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Angel Guts: Red Classroom
by
Angel Guts: Red Classroom Image
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

  • Summary: Produced by John Congleton, the ninth full-length release for the Jamie Stewart project was influenced by his move to Los Angeles and a Japanese erotic film of the same name as the album.
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  • Record Label: Polyvinyl
  • Genre(s): Electronic, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Club/Dance, Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
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Top Track

Black Dick
Black dick on the table One ball like a skull The other ball like Bullet Bill Black dick Black dick Black dick Black dick White ass on the... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. cokemachineglow
    Feb 3, 2014
    80
    Throughout, as ever, it’s Stewart’s voice that grounds the music in something recognizably human, his inexhaustibly elastic voice capable of so much but never able to be anything less than beautiful.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Feb 7, 2014
    80
    Xiu Xiu fans get exactly what they want from Angel Guts, while new listeners will either become diehard devotees or be turned off by the lack of originality.
  3. Magnet
    Feb 21, 2014
    80
    Harrowing electronic soundscapes set the scene like a Cronenberg film with sputtering, stuttering drum machines, droning organs, witchy background coos and Stewart vocals. [No. 106, p.61]
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  4. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Feb 3, 2014
    70
    Moments of its 44 minutes are as hard to stomach as anything Xiu Xiu are ever likely to record.
  5. Pitchfork
    Feb 5, 2014
    66
    Angel Guts is yet another strong, occasionally frustrating record restrained by Stewart’s consistency.
  6. Q Magazine
    Feb 14, 2014
    60
    They too often tip into adolescent parent-scaring anguish. [Mar 2014, p.121]
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  7. Consequence
    Feb 6, 2014
    16
    The songs that are okay sound derivative; the songs that sound new are oozing messes that rough up everything that’s ever made Xiu Xiu work.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. 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.… Expand
  2. 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.… Expand
  4. 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.… Expand

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