Music for Men

2009 studio album by Gossip

Music for Men

Studio album by

Gossip

Released| June 19, 2009 (2009-06-19)
Studio| Shangri-La Studios
(Malibu, California)
Genre|

* Indie rock
* garage rock
* dance-punk

Length| 43:27
Label| Columbia
Producer| Rick Rubin
Gossip chronology
| Standing in the Way of Control
(2006)  | Music for Men
(2009)  | A Joyful Noise
(2012)

|
|

Singles from  Music for Men

1. "Heavy Cross"
Released: April 28, 2009
2. "Love Long Distance"
Released: September 13, 2009
3. "Pop Goes the World"
Released: March 8, 2010
4. "Men in Love"
Released: October 29, 2010[1]

Music for Men is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Gossip. It was released on June 19, 2009, by Columbia Records.[2][3]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsAggregate scores

Source| Rating
Metacritic| 69/100[4]
Review scores
Source| Rating
AllMusic| [5]
BBC Music| Favorable[6]
Drowned in Sound| 5/10[7]
The Guardian| [8]
The Independent| [9]
Pitchfork| 6.4/10[10]
Planet Sound| 4/10[11]
Spin| [12]
The Times| [13]
Uncut| [14]

Music for Men received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 69, based on 26 reviews.[4] In 2010, Music for Men earned Gossip a nomination for Outstanding Music Artist at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.[15]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

Music for Men was successful in Europe, with sales of 280,000 copies in France alone, where it spent 138 weeks on the chart.[16][17] It sold 42,000 copies in the United States as of December 2012.[18]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Gossip.

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Dimestore Diamond"| 3:16
2.| "Heavy Cross"| 4:06
3.| "8th Wonder"| 3:17
4.| "Love Long Distance"| 4:26
5.| "Pop Goes the World"| 3:27
6.| "Vertical Rhythm"| 3:50
7.| "Men in Love"| 3:41
8.| "For Keeps"| 4:08
9.| "2012"| 3:51
10.| "Love and Let Love"| 3:32
11.| "Four Letter Word"| 3:49
12.| "Spare Me from the Mold"| 2:28

Deluxe edition bonus tracksNo.| Title| Length

|
|

13.| "Pop Goes the World" (James Ford version)| 3:26
14.| "Heavy Cross" (Fred Falke Remix)| 8:08

European edition bonus tracksNo.| Title| Length

|
|

13.| "Heavy Cross" (Fred Falke Remix radio edit)| 3:49
14.| "Heavy Cross" (Burns remix)| 7:36
15.| "Love Long Distance" (Fake Blood remix)| 4:36

US/Zune Marketplace releaseNo.| Title| Length

|
|

13.| "The Breakdown"| 3:41

German extended edition bonus tracks (released October 22, 2010)No.| Title| Length

|
|

13.| "The Breakdown"| 3:41
14.| "Heavy Cross" (NRJ session)| 4:16
15.| "Pop Goes the World" (NRJ session)| 3:47
16.| "Listen Up" (NRJ session)| 4:34
17.| "2012" (NRJ session)| 3:39
18.| "Love Long Distance" (NRJ session)| 5:25
19.| "Men in Love" (NRJ session)| 3:01
20.| "Standing in the Way of Control" (NRJ session)| 4:42

German extended edition bonus DVD (released October 22, 2010)No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Heavy Cross" (video)|
2.| "Love Long Distance" (video)|
3.| "Pop Goes the World" (video)|
4.| "Four Letter Word" (video)|
5.| "Heavy Cross" (Rock am Ring 2010 live performance)|
6.| "Love Long Distance" (Rock am Ring 2010 live performance)|
7.| "Pop Goes the World" (Rock am Ring 2010 live performance)|
8.| "Men in Love" (Rock am Ring 2010 live performance)|

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Music for Men.[19]

Gossip

* Beth Ditto – vocals
* Hannah Billie – drums, illustration, percussion
* Brace Paine – art direction, bass, guitar, keyboards, sampler percussion

Additional personnel

* Jeri Lynn Beard – art direction
* Lee Broomfield – photography
* Lenny Castro – percussion
* Greg Fidelman – additional percussion, mixing, recording
* Meghan Foley – art direction
* James Ford – original drum elements (on "Pop Goes the World")
* Jason Gossman – editing
* Sara Lyn Killion – additional engineering
* Eric Lynn – additional engineering
* Vlado Meller – mastering
* Dana Nielsen – additional recording, editing, saxophone
* Rick Rubin – production
* Mark Santangelo – mastering assistance
* Andrew Scheps – additional mixing

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2009–10)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] | 13
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21] | 4
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22] | 3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] | 13
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[24] | 27
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[25] | 31
European Albums (Billboard)[26] | 15
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] | 32
French Albums (SNEP)[28] | 5
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] | 10
Irish Albums (IRMA)[30] | 27
Italian Albums (FIMI)[31] | 29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[32] | 28
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[33] | 34
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] | 26
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[35] | 100
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] | 12
UK Albums (OCC)[37] | 18
US Billboard 200[38] | 164
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[39] | 8

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2009)  | Position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[40] | 77
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[41] | 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[42] | 28
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[43] | 73
European Albums (Billboard)[44] | 67
French Albums (SNEP)[45] | 28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[46] | 55
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] | 55
Chart (2010)  | Position

|

Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[48] | 33
European Albums (Billboard)[49] | 36
French Albums (SNEP)[50] | 34
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[51] | 24
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[52] | 35

## Certifications and sales

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[53] | Gold  | 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[54] | Platinum  | 20,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[55] | Gold  | 15,000*
France (SNEP)[56] | 2× Platinum  | 280,000[16]
Germany (BVMI)[57] | 2× Platinum  | 400,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[58] | Platinum  | 30,000^
United States  | —  | 42,000[18]
Summaries
Worldwide  | —  | 1,000,000[59]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Men in Love: Gossip". Amazon (Germany (in German). Retrieved March 2, 2012.
2. ^ Amazon – Music For Men
3. ^ Gossip Official Website Archived 2009-05-04 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ a b "Music For Men – Gossip". Metacritic. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
5. ^ Music for Men at AllMusic
6. ^ BBC review
7. ^ "Drowned in Sound review". Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
8. ^ "Alexis Petridis reviews the Gossip's new album, Music for Men". The Guardian. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022.
9. ^ The Independent review
10. ^ Pitchfork Media review
11. ^ Planet Sound review
12. ^ Spin review
13. ^ The Times review[dead link]
14. ^ Uncut review Archived 2009-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ "21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards – English Language Nominees". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
16. ^ a b "Gossip – Music For Men +4 Titres Bonus". Charts in France (in French). Retrieved December 27, 2012.
17. ^ C, Jas (March 29, 2019). "Gossip Announce Reunion Tour to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of "Music For Men"". Hot Pop Today. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
18. ^ a b Cubarrubia, RJ (March 13, 2012). "Gossip Announces New Album: Hear First Single 'Perfect World'". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
19. ^ Music for Men (liner notes). Gossip. Columbia Records. 2009. 88697 06230 2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
21. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Gossip – Music for Men" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
22. ^ "Ultratop.be – Gossip – Music for Men" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Gossip – Music for Men" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
24. ^ "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
25. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gossip – Music for Men" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
26. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 27\. July 11, 2009. p. 51\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2018 – via Google Books.
27. ^ "Gossip: Music for Men" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
28. ^ "Lescharts.com – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Gossip – Music for Men" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
30. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 26, 2009". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
31. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
32. ^ "Charts.nz – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
33. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
35. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
36. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Gossip – Music for Men". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
37. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
38. ^ "Gossip Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
39. ^ "Gossip Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
40. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
41. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2009" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2009 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
43. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
44. ^ "Year End Charts – European Top 100 Albums". Billboard. 2009. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
45. ^ "Classement Albums – année 2009" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
46. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2009" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
47. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2009". swisscharts.com. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
48. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2010" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
49. ^ "Year End Charts – European Top 100 Albums". Billboard. 2010. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
50. ^ "Classement Albums – année 2010" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
51. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2010" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
52. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2010". swisscharts.com. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
53. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
54. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Gossip – Music for Men" (in German). IFPI Austria. November 16, 2010.
55. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien. September 25, 2009.
56. ^ "French album certifications – Gossip – Music for Men" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. July 8, 2010.
57. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Gossip; 'Music for Men')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
58. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Music for Men')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
59. ^ Hurst, Elizabeth (October 2, 2010). "Backbeat". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 39\. p. 46\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 27, 2018 – via Google Books.

* v
* t
* e

Gossip

* Beth Ditto
* Brace Paine
* Hannah Blilie

* Kathy Mendonça

Albums|

* That's Not What I Heard
* Movement
* Standing in the Way of Control
* Music for Men
* A Joyful Noise
* Real Power

Live albums|

* Undead in NYC

Singles|

* "Standing in the Way of Control"
* "Jealous Girls"
* "Listen Up!"
* "Heavy Cross"
* "Love Long Distance"
* "Men in Love"
* "Perfect World"
* "Move in the Right Direction"

Related articles|

* Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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