We don’t even know what to expect of Jamie Stewart and Xiu Xiu these days. The Air Force is one of the strongest releases of the year so far, sure, but traditionally one release a year is a bit too modest for Xiu Xiu, right? That’s why they are releasing Tu Mi Piaci, a collection of five covers. The EP means “I like you” in Italian, and I’m liking this as usual with most Xiu Xiu releases. Jamie Stewart is one of the only artists that can make mainstream music sound entirely perverted. The most well known cover is of the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha”, which everyone has heard at one time or another. Don’t worry, wait until the chorus, you’ll recognize it. The cover of Nina Simone’s ‘He Needs Me’ is turned into a chilling and haunting rendition, making Stewart sounds like a desperate stalker. The song is backed by nothing by strings, and it results in a surprisingly beautiful and haunting cover. The only band that seems normal enough for Xiu Xiu to cover were Bauhaus, and their version of ‘All We Ever Wanted Was Everything’ is nicely done as well, as Stewart’s crackling vocals half jokingly mock Peter Murphy. Check this EP out, it’s definitely worth it.
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Xiu Xiu – Don’t Cha (Pussycat Dolls cover)
[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/xiu-don.mp3]——————————
Xiu Xiu – He Needs Me (Nina Simone cover)
[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/xiu-hen.mp3]——————————
Xiu Xiu – All We Ever Wanted Was Everything (Bauhaus cover)
[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/xiu-all.mp3]——————————
I’m not really sure if bauhaus ever was mainstream? – huh! 😉
That “Don’t Cha” cover is equivalent to the Ted Leo cover of “Since You’ve Been Gone.” I never would have thought either could be a good song.
since u been gone is a great song.