Experimental, fuzzy, powerful pop out of San Jose! Influenced by noise, Japanese folk music, and dance music, Xiu Xiu synthesizes a variety of backgrounds into a experimental pop format. Xiu Xiu is composed of singer and producer Jamie Stewart with bandmates Angela Set, Shayna Dunkelman, and Thor Harris. Jamie’s iconic vibrato rises above cacophonous, claustrophobic instrumentation. Lyrics dwell on pretty grave topics while instrumentation is all over the place. Pretty awesome stuff.

Genre: Experimental pop, “gay dance music” (according to Stewart himself)
RIYL: Liars, Perfume Genius, new Arca, Crystal Castles
FCCs: 1, 2
Favorite Tracks: 3, 4, 6, 8

The Call (3:17) - (FCCs) Very explicit, some shock rap techniques? Also awesome pop sections as well, interesting track probably not best for radio though
Queen of the Losers (4:23) - (FCCs after 3:12) song oscillates between self loathing and hope, really powerful build with some exciting noisey segments
Wondering (4:12)** - the single, anthemic, fuzz pop with a soaring vibrato, squelching synths and guitar, play thiss
Get Up (4:59)* - slow, thoughtful, considering death, eventually explodes around 3:40
Hay Choco Bananas (3:47) - slow, ballad-like, female vocals over male, cool synth solo around 3:00
Jenny GoGo (3:56)* - subdued, shifting, cool song with yelped, strained chorus
At Last, At Last (3:12) - upbeat, synthesizer with fuzzy guitars
Forget (4:11)* - intense! This is a great track, twisted pop again, overwhelming synths
Petite (4:01) - raw, more ballad-like, pretty strings, less noise, sad
Faith, Torn Apart (7:55) - genderqueer spoken-word by Vaginal Davis, cool close