i really wanted to like this but oh my god this is like the most repetitive album ive ever listened to😭

there was some cool production, but it is unfortunately drowned out by these awful vocals, which is my biggest gripe with this whole album

the high pitched effect on nearly every song makes him sound like a fucking mosquito and it just ruins what couldve been some otherwise atleast decent songs

the flows are cool too but also very very repetitive

WTF!!!!!!!

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 12]
[RELISTEN]
95➡️100

just beautiful, in every sense of the word

this album completely immerses you in this incredibly beautiful and lucious soundscape, something that you could get lost in completely

the instrumentation on this is mindblowing, the guitar on blue frank / pink room is life changing stuff

falling is one of the best songs ive ever listened to, the ethereal, overbearing synths just blow you away, and jamies vocal performance is so heavenly

just an ... read more

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 11]

while this albums concept and backstory is really cool, the music itself is just really nothing interesting

i can appreciate it for being so wildly different from the rest of their discography, but this is literally just a collection of very barebones, empty folk tracks with some bird noises in the back.

overall just a very empty album, another one i probably wont be coming back to often

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 10]

this was.. an experience

this is definitely an intriguing album, but i dont see any chance in hell i revisit like 90% of these songs

everything weird about this band before gets cranked up to 100 on this, and it definitely leaves an interesting result

but unfortunately alot of these songs just feel like they were trying to be weird just for the sake of being weird

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 9]

uhhh yeah just toss every instrument down the stairs and record that then have jamie sing with the sleepiest voice imaginable over it. yeah perfect

[XIU XIU DISCOG DIVE 8]

i didnt come into this expecting it to be the best thing ever, but even then i cant help but feel a bit disappointed

these songs, while not explicitly bad or anything, just dont really do anything that makes them that memorable, after a while the album just kinda came and went, and i did not really care

there are some songs on here i enjoyed, the production on Hi is amazing, and black drum machine is one of the most experimental, yet great songs ive heard from xiu xiu

[XIU XIU DISCOG DIVE 7]
[RELISTEN]
80➡️90

really love the more electronic elements on this album, title track encapsulates this amazingly

surprisingly catchy and poppy for xiu xiu’s standards, which is pretty ironic considering the title and lyrical content. though i really dont think this brings the album down, infact thats the main reason i loved this album, every song is just so memorable

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 6]

sometimes i really question if something is wrong with my ears Because WTF is even happening on any of these songs and why did i enjoy every second of it

Easily xiu xiu’s most experimental and aggressive album up to this point, like there are actually moments on this album that legitimately made my ears hurt (child at arms especially wtf)

yet it all works, and i think thats what makes this album so good in the first place

though the sheer abrasiveness is ... read more

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 5]

some great songs on here, but definitely a mixed bag

sound wise this doesnt really deviate at all from the typical xiu xiu sound, which in itself isnt a bad thing, but i feel like the songs themselves arent really anything too captivating, which makes alot of this album a bit forgettable

not to say that there arent bangers on here, boy soprano sounds like something straight out of a promise, and bishop ca is one of the most beautiful songs ive heard

though its still a ... read more

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 4]

INSANELY underrated album, honestly some of their best work up to this point in their discography

i love the more folky/acoustic vibes on most of the songs, though you still get the classic loud xiu xiu tracks such as muppet face and pox

this album is a great showcase of just how diverse and amazing this band really is

(also saturn being the lowest rated is ridiculous wtf)

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 3]
[RELISTEN]
90➡️85

probably one of the bands best written albums ever, but sound wise i feel like its slightly weaker than their other stuff, being alot synthier and less over the top

the first 2 tracks are both some of xiu xiu’s best, crank heart is energetic, and delivers one of my favorite vocal performances from jamie stewart ever, while i luv the valley oh has a much more acoustic and laid back instrumental, which fits perfectly with the loud, in your face ... read more

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 2]
[RELISTEN]
100➡️100

this album just gets better and better with each listen.

some of the most devastating and eerie music out there. i am so freaked out by this album yet i cannot stop listening

theres songs like apistat commander and blacks that just crush you with this abrasive, loud, overwhelming production, and vocals that sound like jamie stewart could just burst into tears at any moment, while songs like sad pony guerilla girl and fast car make you feel ... read more

[XIU XIU DISCOG RUN 1]
[RELISTEN]
70➡️85

a really solid debut from xiu xiu, you can really tell how distinct their sound is even from the very beginning

though it does feel slightly disjointed at times, the production and writing is good enough to carry it through

what a great year it has been for electropop

while this certainly wasnt super grand or mindblowing, it is still a very fun album

love the production on this, the drops on songs like start over and same la are amazing

genuinely might be the most impressive emo/emo-adjacent album i have ever listened to.

i dont even know how to describe the instrumentation on this its kinda just something you have to experience yourself IDK

only thing stopping me from giving this a 100 is the mixing being kinda awful, but this was made in the 90s so i wont hold it too much against them

this clicked with me immediately

super dreamy and lush pop, with great vocals and production. careless teens is one of my favorite songs i’ve discovered as of recent

though i do think the first half is quite a bit better, its still pretty consistent all throughout

absolutely insane guitar work on this, vocals are incredible aswell. one small issue i had was a few of the songs do drag a bit, especially in the instrumental portions, but other than that yeah this is near flawless post-hardcore

i already knew it was going to be great but WOW it still managed to exceed my expectations

i already thought the single run was insane, and the rest of the album did not disappoint

its energetic, loud, aggressive, just pure electroclash perfection

????????