Wikipedia

13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips

13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips, colloquially referred to as 13", is the fourteenth studio album by American experimental band Xiu Xiu, released on September 27, 2024 by Polyvinyl.

13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
Studio album by
Xiu Xiu
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2024 (2024-09-27)
StudioNurse (Los Angeles)
Genre
LabelPolyvinyl
ProducerAngela Seo
Xiu Xiu chronology
Ignore Grief
(2023) 		13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
(2024)
Singles from 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
  1. "Common Loon"
    Released: June 25, 2024 (2024-06-25)
  2. "Arp Omni"
    Released: August 13, 2024 (2024-08-13)
  3. "Veneficium"
    Released: August 13, 2024 (2024-08-13)

Background

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13" was announced on June 25, 2024 with the lead single "Common Loon", which was accompanied by a music video featuring Alicia McDaid.[1] The singles "Arp Omni" and "Veneficium" were released on August 13, 2024.[2]

The album's title comes from a switchblade owned by band frontman Jamie Stewart.[3] In an interview with Our Culture, Stewart explained, "Switchblades, since the 1950s, are an almost clichéd symbol of 'tough guy' aesthetics. But as an instrument of violence, they're pretty useless... Serving as a symbol for violence and fear while being pretty useless is a fascinating symbol of violence generally." Stewart said one driving force the record was "interesting uselessness", "a stupid contradiction that could have genuine consequences". He said that there were switchblades "around the studio or at our desks or whatever", which functioned as a sort of talisman, guiding the band throughout the production.[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Far Out     [5]

13" received positive reviews from critics. Dale Maplethorpe of Far Out praised the album for being an "unpredictable mesh of chaos," and wrote that it "is an absolute joy from start to finish."[5] The Quietus's Claire Biddles said the album "might be Xiu Xiu's best," further noting that it's "funny, terrifying, extreme, horny, embarrassing, relatable – everything that Xiu Xiu have ever been at once."[3]

Track listing

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  1. "Arp Omni" – 4:22
  2. "Maestro One Chord" – 3:38
  3. "Common Loon" – 3:31
  4. "Pale Flower" – 5:00
  5. "Veneficium" – 4:08
  6. "Sleep Blvd." – 3:15
  7. "T.D.F.T.W." – 3:24
  8. "Bobby Bland" – 3:57
  9. "Piña, Coconut & Cherry" – 4:55

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Polyvinyl.[6]

Xiu Xiu

  • Jamie Stewart – vocals, guitar, bass, synthesisers, percussion, bajo quinto, drum machine
  • Angela Seo – vocals, synthesisers, organ, sheet metal, percussion, piano, autoharp
  • David Kendrick – percussion, drums

Additional musicians

  • Soo Cho – violin
  • David Kim – violin
  • Min Kim – viola
  • John Lee – cello
  • Daniel Park – cello

Technical

Artwork

  • Janelle Abad – design

Notes

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  1. ^ The personnel list in the reference contains a typo; Douches' surname is incorrectly spelled as Douche.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Corcoran 2024.
  2. ^ Chelosky 2024.
  3. ^ a b Biddles 2024.
  4. ^ Akler-Bishop 2024.
  5. ^ a b Maplethorpe 2024.
  6. ^ Polyvinyl Record Co. n.d.

References

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  • Corcoran, Nina (2024-06-25). "Xiu Xiu Announce Tour and New Album, Share NSFW Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • "13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips". Polyvinyl Record Co. n.d. Archived from the original on 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  • Chelosky, Danielle (2024-08-13). "Xiu Xiu – 'Arp Omni' & 'Veneficium'". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Biddles, Claire (2024-09-26). "Falling Into Place: Xiu Xiu's 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Maplethorpe, Dale (2024-09-26). "Xiu Xiu – '13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stilletto with Bison Horn Grips' album review". Far Out. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Akler-Bishop, Ryan (2024-09-26). "Xiu Xiu on How Switchblades, Blixa Bargeld, the Roland CR-68, and More Inspired Their New Album '13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips'". Our Culture. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
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