This Time I’m For Real

The Gossip “For Keeps”

Beth Ditto has a huge and impressive singing voice, but it seems to have a limited application. She thrives on songs that express some kind of grievance, and allow her to play the part of the strong woman standing up for herself and speaking her mind. Whereas other singers communicate their anxiety, it’s clear that Ditto is trying to obliterate hers though sheer force of will. When she’s in this mode and paired with an inspired arrangement, she is unstoppable and incredibly empowering. “For Keeps” is one of her band’s best songs to date, particularly in the way that it plays up her strengths while pushing into a more sophisticated pop sound that adds a bit of textural nuance and elegantly composed chorus to their established quasi-primal rhythmic aesthetic. It’s sort of mystifying to me that this is not their new album’s first single, but we’ll see what happens down the line.

Buy it from Amazon.