If The Gossip were a lesbian they'd be the cool hip lesbian. You know, they're mid-way through their Philosophy degree, they shop at Salvation Army to approach a chunkier Karen O style, spend plenty of time in the local vegan friendly communally run coffee shop, and always seem to be free flowing with the cannabis. Now, if Riot Grrl were a lesbian it would have been the angry lesbian. Not necessarily man hating, but this lesbian is pissed at many a thing. They alternate between two pairs of Doc Martins, are an active and ever so vocal member of nearly every political college society, and chances are they were really into Daria when they were fifteen. Now contrary to Banky from Chasing Amy's theorizing, the later lesbian is not the only type of lesbian. Similarly, just because The Gossip call Olympia, WA home, play rough punk based music and have the occasional homosexual theme to them, does not make them a Riot Grrl band.
Bikini Kill never had the insatiable rhythm that Standing in the Way of Control has. Hell, songs like the title track, "Jealous Girls" and "Your Mangled Heart" out Le Tigre Le Tigre. Bare bones as they may be, they bring the dance. Relatively simple distorted DNA-esque guitar lines and Beth Ditto's all encompassing vocals take front row as ever. However, Standing in the Way of Control finds my lesbian (read: The Gossip) breaking out of the downtown bar and hitting the uptown disco. "Listen Up!" features some very in vogue cowbells (DFA anyone?) and possible album standout, "Keeping You Alive", comes complete with well positioned hand claps. If this fails to get your rear in gear then you probably listen to K.D. Lang.
Any dance party needs a chill out room though. Kick off your shoes, dig on the vintage Otis Redding and start some pre-teen groping with these songs: "Coal to Diamonds", "Holy Water" and "Dark Lines." Downtune the funk and up the classic soul, The Gossip has it all and enough versatility to make it work. If this fails to wrench a heart string or two then you probably listen to K.D. Lang.
This is sort of a transition record, but one that sees The Gossip move even further away from any of the undue labels they appropriated in their early years. While some might miss the lumps of dirt found between every chord on their previous records, if it came into some form of dance off (bear with me) with Le Tigre's This Island, then Standing in the Way of Control would knock it on its un-rhythmic ass. Angry one trick dyke this isn't, hip yet sensitive Lesbian this is.
