xx

I fell for this album at first listen. I didn't even have to listen all the way through; I was hooked by the first spare atmospheric guitar pluckings on the unfortunately-titled "Intro." (I only complain because it seems like a dismissive title; the song is so much more than a mere lead-in to other things.) Granted, I was predisposed to like it; I'd been seduced from afar by the rave reviews, the sexy group name and album title--is anything sexier than an X? Yes, four Xs--and the cool mystique. But there's a lot of well-reviewed stuff that sounds good in the dim light of a first encounter but doesn't hold up to the morning's harsh judgment, and the harsher judgment of succeeding days. This, on the other hand, turned out to be one of those albums that gets better and better as I get to know it; I listen to such albums and end up almost amazed that they didn't already exist somehow; there is something primal and right about them, something sonically equivalent to a tetris piece that materialized from nowhere and fell exactly into a deep hole inside me that I somehow hadn't noticed before. Granted, this album works partly by evoking other great albums that have come before, all the masterpieces of shoegaze and dubstep and trip-hop; in some ways it succeeds more as culmination and synthesis than as departure. Still, it succeeds at both; it differentiates itself because it manages to be warm and cool at the same time, without being lukewarm. The music is spare and icy, a nighttime cityscape viewed through a high-rise window; the heat comes from the vocals, a male and female voice talking to each other at pillow distance or closer; they only want enough backdrop to set the mood, and no more, because they're doing their damndest to never leave the bedroom--or, better yet, the bed. But--importantly--it isn't the sound of love, exactly. It is many things, but it is not quite that; it is desire and codependency and lust, and the fear of how much colder it will all feel when one or the other leaves. The words aren't just the lies one hears on the radio or whispered in one's ear; they're also the real things one hears in one's head and sees written across a lover's face while their lips are busy saying other things: "Sometimes I still need you" and "I think I'm losing where I end and you begin" and "I'm setting us into stone piece by piece before I'm alone" and so on, and so forth. ("I'm sure you heard it before," they sing on "Heart Skipped a Beat," and if you're anything like me, you have heard it before, or thought it, or said it, or lived it--or all of the above. And you soundtracked it to Portishead, or Burial, or Massive Attack, or My Bloody Valentine, or Slowdive--but not this, because, of course, it didn't exist yet.) And yet it does deserve to exist, and so much more--to be a soundtrack of its own, to be noticed and obsessed over in its own right, for its own considerable strengths. The XX are bold enough to dispense with most of the drumming and thereby create something new and unique; they are bold enough, too, to keep in both the warm breath of smoky soul and whispered lies, and the cold backdrop outside--the distant city, and the realities one can't hold at bay forever. Still, again, this is one of those albums that leaves you crazy when you try to leave it cold. Like all lovers, it reminds you of others, and like all the best, it has its flaws, and it somehow manages to be perfect and unique in spite of them, and maybe even because of them. If you're anything like me, you might come up with reasons not to like it, or to hold it at arm's length. (I told myself that the male vocals were too mumbly, and the female ones too breathy, and that the songs were too varied in quality, because they range from "Perfect" to "Really Great.") Eventually, though, you'll find yourself wondering, "When am I going to spend time with xx again?" and realizing you just got together yesterday, and thinking you still need another fix anyway. And--and this is the truest test--you will be willing to forsake time with your other loves (Sorry, Joanna Newsom!) to make it happen. Actions speak louder than words, and the play count tells me more about my feelings for this album than anything I can set down here.

This album is nice. Wait. Retract that. This album is amazing and will change the way you listen to music. I'm a sucker for rock, for heavy thumping beats and dirty blues. And although the Xx doesn't sound like anything you've listened to before, it does, at the same time, sound like everything you love. The vocals are smooth, the melodies are enchanting, the beats not too heavy, but driving. But most of all, the timing - that's what really makes this band amazing. They have you hanging on their every word, like the most popular and beautiful person you've ever crushed hard on. The music - you keep waiting for the beats with such a tantalizing building to the melodies that you feel yourself just lost. It's dramatic without being cheesy, and makes you lament and long for someone to share it with so much that you'd swear you're back in high school. I love hearing the marimba played by any band, but usually it's covered by other instruments. To get an idea of what this album sounds like in comparison to other bands: everything - music, vocals, beats - is stripped down to its panties and photographed under candlelight. The result is dark, beautiful, melodic, private Polaroid-like music worthy of repeat listening until you fall asleep or fall in love. Or both. I heard this band first on KCRW on Morning Becomes Eclectic here in L.A. Then I went to Europe for work, and every high-end store I walked into - in Paris, in London, in Berlin - seemed to have this playing. And I'm not exaggerating! I think my companions were ready to shoot me because I just wanted to stay in the stores where this was playing and wander around, listening to the music and letting my thoughts meander in and out of the beats. Just quit reading reviews. Buy it and enjoy it. I know I haven't spent money on an album and been so incredibly satisfied in a long time.

The XX's selftitled debut is surprisingly good. At times seductive, at times haunting, the quiet and hushed moods that The XX create are worth taking time to listen to. The music here is reminiscent of 80's new wave and current electronic-influenced indie-rock. Headlined by a male and female vocalists, many of these songs are duets. The two singers harmonize so well together in their own sleepy ways. The instrumentation and vocals are sure-handed; it's all so confident that it feels as if this band has been making music together for years. Much of the production is minimalist: a guitar (not really playing chords), scant bass, electronic-sounding mid-tempo drums. With this bare production, the craftsmanship of the of the songwriting is upfront; these lyrics and melodies are really great. Fans of Spoon ( Girls Can Tell ), The Dandy Warhols ( Welcome To The Monkey House ), or Silversun Pickups ( Carnavas ) will find a lot to enjoy in this album. Recommended highlights for sampling: the lead single "Crystalised," "VCR," "Shelter," and the opening instrumental "Intro."

Good group and good album

Likely one of their best releases, arguably one of the more diverse. This is the music for sitting back with a drink in your hand and relaxing. If you have purchased the vinyl pressing you have a decent amount of time to listen before the album will require you to stand and flip the record. It comes with a sturdy jacket and a nicely made inner sleeve that will help you save costs on the inevitable replacements / safety precautions that arise with vinyl. There is nothing special in the pressing but it is, regardless, a well made product. The music is certainly esoteric, if you are looking to purchase Xx, you likely already know what you are getting and are making an attempt to support artists near and dear to you. That being said, if Xx is entirely new to you, a trip to Youtube or sampling through the Amazon menu will give you more information than a biased opinion can offer in regard to the quality of their offerings.

What else needs to be said about The XX's eponymous debut? Moody, minimalistic, a smooth mix of 90s R&B, 00s post-dub, and 80s new wave, this 2009 album quickly became one of my all-time favorites, and catapulted the trio of mallgoth-looking 20-somethings into the stratosphere. This review is specifically for the vinyl version. The packaging is as seemingly minimalistic as the music itself; blank white inner sleeve, an all-black album cover with the ubiquitous "X" cut out on both sides, enveloped by a heavy plastic sleeve. Inside lies the disc (it's got a bit of weight to it, I suspect 180g vinyl), and a poster of the album cover with liner notes and lyrics on the other side, as well as a download code for an MP3 copy. The bonus track, Hot Like Fire, can be found at the end of Side A. I have no issues with any of this. It's all in good shape and aesthetically pleasing. The disc sounds fantastic and is free of scratches. If you've never heard anything on vinyl, music sounds deliciously warm and inviting, and this record is no exception. It's unfortunate reading of these other recent reviews complaining about scratches, but I guess I lucked out. In any case, I expect that this will see plenty of play on the ol' turntable.

I first fell in love with "Intro," the first track on this album, with that stupid Apolo Ohno commercial during the Olympics for AT&T. I thought I was buying the album for ONE song (because I'm crazy like that), and then ended up being blown away by the rest of the CD. I was amazed by how good the whole thing actually is. I can listen to it over an over again and never get tired of it. The album is haunting in a way--particularly the female vocalist. The writing is decent, and I can't say enough about the music. Unfortunately, I'm not articulate enough to come up with cool ways to say it...just buy this album. It's awesome. I love the whole thing, but I think my two favorite songs on there are "Intro" and "Shelter." BUY IT! Tiffiny

This is a very interesting release, evocative of various sonic elements of the best alt bands you've heard before. Bands like Cocteau Twins, The Church, Interpol, The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen, Fujiya & Miyagi, etc., just to name a few. But there is a 'freshness' and originality to this understated yet sensual music that is undeniable, and that draws you in. This music is deja-vu and deja-new at the same time. I really dig the 'half sung, half spoken' vocals, which remind me of a lot of Steve Kilbey's stellar work with The Church. One of the best releases of 2009!

Absolutely love this record. The XX’s debut album sounds incredible on vinyl, really clean, spacious production that suits the format perfectly. My first copy arrived with a noticeable scratch across one side, but Amazon’s return process was incredibly smooth. I just dropped it off at an Amazon Fresh location and the replacement came the next day. The new one is flawless and plays perfectly. If you’re into beautifully minimal, atmospheric records, this one’s a must-have for the collection, and props to Amazon for making the exchange so quick and hassle-free.

Great album! Catchy as hell, great for intimate music or music to chill out to... Only thing tho, I almost only bought this album for the sick 8 min into but it seems to be shorter on the vinyl. Not enough of a bother to drop out a star because the album is still great but still worth noting.

Très bel album, agréable ! Et bon pressage

Non li conoscevo. Ho preso questo CD in quanto consigliato in ambito audiofilo per la buona qualità di registrazione e resa sonora. Confermo le qualità audio: il suono e molto pulito, la scena sonora è ben delineata e non manca una buona dinamica. Il genere mi è piaciuto molto: minimal, asciutto e rilassante con belle armonizzazioni delle due voci (maschile e femminile). Semplici ma ipnotizzanti la chitarra e la batteria

Me gusta lo que hace The XX, quise tener este Vinyl desde hace tiempo, suena impecable. Me gusta su funda troquelada. Llegó a tiempo, no fue bueno el embalaje sin embargo llegó en buen estado el disco, por suerte.