Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself

I'm new to the Xiu Xiu game. Jamie Stewart is like a better version of Conor Oberst. A more interesting and provocative musician with similar lyrical topics. Xiu Xiu's music is hard to pin down. Some throw around 'art pop' or 'avant-garde.' I don't know about all that. Xiu Xiu has a definite electronic influence in the music, but there's so much more going on than a synthesizer sequencer or a drum machine. Watching a report from the studio, Jamie Stewart obviously has more than just a Moog at his disposal . From Nintendo DS Korg sounds to every percussion instrument in his arsenal, Dear God, I Hate Myself is chock full of interesting sounds and melodies. The pained voice of Jamie Stewart fills in the spaces once again, without the help of Caralee McElroy (now one half awesome band Cold Cave) this time. Standout tracks include 'Chocolate Makes You Happy," "Dear God, I Hate Myself," the delightfully folky "Cumberland Gap," and "Impossible Feeling." The last track listed is also the last track on the record and uses string samples to paint a choppy but brilliant sounding end to the record.

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