3 stars (out of 5)
Portland, Oregon band Gossip has pulled out all the stops in an attempt at a chartbuster for its fifth album, employing UK pop producer Brian Higgins (Kylie Minogue, Sugababes) in a move that was only ever going to blunt the trio's rougher edges. For fans of gritty, menacing 2005 release Standing In The Way Of Control, it will be a disappointment. To those who have always seen singer Beth Ditto as the anti-Madonna, a chunky goth-pop diva who deserves to assume her ladyship's mantle on the strength of her soul-searing voice alone, this album should provide the ammunition they need.
Single download: Perfect World
For those who like: Madonna, Goldfrapp, disco
- Jeff Harford
2 stars (out of 5)
Auckland-based former Bionic Pixie Zoe Fleury enlisted the help of no fewer than 10 producers in making her debut electro-pop album under her Zowie moniker, perhaps searching for the combination that would send her career into the stratosphere. Whatever the motive, it does feel like each track is trying to outscore the next as Zowie's robot-grrrl factor goes into hyper-drive, but such is the nature of the genre. Tweens will love the album's crisp production, catchy choruses and stonking beats. Others might dig deeper and despair. "Your love is anodyne," says she. "Your lyrics are asinine," say I.
Single download: My Calculator
For those who like: Electro-pop, Peaches, Katy Perry
- Jeff Harford
2 stars (out of 5)
It is fitting this American group's name almost rhymes with auto-tune, given the prevalence of the digitised (read false) vocal effect employed throughout the aptly titled Overexposed.
Paint-by-numbers dance-floor rhythms allied to equally bland lyrics might equal chart success but, sales aside, there are few redeeming qualities to be found here as the band moves well away from its rock foundations, relying on a range of industry hit-makers for inspiration on album number four. Watch out for the next season of Glee, for this is where much of this material seems destined.
Single download: Moves Like Jagger
For those who like: Britney Spears, The Script
- Shane Gilchrist
