Of all the bands I’ve come across over the last few years perhaps the most impenetrable has been the unpronounceable (you’d think) Xiu Xiu. Despite the scrape and tear and general industrial sequences I am unable to totally distance myself and as time goes by songs like ‘Muppet Face’ do become quite adhesive. And that’s before you even go near the task of unscrambling the themes present
Words by Uyen Lee
Photos of Jamie Stewart’s home by Xiu Xiu
The street where both Jamie Stewart and Devin Hoff of Xiu Xiu live is one short block, sandwiched between two perpendicular streets in the Fruitvale neighborhood in Oakland. Technically, the street they live on is an alley.
The image of an alley may fit the dark [...]
Reivindicativo título para la nueva canción de Xiu Xiu. La banda de música experimental ha publicado recientemente su disco (Women As Lovers) y este es el nuevo vídeo. Bienvenidos a la extravagancia musical de Xiu Xiu.
[above: fresh fruit]
The Xiu Xiu video magazine I Do What I Want When I Want is fascinating in the same way Xiu Xiu is fascinating — it’s not exactly enjoyment, not exactly the “aesthetic distance” of an art installation. “Raqoon”, for example. It’s not funny that this erstwhile human-sized raccoon is wandering around public places [...]
Knife Play (2002) 01 - Don Diasco02 - I Broke Up03 - Luber04 - Hives Hives05 - Dr. Troll06 - Over Over07 - Anne Dong08 - Suha09 - Poe Poe10 - Homonculus11 - Tonite and Today (What chu' talkin' 'bout)link Xiu Xiu's Knife Play is a very eclectic mix of neurotic indie falterings similar to the Paper Chase school of rock, but with lighter techno beats and softly morose ballads of indifference. The opening tracks are hard to follow along with, and after a time the album seems to break into techno tunes and finally closes with some calm, modern classical arrangements. The vocals range from incredibly bitter screams to strong, '80s British-sounding tones. Xiu Xiu has dissected their album in many regards and it makes for less coherency as well as a slightly jumbled feel. Guest appearances from members of Deerhoof, Duster, and Mr. Bungle can't seem to save this album from leaving the listener feeling frustrated and annoyed, partially because there's no fluid motion with the album as a
Xiu Xiu (Website, Myspace)
Xiu Xiu probably makes the weirdest music I have on my music collection (and also has one of the strangest names). Sometimes, all the different sounds on their songs form a mixture that sounds most definitely like noise but then it forms some kind of hook that you can’t really explain why it makes you smile. Or perhaps that’s just me. But I love these guys, Jamie Stewart’s over-the-top vocals and songwriting is where most of the magic lies, combined with experimental elements of pop, rock and many other genres in between. I realize that some people might listen to these songs and wonder where’s the music in it but I also think this band has a lot of potential to become an indie favorite. My favorite album of theirs is Fabulous Muscles which was released in 2004 and features my favorite song, I Luv The Valley OH (which is a pop classic, I assure you). And the second song is from The Air Force which was released in 2006.
Stream:
Xiu Xi
