Last fall, we reported that celebrated dark pop experimentalists Xiu Xiu were preparing their seventh album, which had been given the depressing title of Dear God, I Hate Myself. Now, the group have revealed the release details of the album, which is scheduled to be in stores on February 23 via Kill Rock Stars.
Following the departure of longtime member Caralee McElroy, who joined Cold Cave, Xiu Xiu have now added pianist/programmer Angela Seo as a full-time member. Rounding out the line-up on the new album are founder Jamie Stewart and percussionist Ches Smith. The trio were joined in the studio by several collaborators, including Deerhoof's John Dieterich and the Immaculata Catholic School Orchestra (yes, that's an elementary school orchestra). The album was co-produced by Stewart and Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier.
As for what the songs will sound like, look for the album to be Xiu Xiu's usual eclectic mix of styles. The disc includes a cover of the traditional Appalachian folk song "Cumberland Gap," as well as four songs performed primarily with a Nintendo DS. "This Too Shall Pass Away (for Freddy)," meanwhile, is described as an "ode to heartbreak and healing."
As well as the usual CD and LP formats, the album will be released on special edition vinyl that includes handmade chocolate (maybe Stewart had leftovers from that subscription deal?). This run will be limited to 100 copies, 21 of which will be packaged with a shirt featuring "Xiu Xiu for Life" written in real blood. No word on if this "real blood" is human or not.
Xiu Xiu will be celebrating the release of Dear God, I Hate Myself with a brief UK tour in February, followed by a North American tour that skips all of Canada.
Dear God, I Hate Myself:
1. "Gray Death
2. "Chocolate Makes You Happy"
3. "Apple for a Brain"
4. "House Sparrow"
5. "Hyunhye's Theme"
6. "Dear God, I Hate Myself"
7. "Secret Motel"
8. "Falkland Rd."
9. "The Fabrizio Palumbo Retaliation"
10. "Cumberland Gap"
11. "This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)"
12. "Impossible Feeling"
Tour Dates:
2/20 Dublin, Ireland - Whelans
2/21 Glasgow, UK - NiceNSleazy
2/22 Edinburgh, UK - Electric Circus
2/23 Manchester, UK - Islington Mill
2/24 Sheffield, UK - The Harley
2/25 Cardiff, UK - Cardiff Arts institute
2/26 London, UK - The Luminaire
2/27 Brighton, UK - Freebutt
2/28 Coventry, UK - Taylor John's House
3/6 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
3/7 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree *
3/10 Norman, OK - Opolis Productions *
3/11 Dallas, TX - The Cavern *
3/12 Houston, TX - The Studio at Warehouse Live *
3/13 Austin, TX - Red 7 *
3/16 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *^
3/17 San Diego, CA - The Casbah *%
3/18 Los Angeles, CA - Echo *%
3/19 Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place *%
3/20 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *%
3/23 Olympia, WA - Northern %
3/24 Portland, OR - Holocene %
3/25 Boise, ID - Neurolux %^^
3/26 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge %$
3/27 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive %$
3/29 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon %$
3/30 St. Louis, MO - Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center %$
3/31 Iowa City, IA - The Picador %$
4/1 Northfield, MN - The Cave at Carleton College %$
4/2 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry %$
4/3 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall %$@
4/5 Oberlin, OH - The Dionysus Discotheque %$
4/7 Cleveland, OH - The Spot %$
4/8 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place %
4/9 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom %@
4/10 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs %
4/13 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church %
4/14 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel %
4/15 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 %
4/17 Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
* with Noveller
^ with Extra Life
% with tUnE-yArDs
^^ with Scout Niblett
$ with Talk Normal
@ with Zola Jesus
Following the departure of longtime member Caralee McElroy, who joined Cold Cave, Xiu Xiu have now added pianist/programmer Angela Seo as a full-time member. Rounding out the line-up on the new album are founder Jamie Stewart and percussionist Ches Smith. The trio were joined in the studio by several collaborators, including Deerhoof's John Dieterich and the Immaculata Catholic School Orchestra (yes, that's an elementary school orchestra). The album was co-produced by Stewart and Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier.
As for what the songs will sound like, look for the album to be Xiu Xiu's usual eclectic mix of styles. The disc includes a cover of the traditional Appalachian folk song "Cumberland Gap," as well as four songs performed primarily with a Nintendo DS. "This Too Shall Pass Away (for Freddy)," meanwhile, is described as an "ode to heartbreak and healing."
As well as the usual CD and LP formats, the album will be released on special edition vinyl that includes handmade chocolate (maybe Stewart had leftovers from that subscription deal?). This run will be limited to 100 copies, 21 of which will be packaged with a shirt featuring "Xiu Xiu for Life" written in real blood. No word on if this "real blood" is human or not.
Xiu Xiu will be celebrating the release of Dear God, I Hate Myself with a brief UK tour in February, followed by a North American tour that skips all of Canada.
Dear God, I Hate Myself:
1. "Gray Death
2. "Chocolate Makes You Happy"
3. "Apple for a Brain"
4. "House Sparrow"
5. "Hyunhye's Theme"
6. "Dear God, I Hate Myself"
7. "Secret Motel"
8. "Falkland Rd."
9. "The Fabrizio Palumbo Retaliation"
10. "Cumberland Gap"
11. "This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)"
12. "Impossible Feeling"
Tour Dates:
2/20 Dublin, Ireland - Whelans
2/21 Glasgow, UK - NiceNSleazy
2/22 Edinburgh, UK - Electric Circus
2/23 Manchester, UK - Islington Mill
2/24 Sheffield, UK - The Harley
2/25 Cardiff, UK - Cardiff Arts institute
2/26 London, UK - The Luminaire
2/27 Brighton, UK - Freebutt
2/28 Coventry, UK - Taylor John's House
3/6 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
3/7 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree *
3/10 Norman, OK - Opolis Productions *
3/11 Dallas, TX - The Cavern *
3/12 Houston, TX - The Studio at Warehouse Live *
3/13 Austin, TX - Red 7 *
3/16 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *^
3/17 San Diego, CA - The Casbah *%
3/18 Los Angeles, CA - Echo *%
3/19 Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place *%
3/20 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *%
3/23 Olympia, WA - Northern %
3/24 Portland, OR - Holocene %
3/25 Boise, ID - Neurolux %^^
3/26 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge %$
3/27 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive %$
3/29 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon %$
3/30 St. Louis, MO - Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center %$
3/31 Iowa City, IA - The Picador %$
4/1 Northfield, MN - The Cave at Carleton College %$
4/2 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry %$
4/3 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall %$@
4/5 Oberlin, OH - The Dionysus Discotheque %$
4/7 Cleveland, OH - The Spot %$
4/8 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place %
4/9 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom %@
4/10 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs %
4/13 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church %
4/14 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel %
4/15 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 %
4/17 Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
* with Noveller
^ with Extra Life
% with tUnE-yArDs
^^ with Scout Niblett
$ with Talk Normal
@ with Zola Jesus
