Gossip - 'Heavy Cross'
Another in a long list of song titles which send out an alternative message to that which is intended by the band. 'Heavy Cross' could be a two word biography of Beth Ditto herself, you just need to add a comma.
Granted, it doesn't take into account her voice, her band's commitment to various worthy punk rock causes, or the fact that her band can, on a good day, blow the dust off an old hat from a five mile distance, but still, pithy eh?
(. The band aren't in it. Radical!)
I would really like to be able to report that the time spent creating the Gossip's comeback hit has been a flurry of sonic re-invention and radical idea-tennis. These are, after all, clever people. And yet, when it comes down to it, there's nothing here apart from a fattened bottom-end (careful, she doesn't like those kind of jokes) to mark this out as a new song from the band.
The key line is "we can play it safe, or play it cool". An odd claim, given that ever since 'Standing In The Way Of Control' first broke through, the band, and Beth and particular, have done both of these things and very little else. Friend of Kate Moss or not, you can't be an outsider and an insider at the same time, no matter where you come from.
Oh sure, they do huffy interviews (when they actually do DO interviews) and the media did have a hard time working out what to do with a fat singer who wouldn't blush and cry and go on a diet and then release a workout video. So in that sense, yes, they've been an edgy presence.
There again, as far as the tabloids are concerned, there's not much to choose between Beth Ditto and Susan Boyle, except Susan Boyle wears more, and isn't as grumpy. So it's arguable that their message isn't really getting through.
All in all, not a good time to release a song which threatens to break into the chorus of their one really good song, or a chorus equally as good, but entirely fails to do so.
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 1st
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"If you're new to Gossip, think Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but with a lead singer that could make a snack of the actual lead singer."
"Ditto's vocals surely demonstrate this raw power they like so much."
Robots Made Me Do It says: "It's pretty decent by my reckoning"
Comment number 1.
At 10th Jun 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Heavy, cross.
Love it.
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Comment number 2.
At 12th Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Fraser.. your review of Heavy Cross is spot on..... I totally agree...it will be a hit... but with the obvious talents of the band... and a singer with an absolutely glorious voice.... I wanted this song to be be much better and more sonically spectacular than it actually is .... I waited for the huge chorus... the swooping hook that clawed this song into brilliance... but alas..... it never came....
Is this song better than Standing in the way of control ?
Will it sell more copies ?
Will it be more memorable in ten years time ?
The answer to all 3 questions is the same.....
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Jun 2009, fluffyfinches wrote:The banging at the end gives me a headache.
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Comment number 4.
At 13th Jun 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Its a grower :/
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Jul 2009, spirit wrote:This song , barely scraped the top 40 , I hope the next single is better.
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Jul 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:Here's an alternative view to that of Fraser and everyone else above - this is an absolute tune. Very cool, and a bit foreboding. I like it more than Standing In The Way Of Control myself.
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Comment number 7.
At 24th Jul 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:I too love it Curtain. As I said its a grower and now Id give it a 4 star. I think her voice aids a lot to the song, along with the passion she sings with. I think the album might be worth investing in as a result of this .. second single will tell.
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