A Joyful Noise
by Gossip
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: May 22, 2012
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
Buy Now
Buy on
  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    On [A Joyful Noise] the fire of youth has been replaced by a sexy confidence that oozes cool.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. DIY Magazine
    May 14, 2012
    80
    A great album full of slightly haywire, unpretentious pop music.
  3. The Independent (UK)
    May 11, 2012
    80
    What's happened is a slight scaling-down of Ditto's approach, so as not to burst the hems of the more restrained arrangements. It's actually worked to her advantage.
  5. 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
  6. AllMusic
    May 29, 2012
    70
    A Joyful Noise isn't as raw or immediate as any of the Gossip's earlier albums, which makes it a bit of a grower for anyone attached to the band's previous firepower.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    May 16, 2012
    67
    Without a clear purpose, most of A Joyful Noise blends into a fog of wandering melodies and come-and-go beats that sound ambivalent about even wanting your attention.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  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.… Full Review »
  2. 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. :)… Full Review »
  3. 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… Full Review »
See all user reviews »