Coexist

The xx | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 10, 2012
• Label: Young Turks
• Copyright: 2012 Young Turks/XL Recordings
• Total Length: 37:12
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B0094OLFUW
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
  • #73 in MP3 Downloads > MP3 Albums > Alternative Rock

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Minimal September 11, 2012

By T. A. Daniel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

The first time I listened to The XX's eponymous debut album, it was hard to not be excited about the band's future. From start to finish, the record was excellent - the band used minimal instrumentation to create quiet, moody atmospheres to let their songs dwell in. Most notably, the two vocalists, Oliver Sims and Romy Madley Croft, carried the album with their soft duets - their voices would rarely rise above a murmur, but together they were able to evoke heartwarming love or heartbreaking pain. After a handful of years, The XX is back with COEXIST, an album that picks up right where the band left off.

The band has largely preserved their sound even with the departure of guitarist Baria Qureshi who left in 2009. Qureshi, who left in 2009 due to personal differences, was not replaced, and the band has moved forward as a 3-piece. Unfortunately, the prominent guitarwork that made songs like "Untitled" and "Crystalised" so irresistible is missing on COEXIST, but the band is able to compensate for this absence through other means.

Most of the COEXIST's music is created with minimal instrumentation and a touch of reverb; every now and then, new instruments enter the fold, notably a steel drum ("Reunion"). The album starts off with "Angels." It's the album's lead single, and the song is surprisingly bare - Madley Croft's vocals are complimented by spare instrumentation, but the song relies completely on her voice to sell it. Not only does this track set the tone for COEXIST, but it's one of the highlights on the album. "Chained" introduces slightly more instrumentation, but not much - the album rarely rises above a whisper. The following track, "Fiction," is another one of the album's best: it's held together with a nice electronic beat that doesn't really change throughout its running time, but it offers Sims a nice opportunity to create a brilliant melody. There are times when songs' rhythms edge towards dance-territory ("Sunset" or "Swept Away" for example), but the album never feels cheap or pandering with its pulsating beats. "Tides" makes use of a funky groove and guitar accompaniment. The final song, "Our Song" features a duet over a slightly dissonant loop, it features a similar cadence to "Angels," so the album begs to be put on repeat. It's a good song to end the album, but for me, it was one of the weaker standalone tracks.

I think it would be remiss to talk about this album without spending a little time on the lyrics. There are moments on COEXIST when the vocalists paint beautiful imagery with their words. Most of the subject material involves lovers pining over one another or confessing their love for the other - it all works with the perfect delivery of the vocalists. In "Angels:" when describing her love-interest, Madley Croft sings "if someone believed me, they would be in as love with you as I am." In "Fiction:" "I wake up alone, with only daylight between us/ Last night the world was beneath us." In "Our Song: "And there's no one else / that knows me / like you do... The walls I / hide behind / you walk through / you just walk through."

Pound for pound, I don't think I enjoyed COEXIST as much as the self-titled album (which would hard to top for anyone), but it's certainly worth checking out. Listeners that enjoyed THE XX should seek out this album; I would recommend this album to listeners unfamiliar with the band as well. Standout tracks to sample/download: "Angels," "Fiction," and "Reunion."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Coexist is NOT XX September 25, 2012

By A. Aguilar

Format:MP3 Music

The xx's second album, Coexist, is a different album than the band's breakout album XX. Lyrically and musically the album is a great listen. I will admit, after the first time through Coexist, I was a bit torn; I wanted it to be a continuation of XX but it wasn't. However, after a second and third listen, I found that the album was very well-developed and in-line with what I've come to look for from this young band. While I know others have panned this album, I suspect part of the issue is that this isn't XX part 2. Although, in my opinion it is a great album, and would recommend it.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A mass of contradictions September 12, 2012

By Barrettbowie

Format:Audio CD

Part of me thinks Coexist is incredibly boring and monotonous . . . yet I've been totally engaged each of the several times I've listened to it. It's also simultaneously cold/distant, yet very emotional (i.e. it seems refreshingly "post-ironic". Which is to say, "sincere".) As another apparent contradiction, the album is minimal with whispering vocal turns and simplistic electronic beats . . . yet actually quite nuanced and revealing of subtle depth upon repeat listens.

Ultimately, I like it (more than most, apparently) and it seems like the perfect antidote to the "maximalist" overstuffed music of much indie pop/rock (I'm looking at you, Centipede Hz) as well as the typical autotuned, overproduced Top 40 R&B.

Of course those looking for minimalist indie alternative soul music in this vein would probably just prefer to listen to the xx's awesomer debut instead. Not a great leap forward for this band, but a nice companion piece.