Gossip – Music For Men
Thick bass, clean guitar plucking, precision drumming and a set of pipes that’ll make a Baptist gospel choir jealous equals Gossip, a band with roots in the farming towns of Arkansas. After a first listen, I wondered why this band hasn’t taken over the indie music scene. Then I realized I’d rather not have them tainted by the music industry and instead, keep them to my greedy self. The trio is releasing their fourth studio album Music for Men, which is an interesting title due to vocalist Beth Ditto’s openness about her homosexuality. Music for Men mixes indie, punk, and bit of funk and dance producing a stellar sound that you can lay back and enjoy, or just as easily get up and dance to. I was hooked the moment I heard the first song “Dimestore Diamond” with its heavy bass line and simplistic beat. There is nothing complicated about this album and that’s what makes it so great to listen to and so down to earth. I was truly stunned by the beauty and passion in Ditto’s voice. Ditto finally unleashes the power behind those vocal cords in “Heavy Cross,” the first single off the album. After that, the floodgates are opened and there’s no stopping Ditto. Almost every song starts out with only one or two instruments which continue to build upon each other until an eruption of rock and vocals. However, this method never dulls or disappoints. The album ends with “Spare Me from the Mold” which only made me crave more. It’s a fast edgy song that’s too good to pass up —much like the entire album.
