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A Joyful Noise
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A Joyful Noise Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: Brian Higgins produced the fifth album for alternative rock band led by Beth Ditto.
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  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Garage Punk, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Rockabilly Revival, Riot Grrrl
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Top Track

Perfect World
Oh oh and I, I put a wish in, made it my mission to end the conflict. But oh, I put a wish in, hoping you'd listen. Be my accomplice But ohhh Relax,... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. Magnet
    Jun 13, 2012
    85
    On [A Joyful Noise] the fire of youth has been replaced by a sexy confidence that oozes cool. [No.88 p.54]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Uncut
    May 9, 2012
    80
    A Joyful Noise strikes a healthy balance between tears-on-the-dancefloor hi-NRG and Gossip's bluesy swagger. [Jun 2012, p.73]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Mojo
    Jul 18, 2012
    60
    Toweringly camp singles like the slinky Perfect World and an album to enjoy on shuffle. [Jun 2012, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Pitchfork
    Jun 4, 2012
    59
    [Song "Casualties of War" is] the sole promising moment on an album that ranges from average to disappointing. In the end, Joyful Noise feels like a stopgap.
  5. PopMatters
    May 21, 2012
    50
    Too often the songs here are forgettable, but Ditto continues to sing impressively.
  6. Consequence
    May 21, 2012
    40
    In the end, though, the groans far outweigh the mindless fun.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    May 15, 2012
    30
    More problematic than the bad lyrics or air of disengagement is Higgins' involvement. Too much of the album sounds washed out and painfully clean.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Kogia
    Jun 25, 2012
    10
    Crazy critic reviewers, this album works for me and has grown on me with each listen, it's now my favourite album of the year. I reallyCrazy critic reviewers, this album works for me and has grown on me with each listen, it's now my favourite album of the year. I really enjoyed their previous albums and this is probably a bit more 'poppy', but I'm never sure why that's always considered a bad thing. Beth Ditto's voice seems to have softened a lot on this album and that's also both a good and bad thing, I hope it's not gone for good, but it is nice to hear the difference. Specific track comments; Perfect World is fantastic, Get A Job great lyrics and mellow dancer, Move In the Right Direction is also a standout track and Into the Wild is timeless, actually the more I listen to this album the more I love each track and for me the joy in the album is the softer tone from their previous works. I'm sure I'll be listening to this as much as I listen to their other stuff.… Expand
  2. zkent
    May 22, 2012
    9
    It's an ignorance and lack of music criticism ability to rate this record under 70. I think, music critics should change themselves before theIt's an ignorance and lack of music criticism ability to rate this record under 70. I think, music critics should change themselves before the music dies. I am not a number one "the gossip" fan but this is one of the best album of 2012 so far! If you check the highest metascore list, you will see that noone's gonna listen most of them again next year. by the way, I listen to approx. 5-10 albums in a day!!!!!!… Expand
  4. ECD80
    May 29, 2012
    7
    Seems as if Metacritic is getting lazy. Where's the Spin review? Looks like they're not posting a lot of the positive reviews. You can find aSeems as if Metacritic is getting lazy. Where's the Spin review? Looks like they're not posting a lot of the positive reviews. You can find a lot of great reviews from legitimate publications various places online. Google the reviews on this album! It's a great, solid record. Dancy and funky and still punky! Blondie went disco - get over it haters! Key Tracks: Melody Emergency, Perfect World, Get a Job, Move in the Right Direction, Get Lost, Horns I give the album a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. :)… Expand
  5. Blendycat
    May 26, 2012
    0
    I love Gossip but this new record is **** It sounds like some cookie-cutter Xenomania-produced garbage. Where's the Gossip edge? Where are theI love Gossip but this new record is **** It sounds like some cookie-cutter Xenomania-produced garbage. Where's the Gossip edge? Where are the guitars? The dreadful album cover alone should have been enough to warn me that this record was going to suck. Standing in the Way of Control and Music for Men were so good. WTF happened??? Did David Guetta roofy them and steal their studio? If they were going to do a straight dance record, they could have at least hired a good producer like Erol Alkan or Paul Epworth. F A I L… Collapse

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