TEST PRESSING: The Gossip Returns With Their First Rick Rubin Collab, “Heavy Cross”

By Arye Dworken

Contrary to all the blog buzz over their seemingly sudden new song (“Heavy Cross,” which we’ll share in a second), it feels like the Gossip never went away. First there was the head-over-heels New York Times profile about how Columbia’s bearded rock/rap guru, Rick Rubin, was saving the sinking label by signing acts like Portland’s most promising power trio. Or maybe it was the multiple nude/scantily clad magazine covers that Beth Ditto posed for during the band’s down time. (What happened to Publicity 101: when there’s nothing to promote, don’t promote?)

And so now, more than three years after Standing In The Way of Control made the band tabloid-baiting stars overseas (the album went gold and conquered the indie charts in the UK), the Gossip premiere their first Rubin production…

First and foremost, “Heavy Cross” fails at bottling up the lightning-like energy of the Gossip’s live show. More importantly, the track doesn’t make us lust after the June 22 release of the fourth Gossip LP, Music For Men. In fact, Stevie Nicks should get a writing credit for this single (“Edge of Seventeen,” anyone?) and guitarist Brace Paine—the mustached tough guy in the glamor shot above—oughta be reminded that his riffs are lifted straight from post-punk’s Class of 2006.

It makes no difference, however. The Gossip’s following is a fanatic one; they’re raising this song to the heavens with relentless hyperbole all over the Web. That being said, “Heavy Cross” won’t win over too many new fans and it certainly won’t save Columbia anymore than Rubin’s next Neil Diamond album.

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Gossip, “Heavy Cross”