Girl With Basket of Fruit

Released in 2019, Girl With Basket of Fruit represents one of the most abrasive and percussion-heavy entries in Xiu Xiu's extensive catalog. Following their reinterpretation of the Twin Peaks soundtrack and the more melodic FORGET, this album saw the band (now featuring Thor Harris and Jordan Geiger) leaning heavily into post-industrial and ritualistic sounds. The recording process involved collaborations with master drummers and the use of unconventional sound sources like air conditioner tubes and scissors. Lyrically, Jamie Stewart explores themes of historical atrocity - most notably on 'Mary Turner Mary Turner' - and personal turmoil through a surrealist lens. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's shift toward a more 'abstract' and 'confrontational' sound even by Xiu Xiu's standards. It stands as a pivotal moment where the band's penchant for noise and their interest in global rhythmic traditions fully merged into a singular, terrifying vision.