The Air Force

Released in 2006, The Air Force marks a pivotal moment in Xiu Xiu's discography, moving away from the raw, lo-fi trauma of earlier works toward a more 'consciously pop' but no less disturbing sound. Produced by Greg Saunier of Deerhoof, the album features a clinical, high-contrast production style that emphasizes dry, isolated instrumentation and sudden dynamic shifts. Stewart has noted that the album's thematic focus shifted from sorrow to guilt, specifically exploring the darker intersections of sex and interpersonal power dynamics. Musically, it incorporates elements of gamelan-inspired percussion, glitch, and 1980s synth-pop, all filtered through a noise-rock lens. The inclusion of Caralee McElroy's vocals on tracks like 'Hello from Eau Claire' provides a brief, melodic respite from the album's otherwise relentless intensity. Critics often cite this as one of the band's most cohesive and well-realized projects, balancing their avant-garde impulses with a newfound sense of structural discipline.