Top tracks — play these first
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In Lust You Can Hear the Axe Fall — This track encapsulates the album's tension through its haunting melodies and stark lyrics about desire and fear, reflecting the emotional turmoil central to the record.
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You Are Pregnant You, You Are Dead — With its frenetic energy and confrontational lyrics, this song exemplifies the band's ability to blend urgency with vulnerability while tackling heavy themes.
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Under Pressure — This track stands out for its introspective lyrics that delve into personal crisis amidst a backdrop of haunting instrumentation, highlighting the emotional depth of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's chaotic structure and emotional depth create a distinctive listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a frenetic tempo and layered synths, maintaining a chaotic energy that persists through the first half.
- Several tracks feature abrupt shifts in dynamics, such as 'Under Pressure,' which transitions from quiet introspection to explosive instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- dynamic emotional journeys
- immersive listening sessions
- challenging and thought-provoking experience
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Features a chaotic blend of sounds and themes, marking a departure from earlier works.
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2008, Women as Lovers marked Xiu Xiu's fifth studio album, following their critically acclaimed effort, The Air Force. At this stage in their career, the band was solidifying their identity within the experimental music scene, known for their unique fusion of genres and provocative lyricism.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dirty Beaches· The Knife· FKA twigs
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 I Do What I Want, When I Want 3:12
- 2 In Lust You Can Hear the Axe Fall 3:30
- 3 F.T.W. 2:56
- 4 No Friend Oh! 3:48
- 5 Guantanamo Canto 2:37
- 6 Under Pressure 3:30
- 7 Black Keyboard 3:57
- 8 Master of the Bump (Kurt Stumbaugh, I Can Feel the Soil Falling Over My Head) 3:55
- 9 You Are Pregnant You, You Are Dead 2:16
- 10 The Leash 2:15
- 11 Child at Arms 2:52
- 12 Puff and Bunny 2:51
- 13 White Nerd 2:45
- 14 Gayle Lynn 3:13
What to play next
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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