WIXIW explained

WIXIW
Type:	studio
Artist:	Liars
Cover:	Liars_-_WIXIW.jpg
Recorded:	2011–2012
Genre:	Experimental rock, electronica
Length:	43:04
Label:	Mute
Producer:	Daniel Miller
Prev Title:	Sisterworld
Prev Year:	2010
Next Title:	Mess
Next Year:	2014

WIXIW (pronounced "wish you")^[1] is the sixth studio album by experimental rock trio Liars,^[2] released on June 4, 2012.^[3] It was written in Los Angeles and in a remote cabin in the mountains around the city.^[3] Recording took place in Liars' private studio below U.S. Highway 101 in Los Angeles under the guidance of the band's label boss, Daniel Miller.^[4] Writing for The Quietus, Luke Turner described WIXIW as the band's "most accessible album to date" as well as their most electronic record ever.^[4] Reflecting on WIXIWs themes of longing and doubt, Angus Andrew said "You find that throughout the record, even within single songs, there's this duality of wanting to be close to someone but at the same time being afraid of that and thinking it's best that they leave."^[5]

The video for "Brats" by Ian Cheng was the second featured video on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim series Off the Air in the episode "Nature".

Critical reception

WIXIW was well received by music critics, and garnered a score of 81 on the review site Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".

In a review for BBC Music, John Doran called the album an "unqualified success" and suggested Liars' newfound kinship with Aphex Twin and Radiohead circa 1999 established them in a field all their own,^[6] while Turner referred to the song Brats as a "juddering drunk punk masterpiece".^[4] Journalist Emily Mackay of the NME likened the palindromatic album title to the band pursuing a new creative approach to reconnect with their multi-faceted essential nature.

Accolades

Publication	Rank	Ref
BBC Music	16	^[7]
Clash	23	^[8]
Consequence of Sound	26	^[9]
DIY	1	^[10]
Exclaim!	45	^[11]
Filter	12	^[12]
The Fly	36	^[13]
musicOMH	8	^[14]
NME	39	^[15]
Time Out London	15	^[16]
Under the Radar	24	^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Moores. J. R.. Album Review: Liars – WIXIW. Drowned in Sound. May 30, 2012. June 21, 2012. July 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120702024138/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17039/reviews/4145023. dead.
2. Web site: Fitzmaurice. Larry. The New Liars Album Gets a Title: WIXIW. Pitchfork. April 2, 2012. May 28, 2012.
3. Web site: Goble. Corban. Liars Explain WIXIW In This Short Film. Stereogum. May 14, 2012. May 28, 2012.
4. Web site: Turner. Luke. Liars: WIXIW. The Quietus. May 30, 2012. June 8, 2012.
5. Web site: Turner. Luke. The Power Of Doubt: Liars' Guide To New LP WIXIW. The Quietus. May 14, 2012. June 24, 2012.
6. Web site: Liars WIXIW Review . Doran . John . June 6, 2012 . . June 24, 2012 .
7. Web site: Diver. Mike. December 6, 2012. BBC Music's Top 25 Albums of 2012. BBC Music. January 23, 2016.
8. Web site: December 6, 2012. The Top 40 Albums Of 2012. Clash. January 23, 2016.
9. Web site: Top 50 Albums of 2012. Consequence of Sound. December 14, 2012. January 23, 2016.
10. Web site: DIY Albums Of 2012: 10 - 1. December 7, 2012. DIY. January 23, 2016.
11. Web site: Keast. James. December 21, 2012. Top 50 Albums of the Year. Exclaim!. January 23, 2016.
12. Web site: FILTER’s Top 10 of 2012: Staff Picks. December 3, 2012. Filter. January 23, 2016.
13. Web site: November 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121124045143/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/feature/lists/1016070/top-50-albums-of-2012/. November 24, 2012. The Top 50 Albums Of 2012. The Fly. January 23, 2016.
14. Web site: December 15, 2012. Top 100 Albums Of 2012: 50-6. musicOMH. January 23, 2016.
15. Web site: Lewis. Luke. November 20, 2012. 50 Best Albums of 2012. NME. January 23, 2016.
16. Web site: The 50 best albums of 2012. December 18, 2012. Time Out London. January 23, 2016.
17. Web site: Under the Radar’s Top 100 Albums of 2012. March 27, 2013. Under the Radar. January 23, 2016.