Standing In The Way Of Control
by Gossip
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Spin
    91
    Gut-wrenching, foot-stomping punk. [Feb 2006, p.87]
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    B+ Somebody has nearly DustBustered the "garage" right out of their gorgeously messy garage-rock sound. [27 Jan 2006, p.84]
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  3. The A.V. Club
    83
    Ditto can wail like a gospel singer with bugs under her skin, or quietly sing with an almost palpable vulnerability, and her range suits The Gossip's jagged, bluesy post-punk well.
  5. NOW Magazine
    80
    Long-time fans might be a bit weirded out by the shift, but a few seconds hearing Ditto channel Peggy Lee on the smoky torch burner Coal To Diamonds should assuage their fears.
  6. Urb
    80
    Positively sneers with attitude. [Jan/Feb 2006, p.94]
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  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    80
    Ditto and company take indie-rock in a direction many of its fans are not used to, in that the focus is mostly about the human voice and the way the musicians compliment the singer's attack.
  8. Magnet
    80
    Balances restraint and abandon in a near-perfect ritual tease. [#71, p.99]
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  9. cokemachineglow
    78
    They now play with a heads-down resolve that is thrilling.
  10. Playlouder
    70
    To be honest this album has been down the pub all day; it doesn't care that you have to go to work in three hours time; it has just burst into your room and demanded the keys to your car and that bottle of Bombay Saphire you were saving for your birthday.
  11. Slant Magazine
    70
    The Gossip's melodies are infectious and their beats propulsive enough... to get the sk8er kids to drop the self-conscious posturing and dance a little.
  12. Q Magazine
    70
    Showcase[s] a band revelling in their powers, in thrilling control of their screeching rock 'n' roll abandon. [Mar 2006, p.107]
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  13. Uncut
    70
    [The Gossip] have evolved a blend of rough and impassioned garage-soul that owes as much to Tina Turner, Peggy Lee and The Ronettes as it does to Sonic Youth and The White Stripes. [Mar 2006, p.96]
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  14. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    It's hard not to enjoy being alive while listening to this album. [25 Feb 2006, p.31]
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  15. Prefix Magazine
    70
    Think Au Pairs or Delta 5, but filtered through Bikini Kill and the Rapture.
  16. Pitchfork
    68
    While the tight playing and vocal pyrotechnics are impressive, Ditto's narrow lyrical scope gets really redundant.
  17. Stylus Magazine
    67
    Fun and frequently powerful.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. stevee
    Jun 7, 2009
    1
    One hit wonders.
  2. EinarJ.
    May 9, 2008
    7
    Like it. Very grrl revolution. It's full of fast-punkinspired songs and total slow burners. 'Coal To Diamonds', 'Jealous Like it. Very grrl revolution. It's full of fast-punkinspired songs and total slow burners. 'Coal To Diamonds', 'Jealous Girls' and 'Dark Lines' are fabulous. Have to say Ditto's voice can be utterly annoying, but most bands provide worse and worse vocals. Reccomended Listen. Not a Must-Have.… Full Review »
  3. PierreV
    Oct 17, 2007
    9
    Patti Smith meets Aretha Franklin for some unadorned disco-punk. A very good surprise!
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