Any Xiu Xiu fans here? (1 Viewer)

[Grobus]

Xiu Xiu are a tiny band from the US who Ive had an ungoldly obsession with since I heard their first album a couple of years ago. If youre a fan of bands like The Smiths or Joy Division, Id highly recommend them.

They make experimental music, thats pretty hard to explain. Id characterise it mostly by the harsh percussion they use. If I had to put them in a genre, Id call them experimental anti-pop. They use a strange mix of electronic and acoustic production but the real highlight of the songs is the lyrics that follow a really odd set of rules and are blasted out by this singer who has a voice that defies description. It sounds like he is having a nervous breakdown with every note he breathes. But (for me anyway) it works magically and often the songs are like insanity captured in music.

Anyway, if you are interested in checking their stuff out, you can download stuff from their latest album at their website (I Luv the Valley OH and Clowne Towne are really good) and you should be able to find a few of their songs on P2P networks. My recommendations if youre interested are Crank Heart, Don Diasco, I Broke Up, Blacks and Apistat Commander.

Heres a link to a Bit Torrent of them doing a live performance for public access TV in San Fran.

 

[absolution*]

I love the Smiths and Joy Division. <3 Ian Curtis

Xiu Xiu are fabulous like my muscles.

 

[Grobus]

Nah, I dont mean that they necessarily sound like the Smiths or Joy Division. I said that because I know Jamie takes heaps of inspiration from him and especially in their early stuff he was really trying to pay homage to them.

Jamie Stewart is a really nice guy too, I talk to him on AIM sometimes. He actually sent me Knife Play, Chapel of the Chimes, A Promise, Fag Patrol, This Song is a Mess and a few other things he has done because I couldnt get them ordered into stores here.

So how did you guys come across them? I started hearing people rave about Knife Play on boards so I checked them out.

 

[artfag]

most of Xiu Xiu sucks, and this comes from a huge noise fan. i can dig some of their electronic stuff though, like Apistat Commander/Crank Heart etc. Fast Car is the worst cover ever.

 

[absolution*]

just for interests sake, do you like joy division artfag?

 

[artfag]

sure do, but it's been a while since i've listened to them. i only have Substance and Unknown Pleasures on CD- Closer is the one i listened to most, but i don't have turntables anymore so i can't listen to it.

 

[Grobus]

Its funny how Xiu Xiu really polarises peoples opinion. The reviews have been either praising or totally dismissive, too. Itll be interesting to see where Xiu Xiu go. Ive heard some of their new stuff and a lot of it has gone even more pop than where Fabulous Muscles went but its still good IMO. It should be a really accessible album, so it might get a tad more mainstream coverage.

 

[chelloveck]

i am an orphan to the valley.

i don't think they sound much like the smiths at all. nowhere near as good as morrissey. and they don't come close to ian curtis either. having said that, they are a good band/everyone should appreciate

if everyone actually did appreciate them i'm sure you wouldn't like them.