Taking their name from the 1998 Chinese film
Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, post-punk throwbacks
Xiu Xiu were formed in San Jose, California by
Cory McCullough,
Yvonne Chen (publisher of the indie zine
Zum),
Lauren Andrews, and
Jamie Stewart. Before forming
Xiu Xiu,
McCullough and
Stewart played in the band
Ten in the Swear Jar. Prior to the 2002 release of their first full-length album,
Knife Play (released on vinyl through Absolutely Kosher and on disc through 5RC/Kill Rock Stars), the band made appearances on numerous compilations. Shortly after
Knife Play's release, Springman released a 10" collaboration between
Xiu Xiu and
Deerhoof. Vocalist
Stewart has earned comparisons to
the Cure's
Robert Smith, while the band itself has been likened to just about any angular guitar band from the late '70s and early '80s without any blindingly obvious sources of inspiration. In 2002, the band issued the
Chapel of the Chimes EP. The following year,
A Promise and the limited-edition, mostly acoustic
Fag Patrol EP arrived, and early 2004 saw the release of their most accessible work to date,
Fabulous Muscles.
Xiu Xiu kept busy in 2005 with the full-length
La Forêt and a split single with
Devendra Banhart. The group's fifth album,
The Air Force, which was produced by
Greg Saunier, arrived in fall 2006; an EP of covers,
Tu Mi Piaci, was also released that year. Issued in 2008,
Women as Lovers managed to be some of
Xiu Xiu's catchiest and most abrasive work, and featured
Michael Gira on a cover of "Under Pressure." Caralee McElroy, who had joined the group for
The Air Force, left
Xiu Xiu in 2009 and became a member of Cold Cave; she was replaced by Angela Seo, who worked with
Stewart and Saunier on 2010's more overtly poppy and electronic Dear God, I Hate Myself. Two years later, the band commemorated its tenth anniversary with Always, which tackled war atrocities ("Gul Muldin"), the plight of Chinese female migrant workers ("Factory Girls"), and the right to choose ("I Luv Abortion"), and was dedicated to the band's devoted fans. Sal Mineo, a collaboration with Oxbow's Eugene S. Robinson, released its self-titled debut album in April 2013 on Important Records.
–
Andy Kellman, Rovi