1001 Albums Generator
xx by The xx

xx

The xx

2009
3.34
Rating
29839
Votes
1
5%
2
17%
3
34%
4
30%
5
15%
Distribution
Genres: Pop, Rock Styles: Indie Rock, Downtempo, Dream Pop, Indie Pop, Alt Pop

Reviews (page 11 of 15)

I'm not sure how I missed this album. It was great. Just chill and really good. I would expect to hear this at a coffee shop or something. I'm sure others would recognize it, but as a first time listener, I enjoyed it.

I never really gave this album much time as I didn’t really care for the singles, but the album tracks are really quite good. Very downtempo and atmospheric.

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

### Lyrics: The lyrical content of "xx" is marked by its simplicity yet profound emotional depth. The themes primarily revolve around love, intimacy, and self-discovery. Tracks like "Heart Skipped a Beat" and "VCR" showcase the band's ability to convey complex emotions through concise, evocative lyrics. The intimacy of the lyrics draws listeners into the personal narratives woven throughout the album, creating a deeply immersive experience. ### Music: The musical landscape of "xx" is characterized by its atmospheric soundscapes, characterized by sparse instrumentation and haunting melodies. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim's intertwining vocals create an ethereal quality that is both mesmerizing and intimate. The minimalist approach to instrumentation, often consisting of little more than guitar, bass, and subtle electronic elements, allows the emotional resonance of the music to take center stage. ### Production: The production on "xx" is impeccably crafted, with Jamie xx's deft touch adding layers of depth and texture to each track. The album's sound is characterized by its crisp, clean production, which enhances the sense of intimacy and vulnerability conveyed through the music. Jamie xx's use of space and restraint in his production creates a sense of tension and anticipation that is palpable throughout the album, drawing listeners deeper into its hypnotic embrace. ### Themes: Thematically, "xx" explores the complexities of human relationships, particularly the dynamics of love and intimacy. The album delves into the various facets of these themes, from the exhilarating highs to the painful lows, with a raw honesty that resonates deeply with listeners. Tracks like "Islands" and "Infinity" capture the bittersweet nature of love and longing, while "Crystalised" and "Shelter" delve into the vulnerability and uncertainty inherent in intimate relationships. ### Influence: "xx" had a profound influence on the indie music landscape, inspiring a wave of artists to explore similar sonic territory. The album's minimalist aesthetic and emphasis on intimacy and emotional vulnerability helped pave the way for a new wave of introspective indie pop. Additionally, Jamie xx's production on the album showcased his talent as a visionary producer, foreshadowing his later success as a solo artist. ### Pros: 1. Intimate and evocative lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners. 2. Atmospheric and hypnotic music that draws listeners into its immersive world. 3. Impeccably crafted production that enhances the emotional resonance of the music. 4. Themes that explore the complexities of love, intimacy, and self-discovery with raw honesty. 5. Significant influence on the indie music landscape, inspiring a new wave of introspective indie pop. ### Cons: 1. Some listeners may find the album's minimalist approach to be overly subdued or lacking in variety. 2. The album's slow pace and understated energy may not appeal to those seeking more dynamic or upbeat music. 3. While the simplicity of the lyrics is part of the album's charm, some listeners may find them too simplistic or repetitive. In conclusion, "xx" is a landmark album that showcases The xx's talent for crafting intimate and emotionally resonant music. From its evocative lyrics to its atmospheric soundscapes and impeccable production, every aspect of the album is finely tuned to create a deeply immersive listening experience. While it may not be to everyone's taste, its influence on the indie music landscape is undeniable, cementing its status as a modern classic.

The kind of generic indie pop that hipsters couldn't get enough of in 2010 but that everyone else ignored. Its not awful but I can't understand how it ended up on this list.

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.

So boring that even the vocalists sounded bored.

good production and actual musicality but those voices man. so dull. ruin the vibe completely. they sound like they'd rather be somewhere else, telling a bored person at a party about how actually they think everyone's mind and spiritual wellbeing would benefit from doing acid

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

One of the most original sounds and albums of that decade. Excellent simple indie pop.

I really enjoyed this album, not sure if I have heard of them or if I have heard any of these songs. Good stuff, kind of ambient chilled out. I will definitely listen to this again.

Maybe another one that I'm overrating due to nostalgia but I still love the minimalist chilled vibe.

Short and sweet, an unusual but pleasant sound

I’m surprised that I like this one so much. It’s funky, fun, and melodic. Not earth shattering but good.

This album is just one long boring ass song. It felt like the song just never ended. Some singing, same music every track. Another album that just bewilders me with its presence on this list.

Couple of good songs.

I know this list is randomly generated, but I just had one of The xx's subsequent albums a few days ago. I liked it just fine, and I'm actually glad to have heard them so close together because I like this one even better. It's everything I liked about the first (their fourth) album minus a lot of the "electronica" that annoyed me at times. This was a great album.

Lush and atmospheric out of the gate. Ready to take this journey. “VCR” feels like it was made to be the soundtrack in a movie about new beginnings…ending the song on a minor note is chefs kiss. even when synths and keys come in they feel super natural in the mix. So many other artists I’m hearing in this but I don’t know who inspired who. Tycho, yeah yeah yeahs, Portugal the man, gotye, even lorde. Fantasy is really really cool. Like a reprieve. Really good album but there aren’t enough big moments, I feel like some more dynamics would have taken it to the next level. Very solid tho.

More dull Indie music. No wonder I was only buying Metal and blues in the 2000s. Well produced but boring. Sounds like the singers are falling asleep

Produkcija solidna, osim u 2 pjesme gdje su pretihi vokali (mozda stilisticki ali meni nije imalo poantu). Dosta repetitivno, osjecaj da se pjesme stapaju, bez prevelike raznolikosti. Fav song: Islands 4/10 = 2+

Wonderful debut

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

Me re copó! Muy buenos sonidos y melodías. Para profundizar.

70/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

out of all the music that has been captured and disseminated throughout history, I strongly disagree that THIS belongs amongst the 1001 albums that you have to hear in your lifetime. _mp

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.

Muy corto .. Pero un cinco que le doy.

This is one of those rare albums that gets better the longer it plays. Intro and VCR are the weakest songs, and at that point you might be wondering what all the fuss was about. By the mid-point of the album why it's so special is abundantly clear. Very few artists use space in such a way, and by letting each element (beats, bass, guitar and vocals primarily) stand out in crystal clarity each reinforces the others. Up there with the classic debuts of all time.

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

What a fantastic album! So cool. I loved 'Infinity'.

The record was decent but nothing to write home about. Not particularly sure how this landed on the list. The Intro was great but aside from that, the entirety of the rest of the album sounded like someone trying to continuously recreate Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" from memory, getting close at times but at others just going into a tangent and getting lost in the sauce.

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.

nice easy listen - ethereal indie dream pop/rock

x=Boring => xx = Boring*Boring

Best album.

Good, something fresh to hear

Never heard of The xx, but wow, I enjoyed this album so much…from the start, so atmospheric and easy to listen to…

I had never heard of this band or could I recall every hearing a song of theirs. This album was really enjoyable from start to finish. I will add them in to my rotation.

High School Garage Band

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

Lorenzo was right - this is just aight. Is there not 1000 better albums than this one?

Music made for moody montages in 2000s college dramas.

Love this album!

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.

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.

Such a strong opening to the album, reminds me of a lost love though.

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

One of the most perfect driving around the hills of Los Angeles at night albums ever. It's true

This must be one of the only albums where the intro track is more popular than any of the actual songs-and for good reason. There’s something just so great about the intro that I can’t even describe. Just a certain calming euphoric vibe. The rest of the album is pretty good early 2010s music (a couple years ahead of its time ig).

Good album.

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

I enjoyed this. I was on the fence between a 3 and a 4… but I’m feeling generous.

close to a 3? could i write poetry to this? n

Intro is such a good song, but nothing else even comes close

Don’t know that I’d listen over and over but I can imagine their music as part of an indie movie soundtrack or playing in the background of certain restaurants giving a specific kind of vibe to the piece or place.

Fucking love this album. It is beautiful and unique. Loved it when it came out, still love it today! The minimalistic sound is what i would imagine traveling in space feels!

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

already rated pre-group

The duets, which occurred in most of the songs, were emotionless and dragged. The female vocalist was great; the male vocalist was just dreary.

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

it was alright

Als former 2014 tumblr girl das album has been injected in my veins and has just been living there ever since und es wird eif ned schlechter egal wieviel mal ichs lose.

uuh ich kenn s intro? woher? aber ich kenns vo irgendwo. finds easy wellis kenn aber nöd soo geil? VCR isch ähnlich langsam und d gitarremelodie findi ehner nervig. sie singed etz wenigstens. finds uhuere lahm und afoch nöd spannend. Crystalised findi cooler, het chli energie und sie singed durenand dasch funny. drumbeat cool und so. find afoch die extrem troche indie gitarre chli ätzend mit de ziit. Islands fangt guet ah aber s wird denn nocher nöd spannender. Heart skipped a beat isch au wieder afoch e extrem langwiligs gitarreriff. uuuuufe und wieder aaaabe. holy shit isch das langwilig. ischlofmusig, musig zum anästhetika ersetze, musig zum sterbe. fantasy isch au sochli es nüt? bi shelter macht wenigstens mol de bass öpis spannends? isch da sirgendwie mega bahnbrechend gsi oder so? vlt het indie vorher nonig so tönt aber us jetziger sicht tönt alles afoch wie indie halt tönt aber langwiliger. basic space. more like basic ass albummmmmm mached öpissss infinity isch nomel s gliche afoch citarre und hall night time isch nöd spannender. stars foht au nomel so ah als wärs insane langwilig und denn bliibts so. vlt isch das no geil wennd en moody teen bisch? aber nai s isch eig nume seicht.

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

Not my thing....

Can hear so many other recent songs in their melodies

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

This feels of a piece with bands I love like Tycho and Alt-J. Will definitely be listening to this again!

I liked VCR. Kind of surprised that I never listened at release. Fine as moody background music, though I’ll probably never listen again.

Do Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim have the best singing voices ever? Nope. Does this album have the most sophisticated production? Nope! But that's part of its charm for me; it's all about the vibe and a certain moment in time. The XX will always have a special place in my heart for seeing me through the peak of my early 20s ennui and lack of direction.

I have never been bothered to listen to the xx. I hear their songs every now and then and Romy is quite popular in her own right but nothing makes me want to go and hear their discography. I feel this album just felt like that, a few songs I knew along with some pretty standard indie/dream-pop type songs. I love the sound they are going for I just don't think they execute it very well. Maybe it is because The xx are English that I hear their name more but I just can't get on board. Also you know there is a problem when the best and most popular song on the album is the instrumental intro, it is great but that doesn't excuse the rest of the album. Although because of the atmosphere I wouldn't be apposed to hearing it again I just think for where it sits compared to their competition I can only give it 2/5. Stand Out Songs: Intro Crystalised Islands

If you listened to this 3 times, you still wouldn’t find anything exciting enough to even lean forward for.

It didn't really grab my attention; I didn't even notice when it ended. Oh well...

Some say it's near trip hop, I say it's chillstep. And they know the way of chill. "Intro" is a song, that comes up in your dreams.

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

Not my vibe

Really like Intro and the first couple of songs are decent but falls off after that. Very boring Indie pop

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.

This was a refreshing album when it came out, though it does get a little boring. Still a fun listen.

An album that I thought was cool in high school because I was trying to be a hipster. Listening today.....so boring. Whispery vocals with minimalistic electronic instrumentation is the lamest and overdone thing in the indie scene today. Favorite Track: Intro

nostalgic and smooth

nicht mein Ding

Giving this one star for the nice, chill beats, but this is such a boring album. And once the vocals start, it somehow becomes even MORE boring. This album would almost be better with just the background beats. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: the opening track

Love this album, and had no idea it was so popular.

Nice mellow mellifluous soft house. Easy listening . mmm

Instantly forgettable

When I refreshed this page to see xx, it received a couple of black eyes for the band name and the album title, on paper a minimalist post-punk flex - with notes of Malevich from the cover art à la mode - but only marginally less gauche than Elon Musk’s branding. The Ex did your name better. So did Kiss. Another black eye after reading that they dismissed their keyboardist in shady circumstances evoked Argus after a pub brawl. But the record’s smart, distinctive, a record collector’s record perhaps, but it has heart and song-shapes that linger, and a dive bar smokiness that distinguishes it from the fragments of post-punk revival that I remember from their contemporaries. (Simon, consider this a probable spoiler for whenever Interpol inevitably skulk into our day.) Baby vomit - actual baby vomit - left me with only one playthrough, so I can’t say if these impressions will endure, but this was a pleasant surprise.

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

This album is SO front loaded. The first few tracks are subtle but driven. The atmosphere is laid back but doesnt feel empty (until later). The album really takes a dive in quality outside of the singles. Their sound and lyrics become so formulaic and don't challenge anything. If this was an EP of the singles it would be solid, but as an album it seriously suffers. A shame cus the singles are real fun.

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.

Manages to be mellow without being boring

I really liked these guys...never heard of them before!

mg fav'd 4

Vocals all sound the same after a while

Bedroom indie for your love and aftercare needs.

A pleasant enough listen.

Muy corto .. Pero un cinco que le doy.

I love this album. One of my faves for work background music.

Wake me up when the music starts.

I really liked this. The stripped down musicality and the dreamy vocals were just what I needed. Also dropping XX on International Women's Day - was that intentional or just a cool coincidence?

I'd never heard this before and had no idea what to expect. The songs seem simple yet effective, by which I mean that they don't seem to need lots of overdubs to create an atmosphere. But they didn't excite me on first listen. I think it's two stars for XX, because it didn't annoy me, but it didn't make me interested in hearing any more. The best song might have been Intro

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 thought this is ok, then I thought no its terrible, then I had a biscuit, then I fell asleep, then i woke and had another biscuit, then i thought what would happen if you gave a monkey a flamethrower, then the album finished and i was happy again.

I love the voices, the mood, sparse arrangements and general sound. When it's good, and it gets the vibe/beat right, it is amazing. My one complaint is that it gets a little samesy and there are many songs without a hook. Still very enjoyable.

Honestly think I'd rather listen to Autobahn again, this was just so plain.

Honestly super disappointed. I know it's supposed to be minimalist pop and it's the exact style they went for. But it just felt empty. Lacked a heart to it. The vocals were also bored of their own music. Intro prepared me for an interesting album but the rest of the tracks didn't follow the same intro.

Great opening track.

Obviously.

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

Nice to see these guys on here. Oddly enough, I think I've listened to (and own) an album from Jamie xx, but not sure if I've heard any of the group projects. This one is great alternative/indie style music. I really enjoy the alternating between male and female vocals. The opening track made me laugh though, it's one that has been co-opted by people making terrible inspirational videos. But still, that's a great song, and this is a pretty great album. Favorite tracks: Intro, Crystalised, Heart Skipped a Beat, Basic Space, Infinity. Album art: X. What am I supposed to say to that? They get half-credit only because it's half as many x's as it should be. 4/5

Hipster vibes

Love their sound!

Excelent!!!

Not terrible, but maybe a bit boring. I would call it a 2.5 if I could. Lowering to a 2.

Yeah this takes me back about 10 years ago…

This album is so good. Very chill but mesmerizing and memorable. Lots of feels when I listen to this one.

not very interesting

An amazing album which is so easy and lovely to listen to. Every song is great and that’s that!

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

Honestly kinda boring, the only songs that stood out to me were Fantasy, Shelter and Basic Space. Other than that, everything else was just background noise to me. 4/10.

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.

really boring and lack of interesting ideas. sort of feels like a rip off of cigarettes after sex. i enjoyed the atmospheric elements but that’s not enough to keep my interested or wanting to come back. drab indie pop garble-dy-gook

The grunge was real

“Alright guys for this album we’re going to be using our inside voices”

Surprise find. Had a few catchy tunes. 4/5

I find the xx to be fairly dull for the most part and this was no exception. 2.5/5

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

01) Intro - 10,0 02) VCR - 9,0 03) Crystalised - 9,0 04) Islands - 10,0 05) Heart Skipped a Beat - 8,5 06) Fantasy - 8,5 07) Shelter - 9,0 08) Basic Space - 9,5 09) Infinity - 9,0 10) Night Time - 8,5 11) Stars - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,10 (91/100) After Air, here's The XX. What a great two albums in a row. "Intro" is the best intro on any album ever! This album is a perfect summer soundtrack. I'm a big fan of Jamie XX's album "In Colour" which I presume is not even on this list... Shame, cause it's better than 95% of the list. "Loud Places" is such a gem!

Ascoltando un'altra volta questo album potrei morire molto presto... non il mio genere

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 didn't like this album all that much, it was super low volume, repetitive and overall flat music. It's not totally bad, but didn't have much highlights in general.

Fucking hipsters.

Fantastic album. Have listen to it 100 times before. Great reverb, soft sounds and a unique sound. Definitely their best album.

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.

This would only be useful for when I'm having a hard time falling asleep. Decent musicians, completely boring music.

har ikke tellinga på hvor mange ganger jeg har hørt på dette albumet, det har aget bra, men ikke så bra som jeg hadde håpet. Ganske ensformig i uttrykket men mye bangers og god sound.

A very chill listen. I really liked this album and the only reason I’m going to take away a star is that it can feel TOO slow sometimes, making it feel like there’s almost empty space in the music. Maybe it’s intentional, maybe it’s not, but if I’m in the mood for this, it’s a great listen.

Sounds like if Matt and Kim were British, and sad... So just British I guess.

Tough one to mark this, when it came out I really liked it. I still do but her voice grates on me now I'm older and cynical. I'll go 3.5

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.

very intresting

Listening to this album is truly a form of selfcare

I love a good atmospheric post punk/dream pop vibe, so I knew I was going to like this from the first track. It definitely leans more toward a synth/indie pop sound with the melodies and electronic aspects, but it’s got solid post punk guitar and bass lines and well done sparse arrangements. “Heart Skipped a Beat” could easily be a song from The Cure or New Order. There’s a lot on here that fans of Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, or even Feist and Lana Del Ray would find familiar and appealing. As much as I love the genre, there’s a tendency for it to feel formulaic after a while, so the dual vocalists were a nice surprise to keep things fresh. I’m kind of meh on the male vocalist’s sound—it’s not *bad*, but he’s nothing special—but I really like the woman’s voice. The interplay between them is cool. Even so, the album follows the formula of maintaining the "chillwave" theme throughout, so I could forgive someone for finding the album boring. Is this a revolutionary album that should be on an all-time, must-listen list? Ehh, not sure about that. It seems pretty typical of the genre to me. It's also not subtle about its influences. The song “Infinity” seems to be a direct interpolation of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” though they somehow got away with not giving him a writing credit. "Night Time" also borrows heavily from the soundscape of The Cure's "Seventeen Seconds" and "Faith" albums. Then again, I came to post punk very late—in the last year or so—and a lot of the bands I listen to are from the last decade, so maybe I’m under-appreciating the influence The xx had on the revival scene? Based on the streaming radio selections that came on after the album finished, their sound seems to fall firmly within the general sound of that era, so I'm not sure about that either. That said, is it a solid album that I’ll add to my regular rotation? Heck yes. 4/5

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.

Intro… has to be the best instrumental album opener ever - I can’t think of another. What a vibe that song creates, and it’s a brilliant decision to put that song at the beginning of the record. It’s one of my favorite instrumentals from a rock band ever. No, this isn’t music you’d listen to at the gym. You won’t listen to it while partying. You won’t hear these songs blaring at a football game. Yes, it fades easily to the background and it takes some effort to really pay attention to it. It sounds lazy. Sometimes it sounds sad but more often it sounds indifferent. It also sounds utterly unique and when you hear a song by The xx, especially from this album, you immediately recognize it as such if you’re familiar with them. This is why this album is great and why it belongs on this list. I will admit, my favorite song by far is the one in which they don’t sing. I also certainly wouldn’t want to listen to this every day. But I’m glad this album exists.

Absolutely loved this one! And shocked that I didn't know anything about, and that I had a completely wrong idea of what it was gonna be thinking it was more like Black Flag or the like. So many different touches of various genres but it still stays uniquely cohesive. His voice was a bit mopey but not irritatingly so, and their vocals do blend well together. Her voice was mesmerizing. Definitely will be revisiting this and the rest of there discography.

This duo are great for each other, composition and melodies are chill, been listening to em for ages. 3.5

Very mumble-pop, sparse, low energy music. This sort of reminded me of MBV a little bit, but without any talent or innovation. Every time I started to get into a track it would end,. then be followed by something dull and I would lose interest again rapidly. The intro was pretty cool and I found a longer version that I also enjoyed. I think the vocals were the deal breaker for me on the other tracks. I feel 2 stars is fair.

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

Honestly, the only reason I'm giving this album 2 stars instead of 1 is because it is very non-offensive and is fine to just play in the background. However, I feel it is extremely lifeless and has no edge or anything interesting to capture my attention. I can't imagine why it is on this list when there are dozens or even hundreds of post-hardcore or post-punk albums that are brilliant and are guaranteed to not be on the list.

have been listening to this album since 10th grade. Super catchy, waxing lyrics and lush instrumentation. A place of comfort.

Good album, but has that thing where every song sounds the same.

Una de las mejores cosas que dejó el indie de esa década

Never heard of this band before. Really like it

Really good chill out music.

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. 😉

Eerily beautiful

I mean its one of the most recognisable intros.

Great album, highschool me loved this shit

For when shoegaze is too stimulating... ❌❌

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

very pleasant minimalistic music, ended up listening to the album like 4 times again Significant 42/132 Liked 21/132 Added 6/132 YYY

💤 every song, the same as the last

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

Never heard of this band or any of these songs. I enjoyed this album; it was a pleasant surprise. Crystalised was my favorite song, added to my playlist. Overall pleasant album, 4.

Weird vocals and sparse arrangements. Not for me.

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

I remember thinking thier other album on this list needed a second chance at some point. This one does not deserve that. It's just cold, sterile, boring indie of which there is a abundance of in this world. Nowhere near being a must hear. That said, it's not 1 star bad but I thought about it.

Pretty good!

Nicht mein Stil

intro, crystalized, infinity

"xx" is the debut album by English indie pop band the xx. Indie pop, dream pop and indie rock are the genres listed and they all fit. The music was built by combining bandmember Jamie Smith's beats with Oliver Smith's bass and Romy Madley Croft's guitar parts. Smith was the album's producer. The other bandmember who would shortly leave was guitarist Baria Qureshi. Most songs are duets with Croft and Sim taking co-lead vocals with songs about love and love intimacy. The album had wide-spread critical acclaim and won the 2010 Mercury Prize. Commercially, it made it to #3 on the British charts and #15 on the US Indie Charts. The album begins appropriately with the instrumental "Intro." Slow guitar progression (not the last time), bass, synth in the background and double-tracked drums. There's also chanting. This sounds like trip hop. Xylophone keys open "VCR." Minimalist guitar progression (again). Romy Croft whispering, singing. They're watching movies on VCR's and talking about love. The guitar riff highlights "Crystallized." Romy and Sim are back and forth on vocals. An imagined romantic scenario: "You applied the pressure to have me crystallized." The guitar shines again on "Islands," mesmerizing and catchy. A synth bridge. Loyality and love. "Shelter" is stark with only Romy's vocals and guitar. A good deep cut. She's never felt this way with the lights off. The second single (there were four singles) "Basic Space" begins with a drum beat that sounds like horses' hoofs. An additional beat comes in. Sparse guitar and synth. One of the few times, Romy and Sim have vocal harmonies. This song has elements of both ambient and shoegaze. Slowdive came right to my mind. The closer "Stars" changes things up a bit with a deep bass and piano. Sim on lead vocals not messing around with intent here as he describes getting physical with someone on the first date and not worrying about the future. I got this album when it came out and liked it to some extent. It sounded great today and has aged well. The music is minimalist with sparse guitars and vocals. It's also simple and hypnotic. The emontional vocals display desire and longing. There's elements of ambient and shoegaze; something I didn't grab the first time around. An album worth going back to.

Lyssnade mycket när detta album kom. Men främst på några få låtar. Som sedan dess legat på en spellista jag haft. Gillar soundet.

Alltid gillat deras melankoliska och avskalade sound. Lite trist att Intro är bästa låten/beatet och att resten av skivan inte riktigt når den nivån, även om den är bra rakt igenom.

Não gostei desse, Mt parado, toda a música parece a mesma, e olha que eu gosto de album assim, adoro música ambiente, que eu acho que era a temática desse álbum, mas esse eu não gostei, não tinha elementos interessantes o suficiente, toda guitarra parecia a mesma, não tinha elementos eletrônicos que iam ir Mt bem com as músicas, a voz eh bem meh, bem padrão, não ouviria de novo, mas pode ser que alguém goste, esse alguém não sou eu.

Good vibe. Smooth. Background Jams

I've listened to this one before and still think the lyrics are so meh

The intro was reminiscent of a overly timid version of the instrumental post-rock I generally enjoy, but it sounded good enough. Things went downhill from there. Seen through the lens that this album was created by a couple of teenagers, it seems impressive. But outside of that lens, it's just incredibly boring. It's somewhere in between the tamest tracks of indie synth bands like The Naked And Famous with some veeery watered-down shoegaze elements scattered in. This album has a couple of ingredients that I really enjoy in music when used correctly. But here they're just watered down to the most boring concoction possible.

Enjoyed. Would listen again

Un disco para estar muy chill. No tiene un sonido clásico. No le encuentro un lugar en mi día.

Another record I already love, but trying to listen to it with new ears. Man, The xx sure can do a lot with very little.

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.

Ok, not great

Boooooring

It's a kind of minimal sound I like. Nice album.

I like to think I'm pretty open-minded and like to embrace new music. This is not particularly innovative or groundbreaking and although I normally like this kind of vibe it's insipid.

Never knew anything about this band or their album. I was surprised and enjoyed it. Will give it another listen for sure.

The intro was cool in an ambient way. The rest of the album blows. Hopefully this poor band was going through a phase and wasn’t actually as depressed as their music.

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.

Nice and new for me. A little allí the same

Solid. Nothing too memorable, but all pleasant.

I’ve liked Islands for a while now but didn’t know the rest of this album. Enjoyed the chill vibe, would listen to this again while working.

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.

Intro is so good. But I never return to the rest of the album because I remember it as a let down compared to that song. Being “forced” to revisit it, I found a lot to love. Like a 4.5, decided to round up.

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.

I love advertising

- not the most exciting thing to listen to but good for listening to on a rainy day inside - I like the bass and the singers voices they’re compatible - all of the song titles match the song vibes except fantasy that song title is gonna be Mariah’s forever

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

this album is honestly boring, and isnt amusing in any way. it feels plain all throughout and also doesnt have the greatest writing either, one example being on the song 'Shelter' on the first verse: "I find shelter in this way Under cover hideaway Can you hear when I say 'I have never felt this way'", it just seems very lackluster and that kind of writing is all over that track and album as a whole. there are also stuff on certain tracks that are just out of place like on track 5, Heart Skipped A Beat, I felt like the beat of the song and the singing just didnt click, it seemed so odd, and i didnt like it at all. I also am not a big fan of Romy or Oliver's voice, especially not over this production, i dont think it fits their voices. im rating this album a 1. my favorite song on here is Intro.

Love this album, pretty good vibes all around. I had heard like 75% of this album in various places already, and I still really enjoyed it again. Intro is a classic.

The songwriting on this album is really nothing special.

Too much noise

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

This album was a nice slow groove, but not my favorite. It was a little dry, but it does have its moments in the catchy choruses throughout the album. It just feels a little basic, musically and vocally, and would be something you could put on in the background.

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.

Es la ostia

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

HELL YES.

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

Love the intro, the rest of the album is kind of meh

Decent, chill vibes. Would probably listen again

Track 1: long intro Track 2: midi bells Track 3: some weird riffs Track 4: okay transition kinda sounds basic. Track 5: kinda a lofi song. Don’t like the claps that much. Track 6:okay song Track 7: kinda slow and not what I like Track 8: not that good Track 9: slow and kinda just fits that vibe Track 10: kinda upbeat but not my thing Track 11: it was okay not my favorite. Overall: 3.2/10. This kinda just sounded like stock music to me. I didn’t like it at all. Like there’s some good stuff but there’s also random things that I didn’t like at all.

The singing was hard to listen to and it felt like I was in urban outfitters

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

An exercise in minimalism. Really nice.

So smooth... i had never heard of this band before - love it!

At least they eschew autotune. Good production, breathy with space. But ultimately boring as sin. Couldn't wait for it to end.

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’.

Some decent stuff but overall pretty mid

It took me a couple of sit-downs to get through this album, and early on in my 1,001 albums journey is my least favorite. While some tracks hit well, such as Crystalized, it got super repetitive and boring musically and lyrically for my tastes. Standouts: Intro, Crystalized, Night Time

Enjoyable.

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

Who decided that this was an essential album? Nothing memorable at all, just tedious elevator music mumbling on for 40 minutes. Fair enough, Islands had a quite nice hook, but otherwise I couldn’t separate the songs.

loved the vibe. I have to give Fenton a little credit, one of these tracks was on a Fenton Faves a few years back

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.

Chris isaak I wanna fall in love the album

I really liked the vibe of the album! I loved the sound design; it felt so immersive. And I also liked how most of the songs were duets, which isn’t common enough in pop music. I will definitely be listening to more by the xx in the future!

these are just so calming, though mostly it makes me want to listen to the gorillaz cover of crystallized that i mainlined as a teenager and then promptly forgot about for ten years

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?

I had "intro" on my running playlist for forever and have heard it an infinite number of times, but was like, "did I ever listen to the rest of this record?" when I saw it. I have to assume the answer was "once, to realize I hated it, and then never again" until today.

I liked this well enough, might have to give their other albums a shot

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.

Nostalgic. Modern Classic. Iconic. Sparse instrumentation gives room for sounds to breathe in a surprisingly lush atmosphere. Have listened to the whole thing countless times to where memories and certain songs have become inseparable. Will never not love this album and even with some imperfections, still 5/5 for me

I feel like this album is meant to be heard when you're in a very specific mood. With that being said, if you are in that mood, this has gotta be top tier. I give it four stars. Loved: "Intro", "Crystalised" and "Infinity"

I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will be adding it to my rotation!

The beats have potential but the lyrics and singers give me the ick.

I loved this. Intro is such a beautiful opening. Minimal, atmospheric and instantly recognisable. It sets the tone perfectly. Crystalised is another standout. Simple, moody and completely addictive. There were a few songs on here that I had heard before but never realised were by The xx, which made it even more enjoyable. The stripped back production really works. It feels intimate and understated rather than empty. This is an album I will definitely come back to. It is calm, cool and quietly powerful. Favourite songs: Intro and Crystalised Least favourite: None that stood out negatively Album artwork: Simple and striking. Clean and instantly recognisable

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.

Surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Chill out synth tunes with solid vocals. Sexy, but not too sexy.

Wow! Loved this record! Listened to it twice. Will add to my collection.

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

Yawnnnnnnnnn

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 was surprised how much I liked this album!

Very electronic sounding and minimal

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.

A really chill simple minimalistic album I've already known before. It's kind of drowsy vibe is in a way it's kind of trippy and dreamy. Was really easy falling asleep to the gentle melodies. I understand why some people might not particularly enjoy this type of music and it's minimalism, but I personally really like it. Intro and Crystalized are the classics, but the rest is really nice as well. 9/10

I was just thinking about the place where I stepped out the tram like two years ago and started running with crystalised on full blast in my ears when this album showed up. Interesting coincidence... Oxenfree type vibe.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - 2009 was the best year for indie rock ever. This album is a perfect example. Such a unique, fully realized sound. This album is so chill and sexy. I still spin it regularly to this day.

some good bits, but overall pretty boring.

I enjoyed this album. The rhythms are light and breezy, but the lyrics give the songs an emotional punch. It's perfect coffee house pop.

7/10 Very chill, moody, atmospheric. Slight Of Monsters & Men notes. Really like the vibe, just not a vibe I'd want all the time. Really well made. Sprinkles of interesting percussion.

Didn’t really like :/

This might seem like a weird story, but I’m gonna put this in anyway. I first heard a song by The xx when I listened to a 2000s indie playlist on Apple Music. The song of choice? “Crystalised”. It was a pretty nice song, and I listened to it almost every time I listened to that playlist. I loved that song from the first moment I heard it. Now, we go to Thanksgiving of last year. I’m in an airport with my parents and bored out of my mind trying to wait for our flight. I hear a song that seems familiar to me. It’s almost like I’ve heard it before. I said to myself, “Is this ‘Heart Skipped A Beat’ by The xx?” I Shazammed the song before realizing I was right! I guess I’d heard the guitar riff or something somewhere else. This album was a phenomenal listen. I love how there’s interplay between the vocalists, and everything sounds so smooth yet minimalist. Will I listen to this again? 100% yes. 5/5 Fav: Heart Skipped a Beat, VCR Least Fav: I have none.

slowcore

first favorite album of 2024 :)

I did not care for this at all.

nice but a bit boring innit

This is the kind of stuff Spotify Radio wanted me to listen to back in high school. It pissed me off then and it pisses me off now. I guess it's good that I finally listened to it just to say that I've heard a Classic Album of early 2010s Tumblr but I did want to cheer when the album finally finished. Just boring boring boring. No second listen needed

Very milquetoast album, nothing that sounded bad but played it way too safe and didn’t do anything interesting.