Xiu Xiu’s leader, Jamie Stewart, is the ultimate drama queen. Every song on Always is always emotional to the hilt. Even the seemingly simple and straight forward, “Hi,” finds Stewart urging listeners to remember their greetings, even when “Ferdinand gores you in the chest.” Manners are important, people!
Stewart sings in an ultra feminine voice, which only sounds masculine when accompanied by Angela Seo’s sweet girl vocal, which is most apparent during “Honey Suckle.” The music is urgent dance music, propelled by synthesizers and drum machines. It hearkens back at times to the’80s new wave songs of acts like Erasure, Eurythmics and Bronksi Beat. An exception to this sonic generalization is “The Oldness,” which finds Stewart singing over a sad acoustic piano part. “Chimney’s Afire (Mickensian Suicide)” also stands out for its driving acoustic guitar part.
As you might guess, these are not happy tunes. For example, when was the last time you heard a pop song with a title like “I Luv Abortion”? Stewart sings it like a soap opera star on steroids. He doesn’t so much sing it, as shout it. “You’re too good for this life,” he blurts more than once. He even makes what sound like animal sounds in a few places. It’s the kind of song that may leave you feeling sick. You might even wish to abort the impression the song has upon you, permanently.
Some of you would rather have Ferdinand gore you in the chest, instead of suffering through Xiu Xiu music. There’s even a song title, “Born to Suffer.” Hey, that song is you! Although Always is not a pretty picture by any stretch of the imagination, you have to respect Stewart for being true to his melodramatic vision. This is certainly no sellout. Each of these songs comes off like aural abortions. Whether you actually ‘luv’ them...well...that’s entirely up to you.
Stewart sings in an ultra feminine voice, which only sounds masculine when accompanied by Angela Seo’s sweet girl vocal, which is most apparent during “Honey Suckle.” The music is urgent dance music, propelled by synthesizers and drum machines. It hearkens back at times to the’80s new wave songs of acts like Erasure, Eurythmics and Bronksi Beat. An exception to this sonic generalization is “The Oldness,” which finds Stewart singing over a sad acoustic piano part. “Chimney’s Afire (Mickensian Suicide)” also stands out for its driving acoustic guitar part.
As you might guess, these are not happy tunes. For example, when was the last time you heard a pop song with a title like “I Luv Abortion”? Stewart sings it like a soap opera star on steroids. He doesn’t so much sing it, as shout it. “You’re too good for this life,” he blurts more than once. He even makes what sound like animal sounds in a few places. It’s the kind of song that may leave you feeling sick. You might even wish to abort the impression the song has upon you, permanently.
Some of you would rather have Ferdinand gore you in the chest, instead of suffering through Xiu Xiu music. There’s even a song title, “Born to Suffer.” Hey, that song is you! Although Always is not a pretty picture by any stretch of the imagination, you have to respect Stewart for being true to his melodramatic vision. This is certainly no sellout. Each of these songs comes off like aural abortions. Whether you actually ‘luv’ them...well...that’s entirely up to you.
