Music as Nightmare
February 27, 2008 by Andrew Booth
Filed under Anablog
I recently piked the Xiu Xiu album, Women as Lovers. Its an unsettling little piece of work. Quite what the artist is reaching for is unsure. He seems to be trying to worry you, like a drunk who delights in shitting himself on the bus, the music seems designed to drive you away. The lyrics also repulse, like the afore mentioned drunk squishing around a bit, smacking his lips, making big lip smacky sounds. You’re going to think ‘fuck it, I could do with the walk, perhaps I’ll get off here, in Newbridge‘. The music, as it is, is submerged in layers of noise: the constant hum of discordance and unhappiness, and Stewart’s breathless dominant delivery of those fuk’d lyrics, the unveiling horror of whats going on inside of him. It might be interesting if there was a redeeming feature, other than the Queen/Bowie cover. Even the cover photograph is soft-focus nightmare of a Japanese rope fetishists dream.
Completely disagree. Women as Lovers is a great piece of work, sure it’s a bit challenging to listen to but for a Xiu Xiu fan it’s a really interesting album.
Interesting maybe, good no. Hip sure, but then that doesn’t really mean much, I mean its not a valid reason to like something, just because its cool… oh
The album is dross, the music barely listenable and the artists attempts to shock lyrically are best likened to a two year old scooping the shit out of a potty with his hand to show you how that he used it, rather than his trousers.
It’s definitely good! if not pretty amazing. There’s no way that you can say that songs like ‘No friend oh!’ are unlistenable, sure the second half of the album isn’t quite as catchy as the first half but you can’t just write the whole album off.
“Why would mother say such things?
Why add tongue to a kiss goodnight?
Force me to know The Want.
No one needs to know.”
Hahaha, fantastic, I must hear this lunacy.
Ha, the most damning indictment in this review is calling the Under Pressure cover the redeeming feature. That’s the most appalling Xiu Xiu track I’ve ever heard. The album however is as consistently excellent as the last four. I don’t think it has the longevity of La Foret, but what does?
I don’t think Xiu Xiu have a particular hip factor going for them any more than the next band. His lyrics aren’t about shocking for attention, they’re just Jamie Stewart’s style. If you can’t handle the lyrical content that’s fine, but I don’t know how the music is unwelcoming? I think it’s the most accessible album since Fabulous Muscles…
Ha, the most damning indictment in this review is calling the Under Pressure cover the redeeming feature. That’s the most appalling Xiu Xiu track I’ve ever heard. The rest of the album however is as consistently excellent as the last four. I don’t think it has the longevity of La Foret, but what does?
I don’t think Xiu Xiu have a particular hip factor going for them any more than the next band. His lyrics aren’t about shocking for attention, they’re just Jamie Stewart’s style. If you can’t handle the lyrical content that’s fine, but I don’t know how the music is unwelcoming? I think it’s the most accessible album since Fabulous Muscles…
I agree with most of what you said, but I’m at the opposite conclusion. It’s unsettling, it’s been unsettling since six albums ago, and it’s discordant both in the music and in the lyrics. But what’s wrong with that? If by “redeeming feature” you mean “catchy songs”, then I would even argue that there are a couple of those.
It’s not meant to easy to listen to, as pretentious an intention as that sounds. You asked what the artist’s intention was, and then sort of proceeded to say “The music, as it is, is submerged in layers of noise: the constant hum of discordance and unhappiness, and Stewart’s breathless dominant delivery of those fuk’d lyrics, the unveiling horror of whats going on inside of him.” Which is pretty much the answer to your question.
I also think Under Pressure is brilliant. Dan, the most appalling Xiu Xiu track is the cover of Dontcha by Pussycat Dolls on Tu Mi Piaci.
The Bauhaus one wasn’t much cop either…
To be clear, I wasn’t saying the the cover was any good, rather that the idea that Jamie Stewart (do you know him, Dan?) would attempt it. The absurdity was the saving grace that indeed failed to save.
By redeeming feature I did not mean catchy songs. I meant good ones. You self-righteous… sorry. All friends here…
Oh and by the questioning the artists intentions I was really asking how he intended us to react to the album. Having listened through it again I think his intended reaction was horror and immediately cessation of listening.
I didn’t mean to be self-righteous, I just thought that might have been what you meant. The inverted commas probably made me come off like a sarcy arsehole, so I apologise.
I still disagree massively though. There are definitely good songs there. It’s not their best album, but it’s a good one.