Xiu Xiu

For a decade, Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart has consistently released dark, literate and emotionally bold avant-pop that explores the depths of gender, the grotesques of modern life, the conflict of character versus self, and the fat line between the brutal and the simpering. It’s music that feels important—personally, socially and politically, even when Stewart’s singing words like “butthole” and “retarded.” But Xiu Xiu’s music challenges the listener not to confuse importance with seriousness.

Along his way, Stewart has aligned with critically acclaimed provocative musicians like Antony Hegarty and new goth artists like Zola Jesus (with whom Stewart performs in side-project Former Ghosts). Even when his voice—capable of soul-shattering wails—is at its most fragile and quavering, it wields a tremendous hammer. He packs all the drama and ardor of Ian Curtis into almost every phrase. But what gets lost in Stewart’s on-stage personality is the compositional trapeze at play. Xiu Xiu’s most pop-leaning efforts are still jagged little gems, often cloaked in carefully orchestrated cacophony and dissonance. See, for instance, the last third of “Hyunhye’s Theme” from the 2010’s Dear God, I Hate Myself, when the mostly gentle guitar piece goes fantastic out-jazz melee.

Dear God, I Hate Myself features new Xiu Xiu member Angela Seo, two members of avant-pop demi-gods Deerhoof and more straight-up electronics than any Xiu Xiu album to date (a handful of tracks were composed on a Nintendo DS). Not only does it stand tit-to-tit with Xiu Xiu’s hallmark 2004 album, Fabulous Muscles, it may well serve as the band’s mission statement. Full of would-be house bangers and grating glitches, it’s New Order minus order. Stewart starts off the whole thing off with the oddly strummy “Gray Death” and the line “If you are expecting consolation/ I will become outrageous/ If you expect me to be outrageous/ I will be extra outrageous.” If you’ve followed Xiu Xiu’s music for the last 10 years, it’s probably meant to make you smile a bit. Yes, this is dense music, and digestion can prove troublesome. But so is Indian food, and that's never stopped you. —Eric Deines