As part of our new feature ‘Album by Album’ we ask a recording artist to talk us through what they were listening to when making their own records. What songs, albums and artists moved and inspired them or perhaps saved them from the brink of insanity.
This issue, we talk to Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu), who talks us through the records that have soundtracked his ten year recording career.
2012 - completed but as yet untitled
Rothko Chapel, Why? Patterns by Morton Feldman
The two pieces on this record are so tense, drawn out, thoughtful and unforgiving if you do not pay attention. The level of detail in slight shifts of variation. It's remarkable that something so simple could seem so dense. The making of our upcoming record was quite fraught, more so than in a while and Morton Feldman served as a refuge, to be reminded that music is something one can/should lean on and rely on. There is so little else in life that can be counted on with such faith.
2010 - Dear God, I Hate Myself
Years of Refusal by Morrissey
This is no great shock, but I am a huge Moz fan, and it is such an inspiration that that late in the game he makes one of his best records. It might be my favorite. We tried to make Dear God... go at the pace of Years of Refusal - that is, banger after banger. No ballads, just cranked through, full-on the whole time. Ours does not work as well obviously, but the wind of the Moz was at our backs.
2008 - Women as Lovers
We are Him by Angels of Light
Michael Gira's voice, especially in the first song, 'Black River Song', seared my heart out of my death bag. He is so full-on and frankly exciting. The songs are pummeling and assured by steady. There is so much confidence in this record, to my ears, that it made me feel like more was possible.
2006 - The Air Force
The Blue Album by Weezer
I never really heard these songs until we were on tour in 2005. I can say with certainty that we could not, nor would not be able to write songs like this but, to my surprise, I loved how they made me feel. It was the first time I ever thought about trying to make a song that felt something like The Blue Album, i.e. top-to-bottom, shamelessly classic construction. I failed utterly, but it was on my mind.
2005 - La Foret
Finest Hour by Nina Simone
A friend, Martin De Lleon, whose floor I would sleep on pretty regularly on tour, gave me this record. I had heard of her of course but assumed she was just some jazzy singer. I could not have been more wrong. Her ability to move music directly into political strife, and to be angry rather than hopeful, was and is incredible.
2004 - Fabulous Muscles
Wind Machines by 7 Year Rabbit Cycle
I first heard this record out of my mind on yellow jackets driving from LA to seattle to do some of the recording of Fabulous Muscles. The hits are so hard I found my self gasping sometimes. There was such an obvious level of total commitment in making it. It makes one want to set the bar higher.
2003 - A Promise
The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Largely just piano and singing, this record shows Nick Cave as vulnerable and seemingly heartbroken. It was exciting to hear from someone I had followed so long - and had been consistently blown away by how explosive he could be - take a subtler track but still be as intense. I learned a lot of what little I think I know about singing from this record.
2002 - Knife Play
Black Angels by Henry Crumb
This was the first modern classical record that I had delved deeply into. It was introduced to me by Cory McCulloch. It is about Crumb's experience during the American war in Vietnam. From the first moment it is both shocking and horrifying. It was one of the records that inspired us to always write songs about true events or emotions.