Despite a prevalence of cute, otaku-friendly theme songs, with many recent ones providing dance routines for budding cosplayers to learn (look up "Hare Hare Yukai" on YouTube to experience the true horror), "Xam'd: Lost Memories" isn't the first time that an anime has drawn musical inspiration from rock and dance music.

The animated incarnation of "Nana" creator Ai Yazawa's fashion-themed manga "Paradise Kiss" (2005) used Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand's "Do You Want To" as its ending theme, even drafting in uber-hip experimental animator Hiroyuki Imaishi to provide accompanying images. Similarly, post-apocalyptic SF anime "Ergo Proxy" (2006) used Radiohead's venerable "Paranoid Android" as its ending theme, linking in with the show's heavy philosophical themes of alienation and the search for identity.

"Ergo Proxy" writer Dai Satou also worked as the main writer on Studio Bones' 2005 hit "Eureka Seven," which still ranks as probably the densest anime ever when it comes to hip musical references. Aside from frequently changing theme songs, including tracks by indie-dance trio Nirgilis and teenage (at the time) hip-hop duo HalCali, there were insert songs by technopop legends Denki Groove and indie-dance band Supercar. That's just the beginning, though: With episode titles such as "Blue Monday" and "Morning Glory," character names including Renton Thurston (alluding to "Trainspotting" and Sonic Youth), and locations referencing famed Manchester club The Hacienda, "Eureka Seven" is densely populated with 1980s-'90s indie culture.