13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips

This album’s definitely one of their more “accessible” projects, but that’s kinda like saying the same thing for Death Grips or Drain Gang—it’s still weird and out there, just in a more structured way. The production, vocals, and overall vibe feel way more straightforward compared to their usual stuff. It kinda reminds me of Forget from 2017, but with way more rock than pop, which honestly made me love it even more. The balance between that blissful, feel-good energy and the underlying tension is so well done. Xiu Xiu hasn’t totally ditched their unsettling edge, but they’ve definitely brightened things up and made it more raw. Tracks like "Pale Flower" and "Bobby Bland" hit this sweet spot between being both creepy and catchy at the same time.

But the real standout moments are when they go full throttle with songs like "Common Loon" and "Veneficium"—the hazy guitars just take over, and it’s such a fun vibe that I can’t stop coming back to. The drumming, too, is a huge part of why I love this album. It’s groovy and exciting, pulling everything together.

The aggression is still there, but now it makes you wanna dance and headbang rather than just feel creeped out. Jamie Stewart’s vocals are still super close and intimate, working perfectly on every track except maybe "Maestro One Chord"—wasn’t as into his delivery on that one. Angela Seo crushed it on this album too, especially production-wise. Honestly, this might be one of my favorite Xiu Xiu albums just for that alone. They really nailed it and blew my expectations out of the water.

XIU XIU - 13" FRANK BELTRAME ITALIAN STILETTTO WITH BISON HORN GRIPS

RATING - 8.7/10

FAVORITE TRACK - Veneficium, T.D.F.T.W

GENRE - Alt, Indie, Folk-Scare, Electronic