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Editorial Reviews
Review
(The xx are) making hauntingly beautiful music with its electro pop-soul jams and emotive lyrics. --Nylon
Fully formed and thoughtful. (8.7 Best New Music) --Pitchfork
The xx are worth the hype. --NPR, All Things Considered
Fully formed and thoughtful. (8.7 Best New Music) --Pitchfork
The xx are worth the hype. --NPR, All Things Considered
Product Description
The Xx unique make-up is an inadvertent second nature marriage of 2009's urban/guitar tribes, in one corner fluttering new wave indebted reverberation, in the other, plumes of post-dubstep sub-bass and figuratively, their defining core of rich R&B vocal textures. The enveloping vocal partnership of Romy and Oliver is one that would've dropped-jaws in any decade this century, and set amidst a shivering soundscape of beats and plucks, their bedroom-reared concrete-soul is being justly heralded as the UK's most original and treasured alt. pop artifact of late.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The xx have been all over blogs for a while now, and I first caught a track from them when their demos were leaked online. It was "Crystalised" and I was totally in love. When XX was released last week, I immediately bought it, and it has been playing through my headphones and speakers ever since.
The opening track, "Intro," is amazing on its own. Instrumental, if you consider their vocalization (without lyrics) an instrument. It sets the tone for the entire album, withe a chill yet building sound, and an ever thumping bass. The music seems simple, but fresh. There are moments in the album where the repeated echoing notes remind me of early Interpol and some of the riffs harken late 80s new wave, but I have a hard time drawing real parallels to other bands. Some of the lyrics make me nostalgic for a modern/retro 90s life I've never had ("watch things on vcrs, with me &talk about Big Love"), and the almost-fuzzy, understated-but-prominent male and female vocals, which both compete & come in as a chorus, remind me of some lazy love affair. Actually, the entire album seems to be an ode to this lazy love affair.
This really is my favorite debut of 2009. Incredibly impressive and something you want to get your hands on, I promise. Here's the tracklist, since amazon.com doesn't have one up yet:
01. Intro
02. Vcr
03. Crystalised
04. Islands
05. Heart Skipped A Beat
06. Fantasy
07. Shelter
08. Basic Space
09. Infinity
10. Night Time
11. Stars
The opening track, "Intro," is amazing on its own. Instrumental, if you consider their vocalization (without lyrics) an instrument. It sets the tone for the entire album, withe a chill yet building sound, and an ever thumping bass. The music seems simple, but fresh. There are moments in the album where the repeated echoing notes remind me of early Interpol and some of the riffs harken late 80s new wave, but I have a hard time drawing real parallels to other bands. Some of the lyrics make me nostalgic for a modern/retro 90s life I've never had ("watch things on vcrs, with me &talk about Big Love"), and the almost-fuzzy, understated-but-prominent male and female vocals, which both compete & come in as a chorus, remind me of some lazy love affair. Actually, the entire album seems to be an ode to this lazy love affair.
This really is my favorite debut of 2009. Incredibly impressive and something you want to get your hands on, I promise. Here's the tracklist, since amazon.com doesn't have one up yet:
01. Intro
02. Vcr
03. Crystalised
04. Islands
05. Heart Skipped A Beat
06. Fantasy
07. Shelter
08. Basic Space
09. Infinity
10. Night Time
11. Stars
42 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've had this on constant replay for the last couple days and am now on about my 12th listen, and I'm still captivated. This is one of the most impressive albums that I've heard in some time. Imagine 17 Seconds era Cure with Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins sharing lead vocals, produced by Timbaland. That's the starting point for this bewitching set of tunes. From the opening INTRO through to the closing STARS, every song is a highlight and flows perfectly into the next one. Languid guitars, spare beats and casual, conversational tag team male-female vocals created a dreamlike sound with plenty of space and emotion. I'm cueing it up for another listen. Very highly recommended.
35 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
From the opening notes of "Intro," I think it's obvious that this band is on to something. People often say Spoon's strength lies in their ability to edit their sound until only the bare essentials of music are left: a beat and a melody. Well whatever it is that Spoon got onto, The XX seem to have taken it a step further, somehow managing to cut their sound down even further. This is certainly a challenging album, but it's simultaneously incredibly rewarding once you really get into the groove. The band's female singer has a beautiful, sultry voice, and she's perfectly suited to the band's lean, taut style. However, because the band's sound is so idiosyncratic, I would highly recommend that prospective fans try before they buy. Even if this is one of the year's best debuts, it is also going to be a divisive album, and it really isn't for everyone. But if you can give the record a few spins, I think just about anyone will be able to get why these guys have been picking up rave reviews across the internet.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
great album
Really good music with non generic melodies and good harmony. Nice to listen to different styles of music. Both singers are really talented.
Published 1 month ago by Jacob E
Hands- Down, Amazing!
Let me start by saying; This is the first time I have ever reviewed anything online. I have fallen in love with this album over the last year. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rilez
The best band that you have never heard of.
I don't know what to write exactly. This is art so everyone with think something different. I think that this album is worth every penny. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tabor Kelly
Not a single track i don't like
Great job on the album.
I feel that all the songs here are amazing. Best money i spent on music in god knows how long. Read more
I feel that all the songs here are amazing. Best money i spent on music in god knows how long. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Levant
On the movie Project X
Was nice to hear this on the ending scenes from the movie Project X 2012, was such a great party movie, and the song was a pefect ending score!
Published 2 months ago by chris myers
Amazing production!
Irrespective of one's taste in music, this album (the vinyl edition, in particular) is one of the best produced albums in years. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brian St John
Great CD
Ever since hearing this band on Satellite Radio... I knew I wanted to buy the CD.
Amazon made that easy and cheap. Read more
Amazon made that easy and cheap. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Abssolute
I got X'd by The XX
Totally amazing. Nothing beats the voice of Oliver Sim. Over the top, oozing with sensuality! Can't wait for the next album!
Published 3 months ago by Quasilicious
Simply Hypnotic
I found this album by chance, looking at the recommended albums on Amazon while browsing a CD I really like (I believe it was the Broken Bells album). Read more
Published 3 months ago by sirdudeness
excellent
The item arrived before the stablished and in perfect conditions. Completely reliable! This edition is beautiful, the "X" is swaged and the lp comes inside the white cardboard.
Published 4 months ago by Muge884
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The xx's album xx was produced by The xx.
Baria Qureshi, Jamie Smith, Oliver Sim, Romy Madley Croft, and Jamie xxhave been a member of The xx.
Baria Qureshi, Jamie Smith, Oliver Sim, Romy Madley Croft, and Jamie xxhave been a member of The xx.
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