Xiu Xiu’s latest project, 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips, may be the most compelling music you’ll find released in September 2024, setting itself apart with a blend of industrial pop, unsettling vulnerability, and satirical flair. The album title alone could leave one guessing—are we in for a trip to the Wild West or perhaps an edgy fashion catalog? For Xiu Xiu, it’s both. Jamie Stewart, the creative force behind the band, delivers a record brimming with daring lyrics, genre-bending soundscapes, and pure theatricality. Here’s why 13″ will have you either hooked or horrified, but definitely not indifferent.
Breaking the Mold with a Sonic Journey
Xiu Xiu’s work is hard to categorize, and 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips embraces that ambiguity. The album opens with “Arp Omni,” a track with minimalistic synths, capturing an eerie quiet that’s punctuated by Stewart’s confessional lyrics. Imagine the existential angst of having “done almost nothing right” in adulthood, mixed with the warmth of “touching fire.” There’s a rawness here that feels cinematic and unsettling, like listening to a protagonist having a meltdown in the middle of a rainstorm. Each track reveals yet another layer of Stewart’s character, as though each new sound unveils a page in his diary.
Stewart’s storytelling is abstract yet strangely relatable, a talent that few other indie acts manage to balance without veering into pretension. But he keeps the listener on their toes—tracks lurch from mellow synth-driven harmonies to abrupt electronic stabs, moving between contemplation and chaos as naturally as changing weather.
A Strange Pop Record for the Brave
Industrial pop, a genre historically characterized by noisy beats and mechanical undertones, gets a fresh twist in 13″. Stewart has constructed a work of “flawless industrial pop,” an oxymoron if there ever was one, but it’s apt for describing this album. Tracks like “Piña, Coconut & Cherry” keep listeners guessing, swinging between frenzied chords and ethereal melodies, while Stewart pours his soul into lines like, “You can’t refuse love like this / It’s criminal / You must love me, love me, love me!” Who said emo can’t evolve into high art?
It’s easy to imagine Stewart collapsing onto a cheap motel bed after recording this track, theatrically exhausted from embodying every tortured emotion he could summon. The piece embodies the humor, intensity, and unfiltered passion that define Xiu Xiu’s sound. This music is for the bold listeners—those unafraid to face the strange, chaotic, and sometimes embarrassing extremes of human emotion.
Lyrics to Make You Cringe, Laugh, and Think
In many ways, 13″ is like a rollercoaster that keeps switching tracks. Stewart’s lyrics walk the line between deep introspection and what could only be described as “unfiltered eccentricity.” “With freckles as sparkling as yours / Who could dare to un-sparkle your dots?”—these lines might sound like a teenage love letter gone awry, but it’s precisely this quirky sincerity that elevates Xiu Xiu’s lyrics. Stewart embraces the absurd without apology, and perhaps that’s what makes his work so alluring. There’s beauty in watching someone lean so fully into their strangeness, especially in a music industry so often focused on mass appeal and likability.
Production That’s Purposefully Rough Around the Edges
This album is not designed to lull you into a rhythmic daze or make you feel comfortable. Its sonic qualities intentionally veer into distortion and cacophony, which may feel jarring to some listeners but is central to Xiu Xiu’s artistic vision. The instrumentation here is experimental, sometimes bordering on abrasive, yet every note feels like it was placed with care. Stewart’s ability to combine discordant sounds into a cohesive whole is impressive, capturing the feel of controlled chaos. It’s as if he’s carefully tossing buckets of paint at a canvas and miraculously creating a cohesive masterpiece.
Tracks like “Sparrowfly” blend haunting melodies with jarring percussions, with the production reminding you that sometimes, beauty isn’t always soft or polished—it can be raw and jagged. Stewart embraces imperfection, allowing the production’s gritty quality to amplify the album’s themes of emotional extremes and human vulnerability.
From Start to Finish: An Album That Demands Replays
Listening to 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips in a single sitting is an experience in itself, but the true essence of this album reveals itself after multiple listens. Each track builds upon the previous one, like chapters in a book, drawing you deeper into Stewart’s world. But unlike a straightforward novel, 13″ resists being pinned down to a single interpretation. You’ll find yourself wondering if Stewart is an auteur of pop or simply a madman with a keyboard and a lot of emotions.
By the time the album ends, it’s unclear whether you’ve been thoroughly entertained or emotionally exhausted—but therein lies the allure of Xiu Xiu’s work. This album will have you pondering its lyrics days later, perhaps in the middle of a mundane activity, only to suddenly realize that you’ve been humming one of its haunting melodies under your breath. It’s an album that follows you, much like a stray thought that just won’t let go.
A Satirical Touch in an Era of Seriousness
At a time when many albums are polished to a T, sanitized, and built for TikTok virality, Xiu Xiu’s 13″ comes as a welcome jolt. Stewart is unafraid of satire, often using melodramatic lyrics and exaggerated sounds to parody the very “seriousness” that other artists chase. This album feels like a playful jab at the current state of music, an invitation to laugh at both the absurdity of the world and oneself.
While it’s true that 13″ isn’t for everyone, it’s this commitment to authenticity—no matter how strange or offbeat—that will undoubtedly resonate with Xiu Xiu’s fans. And for new listeners willing to embark on this emotional rollercoaster, Stewart’s work offers a refreshing reminder that not all art is meant to be easily digested. Sometimes, it’s meant to shake you up, stir your thoughts, and leave you questioning everything.
In Conclusion: A Masterpiece for the Brave Listener
For anyone who considers themselves an adventurous music fan, 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips is an experience not to be missed. It’s bold, unconventional, and at times unnervingly vulnerable. Stewart has crafted an album that doesn’t just play in the background—it demands your full attention, making every listen a journey into the unexpected.
