| Real Power | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 22, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2023 | |||
| Genre | ? | |||
| Length | 39:58 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Rick Rubin | |||
| Gossip chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Real Power | ||||
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Real Power is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Gossip. It was released on March 22, 2024, through Columbia Records. The album marks their first studio release in twelve years, following A Joyful Noise (2012), marking the longest gap between studio album releases in their career.
The album was produced by Rick Rubin, who previously worked with the band for their 2009 album Music for Men.[2] Recording began in 2019 at Rubin's home studio in Kauai, Hawaii, following a brief tour reunion for the 10-year anniversary of Music For Men.[3] Recording came to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed when restrictions were lifted.[4] Ditto explained that Real Power was originally intended as a follow-up to her debut solo album Fake Sugar but that, when she invited Gossip member Nathan Howdeshell to participate in writing some songs for the project, the duo realised that it actually needed to be a Gossip album rather than a Beth Ditto album.
Gossip described working with Rubin as "a true gift", saying that they felt "genuinely cared about and supported" as he "creates calm, positive, open spaces". About 30-40 songs came about from the sessions with Rubin, after having thrown "everything against the wall" and having the "best time".[5] Real Power is a "celebration of creative expression" and the power that came out of choosing family in the aftermath of "collective and personal trauma", according to a press release.[6]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 75/100[17] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [7] |
| DIY | [8] |
| The Guardian | [9] |
| The Independent | [10] |
| MusicOMH | [11] |
| NME | [12] |
| Pitchfork | 7.1/10[13] |
| The Skinny | [14] |
| Slant Magazine | [15] |
| The Telegraph | [16] |
Real Power was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 75, based on 13 reviews.[17]
All tracks are written by Beth Ditto and Brace Paine. Additional writing on "Tell Me Something" by Jason Lader.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Act of God" | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Real Power" | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Don't Be Afraid" | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Crazy Again" | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Edge of the Sun" | 3:48 |
| 6. | "Give It Up for Love" | 2:54 |
| 7. | "Turn the Card Slowly" | 4:27 |
| 8. | "Tell Me Something" | 4:09 |
| 9. | "Light It Up" | 3:06 |
| 10. | "Tough" | 3:38 |
| 11. | "Peace and Quiet" | 3:29 |
| Total length: | 39:58 | |
Gossip
Technical
Visuals
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[18] | 16 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19] | 88 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20] | 47 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] | 8 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 13 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] | 11 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[24] | 68 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[25] | 11 |
