Standing in the Way of Control

Standing in the Way of Control
Studio album by Gossip
Released	January 24, 2006
Recorded	2005
Studio	Bear Creek Studios, Seattle, Washington
Genre	Indie rock, garage rock, dance-rock, post-punk revival
Length	35:31
Label	Back Yard Recordings, Kill Rock Stars
Producer	Guy Picciotto, Ryan Hadlock
Gossip chronology
Real Damage (2005) Standing in the Way of Control (2006) Music for Men (2009)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	72/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The A.V. Club	B+
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Mojo
NME	7/10
Pitchfork	6.8/10
Q
Rolling Stone
Spin	A−
URB

Standing in the Way of Control is the third studio album by American indie rock band Gossip, which was released on January 24, 2006. The album was produced by Guy Picciotto and Ryan Hadlock It reached number 1 on the UK indie chart and also reached Gold status in the United Kingdom.

Irish Times described Beth Ditto's performance on the album as "a compelling combination of Brenda Lee, Dolly Parton and Siouxsie Sioux." Describing the title track, journalist Kevin Courtney noted that it was a "barnstorming indie-electro-disco stomper".

The title track also serves as the unofficial theme song to the British teen drama Skins, as its use in the DVD menu and promotional material led viewers to associate it with the series. It is also featured on the show's soundtrack album.

Track listing

All songs written by Gossip.

1. "Fire with Fire" – 2:49
2. "Standing in the Way of Control" – 4:16
3. "Jealous Girls" – 3:39
4. "Coal to Diamonds" – 4:00
5. "Eyes Open" – 2:10
6. "Yr Mangled Heart" – 4:22
7. "Listen Up!" – 4:18
8. "Holy Water" – 2:43
9. "Keeping You Alive" – 3:47
10. "Dark Lines" – 3:27

Some versions of the album have an eleventh bonus track, the Le Tigre remix of the track "Standing in the Way of Control". The Australia & New Zealand version of the album has two bonus tracks:

11. "Here Today Gone Tomorrow"
12. "Sick with It"

In 2007, the album was re-released with two bonus tracks:

11. "Listen Up!" (2007 version) – sped-up version (like title track)
12. "Standing in the Way of Control" (Soulwax Nite version) – a dance remix

Personnel

• Beth Ditto – vocalist
• Brace Paine – guitar, bass guitar, piano on "Dark Lines"
• Hannah Blilie – drums, backing vocals on "Jealous Girls" and "Yr Mangled Heart"
• Ryan Hadlock and Guy Picciotto at Bear Creek Recording Studio in Seattle Washington – production, recording, mixing

Charts

Certifications and sales