Xiu Xiu: Secret Motel.
I was really worried that Caralee’s departure from Xiu Xiu would send Jamie down a dark, clangy, darkly clanging street lined with many “Walnut House”s. But hey, look, nothing to fear: Dear God, I Hate Myself is (by Xiu Xiu standards) pure pop. Not a single beatless sound-collage in sight — just chip-y, chipper, occasionally exuberant, even fistpumping synthpop. Sure, the songs are still about deviance, self-loathing, and suicide. But they sound so good! 1:03–1:05 here make me want to bleat out DO YOU LOVE ME JAMIE STEWART.
In retrospect, ‘fistpumping’ is probably not a good image to use in re Xiu Xiu. I regret the error.
