xx

Vocals are a bit strange and lacking, but the overall chill vibe of the record makes it captivating. Solid.

This ended up being a decent little listen. Didn’t blow my socks off, but I’m not mad at it

Alright here we go. And the 2009's Barista's Choice Album of the Year goes to.... The XX! From 2009 to 2015 I couldn't get an almond milk dirty chai without hearing this stuff. SUPER disaffected, well-made, minimalistic hipster music that will offend NOBODY. I liked this when it came out too, but by 2010 I was over it hard, it was wildly overplayed. The appeal of feeling "cool" without the burden of having an "actual edge" is so appealing that this album seemed to do gangbusters and I had enough quickly. I still never mind hearing this out in the wild but honestly this is the only time since 2009 that I've listened to this on purpose. When it comes to music like this I can count on encountering it enough times without needing to seek it out for myself. There's nothing in this album I need to return to, but I'll be damned if it's not tastefully done. These minimalistic arrangements allow the tone of each instrument to really get a moment. All the amp tones, snare sounds, breathy vox, it all gets its time in the moonlight. This plays like more of a vibey mood-setting record than anything. Songwriting-wise, this works in a vague "I'm feeling disconnected but not sure why" kind of narrative throughout. The strength in this is in its minimalism. We've all heard music about feeling a bit ambiguously alienated that tries too hard. Gigantic anthemic overtones blow out the drama to 11 and it feels like much too much. I get it you had a disagreement with your partner or your dad doesn't get you but calm down.. Well that's where XX come in clutch, got feelings to sort out and figure out what to do with? Want to feel deep but don't know why? They'll get you there.. real calmly. Let's land this plane nice & easy. It's a funny thing, out of all the cafes I heard this playing in, I never remembered hearing it in a bar.. best not to mix too many downers I suppose..

pleasant but a bit backgroundy

Not bad, but kinda washed out after a bit.

Didn’t realize that I knew half of these songs. Kind of replaceable late aughts indie pop. Not a bad listen, just very 2009.

Snore. I thought this would be a good album. The intro is great but I found it dreary. Her voice was good. He was dull.

I knew the XX from the radio and was pretty sure I didn't like them, but actually thought this was a really decent album

This music could be the soundtrack to a very good indie movie. It’s not earthshattering, and didn’t have a ton of energy to grab full attention. But it does set a very pleasant vibe! I’m not mad at spending some time with this. Kinda dreamy.

it was fine. Did not match the mood I was in though

3/5

My new favourite chill time album. Honestly the vibes here are unmatched! Favourite track: Night Time

6/10

I imagine the CD being blindfolded and placed against the wall. Ready..... Aim ..... FIRE!! Mickey Mouse": "Right, who's next, Coldplay?" Goofy "Say, wasn't dere (sic) last album ok." Mickey: "Ed Sheeran then?" Donald Duck "Mutter, mutter ..." The music is pleasant enough indie electonica, with a low key vibe, quasi deep lyrics and so-so vocals. Something doesn't quite work for me, but it's ok.

It's a staple album that I think many people know from the hits, myself included. Diving in while a lot of the sound stayed the same throughout the album i never got bored of it like similar albums I have listened to already. Female vocals are executed well, and the instrumental backing makes the song pleasurable for the ears. Basic space was a cool change-up in pacing compared to the songs that got us to this point.

Ibtemember really liking this when it came out. Not as much this time, but still good.

If anyone was stupid enough to read my reviews they would see a small number of recurring patterns, and this album falls in the "I wasn't expecting much, but it was better than I expected, although still not particularly good" pattern. It probably lies somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, I'm feeling generous so will give it 3.

A moody listen, could be nice in the right environment. Very minimalist

Pleasant but I did find it a bit same and, sorry to say, insipid.

Nice lil indie pop.

I really like the first song, but otherwise it’s pretty plain.

It was fine.

Tempted to go higher on this, I do think it’s very influential and I love its internal world, that very minimalist sound makes this an indie classic, and I love how Jamie xx in particular took that sound to make the much better In Color… much respect to this and I could go higher after more listens, it holds up better than I remembered. Plus that Intro track is sooo good

Cool sounds but I much prefer Jamie xx’s fun solo stuff. Kinda thought this was a bummer.

Hmm really loved this 1 at the time but have kinda come around to thinking it was boring and i do generally like romy and jamie’s solo stuff a lot more!

meh

too short but gucci damage

10 years ago I would have been really impressed by this but I think it was just kind of good.

3/5 Would listen to didn't have a fav song

A bit too mellow for me.

had high hopes from the intro but then it got a lot less interesting to me. very chill.

Good background music while troubleshooting and then rolling into some creative marketing brainstorming—pleasant enough, and it feels like it might keep growing on me.

Chill, but maybe a little flat

A decent vibey album. There are more than a few moments where it becomes too sparse in sound though. 3/5

Words that came to mind while listening to this album: melancholy, emo, minimalist, moody, tortured, sparse. It feels like the music that gets played in very hipster coffee shops and trendy, overpriced goth clothing stores. Which is not to say that I didn’t like it. The interplay of the male and female duet vocals is engaging, especially on Stars, Basic Space and VCR. The instruments are muted and create a sonic fabric, layered over each other in a way that washes over the listener. Cool ambient mood music to put on in the background. 3⭐️

I love the song islands. There are definitely other great songs, with nice guitar and rhythm but there are also songs where I kind don’t vibe with the forced angstiness of the voices and slightly basic lyrics

This is fine. Neutral background music. Expertly done, minimally challenging.

Pleasant enough, but why are we listening to it? 2.5.

This was a big deal when it was released. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

some cool stuff but really nothing special

Meh

you can tell that a ton of music producers heard this and went “ohhhhhh shit, we’ve gotta do this sound now”

Had some fun parts in it but not really into it at same time. It was ok but idk.

pretty good, a little dated at this point though

The intro song is amazing. The rest is hit or miss.

Ihanaa

So…! This album is good. However! The first song … originally named Intro… is, for me, a high that the other tracks don’t reach and a tease that the album doesn’t deliver on. It’s all crescendo and no pay off. Fantasy and infinity are both tracks I really liked but nothing culminated in anything, just as a lot of tracks promised to. All this being said… this is a new band I’d never heard before somehow. I like their vibe and they feel real. 6/10

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background A bit mellow for my tastes, but I will give it this...the music is constantly changing/evolving throughout a song. It's never dull, but it doesn't reach any high highs either. Enjoy the songs were the singer's voices blend.

I really enjoyed the groove of these songs. And having the two different vocals was very effective. It was quite meditative for me. I was surprised when it ended. I was expecting a song with finality: “Here’s the end.” You know? Enjoyable. Top tracks: “Islands,” “My Heart Skipped A Beat”

Still not swayed that these guys are any more than average. Probably a better album than the other one on this list but I feel a bit miffed they got two albums when there's plenty of great artists and albums who didn't get one. I'd prefer if only Romy Croft sang and I didn't have to hear Oliver Sim so much. Last time I compared them to Bastille and the 1975 but now I feel like comparing them to Matt and Kim or Of Monsters and Men - given the duet style they consistently employ. You could do a lot worse than this album, but you could do better too.

It was fine, the first song was the best one. Didn’t like the singing

can hear why i was obsessed with this as a teen, was a defining album of its moment but feels slightly uninspired now

Definitely understated. It's nice. Duets always a cool touch. Like the reverby guitar riffs (apparently just practice amp setting). Real lyrics, all about love. Mellower than I'm usually in the mood for.

Not too shabby

Had already listened to this album. Gave it a listen this morning on my morning commute, still the only 2 good songs are the intro and night time

Super mellow music. It's like Cowboy Junkies on quaaludes.

Obviously a very influential band who I remember being quite excited about at the time but never got to see live, so many bands have aped their sound and they are good but I didn’t get as excited listening to it again 15 years later

My kind of music. They lost me there for a bit somewhere in the middle and the occasional out-of-key lines irked me, but it's just so easy to listen to. Big The xx fan.

I remember this album being everywhere when i was in australia in 2010. I wouldn't say it was anything special but fond memories of a place and time. Plenty of recognisable songs

Nice ambient stuff, won’t make much of an impression but that seems to be the point.

Punchy flowing background tunes with an interesting blend of subtle vocals from both singers. Very airy, chill, soundscape on this one.

Super tranquil, peaceful listen. Calming.

Knew nothing of this group or album prior to listening, but immediately hearing "Intro" felt like an epiphany. I've heard that track so much across YouTube, social media, and in adverts that I honestly thought it was royalty-free music or something similar until now. The more you know... Now onto the rest of the album. "Less is more" is the theme here, as the sound production is minimalistic, yet very crisp. Touching on themes such as love, desire, and loss, everything feels and sounds intimate as a result of this combination. Intentional or not, some of the songs that feature both of the vocalists come off as romantic duets. However, I do think this style of production tends to result in the separate tracks bleeding into each other a bit. If you've heard one track with short guitar figures and clapping percussion, you've almost heard them all. This is a very 2009 album, pretty much smack dab in an era of budding indie pop acts. Not to say I completely hated this album, in fact I quite enjoy that era of indie pop/rock. This album hits a sort of ceiling midway through and doesn't strive to do much more than that.

How can it get anything higher than a 3? It just is just fine. That’s it. It’s pleasant to listen to - background music. It doesn’t have one song that sounds out. They don’t do anything that hasn’t been done. No song stands out on it; this, no singles.

I appreciate it, even though it's not really my style of music. Like it's trying to be melancholy yet not melancholy enough to be convincing. Just really underwhelmed me. I never felt any sustained feeling of emotion listening to it. Nor did I feel any enthusiasm anticipating the next song in queue.

Minimalist would be the best descriptor. Not bad, but any means, but you'd have to be an a definitely specific mood to enjoy it. I think if you were to put this on at a rave various items would be flying - wouldn't fit the bill at all. That said, at a laid-back party where the folks in attendance don't like jazz (Jazz = just an excuse to play the wrong notes.) I think it'd be good and possibly even attract a fair deal of attention. Never heard of the band before, but I AM going to look it up.

It was solid, very lo fi and atmospheric. Wasn’t exactly my style of music, but some seemingly cool lyrics on the project.

ai ai aiiii

Stripped down indie pop, not much to love here. I do like how extremely loud the bass is on this album. Other than that I can't say any of the tracks are memorable.

I like this one, a lot! Cool, chilled out synth pop(?) at its finest!

Really enjoyed this album and the first song makes you want to run through a wall. Great for getting ready to start football

Not my kind of music, but some good tracks, Dangerous and I See You.

This is a real chill album. Male/female duo vocals. Nothing that hasn't been done before. But there was an interesting minimalist approach to these songs that was kind of nice. I hope other xx albums are different than this. Because as good as this album was, the slow chill soft vocal vibe got tiresome. If not, than this band sucks.

Ok, calming. I recognized the intro.

It was better than I thought. Really calm, I enjoyed it

Mellow, silky, engaging. A very pleasant listen all the way through, if nothing stands out as particularly exciting or ear-grabbing.

Good atmospheric tunes. Nothing mind blowing but good none the less.

It's got that detached indie rock kind of thing going on, which hits my brain in a pleasant sort of way. Reminds me of TV on the Radio a bit.

I remember being obsessed with this album in 2013. It's still good, but not great.

Soft. Easy. Emotionless. Hoped for a few moments of lift that never came. Tuned it out after a while. Darn. I really wanted to like this album when it began.

Boring, as always. the intro hits different.

Pretty disappointing; I expected a lot since it's a post 2000 album and one that I'd heard good things about, but none of the songs really stood out and the whole album just kinda blended together into one mediocre indie song. The intro also sounded like the background music for a car commercial.

Would you look at that? It's my first album from 2009! This one's alright. It's far from my favorite album, but far from my least favorite as well. It's not the kind of thing I feel like listening to much at all, but I respect this album. It's quite well made. The sound is quite pleasant to listen to. The vocals and instrumentals are both big parts of this. Clearly the instrumentals stand out as one of the most popular songs from this album, "Intro," is an instrumental. The writing is solid. My problem is that is a bit repetitive and I can see why others would call this boring. I personally wouldn't call it boring to the extent that I've seen others call it, but it is a fairly slow album, so I can see where those people are coming from. However, I personally like this album, but I wouldn't really say that I love it. High 3/5.

I already knew Intro and Crystallized, so it was nice to give the rest of the album a chance. Not bad, but it's VERY background music-ish - in that I stopped paying attention a few songs in, and by the time I started listening again, it was nearly the end of the final song. After Crystallized every song pretty much blends together into one long song.

Very chill vibes. Sounded like if you blend Cigarettes After Sex and the Smiths. Enjoyable but all the songs sounded the same, and there were no particular standouts to me.

As inoffensive as it is inconsequential. 3/5

Fine, minimalist indie-electro-pop? Not much to it, though I did enjoy the vocals of both singers.

Hmmm... be curious if this is in my retro-post punk phase and I just missed it. Kinda missed me.

Too mellow for me.

Felt like I should’ve been smoking a cigarette looking out a rainy window to this

Yes, new and different at the time, and somewhat interesting, but the payoff mostly never arrives. The tasteful low-fi/DIY vibe is arty and self-contained but what seems approachable and thoughtful, then lands as non-ambitious to a fault and not as cool or avant garde as it wants to be. Guitar work is simple, though occasionally driving and engaging, also repetitive within and across tracks. The songs seem to build but then don’t arrive or resolve or get anywhere, the intersection of understatedness and anti-climax. One is very passingly intrigued but ultimately unmoved.

Oh man, I knew that intro from waaaaaay back but I didn’t know the context! The record was fine but too vibey for me, not enough rhythm. That style of “indie voice” hasn’t aged well I fear, found it grating after a while. Bit of a “don’t you want me” vibe with the 2 vocalists. Pretty good I guess.

Meh

Just needing to get this out of the way...but you will not believe this band whose album YOU MUST HEAR are English. Shocking, I know. No band had done lo-fi, boy-girl harmony slowcore like this before, unless you count Low, but they are not English so they don't count. This is music designed specifically to be featured on "Grey's Anatomy," so it was surprising to me only Islands had been on the show. Perhaps the producers of Grey's Anatomy did not know this group was English. There is nothing offensive here and there is nothing to get terribly excited about either. I struggle to determine why this album is in the book, as I just don't see anything special here. It's well-produced chill music with very little instrumentation and depressing lyrics. Coming off This Year's Model, the XX just don't demand my attention like that album did.

Nothing crazy. Loved the instrumentals, vocals were a bit off at time, almost wish it was a pure instrumental album.

yung lean and some girl talk-sing over a maximum of three instruments usually made by a computer

I've always love the Intro and hear it all over the place. The rest of the album was pretty good.

Pleasant, chill, but not essential. I like it but not for this list.

Not unpleasant, I like the simple bass lines running under it, and generally dig the vibe. Not really the type of vocal delivery I enjoy.

Almost a 4.

A couple of interesting songs which maybe enough to warrant checking out other albums, but this tends to become a bit background listening

Meh. was a fan in college. Don't know if my tastes have aged well enough to listen fairly.

How does an entire album get outdone by the instrumental single. Jamie’s solo stuff is way better

I liked the vocals and music. It was easy to listen to.

- very ambient - because of this a lot of the songs blend together, but it makes for an enjoyable indie listen - it's crazy how the intro for the album is the most popular song

The best shoegazing

ok, not my cup of tea

It’s okay — but after a while, the sound and lyrical substance blends together and feels very similar across the board. Basic Space is probably the highlight for me, but it’s not an album I would put on unless I would like moody background music somewhere.

Just like the other xx album on this list, it is oh so very cool.

It's minimalist, moody and intimate. Tracks feature spindly guitars and wispy vocals that give credence to the sparse soundscape. Unfortunately, that's most of what it has going for it and the record begins to feel like it's repeating the same ideas over and over again, insofar that it starts to go in one ear and out the other.

Special!

Decent Debut Album of Minimalist Pop

I've had this album in my collection for some time now, and I think I've got mixed views on it. I love its minimalist pop, but it's sparse sound is something I don't cry out to listen to terribly often. Perhaps it's a bit of its time and place. I don't think the xx ever had a long term future - the second album seemed more of the same and I'd lost interest by the third album.

Boring overall, but not terrible

Intresting

I'd just listened to tons of The xx a few days before getting I See You, and that was like, 9 albums ago, so I'm amused to be getting this album as well. Listened to it a lot in college, and I still love Intro, Crystalised, and Islands. You know that specific type of nostalgia that's kind of haunting and a little painful? This whole album makes me feel that way. I think I See You is better, which I gave a 4, so I'll give this a 3, but it's probably closer to 3.5.

Always had a soft spot for this album…

Destination "cooking montage"

Please do not operate heavy machinery while under the influence of this album. Very relaxing. Insomniac approved.

That's not my taste in musik. But ok.

I did not like this on release but really warmed up to it by now. Still very middle of the road since it's such a drag

Great chill album. Excellent for cooking dinner

xx is the debut album by the English indie pop band the xx, originally released in 2009. I've never heard of the xx prior to listening to this album today. The album cover immediately reminded me of that Arctic Monkeys/Doc Martens/2014 Tumblr aesthetic, so maybe I first saw it mentioned there long ago. The xx do a good job leaning into the ambient pop vibe on this record. The instrumentals are very minimal. They're mostly electronically composed and give off a darker feel. The vocals commonly feature male/female duets and are low volume and whispery, contributing to that darker feel. This album would be very cool to listen to driving through a city at night. The songwriting was ok, mainly dealing with drearier topics such as heartbreak. Overall the album was alright. Not normally my type of music, but not bad by any means.

Bit dreary, but ok

Laid back, sensual, draws u in

Very unique sound. Loved the stripped down rawness.

Good atmospheric album

I'm ambivalent about this. It's not bad, but it's nothing I haven't heard before even though I haven't heard it before. Reminds me of Whitest Boy Alive or early Chad VanGaalen.

Música re oscura, tranqui, con tintes de electrónica. Me gustó bastante, pero no es la gran cosa tampoco.

Ok. Bit dull

cool, muy tranquilo

If i need music to have really nice vanilla sex to i'll reach for khruangbin instead

The Spotify algorithm put on Beach House when this finished, which is basically the same except better.

Inte så pjåkigt.

Time hasn’t been immensely generous to this record for me, but in a cool August evening in 2012, it’s home

I've never heard of this band, but it was interesting to learn that I somewhat familiar with some of these songs. As a few of them have been used in commercials/pop-culture

Um album para se ouvir numa praia sozinho, por do sol pensando na vida. Calmo e reflexivo. Bonito. Mas nao achei marcante

very good. 3.5

the xx are a pretty good band but it remains extremely funny that they peaked on the first song on their first album

I love the vibe and the intro is classic but this is an album for going to sleep.

the xx created quite the beautiful enveloping atmosphere. there's a whimsical, dream-like feeling that lets the whole album flow very smoothly. the feminine vocals were particularly important in creating that vibe. while the album appeared to be memorable and enjoyable in the first few songs, it lost any initial excitement, and it's hard to differentiate the xx between all of the other indie bands from this time.

At first, I was kind of surprised to see this album pop up on this project. But then I reflected on it a little bit and it started to make more sense. Really, this album was at the forefront of the indie pop movement that began to pick up traction around this time, in the late 2000s. The atmospheric, dreamy, electronic qualities found here would go on to be incredibly popular devices within the genre as it rose more into the mainstream. The dynamic between the two vocalists (a male and a female, both sounding rather depressed, harmonizing and singing many of the songs in somewhat of a call and response) was also quite the draw for this album, and again would be another motif utilized heavily in this genre. I'm not saying The xx invented these styles, but they did them well, and got a lot of attention for the way that they did it on this album. A few years later, when indie rock REALLY took off, this album was still a staple for listeners. That said, this album makes for a nice listen, but I wasn't overly wowed by it then, and I'm still not wowed by it. Just a little too sleepy-dreamy all the way through for me to go from liking it to loving it.

I liked this one

Delicado y agradable

Delicate vocals, pleasing melodies, and interesting direction for some tracks. However, majority of the album didn’t go anywhere, and never really evolved beyond one sound.

was okay, not really my kind of music sounded like something an a weird tumbler playlist, ok for background noise 3/5

I’ve always really enjoyed this album and feel there aren’t any skips. It has a lot of exposure and can get played out but it’s for good reason there are classics on it.

2.5

Starts off very strong but loses it towards the end. Revives very strong drama GCSE memories which will always make this a fondly received album.

Indie rock, atmospheric, bit boring

Very chill album. Would be great for driving late at night or something idk I am not a vibe 😭 I think the blend of male and female voices worked quite well for me. The songs got a little repetitive, as they sometimes felt like they were building up to something that never came (😏) but it was still a very enjoyable album. The various instruments (mostly the xylophone in VCR) and different techniques kept the album interesting, but I think there definitely could have been more variance between the energy of the songs. Having the loudest song right off the bat is a choice, not sure if I like it. I enjoyed the solid bass line, I feel like it kept the album pretty cohesive, but maybe a little too cohesive lol. Heart Skipped A Beat baited me into thinking the energy was gonna shift up with a surprise drum beat but it ended up being nothing :/ Overall 3/5, I guess I would listen to some of the songs again but it was nothing special and there were some songs later in the album that I didn't really like (such as Fantasy!!! fuck dat). Favourites: Intro, Crystalised

It was OK!

Soothing melodies and voices Nothing extraordinary for me Very monotone like background music Similar in that sense to Play by Moby (my previous album) but didn’t grip me in the same way emotionally that play did

Another perfectly acceptable xx album that is totally fine and also too bland to get even the slightest bit excited about. I just don’t see what about these milquetoast records is supposed to be so vital you have to hear it before you die. They are in no way shape or form bad, they are pleasant enough, but I can’t hear anything in them that takes them beyond generic inoffensive indie pop.

Nice and mellow.

A bit repetitive and the singing is whiny. Some interesting ideas that were developed much better by Jamie XX in his solo electronica career.

I don’t get this album or the hype around it. I could barely hear the singers at times. Like mumble singing. The stripped down, quieter sound was interesting, but I mostly was just kind of…bored. I wish I liked it better but it just wasn’t for me. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for benefit of the doubt. Standout tracks: Intro, VCR, Basic Space, Stars

70/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

3.5/5. Much better than their other album on this list. Still really not for me, but I enjoyed parts of this.

Intro is obviously good in a car commercial kind of way. Islands and Heart Skipped a Beat are the next songs that grabbed my attention. It's very sparsely arranged stuff with some nice melodies and a mix of male and female vocals. Not all the songs do anything for me, but it's an easy listen.

first song is from commercials/online but cant pin down where. A bit slow but I actually like it. 3

some good ones, not a "listen front to back" type album for me though

Chill

Save for the first track, I recognize the album cover more than any of the tracks on the album. They're not bad songs, but they can tend to be dull, and feel ot their era, which just means I imagine this album will get worse with age, but at least I would call nothing on the record bad, just a bit dry, and could stand to vary itself a bit. There's cool moments such as that iconic intro or the overwhelming bass on Fantasy, but otherwise this feels like an album reaching for the critical acclaim, and judging from the reaction at the time, I'd say they got what they wanted. However, I've seen no one mention the xx since, and it has me wondering how many agree with my poorly aged sentiment. For now, its just okay. Light three.

My dog is rating this one: my mom put this on before we went to bed. It is dreamy soft music that put me right to sleep. I loved it but my mom thought it was boring. She said every song sounded the same. But she promised she’d play it for me every night. We compromised on the number of stars

Underwhelming. There was a fair bit of hype when it came out and I gave it a go then but didn’t really get it. Listening with fresh ears, I still don’t. It has some nice moments and overall a good vibe but it’s nothing I haven’t heard before or since really. Basic Space and Crystalised just about got me thinking 3 over 2 but it’s more of a 2.5 really.

dreamy

Jos he sais vaihteen välillä päälle, tykkäisin enemmän, mutta tiedän, että tarkoitus on pysyä hyvin mellow’na, ja se on minusta tässä tapauksessa vähän tylsää. Vivahde-eroja biiseissä on kyllä kiitettävästi. Liian esteettistä vain, kaipaan säröä, jota olis voitu tuoda mutta valittiin, ettei. Ei kuitenkaan kakkos-huono levy.

Tyylikkäästi toteutettu - valitettavasti. Hillitty "moderni saundi" ärsyttää, mutta melodisuus kompensoi riittävästi. Moneen kertaan kuultu Intro on helvetin hyvä.

Never quite reacted the heights of the first track during the remainder of the album, but still a good listen.

Good album.

Good songs to put on in a suite when you run out of ideas to play

Easy to listen to atmospheric pop, kind of lose interest half way through

already rated pre-group

The intro of this album is from something, I can't put my finger on it; a movie or video game.

it was alright

oke s intro hani schomal sehr gern sehr sanfti gitarre mitere schöne atmosphäre oke mitem dreamy vibe gönds gad wiiter, das chan ja auchli id hose ui sini stimm gfalltmer jz nöd so, er isst halbe s mikrophon?? jaa vlt isch das wieder es ähnlichs problem, ich han nüt dem ganze uszsetze, aber es ischmer alles chli z "müed" aber das liit sicher auchli ah minere müedigkeit bi fantasy zB find ich s geklimper am schluss uhuuere schön aber die vorherige 2 min wo de eint eifach chli öppis seit mached nüt mit mier kei ahnig au bi shelter find ich vor allem d reverb gitarre easy schön, de gsang stört mich fast scho basic space chli meh upbeat ok aber chli langwilig ahh ich weiss nöd, so vill potenzial, aber trz ischs ganze schlussendlich chli flach AU NIGHTTIME UND STARS FINDI MUSIKALISCH MEGA SCHÖN hmm ich schwanke zwüscheme 3 undeme 4i, die reverb gitarre laht mich so warm fühle aber iwie d execution als ganzes lied findi denn amigs doch chli langwilig iwie? ja chum machemer es sehr guets 3

Almost has a homemade feel to it. Barebones but charming.

This was a decent album by the xx. I prefer their second album over this one but I can see why this one is well liked. Their depth album and an interesting take on indie pop/electronic sounds. Overall it’s good but I wouldn’t revisit much of it. 6.1/10

Nice. Pleasant. But I didn't love it. Was ok as background music. Don't like the electronic sounds. Got boring after a few songs.

Meh.

Instantly forgettable

Originally introduced to me by one of our silent partners here. It's not bad (certainly not in the context of the early 2010's) but you can definitely hear the youth and inexperience. Sometimes that's a good thing, but the music here is so meagre (dare I say - samey) and the vocals so poor it sounds quite amateurish overall. Unlike e.g. Young Marble Giants I don't get the impression they are doing anything new, just doing *less*. The kind of record you would love if you personally knew the people involved, but to others it sounds like a school project. "Infinity" is pretty good though. Generous 3

Not bad, but nothing really interesting. Good background music. "Islands" and "Intro" were familiar but I'm not exactly sure where I heard either one. The whole album sounds like they set floating gently down a slow moving stream to music.

A pleasant enough listen.

Ein sehr ruhiges Album mit ähnlich klingenden Liedern, das insgesamt wie ein Konzept Album klingt. Die Songs sind wohltuend fast schon meditativ aufgenommen. Muss man öfters anhören.

I know I’ve heard that opener somewhere before! The rest didn’t last long but made for good working music

3.5

You, you still have all the answers And you, you still have them too And we, we live half in the day time And we, we live half at night Watch things on VCRs, with me and talk about big love I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing But you, you just know, you just do When I find myself by the sea, in another's company by the sea When I go out the pier, gonna dive and have no fear Because you, you just know, you just do Watch things on VCRs, with me and talk about big love I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing But you, you just know, you just do I dont hate it. But I also like the game Life Is Strange. This album reminds me of that - Of teenagers in the early 2000s not having all the answers and being inundated with nostalgia for a time they never knew. Still, the album isnt worth 5 or even 4 stars, its too "background" for a higher than average rating. 3/5

Good beats and melodies, but still kinda boring

Good but unremarkable. This came and went through the stream without comment. I only noticed it had ended after a couple of tracks had gone by. I played it louder a second time and it got better in that the cool/aloof delivery of the vocals was more clear but my overall assessment hasn't changed. XX is nice background sounds; basic space indeed.

Was surprised hearing how low-key and stripped back this album was from knowing how popular it was back in the day. I mean it's chill! No issues with it really. Nothing super exciting for me either. Fave track: Crystallised

I remembered loving this album when it came out. It was stylish and laid back and moody. It still is all of those things, but seems a little stuck in a time and place and all seems a little basic compared to what they've individually worked on since this project. I still like the songs, but its shine has been lost on me ever so slightly. Three and a half. Fave track: Islands

there's some great instrumentals here that create a nice ambiance, but the singing is minimalistic to the point that all the energy is removed. always feels like there's potential that doesn't go anywhere. almost gave it a 2 but the ambiance is good enough that people may like it in the background, plus Intro will be very familiar

I enjoyed this when it came out, but it really hasn't grown much on me since. The songs and performance are decent enough, but don't excite massively beyond that.

The first few tracks take me right back to my early 20s. I loved intro, crystalized and VCR. I think the second half of the album gets a bit dull though, which brings it down to a 3 for me.

Not bad, good to listen to while working. Slow paced and relaxed.

When this came out it sounded so unique and fresh, I consider this album a classic for that reason. But they released a better album later (I See You) and Jamie xx released a better solo album as well (In Colour). This doesn't hold up to time quite as well, but it is still very very good.

01 - clap/snap(?) has really good stereo, great atmosphere 02 - cool 03 - cool 04 - mix is weird, feels inside your head, kind of fw it though 05 - alternating vocals are cool - same weird back-left mix on the drums as track 4 06 - super atmospheric, sounds cool 07 - not bad, but way too long, would be better at ~2m30s 08 - ✅ very lowkey but this is probably my favourite so far 09 - cool 10 - cool 11 - really nice closer, fits the album well overall like a 7/10, chill project with some great atmosphere but nothing lifechanging

Good

buen sonido pero muy homogeneo

"The XX" created an unique sound that you identify directly when you hear it. Nothing I would like to listen on further albums. But anytime I pick this special one it works perfect for me as an album and I listen to it with pleasure. By the way: The first generated album from the list I actually own. 😉

I mean its one of the most recognisable intros.

A lot of style and moody music but never really delivers.

Albumnamn och omslag liknar det från Ed Sheeran fem år senare. Låter som något från en såndär Lofi Girl stream på YouTube. Ganska slätstruket, men inte heller dåligt. En svag 3 / 5

• Man kan nästan tro att det är ett Ed Sheeran album, antar att xx är dubbelt så bra som x • Andelen album vi haft med intron är rätt märkvärd, vet dock inte om nått annat intro har 616 miljoner lyssningar • Lite segt men inte helt dåligt • Inte dåligt men saknar lite oumph Betyg: I ett speciellt humör kanske det hade kunnat få en 4a, men inte nu => 3/5

Background electronic music. Nice and calming. Stand-out: Stars

intro, crystalized, infinity

Good vibe. Smooth. Background Jams

Not bad, not great. I knew a few of the songs but wasn't excited to listen to them when they came on and I recognized them. Decent background music at an otherwise lame cafe.

This indie pop record about love and loss knows how to let songs breathe. The parts are sparse and they make nice use of quietness and silence. The albums mixes electronic elements with simple basslines and reverb dripped guitar melodies. The dual female-male singers work really well and complement each other nicely, delivering emotional lyrics with a quiet shyness to it. This is a well-made record, but the songs just don’t hit me that hard. I enjoy listening while it’s on, but don’t find myself thinking about it later or feeling like I need to go back.

Solid. Nothing too memorable, but all pleasant.

Thought I would like this a bit more, but it didn’t quite do it for me. Very pleasant, and loved the overall instrumentation, but the vocals were a bit too mumbly for me. I can see where this would have been new and exciting in 2009. Suspect this is one you know quite well, Joe (and Maggie too, perhaps?). Would love a 3.5 option here.

Interesting choice. This band and this album are representative of this sort of sad, quiet indie rock that was popularizing itself at this time (see Daughter, Beach House, etc.). Good mood music, but not exactly something I’m eager to throw on and actively listen to. Some good grooves here, but nothing earth shattering.

Ich mag ja diese Art von Musik sehr gerne. Ein bisschen wie "The Jesus and the Mary Chain". Ein bisschen wie "The Cure" in den 80ern. Aber leider kam ich mit gutem Willen hier trotzdem nur auf 3,4 Punkte. Gerundet also 3.

Came out my senior year of high school, slapped then. Moderate slapper now

The songwriting on this album is really nothing special.

Dreamy, Mercury Prize winning, late 2000s electronic infused indie. Quite nice and atmospheric. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Intro Date listened: 01/02/24

Never heard of this band before to my recollection. It will be interesting to see if I actually recognize any of these songs. Nothing really grabbed me as my favorite style of music.

pretty good....probably a little ahead of their time I'm thinking.Doesn't sound like it was cut in 2009 to me

I enjoyed the minimalistic style of the music, as it seemed to really enhance the beats. But in the end I did not love this album.

Gut, aber nicht so emotional bindend wie es Mal gedacht war.

Okay

Pretty good but all the songs sound the same. They are downers

Other than a peripheral knowledge of the name of the band, I knew nothing else about them or their music until now. Described on Wikipedia as indie rock, pop and electronic, dream pop and electro rock, I thought going in that this was up my alley. The album started out promising, soon became repetitive and then towards the end became interesting again. I took the advice of a few reviews to listen to it again and wound up really liking it by the end of the second listen. In fact, I’ll probably give it a third “spin” just to verify that. In some ways it harkens back to some of the dream pop from the 80s that I liked, but definitely has a 2000s sensibility to it.

3 stars... English Indie Rock... from ~2009 Decent stuff, good background music

Pas mal oue

Decent, chill vibes. Would probably listen again

It’s fine but seems unnecessary to have two albums by this band in the first month. One isn’t noticeably different than the other. In a list of 1,001 - seems hard to justify including two by this band at the expense of so many others that didn’t even get one on the list. Is this band curating the list?

Innovative sound „Intro“ has become a classic Rest of the record quite monotonuous

Pretty good. Not really memorable, though I did enjoy the closing track. Also, it bothers me how it’s technically not a self-titled album due to the lack of a ‘The’.

Enjoyable.

Great for some chill background music. I enjoyed it for that, but it was really one note.

This band got 2 albums on this list? I don't understand this author. It's fine indie rock... but 2 from this band? Really??? I love my indie stuff but there are way better indie rock albums that could have been chosen..

I thought I had never heard this. Turns out I've just never stopped to learn the name of the artist behind 3 or 4 very ubiquitous songs of the past 15 years. I'm not sure where I stand on this one. I liked it, but I was bored by it. I think it's maybe a 3.

I used to really like this album a lot but it's been a while since I listened to and now I find it kind of... boring?

The first two songs were great, but the rest of the album kind of blended together for me.

it was a good album, not really my thing.

I kind of love that they said that they were a bunch of minimalist imposters since they were still learning their instruments when they recorded this album. On the face of it, it's preposterous that they got this kind of studio quality and promotion with a story like that, but I want to believe it's true. Musically, it's not my thing. I generally like it until the guy starts singing, then it loses me instantly.

Not bad, catchy moody pop music. A few stand out songs like the first one but overall avarage

Found it enjoyable, but underwhelming. Definitely meant for a certain mood and to be listened to with quiet activities. That said, I didn't hate it and intend to revisit it when I can give it the mood it requires. Middle ground rating for a seemingly middle ground album. 3/5

Liked this album, especially how chilled it was. I didn’t enjoy it to its fullest potential since I spent the majority of it not understanding my physics homework but overall ver my impressed with this album and the range of instruments that created the relaxed feel. 3/5

I did like listening to this album. Some songs were recognizable through their melody, even though I never deliberately listened to them. I enjoy having it in the background while reading, but it does not bring the sparkles while actively listening to it.

nice but a bit boring innit

jamie xx carries this whole album tbh. The production is the most interesting part of this record. While i liked a good chunk of tracks here, on most of them i felt the vocals had no energy, life or personality. However, it's salvaged by, again, great production, good melodies, and decent lyrics. intro is really good but I don't get the hype around it, it's still really good tho. VCR is a lovely earworm. Shelter has good atmosphere, but romy's vocals don't do anything for me, the melody isn't strong and the build-up doesn't lead anywhere satisfying in the end and just fades out without giving any resolution. Basic space is decent, again production is the most engaging part of the song. The reverbed drums and the bass line sounds great. The hook is decent as well. But overall it's just fine. The last 3 tracks are really strong imo. Infinity, the longest track on the album, has a nice groove and atmosphere. That synth line and perc hits post chorus sound great. Night time has a strong nocturnal feel, and the drop is undeniable with the synth line(?). Stars is fine, the song doesn't really progress anywhere strong, and again the build-up doesn't lead to any strong payoff. It does have a good vibe/atmosphere but it is not enough to carry a 4 min+ track. It's a light 3 for me.

The music is nice enough, at times boring and fit for the elevator genre. The singing is lifeless but I guess that's the intended style.

Prior to listening to this project, I was vaguely familiar with the XX through the individual work of Jamie XX, a beatmaker and producer. However, after listening to this project a few times through, there are several components that stand out. Firstly, it is minimalistic and creates an atmosphere I really enjoy. The instrumentation consists of a guitar, bass piano, drums, and some simple programming here and there. Furthermore, the tracks flow very well together and it is the perfect album to throw on if one is looking for a semi-melancholic project while relaxing or to play in the background.

Track Thoughts: Intro is an immediately recognizable beat that many could pinpoint. 8/10 VCR is a subtle track with a simple beat. Lowkey singing and nothing overwhelming. Easy to the ears. 6.5/10 Crystalized is the next track. Another near immediate recognizable song once the beat got going. More lowkey singing supports a haunting beat. Singing works in harmony to create an enjoyable song. 7.5/10 Islands is jumpy from the start in comparison to the other songs so far. The trend of lowkey singing continues with a continued focus on romance lyrics. 7/10 Heart Skips a Beat is easily one of the more vulnerable songs on the album, dealing with feelings after a breakup. The instrumentation provides a feeling of wanting more, and compliments the vibe/purpose of the song well. Easily my favorite so far. 9/10 with Fantasy, there wasn't much to this one. It was deep in sound but the quiet voices and limited production for the two minute runtime did not sell me. There is a chance I'll have to hear it again to appreciate it more. For first listen, 4.5/10. Shelter continues what I have established to be a minimalist album in all facets. It does however have a pickup moment about a minute in with the instrumentation that culminates in a few-second break before the lyrics come back. The track focuses on trying to right your wrongs, a message that is strongly passed on during this track's length. 8/10 Basic Space is a song about sex. Filled with many metaphors, this is a smart track lyrically that follows through with the minimalist, yet jumpy, background sounds. It works for this one. Not a standout, but certainly not bad. 7/10 Infinity is a song that is slow, beginning immediately with the guitar and the slow/soft lyrics. The song being about losing connection with someone fits the bill, and makes the music behind the lyrics fit the theme so well. There is hopelessness in the lyrics. Neither refuse to give up what they had and do not want to move on. Another good song here. 8/10 Night Time is the penultimate track and starts with a starry sort of instrumentation. It ties perfectly into the name of the song. This song is hauntingly beautiful. It deals with the struggle of expressing emotions and keeping some things from a significant other. Towards the end, the instrumentation is just beautiful. Maybe my favorite so far. Another 9/10 Stars is the final track and kicks off with a simple piano and guitar combo. It is once again a haunting melody that is accompanied by introspective lyrics about a new relationship. The lyrics revolve around forming a connection on an emotional level and being patient. 8.5/10 This was an enjoyable listen and I was impressed with the consistency of the album in its sound and thematic approach. While none of the songs blew me away, there were some that I may wind up going back to in the future like Night Time and Heart Skips a Beat. Top 3: Night Time, Heart Skips a Beat, Stars Overall Rating: 7.5/10, 3.5/5

Mopey enough album that's not really that special. Probably takes a few listens to get into. Pretty decent. The intro is quite recognisable tho.

Pleasant, not amazing.

2-3 KOs Very chill very mellow. Consistent.

Gear: Moondrop Variations Mische: atmosphärisch, aber klar definiert abgemischte Instrumentierung und Vocals. Überraschender Bass-Schub bei "Islands" und "Fantasy". Teils deutliches Kompressions-Rauschen (mit hochauflösenden IEMs) Mugge: auch abgesehen vom "Intro hörenswert. Ultra-popige Lyrics nicht ganz auf mich abgestimmt, deren einlullende und intime Performance passt für gewisse Stunden - für andere aber so gar nicht Wertung: 3/5

Pleasant enough to listen to but a bit too ethereal for me.

I like this, and there are several decent songs on it, but the vocals are weaker than the music.

I like the vibe of this album. Great melodic vocals.

Wasn't really feeling this one. Just felt like it was missing jams on the album. Oh well, on to the next.

A album that really is a complete piece of artistic expression. Each song blends into the next. Should be listened to start to finish. Has a great atmosphere to it with its minimalism.

It was fine, just mid for me personally. Honestly, a bit surprised it’s on the list, with the millions of albums that have been released

This is the second TwitterTwitter album in consecutive days from this project. This was ok, but not as good as “I See You” But it’s ok enough to get a three, but if half stars were allowed, 2.5

I remember this when it was first released. Minimalist clever songs. Mellow enough for a low 3

Not as bad as I thought, after reading many negative reviews about the album's blandness.

6/10 Highlights: Crystalised Intro VCR Infinity

I think I would enjoy having this on at a party or bar. Consistent style with some interesting songs. Probably wouldn’t listen to again, but enjoyed the first time.

Sympa mais un album avec toujours la même ambiance ça devient pesant a la fin.

Decent background music but not overall enjoyable.

Soothing Background Mellow

Unlike the previous xx album served to me here, this is the right xx album to recommend if one insists upon listening to The xx. I qualified my recommendation on the grounds xx is a bit of a one trick pony, and with time this album’s originality has faded into the background. Still nice to listen to, but not the phenomenon it once was.

Just ok

It was ok but not my jam

I tend to not love the indie rock from this era, but this is pretty nice. Very calm, very stripped down. A little dreamy, but not too slow.

This record kicks off with its best song, and that bar is never again met, let alone raised; I’d much rather listen to Jamie xx’s solo stuff.

-"melancholic songs feature minimalist arrangements built around Smith's beats and instrumental parts" -Férfi és női hang. -Hasonló, Joy Division, Radiohead -Jó háttérzenének. Legjobb számok: Intro, Islands 6/10

Good chill Indy vibes

A couple bangers but that's kind of it

I finally understand what my wife keeps going on about. I just wished it got a bit bigger than it did…….Nice anthemic feel but gets a bit boring. One track started sounding a little bit Chris Isaac which was nice. Feels like it’s building somewhere but never quite gets there. 3.1

A little bit familiar with this one. But it all mostly sounds the same - low key vibes. What does it say that my favorite is the instrumental “intro” track and none of the lethargic vocal tracks.

i mean it’s good but some of the songs are a little cringe, kinda funny that the best song is the intro

It was alright, nice to have some modern pop show up. Best part of the album was when Walking On a Dream came on after the album was over. 2.75/5

indie rock with soothing female vocals. very chill vibe. nothing wrong with this one.

54/100

I like the almost-symmetry in xx by The xx That's about all I have to say.

It was really good. This is a strong 3. It just is not that special. But it's good.

Known Before: Band/Album/Some songs Standouts: 1. Intro 3. Crystalised 4. Islands 6.5

Some solid songs, but a lot of the music sounded very similar.

Nice chill heartfelt music with satisfying use of bass.

It’s no king crimson..

3 sterren wel Begin knalt goed, daarna wat minder

Aside from “Intro” being played to death by the general population, I was quite surprised to find I rather enjoyed this album and not write it off as “landfill indie”

Good background... Very relaxed

The intro song I think is really good but really overplayed, and I am suffer from over saturation like Ambika mentioned.

Suffers from overexposure. Super hard to listen to with fresh ears, and doesn't feel significant in what it's doing to qualify for this list. Totally fine for the spa playlist, tho.

Mostly chill vibes for relaxed listening

Uno de los albumes mas chill que en nuevo siglo! relajante y nostalgico. Amando the XX. 3/5 por que se vuelve cansado pero no deja de tener canciones joyas

This album has an interesting vibe, but it’s very static throughout. More variety would be better.

I had listened to this one, it’s kind of suitable as background music.

I think it’s an ok album not to bad but some parts feel kind lazy

Dreary overrated indie duo. Novelty soon wears off.

So so

Essential Tracks: Intro (Playlist) Stars

Didn't know the band, but I know a good portion of the songs on the album. I will credit them for being direct influences on the creation of the Home Depot song. The intro song "Intro" has been used in so much Music, TV, Videos, and video games. It's a pretty chill/ok album altogether. Nothing crazy though. A solid 3/5