Angel Guts: Red Classroom
by Xiu Xiu
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
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  1. No Ripcord
    Feb 28, 2014
    60
    With this latest (and perhaps last) album, it’s still true to say that Xiu Xiu haven’t delivered a wholly complete work, but then it probably wouldn’t be a Xiu Xiu record if it was.
  2. Q Magazine
    Feb 14, 2014
    60
    They too often tip into adolescent parent-scaring anguish. [Mar 2014, p.121]
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  3. DIY Magazine
    Feb 3, 2014
    60
    An album trying to survive under the harshest conditions, Angel Guts: Red Classroom is a properly thrilling listen.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Feb 3, 2014
    60
    Angel Guts is yet another example that the world needs a guy like Jamie Stewart treating music the way Jamie Stewart does: painfully, harshly, intuitively, and with psychotic aplomb.
  6. Uncut
    Feb 3, 2014
    50
    Angel Guts: Red Classroom is by turns darkly unsettling and unintentionally funny. [Mar 2014, p.85]
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  7. PopMatters
    Feb 6, 2014
    40
    This album seems determined to take all the good things Stewart and co. are capable of and tossing them right out the window.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. StevenRafael
    Mar 14, 2014
    9
    Xiu Xiu's latest album, Angel Guts: Red Classroom, is an impressively radical shift in direction. While I loved Always, even more so than DearXiu Xiu's latest album, Angel Guts: Red Classroom, is an impressively radical shift in direction. While I loved Always, even more so than Dear God I Hate Myself and **** Patrol, it is fascinating to hear the occasionally suicidal Jamie Stewart wrestle with the intrinsic desire to live and love, ever since romanticized notions of death have been shattered by the invasive gesture of a mugging in the dark that left him fearing for his life, and appropriately enraged in the following moments of reflection. An extremely raw and heavy exploration of intangible emotions, implicitly catatonic in juxtaposition to the fast pace layering of droning, hammering beats, pulsing synths, and achingly catchy choruses and crescendos... Angel Guts may be difficult to listen to at first, but its assembly of viciously addicting anthems such as Stupid in the Dark and Black Dick make it quite the memorable experience.… Full Review »
  2. Cobweb
    Dec 28, 2015
    10
    Botanica de Los Angeles is the most beautiful song of 2014. Xiu Xiu delivers an incredible album full of fantastic and terrifying music- I'dBotanica de Los Angeles is the most beautiful song of 2014. Xiu Xiu delivers an incredible album full of fantastic and terrifying music- I'd put it up there as one of their best works.… Full Review »
  3. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    6
    This is by far their most crazy, freakish and downright bizarre record so far. I really can't help but feel overwhelmed by most of the tracksThis is by far their most crazy, freakish and downright bizarre record so far. I really can't help but feel overwhelmed by most of the tracks here, which leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. A handful of the tracks on here are really good though, Stupid in the Dark and Black Dick are good examples. Overall it was pretty good at times, but lightly bad at others.… Full Review »
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