Review Summary: The vocals here are odd to say the least.
Xiu Xiu’s tenth studio album,
Angel Guts: Red Classroom is certainly strange. Its extremely experimental sound, with its prominent synths and unconventional vocals, makes for an incredibly unique record, for both the best and the worst.
What
Angel Guts undoubtedly excels at is its simply unsettling instrumentation. Tracks such as
Cynthya’s Unisex become an easy standout through it’s disturbing and dissonant soundscapes alone.
El Naco adds bells to the mix that form an ever growing sense of dread and intensity. The electronic elements provide some of the tracks here with engaging beats that give us a slight break from the bleak atmosphere. Because of this,
Stupid in the Dark is by far the album's standout, as well as having the closest thing to a hook on the album with its chorus. The next track,
Lawrence Liquor returns to the more atmospheric side while also having some of the more unique sounds found on the record.
However,
Angel Guts does prove to be a rather challenging listen, and this is for the wrong reasons. The vocals here are certainly eclectic, but the breathy and mellow style ends up being more annoying than it is effective. From the final vocal line being screamed in
A Knife In the Sun to the monotonous whispered vocals on
Archie Fades, the vocals become almost unbearable by the final moments of the record. However, I would be lying if I said the vocals were all bad, as the previously mentioned
Stupid In the Dark holds a strong and memorable chorus, and
Botanica de Los Angeles suits the vocal style very well, making the track more haunting as a result.
Overall,
Angel Guts will not be for everyone, but it undeniably has its strengths. The atmosphere is both distinct and potent without any inconsistencies in the record's 45 minute runtime. The synth work is very skilled, as it makes for multiple compelling instrumentals. Despite this, the album is dragged down by the irritating vocals, even if there are the odd few moments where it really works, particularly when he uses his dynamic approach to its fullest. Even then, a good chunk of the record ends up being either annoying or forgettable, causing me to feel slightly less enthusiastic about it with each passing listen.
