XX |  | Artist: xx
Label: Xl Recordings
Category: Music
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.99
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 93
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.6
MPN: 40450
UPC: 634904045029
EAN: 0634904045029
ASIN: B002N1AEN2
Release Date: October 6, 2009
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| Tracks:
| • | Intro | | • | VCR | | • | Crystalised | | • | Islands | | • | Heart Skipped A Beat | | • | Fantasy | | • | Shelter | | • | Basic Space | | • | Infinity | | • | Night Time | | • | Stars |
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| Editorial Reviews:
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.
Album Description
2009 debut album from the London-based quartet who combine beautiful, hushed vocal duets and a brilliantly inventive use of samples and low-end frequencies to produce stark, sweet melancholic Pop. Comprising Jamie Smith, Baria Qureshi, Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft, The xx came to prominence with their gorgeous 'Crystallized' single from earlier in the year. The song was possibly the best dueling boy/girl vocal track since... 'Nothing Better' by The Postal Service? 'No Hope For Us' by Arab Strap? Not like we're keen on hyperbole or anything, but The Big Pink and Micachu and the Shapes have both taken the band on tour with them, so they clearly share our excitement over this lot. XL Recordings. 2009.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
 Favorite Debut of 2009 So Far August 25, 2009
S. Barr (Charlotte, NC USA)
33 out of 34 found this review helpful
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
Stunning Debut September 4, 2009
S. Finefrock (Raleigh, NC)
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
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.
The XX - XX October 7, 2009
A. J. Vice (Plano, TX)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
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.
Great album! August 19, 2009
E. Schimek (NY USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I was able to get an advance copy here in the US and got to see the band on their New York tour. The unique quartet is equally great on the CD as well as live. It's hard to describe the music itself: A little on the mellow side (or is "moody" a better word?), but still has beats and melodies that get inside your body and your mind. So far, it's been the disk I grab when I'm not sure what I'm in the mood to listen too.
Fabulous sound - sparse, emotional and completely compelling November 10, 2009
Dwayne Pascal
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I had heard about The XX a few times before I finally saw them before live on TV and, on the basis of one performance, had decided that I wanted to hear more. XX has not disappointed and is an album I keep coming back to again and again.
The sound is sparse, with subtle electronica sounds and reverb guitar interchanging with the vocal interplay of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. The combination creates a tangible atmosphere that comes across even on CD.
This is one of those albums where you feel they've focused on making every note count. Every sound (and silence), deliberately placed to create the desired experience for the song.
However, I don't want to paint this album as being random experiments in sound. It's not. The songs are very approachable and have rhythm and structure. I quickly found myself subconsciously singing refrains while away from the album, thinking - "I really want to hear that song again".
A stellar debut! Looking forward to more output from this band.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
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