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Jul. 17th, 2012
I’ve been a fan of Gossip for quite some time now, so I was pleased to hear they have a new album out. And I’d like to report that it’s their best yet.
I’d like to report that. However … I’m having mixed feeling about it.
I’m not sure why I’m having trouble getting into it. It’s definitely their most pop record to date, and that’s not really a surprise – I’ve known for awhile that Beth Ditto aspired to take Gossip beyond its punk-influenced Kill Rock Stars origins into something poppier. Even her solo EP from last year hinted that she was open to becoming a club sensation, and goodness knows she’s got the voice for it. And in a world of plasticine Simon-Cowell-selected and Disney-approved teen pop divas, I truly believe we need more pop stars like Beth Ditto.
The problem, I think, is that the new album sounds more like a competent pop album than a great one. The more pop Gossip become, the less they start to stand out.
Maybe. I could always blame it on the fact that they swapped Rick Rubin for Xenomania's Brian Higgins (the man who gave us Girls Aloud) as producer.
Or maybe it just needs time to grow on me. It happened with Franz Ferdinand’s “pop” third album.
Also, it’s not like A Joyful Noise is a total wash. There’s actually quite a few good songs on it that hold up to their previous stuff.
This one, for example.
Not as strong as you thought I was,
This is dF
I’d like to report that. However … I’m having mixed feeling about it.
I’m not sure why I’m having trouble getting into it. It’s definitely their most pop record to date, and that’s not really a surprise – I’ve known for awhile that Beth Ditto aspired to take Gossip beyond its punk-influenced Kill Rock Stars origins into something poppier. Even her solo EP from last year hinted that she was open to becoming a club sensation, and goodness knows she’s got the voice for it. And in a world of plasticine Simon-Cowell-selected and Disney-approved teen pop divas, I truly believe we need more pop stars like Beth Ditto.
The problem, I think, is that the new album sounds more like a competent pop album than a great one. The more pop Gossip become, the less they start to stand out.
Maybe. I could always blame it on the fact that they swapped Rick Rubin for Xenomania's Brian Higgins (the man who gave us Girls Aloud) as producer.
Or maybe it just needs time to grow on me. It happened with Franz Ferdinand’s “pop” third album.
Also, it’s not like A Joyful Noise is a total wash. There’s actually quite a few good songs on it that hold up to their previous stuff.
This one, for example.
Not as strong as you thought I was,
This is dF
