Xiu Xiu
Life and Live
Xeng (2005)
Xiu Xiu are an anomaly in modern music. This at least, if nothing else, fans and critics of the group can agree on. Intermittently fragile, sad, tense, evocative, provocative and even humorous, the emotionof Xiu Xiu itself is overwhelming. Mix this with the often aggressive screeching broken electronic feel of a lot of the musical accompaniment and the on-edge, straight-from-the-asylum vocal delivery and you have a musical unit impossible to pigeon hole or categorize. But what happens when the musical assault is stripped away? Does the naked emotion stand up on its own when there is nothing else to focus upon? Tracks such as "Fast Car" (from 2003's A Promise) and the title track from last year's critically lauded Fabulous Muscles proved that, within the context of a full album, it could. This new collection mostly comprising of previously released songs essentially tackles the question of whether or not the band can remain vital and captivating when stripped down to their barest roots for the duration of an entire record. Containing all nine tracks that comprised 2003's limited edition mini album, Fag Patrol, along with a spattering of live tracks recorded during the groups American tour with Devendra Banhart two … Read more
The Letters Organize
Dead Rhythm Machine
Nitro (2005)
Right off the bat, you know what it's going to be. They're not the first and they definitely won't be … Read more
Shotpointblank
Heart of a Disbeliever
Surprise Attack (2005)
The stereotypical US citizen knows very little about Australia. In fact, what little knowledge they do have was likely learned … Read more
Buried Inside
Chronoclast
Relapse (2005)
My first encounter with Buried Inside involved a friend convincing me over AOL Instant Messenger (I get paid for that … Read more
