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Product Description
Review
The xx, like Burial’s William Bevan and Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden, studied at Elliott School in Putney, a pleasant south-west London suburb. But on the basis of this sleek debut this ice-cool quartet could surpass the achievements of their secondary school alumni.
Naming an album opener Intro prepares listeners for low expectations, so it's a great surprise when the track snakes in with a tightly coiled riff initially reminiscent of Casiokids' ace Fot I Hose. It doesn't turn into an immense house-echoing banger like the Norwegians’ tune, but when beats do arrive they're heavy enough for dubstep.
If Intro is a template for xx's simple, minimalist songs, VCR sets a precedent for winning vocal interplay between Romy Madley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim. With Jamie Smith's simple chiming production suggesting a nod to Brooklyn wonders Chairlift, Croft emotes breathily: “You used to have all the answers and you, you still have them, too.” Sim, meanwhile, sighs like a regretful Lou Reed.
A seemingly unlikely influence it may be, but amid the deep house beats of Island, the melody from Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down makes an appearance. Despite the incongruity, the motif evokes a sense of quiet triumph.
Fans of the midnight guitar in Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game will appreciate Infinity. While reverb-swollen chords drift by, Croft is hell-bent on mimicking Mazzy Star chanteuse Hope Sandoval in front of the microphone. And she succeeds beautifully.
Every song here is an enigmatic and moody blend of smoky crooning, nimble keyboard trickery and slippery treble-heavy riffs. Such self-awareness and focus is commendable given so few experienced bands, let alone newcomers, can manage it.
Yet xx’s consistency is also its sole undoing. The xx have perfected one formula but appear scared to develop any more, wary of branching into different tempos or styles. Fortunately this fault is not fatal – after all, many successful bands, from Oasis to AC/DC, have only ever had one killer idea.
Whether The xx plough on in the same noir direction of this debut or pursue new tangents, it must be hoped the Londoners are able to maintain their affecting hold on the listener whatever the stylistic surface. --Lou Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well I'm 51 and still appreciate all genres of modern music, and I really like this album. I first saw and heard The XX on 'Later with Jools Holland' and their atmospheric music just leapt out of the TV at me. Next day, after checking out more of their tracks on You Tube I bought the album. I really like this music for its innovative and fresh feel. Yes okay it's simple and laid back (brilliant music to relax by), but it's a completely new and different sound, and that's the genius of it. I hope their recent tour supporting Florence and The Machine gives them the extra exposure they richly deserve.
106 of 133 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Scatty and Gritz (the cubs) brought this one home
from school and have been playing nothing else over
the past week. They've dumped their hoodies (it was
red bandanas before that!) and reverted to basic black.
They also seem to be reading Schopenhauer again
- their Mother's influence not mine I hasten to add.
I seem to have found something to like in this music too.
The xx are a somewhat po-faced but very talented
little combo from South London. This debut collection
of 11 compositions is relentlessly and uncompromisingly
single-minded in its sustained intensity.
It's hard to imagine them sitting around together
drinking cider and watching Father Ted re-runs.
This is much more Jacques Brel and absinthe territory !
Seriousness becomes them.
The combined vocal contributions of Ms Croft and
Mr Sim create a charmingly laconic ambience.
There is a total absence of frenzy. In fact nothing
much happens throughout in the nicest possible way.
'Infinity' is a splendid composition. The closest
thing to a climax in the entire project.
The spirit of Hank Marvin might well be smiling in the wings.
'Night Time' is a marvelously morose little ditty
and for my money its starkly economical, pared-down,
minimalism is the album's gloomy highlight.
Jamie Smith's beats and Baria Qureshi's well-judged
keyboard interventions are entirely complementary to
the centrally positioned Croft/Sim double-act.
Concluding track 'Stars' made me remember acutely
what it was like to be young and intense and delirious
with dark and serious dreams.
Recommended.
from school and have been playing nothing else over
the past week. They've dumped their hoodies (it was
red bandanas before that!) and reverted to basic black.
They also seem to be reading Schopenhauer again
- their Mother's influence not mine I hasten to add.
I seem to have found something to like in this music too.
The xx are a somewhat po-faced but very talented
little combo from South London. This debut collection
of 11 compositions is relentlessly and uncompromisingly
single-minded in its sustained intensity.
It's hard to imagine them sitting around together
drinking cider and watching Father Ted re-runs.
This is much more Jacques Brel and absinthe territory !
Seriousness becomes them.
The combined vocal contributions of Ms Croft and
Mr Sim create a charmingly laconic ambience.
There is a total absence of frenzy. In fact nothing
much happens throughout in the nicest possible way.
'Infinity' is a splendid composition. The closest
thing to a climax in the entire project.
The spirit of Hank Marvin might well be smiling in the wings.
'Night Time' is a marvelously morose little ditty
and for my money its starkly economical, pared-down,
minimalism is the album's gloomy highlight.
Jamie Smith's beats and Baria Qureshi's well-judged
keyboard interventions are entirely complementary to
the centrally positioned Croft/Sim double-act.
Concluding track 'Stars' made me remember acutely
what it was like to be young and intense and delirious
with dark and serious dreams.
Recommended.
Format:Vinyl
This is the best vinyl I have ever purchased. Do not listen to anything that is under 5 star for this. I'm not the easiest person to please, and this I was extremely pleased with. Amazing sound quality and perfect condition when arrived, I highly recommend this band to anyone who likes chilled music. Best band of the 21st century!!!! LOVE THE XX!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
very good buy.good listening
exellent cd well worth listening to. wanted this cd for a long time now and im glad i finally purchased it. exellent value for money.
Published 3 months ago by broken
xx
This album is not for everyone, but for what it is, it's seriously good! It can't be denied that it's a unique sound with no immedialy thought of comparisons. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Pikers
Two good songs... but the rest are fillers
I was a bit disappointed by the album - maybe it's a grower but other than the two famous songs ("Intro" and "Islands"), there's not much to get excited about. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Shenzi reviewer
Easy on the ears
Ever since I heard 'Intro', I wanted to hear what The XX were capable of creating. The CD doesn't disappoint at all, and between 'Islands', 'Night Time' and 'Crystalised', this... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Aditya Mandrekar
XX by The XX
Well deserved winner of The Mercury Prize. This album is so refreshing, I can't stop listening to it. I want the tracks to go on and on.
Published 13 months ago by TedToToe
Even better on vinyl
One of my albums of the year, wonderful for all occasions. Great beats with some wonderfully laid back vocals. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sighatwiifit
Step by step review.
The XX right?
Underground following -> Word of Mouth -> Next big thing -> Mercury prize winner -> Massive Hype.
Why so popular? Read more
Underground following -> Word of Mouth -> Next big thing -> Mercury prize winner -> Massive Hype.
Why so popular? Read more
Published 15 months ago by N. Snow
Should be called The ZZZ
This album starts off beautifully: slow languid song, nicely played and sung. Then another comes along that sounds exactly the same. And then another. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr Bloke
really good
This is proper chilled out music, even my friends who listnt to dance music like it. The bass is brilliant and its nice in the car at a good sound level.
Published 15 months ago by joe blogs
They can't sing, they can't play, they look awful. They'll go a long...
It seems this album has divided opinion somewhat and I decided to see for myself. The vocals are pretty lame, the music is pretty simplistic, the music is driven by single notes,... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Verbal Kint
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