XIU XIU

Angel Guts: Red Classroom

2014-03-16

  Angel Guts:  Red Classroom, the ninth release from Xiu Xiu, opens and closes with quiet electronics and the haunting sound of the wind. In between, Jamie Stewart, Xiu Xiu's main man, breaths his muddy vocals over sludgy synths.  With lyrics featuring vulgar language and disturbing themes (suicide, sexual experimentation, sadomasochism, violence), one might think this is all too serious.  Then, one listens to "Black Dick" or "El Naco" and one can't help but to laugh. Is this a put on?  Is Xiu Xiu, after twelve years as a band, just trying to be shocking for the sake of being shocking?  That kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it?  Angel Guts  is a little "much" for me to want to listen to over and over. Even so, I find this album to be bizarre and bleak and darkly compelling.    Rebecca Ruth  

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 05/2006

    Bitter:Sweet
    The Mating Game

  • reviewed 03/2005

    IVY
    In the Clear

  • reviewed 08/2007

    THE REAL TUESDAY WELD
    The London Book of the Dead

  • reviewed 12/2009

    JOHN MAYER
    BATTLE STUDIES

  • reviewed 08/2010

    THE STEREOFIDELICS
    You Are Having a Wonderful Time

  • reviewed 12/2010

    THE AUTUMN DEFENSE
    Once Around

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.