Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart has never shied away from difficult emotional topics. The last six albums from this band have all featured heart-on-sleeve lyrics, imbuing an incredible pathos that runs contrary to the dense, often cold pop arrangements that have typically characterized Stewart’s catalogue. Dear God, I Hate Myself continues that brashness, a record full of thick post-modern instrumentation, the occasional fuzzy guitar, and Stewart’s quivering vocals, which bounce between almost-crooning and arty shoegazing. It’s a record as weird and engaging as anything else this group has released but remarkably more self-aware and mature. The record title alone may lead most listeners to believe that Stewart’s actually gained a sense of humour, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Opener “Gray Death” sees Stewart crying “If you expect me to be outrageous/ I will be extra-outrageous,” while colourful electronics whirr in the background in classic verse-chorus-verse formation, capturing Xiu Xiu’s best ironic imitation of mainstream pop. Similarly, “Chocolate Makes You Happy” and “This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)” feature some infectious refrains—despite the lyrical themes of bulimia suicide—that still manage to stand up as some of the best songs of Stewart’s career. It’s the sound of a man is trying to have more fun. Dear God, I Hate Myself is still very much a Xiu Xiu album, but instantly more accessible and immediate than anything the band has done before. (Kill Rock Stars, www.killrockstars.com) Kevan Hannah
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989