Xiu Xiu (Band)



This history and discography of experimental rock band Xiu Xiu.

2002–2004: Formation and early years
Having performed alongside one another in previous acts such as IBOPA (the Indestructible Beat of Palo Alto) and Ten in the Swear Jar, Jamie Stewart and Cory McCulloch formed their third collaborative effort, Xiu Xiu, in 2002.undefined Aided by friends Lauren Andrews and Yvonne Chen – both of whom would contribute to the band's early recordings – Xiu Xiu would tour for their first LP Knife Play, and its successor EP, Chapel of the Chimes, throughout the years 2001 and 2002, blending both melody and cacophony with a heavy reliance on percussive instrumentation and brass instrumentation.

Following 2002, the group would shrink in membership as Yvonne Chen left in order to focus on her vegan boutique Otsu and self-published magazine Zum, while Cory McCulloch also stopped touring, focusing instead on producing the band's next two LPs. A personal loss would affect Xiu Xiu as well, as Jamie Stewart's father, musician and record producer Michael Stewart was found dead after an apparent suicide.undefined Coping with these losses, Stewart would record the group's follow-up to Knife Play, 2003's A Promise.

Continuing to focus on the subject matter of Jamie Stewart's personal life – as witnessed previously by Knife Play – A Promise acts like a concept record of internal despair. Consisting of ten tracks, the record was oriented towards a more or less acoustic presentation, rather than relying on the booming brass and percussion which had worked to make Knife Play. However, the record did not veer from the formulated programming for which Stewart and McCulloch would be praised by fans and critics alike.

During this time, Stewart recorded Fag Patrol, a collection of previous recorded material as well as covers of songs by The Smiths and his previous group with McCulloch, Ten in the Swear Jar. Released as a handmade CD by Rob Fisk's and Kelly Goodefisk's Free Porcupine Society, Fag Patrol was limited to only a few hundred copies.undefined In the spring of 2004, Stewart and McCulloch released what is considered by many to be the group's most accessible album, Fabulous Muscles. More pop-friendly in its sound than previous releases, Fabulous Muscles boosted Xiu Xiu to new heights in terms of popularity, largely thanks to its single "I Luv the Valley OH!".

With the departure of Lauren Andrews in 2003 – who wished to focus on her academic studies – Stewart was joined on stage by his "long-lost" cousin, Caralee McElroy in 2004.undefined The two would tour relentlessly throughout that year, releasing not only the group's third LP, but also split recordings with This Song Is a Mess But So Am I and Bunkbed, along with the "Fleshettes" single – which featured a rendition of the Ten in the Swear Jar track Helsabot by McElroy.

2004–2010: La Forêt to Dear God, I Hate Myself
Seen as a return to Stewart's more dark and crabby demeanor, Xiu Xiu's fourth album La Forêt alluded to a frustration which Stewart had felt throughout the process of recording the 2004 record. Centered around the topic of "horrible times in horrible lives" as well as Stewart's personal frustrations with then-U.S. President George W. Bush,undefined La Forêt is characterized by an altogether different sound – layered by mandolin, harmonium, clarinet, cello, autoharp, and tuba.undefined In addition to La Forêt, Xiu Xiu would join Italian experimental group Larsen in forming XXL, which released its first LP, ¡Ciaütistico! in 2005, followed later by its successor ¿Spicchiology? in 2007.undefined Stewart also issued formative splits throughout 2005, working with artists such as The Paper Chase, Kill Me Tomorrow, and Devendra Banhart.

In 2006, Stewart would break from tradition by ending his professional relationship with McCulloch. He then started working with San Francisco-based band Deerhoof's drummer Greg Saunier, with whom he has worked with since 2002, as producer for Xiu Xiu's fifth LP entitled The Air Force.undefined Saunier, who had previously worked with Stewart on Knife Play, created for the record a greater wall of sound – a stark contrast to that of McCulloch's discordant attitude towards production.undefined The Air Force would be supported throughout 2006 by a three piece ensemble, as Stewart and McElroy were joined by drummer/percussionist Ches Smith, who himself had previously worked with the group on Knife Play. The Air Force also contained the band's first album-based song without vocals by Stewart – with McElroy singing "Hello From Eau Claire".undefined

A third EP – Tu Mi Piaci ("I like you") – of songs originally recorded by acts such as Bauhaus, Nedelle, This Mortal Coil, The Pussycat Dolls, and Nina Simone was released in 2006, along with a collaboration with ambient artist Grouper, entitled Creepshow. Shortly thereafter, Xiu Xiu would record their sixth album, 2008's Women as Lovers. Their longest LP to date, Women as Lovers attempts to home in on the synth-pop influences of the group's sound. Stewart's and McElroy's duet with Michael Gira of Swans on a cover of David Bowie and Queen's Under Pressure is representative of this. Touring that year alongside Xiu Xiu aluminist Devin Hoff on bass, the band's second four-piece incarnation would not last long, as Hoff abruptly left the group soon after touring began.undefined

In May 2009, it was revealed on a blogpost on xiuxiu.org that Caralee McElroy would no longer work with Xiu Xiu.undefined Speculations ran as to what reasons McElroy had for leaving the group after five years of recording and touring, though no explanation was given other than her subsequent membership in Manhattan-based darkwave group Cold Cave, which she soon after departed from in 2010. With the vacancies left by both Hoff and McElroy, Stewart and Smith recruited Angela Seo in late-2009. Thereafter, the group would begin work on its seventh LP Dear God, I Hate Myself, recording in both Oakland, California as well as Durham, North Carolina. Once again shifting motifs, Xiu Xiu would this time choose to experiment with video-game-based programming, utilizing the Nintendo DS to write many of the songs which appear on their 2010 release.undefined The music video for the song "Dear God, I Hate Myself" received negative attention online in 2010. The video consists of Angela Seo inducing vomiting over the course of the three minute song, culminating with her vomiting on Stewart, who has been eating a chocolate bar during the entire video.undefined Seo and Stewart have defended the video online and in interviews, stating that the video illustrates the subject of the song in an extreme and visceral fashion.

2010–present: Always to Girl with Basket of Fruit
In 2010 Xiu Xiu left Kill Rock Stars and signed with Bella Union and PolyVinyl.undefined

Xiu Xiu released Always on these new labels in 2012. It was called "magnificent" and given 5 stars by The Independentundefined and given a 9/10 by Drowned in Sound.undefined

In April 2013, Stewart and Eugene Robinson of Oxbow released the collaborative album Xiu Xiu & Eugene S. Robinson Present: Sal Mineo on Important Records after having toured Europe together in February to promote the project.undefined

In an email sent to fans on January 28, 2013, Xiu Xiu announced that "Ches Smith, Mary Halvorson, Tim Berne, Tony Malaby, Andrea Parkins and Jamie Stewart just finished recording an album in NYC of free jazz and art song versions of all Nina Simone songs." The album, Nina, was released on Graveface Records on December 3, 2013.

In the same email, Xiu Xiu also announced that a new Xiu Xiu album was being made. Xiu Xiu said that it is possible that it will be named Angel Guts: Red Classroom and that "it will be a mean, tight hearted, blackness of Neubauten vs Suicide vs Nico." Angel Guts: Red Classroom was released February 2014. It was given an 8 out of 10 by Drowned in Sound and Mojo.undefined David Hartley of band War on Drugs praised the album, calling it an "Stereoscopic assault."undefined

On November 16, 2016, the band announced their next album FORGET, set for release on February 24, 2017. The announcement was accompanied with lead single "Wondering", signifying a return to more pop-oriented songwriting.undefined

Xiu Xiu performed a long piece "Deforms the Unborn" based on the demonic possession of children at the Guggenheim Museum in May 2018.

Xiu Xiu released their eleventh new album titled Girl with Basket of Fruit on February 8, 2019 via Polyvinyl.undefined

Albums

 * 2002 - Knife Play
 * 2003 - A Promise
 * 2004 - Fabulous Muscles
 * 2005 - La Forêt
 * 2006 - The Airforce
 * 2006 - Women as Lovers
 * 2010 - Dear God, I Hate Myself
 * 2012 - Always
 * 2014 - Angel Guts : Red Classroom
 * 2016 - Plays the Music of Twin Peaks
 * 2017 - FORGET
 * 2019 - Girl With Basket of Fruit
 * 2021 - OH NO

Singles/EPs

 * 2002 - Chapel of the Chimes EP
 * 2004 - split 7" with This Song Is a Mess but So Am I
 * 2004 - split 7" with Bunkbed
 * 2004 - "Fleshettes" CD-single
 * 2005 - split 7" with Devendra Banhart
 * 2005 - split 7" with Kill Me Tomorrow
 * 2005 - split 7" with The Paper Chase
 * 2005 - split 7" with The Dead Science
 * 2005 - The Special 12 Singles Series
 * 2006 - Tu Mi Piaci EP
 * 2006 - "Boy Soprano" / "San Pedro Glue Stick" picture disc 7" with photographs by David Horvitz
 * 2007 - Jamie Stewart Pre-Xiu Xiu Picture disc 7" with photographs by David Horvitz
 * 2007 - split 7" with WS-Burn
 * 2008 - split 7" with High Places
 * 2009 - untitled 12 month/12 disc subscription service (limited edition of 50 subscriptions)
 * 2009 - split 7" with Parenthetical Girls (Morrissey/The Smiths covers, Upset the Rhythm)
 * 2011 - "Razor Scooter" / "Sashay Away" digital single
 * 2011 - "Almost Xiu Xiu, Almost Deerhoof" split 7" with Deerhoof
 * 2011 - "Daphny" / "Only Girl" 7"

XMFX - Bandcamp Subscription

 * 2020 -XMFX 1 - Dancing With A Stranger (Sam Smith)
 * 2020 -XMFX 2 - Plain Gold Ring/In Heaven (Nina Simone/(Lady in the Radiator Song from Eraserhead)
 * 2020 -XMFX 3 - Sex Dwarf (Soft Cell)
 * 2020 -XMFX 4 - See You Don't Bump His Head (Scott Walker)
 * 2020 -XMFX 5 - I Put A Spell On You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins)
 * 2020 -XMFX 6 - Less Than Human (The Chameleons)
 * 2020 -XMFX 7 - Halloween (El Muertho de Tijuana)
 * 2020 -XMFX 8 - I Think I'm A Mother (PJ Harvey)
 * 2020 -XMFX 9 - Stripped (Depeche Mode)
 * 2021 - XMFX 10 - Names (Cat Power)
 * 2021 - XMFX 11 - Kansas (Wolfgang)
 * 2021 - XMFX 12 - In Every Dream Home a Heartache (Roxy Music)
 * 2021 - XMFX 13 - In The Garage (Weezer)
 * 2021 - XMFX 14 - In Dreams (Roy Orbison)
 * 2021 - XMFX 15 - New Dawn Fades (Joy Division)
 * 2021 - XMFX 16 - Reject All American (Bikini Kill)
 * 2021 - XMFX 17 - Triple Sun (Coil)
 * 2021 - XMFX 18 - He Hit Me It Felt Like A Kiss (The Crystals)
 * 2021 - XMFX 19 - Hamburger Lady (Throbbing Gristle)
 * 2021 - XMFX 20 - Dancing On My Own (Robyn)
 * 2021 - XMFX 21 - Mama, You've Been On My Mind (Jeff Buckley)
 * 2022 - XMFX 22 - Black Ships Ate The Sky (Current 93)
 * 2022 - XMFX 23 - The Passenger (Iggy Pop)

Members (Former and Present)

 * Jamie Stewart
 * Angela Seo
 * Caralee McElroy
 * Cory McCulloch
 * Lauren Andrews
 * Sean McGahan
 * Yvonne Chen
 * Jherek Bischoff
 * Devin Hoff
 * Ches Smith
 * Carla Bozulich
 * Greg Saunier
 * John Dieterich
 * Zac Pennington
 * David Kendrick
 * Houda Zakeri