xiu xiu

Xiu Xiu’s “Stupid In The Dark” Asks You To Kill Your Ungrateful Lover.

Andy Fenstermaker
April 8, 2014November 21, 2021

Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu is rarely an easy listen. Think back to 2004’s Fabulous Muscles and abrasive tracks like “Support Our Troops” “OH! (Black Angels OH!)” and “Fabulous Muscles (Mama Black Widow Version)”; both presented real-life content upstanding members of society would rather push under the rug and pretend doesn’t exist. Yet “I Luv the Valley OH!” was a bright spot with a memorable melody and rhythms that could get inside your head. Read More »Xiu Xiu’s “Stupid In The Dark” Asks You To Kill Your Ungrateful Lover.

Xiu Xiu Vs. Bunkbed [Cover Art]

Andy Fenstermaker
January 11, 2010May 29, 2023

Long a favorite, this split single wasn’t released until after Bunkbed‘s Keith Krate had passed away. Adequately titled Xiu Xiu… Read More »Xiu Xiu Vs. Bunkbed [Cover Art]

A Retrospective Top 20: Best Albums Of 2004

Andy Fenstermaker
November 25, 2009May 12, 2023

What a decade it’s been. 2004 was my first year in the so-called Real World; jobs, car payments, instability everywhere. Things weren’t all happy and seemingly upbeat like the mid 90s. After eight months in Seattle, I found myself unemployed and decided it was time for more education. I moved to the greater Portland area and began prep to enter a Masters in Business Administration program, taking night classes at WSU Vancouver and making a frequent trip out to Pullman, where I’d soon attend graduate school. The overall instability and open-your-eyes wake-up calls of 2004 seemed to extend beyond me. Two of the most honest and disturbing albums I’ve ever heard were released this year – another strong one in music overall.

Andy Fenstermaker
June 13, 2009July 26, 2009

Xiu Xiu

Written by Jeremy Ryan.

When thinking about challenging bands like Xiu Xiu (MySpace), the words “stable” or “consistent” do not spring to mind. They are not supposed to release a gaggle of jaw-dropping, eerie records as frequently and reliably as they do (four records since 2004). After hearing 2004’s borderline masterpiece Fabulous Muscles, I gave it about a six-week limit until primary songwriter, Jamie Stewart, flipped out, renounced music, and fled to Asia for some good old overindulgent artist soul searching. Either that or he’d ended up trying to wriggle his way out of a straight jacket in a padded room. Read More »Xiu Xiu: The Air Force [Album Review]

Xiu Xiu Vs Bunkbed [7″ Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
June 5, 2009May 29, 2023

Xiu Xiu‘s Jamie Stewart has done a few 7-inch splits where he covers the other artist and vice versa. There’s one with Devendra Banhart and another where Xiu Xiu and Paper Chase do covers of Nick Cave. Here, Xiu Xiu covers “Fake Soul” by Bunkbed. On the other side, Bunkbed covers â€œFallen Angel IIâ€ by Xiu Xiu. Both tracks are down-tempo and quietly beautiful.

Andy Fenstermaker
January 28, 2009April 11, 2009

XXL

Holy Fucking Shit! This Album Is Amazing!!! That was my expression of XXL upon listening to the first track, â€œSunday / Paw Paw Paw Paw Paw Paw Paw.â€ I was amazed at the power behind XXL, a collaboration between Jamie Stewart’s Xiu Xiu (MySpace) and Italian post rockers Larsen (MySpace) for the Important Records release Â¡CiaÃ¼tistico! Read More »XXL: Â¡CiaÃ¼tistico! [Album Review]