styles since starting out mostly as rap and hip hop-producer in the late 80s but after crossing to the alt. rock scene, he has been near synonymous with flawless productions - he also produced the band's live-album Live in Liverpool (Dec. 2007).

With Gossip you may say it's business as usual in the way that it's energetic and tight alt. rock. The dance-punk element from the 2006 album is further underlined in a more dynamic production and the album simply comes out with a stronger sound than its predecessor. This is just great music for driving or cleaning the house but it needs volume. Beth is one hell of a singer and the music is really addictive. Music for Men is undoubtedly the band's best album, but it's more difficult to point out their second-best album but I can only recommend Standing in the Way of Control (2006) and A Joyful Noise (2012).

The front cover for this album features a photo of the band's drummer, Hannah Blilie.

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com, 👍Uncut, The Independent 4 / 5, Spin 3,5 / 5 stars ]

2009 Favourite releases: 1. Kent Röd - 2. Gossip Music for Men - 3. Dolores O'Riordan No Baggage