Fabulous Muscles by Xiu Xiu
This record was written on the heels of huge, huge upheavals and violent personal changes and content wise reflects a year of a father's suicide, helpless watching the United States government/army rape and murder with smug disdain for anything but power, being betrayed and then in betraying others, finding out about a favorite 5 years old student being repeatedly molested by his teenage brother and the family due to immigration status and economics not being able to get help or really even stop it and then weirdly falling in love very, very,very unexpectedly and beautifully. The most central theme is about negative dominance politically, sexually and emotionally despite the space of a new, hopeful relationship.
Musically, due to having moved out of a punk rock crash pad where you can make all the noise you want, there are many more electronic sounds and kabuki style percussion. There is less of a dance influence with them but much more of a pop and then academic/experimental influence. There are sounds used to rhythmically push some songs forward in a top 40 way but with fewer straight beats. Noise restrictions also led to more use of single, quiet acoustic instruments. This record is the most pop Xiu Xiu record and the most experimental.
It was recorded at home in Seattle and Oakland (amazingly the hard disc survived moving 4 times in one year). Fabulous Muscles features Cory McCulloch, Ches Smith, Devin Hoff, Miya Osaki, Caralee McElroy, JherekBischoff, and Jamie Stewart.
Tracklist
| 1. | Crank Heart | 3:19 |
| 2. | I Luv the Valley, OH! | 2:59 |
| 3. | Bunny Gamer (B) | 2:40 |
| 4. | Little Panda McElroy (b) | 4:26 |
| 5. | Support Our Troops Oh! (Black Angels Oh!) | 4:46 |
| 6. | Fabulous Muscles (Mama Black Widow Version) | 4:11 |
| 7. | Brian the Vampire | 2:39 |
| 8. | Nieces Pieces (Boat Knife Version) | 3:33 |
| 9. | Clowne Towne | 3:51 |
| 10. | Mike | 5:14 |
Credits
PRODUCED BY CORY MCCULLOCH
recorded in Oakland, CA and Seattle, WA
mastered by John Golden
published by Will It Burn Music BMI
principle photography by Caralee McElroy
additional photography by Lorem Ipsum
design by Joe Stewart
www.xiuxiu.org
Thank You: K.M.J.N.O., C.N.M., Gigantor, Slim Moon, maggie, all at KRS, 5RC forever, Tom Lab, Collective Jyrk, Absolutely Kosher, Free Porcupine Society, Joe Stewart, Cory Brown, Tom, Miya Osaki, Ches Smith, Devin Hoff, Rob Fisk, Kelly Fisk, Aaron Russell, Devandra Banhart, Yvonne Chen, Lauren Andrews, Sprout Guy, Josh Stewart, Pete Swanson, Gabriel Mindel, Jherek Bischoff, Sam Mickens, Julie Musical Adventures, Kriten Miller, Yasi, Kurt Stumbaugh, Steve Gigante, Brian McFadin, Blue Ghost, Justin G., George Chen, Wilbert Williams II, Ken Urban, Michael Gira, Freddy Ruppert, Jon Fee, Chantelle, Zac Pennington, Owen Ashworth, Ryan Kork Agency, Henry PoleStar, Good For Cows, Kill Me Tomorrow, 7 Year Rabit Cycle, Ee, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, T.a.T.U., The Dead Science, Hella, Double Dare Yellow Swans, Deerhoof, SemiAutomatic, The Jim Yoshi Pile-Up, Pitchfork Media, Insound, Christopher Q and not U, Patti Schmidt, Constellation Records People, Potatoe Boy
