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10.0
37938
10.0 |
Independent on Sunday
Has you imagining peak-era New Order waking up amid the horrors of the new millennium. Magnificent
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9.0
37863
9.0 |
Drowned In Sound
What Xiu Xiu demonstrate throughout Always, is the way in which they can lay down so starkly how terrible life can be and how fucked up one can feel and create something amazing, angry, political, fierce and defiant out of all of it
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9.0
38494
9.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
The technicolor torch song, the dance paradise of the disco, the mournful elsewhere of Morissey’s new wave — Xiu Xiu everywhere extends these traditions even as it tweaks their clichés and co-optation
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8.3
38389
8.3 |
A.V. Club
Experimentation and weirdness still abound
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8.3
38486
8.3 |
Pretty Much Amazing
While undeniably distinctive, also invites comparison to Antony Hegarty, Scott Walker, Carey Mercer, Depeche Mode, and The Smiths
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8.0
38611
8.0 |
Blurt
The whole affair contains nods to c-c-chilly early Depeche Mode emotionalism, the National's buggy melodicism, scads of uneasy percussion, and the type of queer-culture espirit that incubated Perfume Genius's madness
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8.0
37864
8.0 |
musicOMH
Aways, is a riot; serving up its significant doses of ire, disgust and despair on a plate of pop-savvy, hook-laden electronica that somehow sounds both blithe and engaged, serious and ephemeral
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8.0
37865
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Emotionally charged, devastatingly destructive, and often uncomfortable, it can make for a nerve-wracking listen, but certainly a rewarding one
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8.0
37866
8.0 |
The Fly
Frankly, we absolutely must fling this filth at our pop kids
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8.0
37878
8.0 |
Uncut
Febrile synth-pop, dotted with orchestral excursions and abrupt electronics. Print edition only
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8.0
38204
8.0 |
hhv.de mag
Xiu Xiu continue to work on their discourse-pop, situated somewhere between celebrating their own marginalization and political incorrectness
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8.0
39486
8.0 |
Loud And Quiet
For those who are already in awe of Jamie Stewart’s twisted, brooding and persistently curious music, this album contains some of his greatest and most expansive work to date
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7.8
38521
7.8 |
Paste Magazine
Not an easy album to enjoy, but it’s a harder one not to
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7.5
37913
7.5 |
BBC
In generous swathes Always is also one of Stewart’s most accessible albums. Once you’re immersed, there’s a gripping, chilling fascination that’s hard to shake
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7.3
38718
7.3 |
Pitchfork
The songs on the project's latest, Always, would easily fit elsewhere in Jamie Stewart's disquieting catalogue
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7.0
38809
7.0 |
Under The Radar
Perhaps their most ambitious to date
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7.0
39590
7.0 |
Spin
Jamie Stewart's cutting art-rock (rape, murder, abortion) still reflects life's cruelty, but also provides pop escape
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7.0
38290
7.0 |
DIY
Much like a pungent stilton, this is difficult prospect to recommend or advise against, especially if this is your first experience of Xiu Xiu
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7.0
37974
7.0 |
NME
Every word and note here is positively swollen with meaning
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7.0
38004
7.0 |
Bowlegs
Wherever you stand on Xiu Xiu, this is a fine record, built in equal measure with distress and electronic machinery
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6.0
37890
6.0 |
Q
Avant-pop, punk and politics. Print edition only
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6.0
38672
6.0 |
Rave Magazine
A brave and intimidating album that’s going to reward and enthrall listeners who dare to enter its dark and labyrinthine corridors
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5.5
38412
5.5 |
Prefix
There are plenty of moments where Always feels like retread, or like its holding on to sounds and textures Stewart long ago left behind (or should have)
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4.5
38306
4.5 |
Beats Per Minute
Simply another Xiu Xiu record
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