Xiu Xiu - The Air Force (5RC)

From the moment the first drum hits on the opening song “Buzz Saw,” you know that this isn’t your normal indie dance-pop album. Xiu Xiu has always been about meshing discomfort and dance, fragility and frantic. Adding to their already impressive track record record (not to mention keeping up with it), The Air Force is a solid album, showing off their pop sensibilities while maintaining the eeriness present in all their previous efforts. The yelping at the end of “Vulture Piano” is a great example of the classic unpredictability of the band and the “walla-walla-heys” followed by pure pop goodness at the end of “Bishop, CA” is just icing on the cake. I’m not entirely sure this is the right place to start to try to get into the band. I would suggest picking up either The Promise or Fabulous Muscles to test the waters before diving into Xiu Xiu.

- Tamon Go