this album is unique, haunting, well made, and perhaps even dangerous. and best as a whole. i've never called music dangerous before, but this album/group is like a possibly lethal drug - if you can figure out how to use it, it's amazing...if not, you'll have a horribly frightening experience. now that i understand xiu xiu, i feel like i have to be careful with it. i can't give it to just anyone and i can't overuse it (i listen to it as a whole no more than once a week).if you want something more out of music in general, get this album. listen to it on headphones. if you're at all unsure about it, listen to it drunk.