Customer Reviews

Music For Men

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first CD I've heard by the Gossip. I've seen pictures and snippets of interviews with feisty front woman Beth Ditto in the media, and finally felt the need to check out the music.

Me likey. Despite all the rumblings about the Gossip being a punk band, "Music for Men" sounds like pure pop bliss to me. The songs are catchy, sincere, and all-inclusive. Musically the album definitely has an 80's feel to it, but it's not the same synthy-electro sound that's been mined so much in recent years ... it's more of a return to a Pat Benetar sound, where a female singer with bona fide technical prowess is combined with guitar-driven rock hooks. There's rebellion here to be sure, but it's less snide and bitter than it is a passionate plea for people to be themselves and enjoy their lives on their own terms.

I had heard the Gossip's new album would be fused with a bit more dance beats than the last full lenghted album ('Standing in the Way Of Control') so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about 'Music For Men', but as it turns out there was nothing to worry. The new Gossip album is just as great, if not slightly more exciting than the last one.

Opening number 'Dimestore Diamond' is old school Gossip while the first single "Heavy Cross" features a little more dance beats than the band has used in the stand, still it's a great track.

But the album keeps going with killer track after killer track. Full of angst and attitude, "Music For Men" is a definitive must have.

The appropriately named Gossip have finally made their way to a major label; an accomplishment thanks largely in part to the gossip surrounding lead singer Beth Ditto. Ditto, an overweight fashion icon that appeared nude and unpolished on the cover of NME magazine in 2007 has been making headlines ever since. Ditto's fame coupled with Gossip's breakout album in 2005 with Standing in the Way of Control and a tour with The White Stripes was enough to earn them a move from independent label Kill Rock Stars to Columbia Records.

With their first mainstream release, Gossip still holds true to their underground punk sound. The guitar is raw and the drums are punchy, but lack the in your face kick and snare of most modern releases. The real clarity is given to Beth Ditto's vocals that may not be as refined as Ann Wilson or Pat Benetar, but share a similar power and energy. For a band looking to perfect their sound without losing the edge that got them to where they are, producer Rick Rubin was the perfect choice.

With the first three tracks on Music for Men, Gossip gives new, skeptical listeners a taste of all of their strengths. Gossip opens their album with "Dimestore Diamond," where slapback vocals and a prominent bass groove provide a perfect introduction to this band and definitely creates a curiosity of what else they have to offer. While the album's tempo may start slow, the second track, "Heavy Cross," opens with guitars reminiscent of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" and gradually brings in a disco feel that was common in Gossip's past releases. Then, with track three, "8th Wonder" shows off Gossip's true underground punk sound. The remainder of the album plays to each of these strengths and even introduces hints of things to come on tracks like "Vertical Rhythm" and "2012" where more refined guitar and drum tracks lead the way, but the vocals remain distinctly present.

Music for Men, Gossip's fourth studio album, is not for everyone, but their fan base will no doubt grow exponentially from this point forward. It is unlikely that Gossip will ever be a chart topping band, but like fellow Kill Rock Stars label graduates, Sleater-Kinney, that might just be the way they like it.

Similar Artists: Sleater-Kinney, The White Stripes

Track Suggestion: 2012

Length:: 1:42 Mins

VID-REVIEW: Gossip - Music for Men

One Sentence Summary: Like a combo of Stevie Nicks and Dolly Parton channeling Janis Joplin in front of your favorite local punk band - My God, It's FULL OF WIN!!

Beth has an amazing voice and the music has incredible rhythm that makes you want to get up and dance. I love all the songs but by far my favorite is Heavy Cross. Most of you might have heard it from the Dior Jadore commercial. I highly recommend this CD and am happy I bought the CD. I am looking forward to their next album.

My product was recieved in a timely manner. I ordered the item a few days a go and I recieved it yesterday. Thank you!

I just got into this band and I have to say this CD is great my favorite songs are Vertical Rhythm, and four letter word but really the whole CD is good not a bad song on it really and I love their sound the whole band is good and has feeling. the vocals are amazing and I can go on and on. bottom line if you like this band or heard something from this you like then get it for me it's one of the best CD's I've bought in a long time.

After seeing this band open for P!nk in London, I had to have this album! This CD is really good!

This band just gets better and better. I've given their older albums a listen, but I thought their best material was Standing in the Way of Control...until this album came out. It's one of very few albums where I don't really feel the need to skip songs--each song is perfect in its own way. Though they do stray from their simple drums-voice-guitar setup on this album with synthesizers and the occasional bass AND guitar as opposed to bass OR guitar on their previous albums, it feels like they've grown into a new sound with just as much ferocity as always and does not feel like a sellout album in any way. The production values do happen to be better than ever as well, and each and every instrument has moments to shine.

The overall sound of the album is huge, as is the range of emotions portrayed, and Beth's voice is, if anything, improving. This album is such a win I can't even describe it in any other way.

first album i've gotten by this group, and not a bad one to start at. high recomend it. nice, happy beats & excellent vocals.