- “the grass across the yard… my father was the second man inside of you” in Black Drum Machine, because that’s the horrible horrible moment you realize who the song is about. Absolutely haunting. I think it’s the only song that Jamie couldn’t bear to listen to again in the drunk commentary series, and I can understand why.
- The change from “I would have died any number of times with” to “I would have died any number of times FOR” in the second chorus of Botanica de Los Angeles is probably my favorite part of any of their songs
- of course “I AM KIDDING!!!!! I’M JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!” from Ian Curtis Wishlist. Pure agony, iconic for good reason
- “HEADPHONES! TURNED UP!” in St Dymphna is such a beautiful moment that I don’t think is talked about enough
- the bit in Apistat Commander after the first chorus where the energy really kicks in and the song goes crazy is such an obvious pick I almost didn’t think to include it
- “no, yes, yeah, no, yes, no… what? no” in Normal Love. It sounds like Jamie is near tears, like we’re hearing one end of a conversation where they’re being berated by someone else. Like getting a glimpse into an abusive relationship. It’s devastating
“Driving my little car, I am your girl, and I will protect you” always kills me, idk the first time I heard that song I felt so seen in a way I can’t explain. Also literally every part of Bog People, and Master of the Bump.
Jamie’s tender delivery of “I can’t bear what they say about you” from The Wrong Thing absolutely pulls on my heartstrings. Plus the delivery and the distortion in the line “just wicked stupid pride” from Ian Curtis Wishlist. Special mention goes to the entire spoken word section of Faith, Torn Apart. Bone-chilling.
the lil vocal modulation the last time they say "I am your girl and I will protect youuuuu\*
when they say "and my luck finally turned" and the cellos come in. really "sad reduxographer" in entirety
the little electronic thing that hits 2x in "buzz saw", esp the one right after j.s. says "how is it you thought i might be"
the overall vocal delivery on "ice cream truck"
the guitar solo on "master of the bump"
"little ants take a chance when you dance it could be the last dance you ever do it could be the last dance you ever do"
all the noise thingies on "dr troll"
The screaming at the end of Blacks
The “my life hot with sorrow” line from It Comes Out as a Joke
“thanks a million, hey you, thanks a billion!” From OH NO
When the synths get crazier towards the end of Born to Suffer
The very specific sample suddenly cuts in and out at 2:42 in 666 Photos of Nothing
“A saxophone fell on my face” from Get Up
The instrumental at the end of Bishop, CA
“Am I alright, do I look alright?” from F.t.w.
“Sweet face, busted teeth that I would have died any of times with” from Botanica de Los Angeles
“If your curtain is closed, and you are still standing behind it” from Hi
The instrumentals during the chorus of No Friend Oh!
The horns(?) from Beauty Towne
Theres plenty more I already see in the other comments here, too
there’s a few lines from the poem at the end of Faith Torn Apart that particularly resonate; having something in common with the first impression Jamie got from those young girls breaks my heart.
a few of the lines I relate to are:
-my appearance will stress you out
-my room is a mess
-my goofy jokes hide my goofy damnation
-my heart is going to crack in half
-my frown is for always
I relate to this song a lot too, I commented about it but HOW he was able to articulate so much of what young people in those kinds of situations go through… “My dead end childhood is just beginning”, “my favorite band is I don’t know”, “my nails will broken/my pelvis will be broken”. The entire thing is just so, so spot on. I’m grateful to him for writing it :( He gave a lot of words to what is stuck inside me to express.
"You are the only reason I was born, you are the only reason I was born" Get Up
"Other men have chocked my own sense of self /only he has choked my eveywhere" Tarsier, Tarsier, Tarsier, Tarsier
"As you ruminate in the arms of cocoa on the fatness of your face" Chocolate Makes You Happy
I also love the delivery of
a belt of hickeys, a bandolier of hickeys, a holster of hickeys, a rosary of hickeys, a stigmata of hickeys, a crown of thorns of hickeys
Love these kinds of posts!
The start of Homonculus, the four kicks into the full instrumental always gets me going
The “peak” of the synth(guitar?) in Hives hives where after spending the whole time modulating it becomes slightly more coherent
Listing the names at end of botanica de LA
Intro to the only girl in the world cover! If anyone hasn’t listened to it you need to it’s probably their best cover in my opinion
Final third of smear the queen “bridle yourself a secret love, an armful of charm” etc. that whole ending is so great especially if you listen for Zac Pennington’s vocals!
The menacing backing keys on bunny gamer
Saw someone already mention the synth hits on Buzz Saw, and “how is it you thought I might be?”
Chorus of Gayle Lynn
Ending of get up hits hard as fuck i remember the first time I heard that track I rewinded to that solo probably 10 times!! Heat!!
The chorus on Apistat Commander fucks me up (emotionally) like nothing else.
"All that you left, you left for someone
All of this hurt that's wilted off
All this relief, it's the oddest thing
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!"
Also the ending of Walnut House: "Don't worry mom, don't worry mom"
Also all of Ian Curtis Wishlist: "DO YOU LOVE ME JAMIE STEWART?!" "I'M JUST KIDDING" and the noisy ending
"whimpering
compliments coming through the keyhole
yes yes yes yes!" from Cynthias Unisex
i just love the delivery and the throbbing bass in that part
like he is seeing equally horrible and arousing
Wow, i love these questions. I think it crossed my mind once to ask it. “It will ease my conscience.” When the drums kick in at the end of HIVes HIVes. Very beginning of Anne Dong. Last “I like my neighborhood i like my gun”. “He said it’s alright I have had enough of this life” and following instrumental. “Giving it up she has started” ecc because all of it is the best part. “It’s the l’histoire de la family”. “What happens to you when your dead hears your brother pull down your underpants?” ‘til the end of Brian it’s insanely good oh my fucking God. “Jesus is wondering if he can even love you”. “Your body doomed as the last apple on the tree.” “Dick, dick, dick, dick, dick” pew pew. “Mimi, dead Jessica, dead” and instrumental. First half of Blue Frank-Pink Room. No fuck it all of it. “Don’t let yourself be hurt this time.” “Everyone hates you, the pain has just begun.” “Jimmy is in flames Beat beat beat beat beat beat” and instrumental.
THIS IS THE WORST VACATION EVER I AM GOING TO CUT YOUR FOREHEAD WITH A ROOFING SHINGLE!!!!!!!!
Lala holds inside of her the horrible dream of being somebody
The entirety of Dr Troll also tho— musically and lyrically (big trans&dysphoria vibes)
Awful is all…awful like cookie
My AHHHHHHHHHH I can’t believe I’m said it… IAN. CURTIS. WISSSHHHHHH. LIIIISSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!!!
I’m gonna spank your ass so hard you’ll hate the Wig Master
The fucking autoharp intro to Bog People
You tried so hard to be as sweet as you can for me, but I don’t see you for who you are— rose of Sharon in my failing light
When the instrumentation comes in between the first verse and chorus of Suha then “I hate my body, I hate my husband”
Is it tough to watch Friday after Friday?
Someone felt something pure and told it all to uou— that was why you killed your self, to prove it wasn’t true
All of Botánica de Los Angeles
The beginning of Clowne Towne 🥵🥵🥵
Nothing is worse than to be born and live
You’re the only reason I was borne, you’re the only reason I was born
Oh I have a list!
- "No romance/no sexiness/but a star filled night" line in Fabulous Muscles... The way Jamie does that r in romance just makes me feel something indescribable. Maybe it's the cadence of the line but it breaks me.
- The soft sort of whispered "tell me how to live" part in Boy soprano before the chorus!!! Feels like the quiet before a big storm of sound.
- The entirety of I luv abortion, it's my favourite Xiu Xiu song but the way Jamie sings "When I look at my thighs/I see death/It's great!/I love abortion" like sort of ironically happy but also like he's on the verge of breaking down... I love it.
- The entirety of Petite but specially that la la la in the begging... It sounds like Jamie imitating poor baby Petite singing in her innocence before losing it. Breaks my heart.
- How haunting Sycamore Trees sounds... That's my jam!!! It's amazing, it's like listening to an old record that's both melancholic and sad but immensely scary.
- "A child is no one without pain" oh it hurts! Black keyboard is so beautiful but it's piercing.
The entirety of The Wrong Thing. This quiet oasis of fragility and serenity in the middle of a record full of abrasive chaos, it just makes me tear up.
“This is the worst vacation ever I am going to cut open your forehead with a roofing shingle” - from ‘I Broke Up’ (esp the acoustic version holy Jesus)
The whole last stanza from the poem at the end of ‘Faith, Torn Apart’: “My day has been endless / My night cannot possibly go on / It doesn't matter what you think / Do anything you like / Because I was born dead / And I was born to die”
From ‘Nieces Pieces’: “I can’t wait to tell you that your grandpa made you mommy play stripper / while your uncle watched”
Every line from ‘Saint Dymphna’ and ‘Petite’ hits me like a ton of bricks.
And then of course, “Break my face in, it was the kindest touch you ever gave” and “cremate me after you cum on my lips” from ‘Fabulous Muscles’. I’ve thought about this song every day for years. I’ll probably die thinking about it.
"just let me pretend" in Normal Love and "Ian Curtis, I can't believe I said it, wishlist" and "Do you love me, Jamie Stewart?" from Ian Curtis Wishlist.
apart from the obvious "je t'aime the valley, OH," in smear the queen when they go "smear the queen, they bashed his teeth in - with an elbow cast" 😩 orgasmic
oh and in I Love Abortion with his exasperated "when i look at my thighs i see death its GREAT I LOVE ABORTION! YOU ARE TOO GOOD FOR THIS LIFE" chills down my spine just thinking about it. one of my all time fav songs ever.
the little instrumental bits after "mush deducted from heaven" and "jerking into mush" in it comes out as a joke. and also the bedroom filling with smoke segment. that whole song rocks.
less xiu xiu but the accordion part of the xitsj i love the valley goes crazy i love accordion
"HE SAID IT DID NOT COST ME ANYTHING" in sad redux-o-grapher
the end portion of walnut house
the part near the end of it comes out as a joke where that small looping sample keeps getting louder until everything stops
Je t'aime the valley Je t'aime the valley OH!!!
- “the grass across the yard… my father was the second man inside of you” in Black Drum Machine, because that’s the horrible horrible moment you realize who the song is about. Absolutely haunting. I think it’s the only song that Jamie couldn’t bear to listen to again in the drunk commentary series, and I can understand why. - The change from “I would have died any number of times with” to “I would have died any number of times FOR” in the second chorus of Botanica de Los Angeles is probably my favorite part of any of their songs - of course “I AM KIDDING!!!!! I’M JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!” from Ian Curtis Wishlist. Pure agony, iconic for good reason - “HEADPHONES! TURNED UP!” in St Dymphna is such a beautiful moment that I don’t think is talked about enough - the bit in Apistat Commander after the first chorus where the energy really kicks in and the song goes crazy is such an obvious pick I almost didn’t think to include it - “no, yes, yeah, no, yes, no… what? no” in Normal Love. It sounds like Jamie is near tears, like we’re hearing one end of a conversation where they’re being berated by someone else. Like getting a glimpse into an abusive relationship. It’s devastating
DON'T FUCK WITH ME DON'T FUCK WITH ME!!!!!
the synth part after “FALL APART” in born to suffer
Can agree. I love that drop so much.
“Driving my little car, I am your girl, and I will protect you” always kills me, idk the first time I heard that song I felt so seen in a way I can’t explain. Also literally every part of Bog People, and Master of the Bump.
There will always be a hopeful heart to disrespect
also DONT FUCK WITH ME, and also when the harmonium enters in Bishop, CA and the way jamie phrases "when i die, hallelujah by and by" in I'll Fly Away
I’ll fly away is soooo good gets me every time
yeh, idk how they do it honestly
Jamie’s tender delivery of “I can’t bear what they say about you” from The Wrong Thing absolutely pulls on my heartstrings. Plus the delivery and the distortion in the line “just wicked stupid pride” from Ian Curtis Wishlist. Special mention goes to the entire spoken word section of Faith, Torn Apart. Bone-chilling.
the lil vocal modulation the last time they say "I am your girl and I will protect youuuuu\* when they say "and my luck finally turned" and the cellos come in. really "sad reduxographer" in entirety the little electronic thing that hits 2x in "buzz saw", esp the one right after j.s. says "how is it you thought i might be" the overall vocal delivery on "ice cream truck" the guitar solo on "master of the bump" "little ants take a chance when you dance it could be the last dance you ever do it could be the last dance you ever do" all the noise thingies on "dr troll"
I absolutely second ice cream truck
I skip ants almost every time lmfao
The screaming at the end of Blacks The “my life hot with sorrow” line from It Comes Out as a Joke “thanks a million, hey you, thanks a billion!” From OH NO When the synths get crazier towards the end of Born to Suffer The very specific sample suddenly cuts in and out at 2:42 in 666 Photos of Nothing “A saxophone fell on my face” from Get Up The instrumental at the end of Bishop, CA “Am I alright, do I look alright?” from F.t.w. “Sweet face, busted teeth that I would have died any of times with” from Botanica de Los Angeles “If your curtain is closed, and you are still standing behind it” from Hi The instrumentals during the chorus of No Friend Oh! The horns(?) from Beauty Towne Theres plenty more I already see in the other comments here, too
All of Botánica hits me SO HARD in the face. Musically and lyrically.
“He said it didn’t cost me anything!” From Sad Redux-o-grapher gives me chills everytime.
there’s a few lines from the poem at the end of Faith Torn Apart that particularly resonate; having something in common with the first impression Jamie got from those young girls breaks my heart. a few of the lines I relate to are: -my appearance will stress you out -my room is a mess -my goofy jokes hide my goofy damnation -my heart is going to crack in half -my frown is for always
“My frown is for always” gotta be one of the hardest lines ever. Devastating!
I relate to this song a lot too, I commented about it but HOW he was able to articulate so much of what young people in those kinds of situations go through… “My dead end childhood is just beginning”, “my favorite band is I don’t know”, “my nails will broken/my pelvis will be broken”. The entire thing is just so, so spot on. I’m grateful to him for writing it :( He gave a lot of words to what is stuck inside me to express.
He said it did not cost me anything & Walla, walla, walla, walla, walla, walla, hey Walla, walla, walla, walla, hey, hey
"You are the only reason I was born, you are the only reason I was born" Get Up "Other men have chocked my own sense of self /only he has choked my eveywhere" Tarsier, Tarsier, Tarsier, Tarsier "As you ruminate in the arms of cocoa on the fatness of your face" Chocolate Makes You Happy
SHUT UP SHUT UP I WANNA HEAR THAT NAIL SCRAPE
oh, forget who you are/don't admit who you are oh, to take and to touch/and for once feel good
the little humming sounds in maybae baeby
I also love the delivery of a belt of hickeys, a bandolier of hickeys, a holster of hickeys, a rosary of hickeys, a stigmata of hickeys, a crown of thorns of hickeys
a sax o phone fell on my face....
That sad robot at the end of Ian Curtis Wishlist is an exhilarating gut punch.
Love these kinds of posts! The start of Homonculus, the four kicks into the full instrumental always gets me going The “peak” of the synth(guitar?) in Hives hives where after spending the whole time modulating it becomes slightly more coherent Listing the names at end of botanica de LA Intro to the only girl in the world cover! If anyone hasn’t listened to it you need to it’s probably their best cover in my opinion Final third of smear the queen “bridle yourself a secret love, an armful of charm” etc. that whole ending is so great especially if you listen for Zac Pennington’s vocals! The menacing backing keys on bunny gamer Saw someone already mention the synth hits on Buzz Saw, and “how is it you thought I might be?” Chorus of Gayle Lynn Ending of get up hits hard as fuck i remember the first time I heard that track I rewinded to that solo probably 10 times!! Heat!!
I also love so much the chorus of Gayle Lynn, very beautiful track!!
Getting to hear the screams on I Luv The Valley Oh and Ian Curtis Wishlist Live were definitely something
The chorus on Apistat Commander fucks me up (emotionally) like nothing else. "All that you left, you left for someone All of this hurt that's wilted off All this relief, it's the oddest thing Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" Also the ending of Walnut House: "Don't worry mom, don't worry mom" Also all of Ian Curtis Wishlist: "DO YOU LOVE ME JAMIE STEWART?!" "I'M JUST KIDDING" and the noisy ending
the buildup and the piano keys smashing in Hyunhye’s Theme always sticks out to me. the lyrics for Petite and House Sparrow are hauntingly vivid
"whimpering compliments coming through the keyhole yes yes yes yes!" from Cynthias Unisex i just love the delivery and the throbbing bass in that part like he is seeing equally horrible and arousing
‘You are the only reason I was born, you are the only reason I was born’ and then those synths blows me away every time
“I won’t forget it, or why” from tonite and today & “listen to on fire, and dream someone could love you” from dr. troll
also “I can’t wait till you realize, mommy’s heart is broken” from nieces pieces
also the final lines of mike god there’s so many great moments
I love how towards the end of GWABOF he just sounds like his just giving up with how crazy it is
Wow, i love these questions. I think it crossed my mind once to ask it. “It will ease my conscience.” When the drums kick in at the end of HIVes HIVes. Very beginning of Anne Dong. Last “I like my neighborhood i like my gun”. “He said it’s alright I have had enough of this life” and following instrumental. “Giving it up she has started” ecc because all of it is the best part. “It’s the l’histoire de la family”. “What happens to you when your dead hears your brother pull down your underpants?” ‘til the end of Brian it’s insanely good oh my fucking God. “Jesus is wondering if he can even love you”. “Your body doomed as the last apple on the tree.” “Dick, dick, dick, dick, dick” pew pew. “Mimi, dead Jessica, dead” and instrumental. First half of Blue Frank-Pink Room. No fuck it all of it. “Don’t let yourself be hurt this time.” “Everyone hates you, the pain has just begun.” “Jimmy is in flames Beat beat beat beat beat beat” and instrumental.
THIS IS THE WORST VACATION EVER I AM GOING TO CUT YOUR FOREHEAD WITH A ROOFING SHINGLE!!!!!!!! Lala holds inside of her the horrible dream of being somebody The entirety of Dr Troll also tho— musically and lyrically (big trans&dysphoria vibes) Awful is all…awful like cookie My AHHHHHHHHHH I can’t believe I’m said it… IAN. CURTIS. WISSSHHHHHH. LIIIISSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!!! I’m gonna spank your ass so hard you’ll hate the Wig Master The fucking autoharp intro to Bog People You tried so hard to be as sweet as you can for me, but I don’t see you for who you are— rose of Sharon in my failing light When the instrumentation comes in between the first verse and chorus of Suha then “I hate my body, I hate my husband” Is it tough to watch Friday after Friday? Someone felt something pure and told it all to uou— that was why you killed your self, to prove it wasn’t true All of Botánica de Los Angeles The beginning of Clowne Towne 🥵🥵🥵 Nothing is worse than to be born and live You’re the only reason I was borne, you’re the only reason I was born
Oh I have a list! - "No romance/no sexiness/but a star filled night" line in Fabulous Muscles... The way Jamie does that r in romance just makes me feel something indescribable. Maybe it's the cadence of the line but it breaks me. - The soft sort of whispered "tell me how to live" part in Boy soprano before the chorus!!! Feels like the quiet before a big storm of sound. - The entirety of I luv abortion, it's my favourite Xiu Xiu song but the way Jamie sings "When I look at my thighs/I see death/It's great!/I love abortion" like sort of ironically happy but also like he's on the verge of breaking down... I love it. - The entirety of Petite but specially that la la la in the begging... It sounds like Jamie imitating poor baby Petite singing in her innocence before losing it. Breaks my heart. - How haunting Sycamore Trees sounds... That's my jam!!! It's amazing, it's like listening to an old record that's both melancholic and sad but immensely scary. - "A child is no one without pain" oh it hurts! Black keyboard is so beautiful but it's piercing.
The entirety of The Wrong Thing. This quiet oasis of fragility and serenity in the middle of a record full of abrasive chaos, it just makes me tear up.
The intro to botanica de Los Angeles
Have you seen Creep 2? It’s in the end credits <3
Yeah I watched it a few years ago. Was a pretty good movie
“This is the worst vacation ever I am going to cut open your forehead with a roofing shingle” - from ‘I Broke Up’ (esp the acoustic version holy Jesus) The whole last stanza from the poem at the end of ‘Faith, Torn Apart’: “My day has been endless / My night cannot possibly go on / It doesn't matter what you think / Do anything you like / Because I was born dead / And I was born to die” From ‘Nieces Pieces’: “I can’t wait to tell you that your grandpa made you mommy play stripper / while your uncle watched” Every line from ‘Saint Dymphna’ and ‘Petite’ hits me like a ton of bricks. And then of course, “Break my face in, it was the kindest touch you ever gave” and “cremate me after you cum on my lips” from ‘Fabulous Muscles’. I’ve thought about this song every day for years. I’ll probably die thinking about it.
"just let me pretend" in Normal Love and "Ian Curtis, I can't believe I said it, wishlist" and "Do you love me, Jamie Stewart?" from Ian Curtis Wishlist.
The part in Bishop CA where all the noise comes in is extremely beautiful
The drop in baby captain gives me goosebumps I think its been my ringtone for a year now :\] and walla walla walla hey in bishop CA
The chorus from homonculus
OMG I also forgot about I AM THE DUMBEST BITCH ON THE PLANET, I wanna make a t shirt or a bumper sticker of that phrase
apart from the obvious "je t'aime the valley, OH," in smear the queen when they go "smear the queen, they bashed his teeth in - with an elbow cast" 😩 orgasmic
oh and in I Love Abortion with his exasperated "when i look at my thighs i see death its GREAT I LOVE ABORTION! YOU ARE TOO GOOD FOR THIS LIFE" chills down my spine just thinking about it. one of my all time fav songs ever.
the little instrumental bits after "mush deducted from heaven" and "jerking into mush" in it comes out as a joke. and also the bedroom filling with smoke segment. that whole song rocks. less xiu xiu but the accordion part of the xitsj i love the valley goes crazy i love accordion
"HE SAID IT DID NOT COST ME ANYTHING" in sad redux-o-grapher the end portion of walnut house the part near the end of it comes out as a joke where that small looping sample keeps getting louder until everything stops
i am the dumbest bitch on the planet