Portland indie icons Gossip will make their glorious return next year with the release of their sixth studio album Real Power. Heralding that return is the euphoric lead single “Crazy Again” — arriving as a fittingly joyous but unhinged reintroduction to the trio. Still comprised of vocalist Beth Ditto, guitarist Nathan “Brace Paine” Howdeshell, and drummer Hannah Blilie they’ve also reunited with producer Rick Rubin for the rousing new record.
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“Crazy Again” chronicles all the manic ecstasy that comes with following in love. Ditto’s gleaming croons light the way as a rush of buoyant bass and percussion propels her heartfelt words forward. “Situations occur when romance is a blur,” she coos glowingly alongside spiraling riffs. “It happens all the time / Send me a savior.” The track taps into the frantic earnestness and delirious energy that takes over when you’ve found someone whose presence offers safety as well as love.
Held aloft by its surging textures and crescendoing melody “Crazy Again” is a blissful synthesis of that feeling into music. But it’s also a scintillating blend of pop/rock that reminds listeners exactly why Gossip emerged as such a meteoric force across the 00s — no one captures the urgency of emotion quite like they do. And Real Power is going to be chock full of soul-energizing and jubilant anthems just like it.
“Crazy Again” also comes with a music video directed by Ssion in Kansas City. The film pairs the track’s stirring sincerity with a hilariously provocative tale of freedom, one that starts out with the band prepping a weather report for a local news channel. As Ditto starts her forecast though the story hones in on a particular Pink Lady (Bailey Stiles) who finds themselves partying in a punk house as the news plays in the background.
But then she catches a glimpse of the beautiful scenery outside her window and after climbing out of it she’s set loose on the world. Sprinting down the street and along the highway — naked and neon pink — she revels in her beauty and freedom however she sees fit. Eventually she makes it all the way to Ditto’s character, whom she gives a good smack to snap her out of her own doldrums. Like a bad dream she’s been awoken from she finds herself on stage at a Gossip show — exactly where she belongs.
“When we began, so much about Gossip was about running away — that was always in the music,” Ditto explained. “We survived. We came from nothing, and we got the fuck out of there. And to be here 20 years later and still making music together is just incredible.”
Words: Steven Ward
Real Power the new album from Gossip is out on March 22nd, pre-order it here.
Visit Gossip on their Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Watch the music video for “Crazy Again” the new single from Gossip below!
