Angel Guts: Red Classroom (studio album) by Xiu Xiu

Very few interesting ideas or moments.

C+

From mickilennial 03/20/2014 04:45

Jamie Stewart has always been this sort of artistic sort and each one of his records resonate differently with me and this one is no different. I can understand why a lot of people don’t enjoy this as its pretty abrasive from the start of the album, but when you get to it this record is staunch to the background of this sort of hostile atmosphere that drags you down with Stewart’s sense of hopelessness, frantic emotion, and anxiety—which is all something that’s been a part of Xiu Xiu for as long as I can remember. At the very least I can tell where the experiments could not resonate with other listeners, but for me everything he’s doing on this record is great, moody, sort of dark music; from the variable synths, animal screeches, noise-esque wailing, and occasional shrieking walls of noise there’s something to appreciate if you have a taste for that sort of thing.

Definitely a jarring listen. Black Dick is one of the best songs I've heard all year.

If you like feeling really uncomfortable, then you'll love this.

From johnner 02/07/2014 22:29

Vicious and unrelenting, this album's examination of domination, S & M, torture, and serial murder couldn't be more overwhelming if it's auteur's blood-smeared face were to rise up out of the hell it leaves in it's wake. As an artistic statement it's brave, whether it's healthy is debatable.

From meccalecca 02/04/2014 20:07

Quivering in the dark, gasping for oxygen, Xiu Xiu's latest appears to be less frantic than recent releases but just as desperate and haunted. "Black Dick" may be the band's own "Frankie Teardrop," a song whose tension can a listener to pure panic. And isn't that what Xiu Xiu is all about. Nothing they do is easy listening. Angel Guts: Red Classroom should make you feel uneasy while you're listening.