Four paparazzi-turned-pop musicians: Hollywood Gossip.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Morrissey woke up one day super-happy, kidnapped The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy in an energetic fit of delight, and flew the both of them down to Austin to throw a house party with Voxtrot?

Of course you do. That’s why we have Austin’s four-piece Hollywood Gossip to thank, for their upcoming Dear as Diamonds album (drops June 19) is all of those things.

I listened to Dear as Diamonds on a sunny weekend, head-bopping along in my car, and pulled out some favorites. While you can sample the album in its entirety here and join the band for its no-doubt packed CD release show at Ghost Room on Saturday, June 19, here are the singular bits of Hollywood Gossip goodness that I personally recommend:

#4, “I Can Be Right:” A sexy, syncopated, Strokes-like tune that contains the album’s namesake. “The lights shown from the stage / and when they caught your face / you seemed as dear as diamonds.”

#9, “Worst Day:” A hand-clap-happy flashback about a good kid who fesses up to…something, while his partner-in-crime lies and gets off scott free. Who hasn’t been there? I don’t know whether to dance or punch someone in the face. Probably stick with dancing.

#12: “All That I Want:” Ladies, are you married? If not, you’ll want this to be your future wedding song. TRUST. Cory Ryan trades her big bad bass for a sweet ukelele, and the result is gentle gorgeoussity. No, gorgeoussity is not a word. I don’t care and neither will you when you hear this song. When frontman Tyler Womack croons, “Ooh you’re all that I want, you’re all that I need,” your hipster heart will shed away its hard, hard irony and melt into a pool of shimmering love tears. Tears of joy, that is.

The first 25 attendees at the release party get free CDs. Spread the word, and see you at Ghost Room.

http://hollywoodgossipband.com/

Photo By: Jennifer Nichols