La Forêt
Encyclopedia
La Forêt is the fourth studio album by Xiu Xiu
, released on July 12, 2005 on 5 Rue Christine
. The album features John Dieterich of Deerhoof
and Devin Hoff
as contributors.
. The album was seen as a return to Xiu Xiu's earlier sound.
The track "Saturn" deals with Jamie Stewart
's frustration with then president George W. Bush and was inspired by Francisco Goya
's Saturn Devouring His Son
, while the track "Bog People" was written during a bout of sadness Stewart experienced while sitting on alone on a coach during a storm.
, the album has a score of 82 out of 100, indicating "Universal acclaim." La Forêt is also Xiu Xiu's highest rated album on the site.
Stylus Magazine
's William S. Fields gave the album a grade of "A-," writing "La Forêt has the sort of courage-minus-contrivance that is exceedingly (and ironically) rare in music of its dramatic and thematic ilk. For this reason, though I have enjoyed and admired many records this year, this is one of the few I genuinely care about." Jordan Dowling of Drowned in Sound
also gave the album a positive review, writing "Easy listening this amn't, but if you want a rollercoaster ride into deep recessions and to be thrilled by the sounds that surround you, then this could be the perfect album for you." Allmusic's Heather Phares wrote "La Foret may be more delicate and less immediate than some of Xiu Xiu's other work (especially Fabulous Muscles
), but at its best, it may have even more impact because of that."
Joe Darling of Delusions of Adequacy, on the other hand, gave the album a negative review, writing "Unfortunately, the mere manufacture of unique sounds isn’t enough to rescue them on La Forêt. If Xiu Xiu would only come to a greater understanding of its own volatility, the band would be enabled to create truly memorable compositions. Hopefully these folks will reach this realization before they become completely entangled by devices of their own resistance."
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
, released on July 12, 2005 on 5 Rue Christine
5 Rue Christine
5 Rue Christine is a semi-defunct Olympia, Washington based independent record label, formed as a spin-off from the Kill Rock Stars label in 1997...
. The album features John Dieterich of Deerhoof
Deerhoof
Deerhoof is a musical group consisting of Satomi Matsuzaki, John Dieterich, Ed Rodriguez and Greg Saunier.-Origins:In 1992, Greg Saunier, having recently graduated with a degree in music composition from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, joined a short-lived San Francisco quartet called Nitre Pit, on...
and Devin Hoff
Devin Hoff
Devin Hoff is a musician and songwriter born in Colorado whose main instruments are double bass and bass guitar. He has worked in many musical contexts and with a wide array of jazz, free jazz, avant-garde rock, and folk musicians, including Nels Cline, Vijay Iyer, Xiu Xiu, Carla Bozulich, Ben...
as contributors.
Overview
La Forêt's sound has been described as more subtle and less pop sounding than Xiu Xiu's previous album Fabulous MusclesFabulous Muscles
The track "Brian the Vampire" is based on a child Stewart encountered during Stewart's time as a preschool teacher in California. "Mike" is a tribute to Stewart's late father Michael Stewart, who had committed suicide in 2002, while "Support Our Troops OH! " is about Stewart's view on soldiers...
. The album was seen as a return to Xiu Xiu's earlier sound.
The track "Saturn" deals with Jamie Stewart
Jamie Stewart
James "Jamie" Cyrus Stewart is the front-man of the American musical group Xiu Xiu , a former front-man of IBOPA and Ten in the Swear Jar and a current member of Former Ghosts. He was also a member of 7 Year Rabbit Cycle which has since disbanded...
's frustration with then president George W. Bush and was inspired by Francisco Goya
Francisco Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Goya was a court painter to the Spanish Crown, and through his works was both a commentator on and chronicler of his era...
's Saturn Devouring His Son
Saturn Devouring His Son
Saturn Devouring His Son is the name given to a painting by Spanish artist Francisco Goya. It depicts the Greek myth of the Titan Cronus , who, fearing that he would be overthrown by his children, ate each one upon their birth...
, while the track "Bog People" was written during a bout of sadness Stewart experienced while sitting on alone on a coach during a storm.
Track listing
Xiu Xiu
- Cory McCulloch - Bass, Harmonium, Mandolin, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer
- Caralee McElroyCaralee McElroyCaralee McElroy is a Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist who has played in the bands Xiu Xiu, XXL, and Cold Cave.-Biography:...
- Harmonium, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer - Ches SmithChes SmithChes Smith is an American musician whose primary instruments are drums, percussion, and vibraphone. He writes and performs music in a wide variety of contexts, including solo percussion, experimental rock bands, and small and large jazz ensembles....
- Drums, Vibraphone - Jamie StewartJamie StewartJames "Jamie" Cyrus Stewart is the front-man of the American musical group Xiu Xiu , a former front-man of IBOPA and Ten in the Swear Jar and a current member of Former Ghosts. He was also a member of 7 Year Rabbit Cycle which has since disbanded...
- Autoharp, Bass, Guitar, Harmonium, Percussion, Piano, Programming, Synthesizer, Vocals
Additional personnel
- John Dieterich - Guitar, Programming, Vibraphone
- Ben Goldberg - Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass)
- Nick Hennies - Percussion
- Devin HoffDevin HoffDevin Hoff is a musician and songwriter born in Colorado whose main instruments are double bass and bass guitar. He has worked in many musical contexts and with a wide array of jazz, free jazz, avant-garde rock, and folk musicians, including Nels Cline, Vijay Iyer, Xiu Xiu, Carla Bozulich, Ben...
- Double bass - Marika Hughes - Cello
- Miya Zane Osaki - Artwork, Bass, Design
Reception
La Forêt has received mostly positive reviews. On the review aggregate site MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, the album has a score of 82 out of 100, indicating "Universal acclaim." La Forêt is also Xiu Xiu's highest rated album on the site.
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
's William S. Fields gave the album a grade of "A-," writing "La Forêt has the sort of courage-minus-contrivance that is exceedingly (and ironically) rare in music of its dramatic and thematic ilk. For this reason, though I have enjoyed and admired many records this year, this is one of the few I genuinely care about." Jordan Dowling of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
also gave the album a positive review, writing "Easy listening this amn't, but if you want a rollercoaster ride into deep recessions and to be thrilled by the sounds that surround you, then this could be the perfect album for you." Allmusic's Heather Phares wrote "La Foret may be more delicate and less immediate than some of Xiu Xiu's other work (especially Fabulous Muscles
Fabulous Muscles
The track "Brian the Vampire" is based on a child Stewart encountered during Stewart's time as a preschool teacher in California. "Mike" is a tribute to Stewart's late father Michael Stewart, who had committed suicide in 2002, while "Support Our Troops OH! " is about Stewart's view on soldiers...
), but at its best, it may have even more impact because of that."
Joe Darling of Delusions of Adequacy, on the other hand, gave the album a negative review, writing "Unfortunately, the mere manufacture of unique sounds isn’t enough to rescue them on La Forêt. If Xiu Xiu would only come to a greater understanding of its own volatility, the band would be enabled to create truly memorable compositions. Hopefully these folks will reach this realization before they become completely entangled by devices of their own resistance."