xx

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.

A lot of music from this era (2009) doesn’t hold up - but this album is still amazing after all of these years. Love Jamie xx’s voice

This is very cool atmospheric album with a great vibe and seductive vocals. Really like it

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.

- the backing music to every gopro vid ever

I LOVE IT

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.

One of the bests albums.

one of my fav dream pop rock albums

Not bad. "Infinity" had a little "Wicked Game" feel too it. Might have been the guitar in the back.

Not bad. Not Great.

drcent

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.

Great album, amazing beats and vocals. All songs have a similar melancholic mood.

Nice indie dance!!!!

Pleasant, not amazing.

I know this album! The opening track 'Intro' is an all-time mood/vibe. I think I've heard a few other songs off of it but I couldn't name or recognize any of them off-hand. Seems like a great one to start this experience with. — Talk about a let-down. Was hoping for any tracks to match the energy of the opener and they were all so laid back and ambient. Decent final song on the album, but nothing comes close to the Intro.

Some songs repetitive, but overall solid melodies and vocals.

It's alright, kind of generic, decent downtempo easy listening, doesn't really stand out

Super chill. Giving me a modern goth vibe.

2-3 KOs Very chill very mellow. Consistent.

- Very stripped-back/minimalistic - Simple guitar lines which seem to take emphasis over the vocals, distracting from the driving force of the album - Unenthusiastic vocals (bored?) - Romy's vocals can be driving, but most of the time sounds disinterested - Romy and Oliver's vocals do complement each other (evident on 'Islands') - The synth towards the end of 'Islands' compliments the other instrumentation, which should've been used for the rest of the album, evident in 'Intro' which ironically is one of the standout tracks, when it should be setting up for the subsequent tracks - As background music, it partly fulfils its purpose, however, it lacks any driving emotion to make it worth paying particular attention to listen to - The drums and bass sound very mechanic, and the simple, repetitive beats leave much to be desired - 'Shelter' is definitely one of the best tracks, with its evident pop influence, which would have been nice to see shown a lot more throughout the album - The reverbed guitar on 'Shelter' is a tone which should have been utilised more, as it makes an easier listening experience, complimenting Romy's monotonous vocals much more than the dull guitar tone found in the majority of the tracks - Some replay value, however a lot of the tracks do blend, creating a forgettable listening experience - Oliver's vocals are uncommon but can be standout on the tracks he features on, again which would have been nice to see shown more - Good lyrical work, but it can only be praised when reading the lyrics separately, as the vocal work is not particularly standout - At points, I hadn't realised that a new track was playing, as many sounded very similar - The final track has some emotional impact at points, but the minimalistic design and bland vocals doesn't leave anything to be remembered - I looked up synonyms of 'dull', which is never a good sign when writing about an album, but I feel that that word summarises this album entirely, there is no particular standout track, and each track is comprised of simple guitar lines, with mechanical drums and bass, and a very monotonous vocal delivery. I feel like the album had the potential to achieve so much more, maybe if they lent into more of their pop influences, but this album falls flat, achieving no emotional impact. I would consider replaying this album as background music, but it would be difficult to replay it solely for its musical value.

Not my style

I had never heard of this album or group. This isn’t really my taste in music so I wouldn’t intentionally put this on but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again as background music. I did actually recognize one song, Intro, which is an instrumental that is a popular audio. Some songs that stood out to me a bit more were: Infinity, Crystalised, and Night Time. There were songs, however, that I really didn’t like, those were: Fantasy, and Basic Space. I don’t think I will give this album another listen.

This album would've sounded better if it was strictly instrumental. The two singers' voices are not pleasing to listen to at all.

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.

Didn't love it. Her voice affectations annoyed me, got tired of the album halfway through.

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

Duo de piba y pibe, cool, tranqui. Puedo vivir sin él

Unique sound. Good bass but not my type of singers.

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

Oh, this album brings back some memories! Haven’t listen to it in a while and found out I still like it. Super chill vibes!

I didn't think I was liking this one until I gradually realized that I did. Gentle and relaxing. Again, hard to decide how many stars

Solid background music, but otherwise forgettable.

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.

Nice

Fucking great!

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

Really enjoyed this.

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

Was surprised how much I liked this album. Very catch songs really enjoyed.

Blijft fijn album

Had this on while at work doing some sorting and tidying and it was a nice chilled listen. Quite enjoyed this, will look up further if I remember.

Not heard this album before! Instantly recognised ‘Intro’ - heard it a billion times on TV without knowing what or who it was. That opener made me sit up and take notice. I was pretty blown away by the album on first listen. Such a simple stripped back lazy style. The vocals just work together somehow, although I prefer her voice. At times they sound completely disinterested in each other, but the melancholy is just beautiful. At times I’m reminded of some of the dark melodies on some of The Cures albums. The prominence of that bass guitar. It’s a properly moody album and I love it. Another big reason to crack on with this 1,001 albums business :)

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

I didn’t hate it. Very chill. Not my style.

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

i don’t like their voices :/

6/10 Highlights: Crystalised Intro VCR Infinity

chill

Chill

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.

I have been a big fan of The XX since first hearing them. Love the mellow vibe of this album.

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

Was good reminded me of the cranberries

Loved it

Beautiful monogamous music. Bill considers this sexy Brit pop far removed from a band like Beach House. I saw them as more similar.

I think this album probably shines more considering the popular albums the time it came out.

Decent background music but not overall enjoyable.

Chill atmospheric music. Easy listening but honestly it's a little boring. The instrumentation doesn't sound as smooth as I'd like. You can hear every single strum of guitar and it doesn't feel very layered. I do like the duets vocals though. I feel like I remember liking this when it came out and there was a lot of hype around it but overall listening to it now I'm just waiting for it to be over so I can listen to something more interesting. Giving it 2 stars feels harsh but 3 stars seems like to many. I'd probably actually give it a 2.5.

This is the epitome of "vibe indie." Most songs sound vibey and moody. It kind of feels like the artist just discovered reverb effect on their amplifiers. So. Much. Reverb. Not necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed it. Its chill and vibey, but ultimately not the most engaging record. Save for it for a rainy day after your ex reaches out to you instagram.

Pretentious mediocre monotony.

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.

Kanker gay

wel oke instrumentaal gezien maar gewoon kankerboring en daarnaast zijn de stemmen slaapverwekkend

I am really unsure of how I feel about this album. When I first started listening to it I found that it was quite boring and monotonous. But after some time I could imagine listening to it over loud speakers on a long drive, It's athmospheric and more about the vibes I think. Definitley not like the usual stuff I listen to. Intro was probably the best one, I also liked Infinity. The instrumentals on the album do sound really nice at times. Maybe I'll enjoy it more after listening to it a couple of times but for now I'll give it 2/5.

So good...

A clear consize nostalgia melancholic vibe all throughout the album. But I don’t get why this album is so highly acclaimed.

Just ok

Album Nr. 5 Ein gutes Album. Leider ohne Höhepunkte und etwas wenig Kraft.

First album in my project. liked it. Easy to listen to. Both m/f singers have nice calming voices. Would listen again.

Fantastic!

Listened to it. Within minutes of the album ending I could not remember anything about it. Pointless.

Atmospheric and moody. Not ground breaking, but an enjoyable listen, nonetheless.

It was ok but not my jam

Not a fan

I only like the first take Intro. Music is a matter of taste.

I think this is my favourite low-fi, chill album. The songs just flow perfectly throughout the record, strengthen by smooth voices of both vocalists. But the real pleasure is the legendary now intro. There has been a time I could listen to it on a loop for few hours, just perfect combination of melancholy and anticipation. Great album, amazing band.

Tosi siistiä atmosfääristä indierockia. Parhaat: Heart Skipped a Beat

Lahm, man frau panhan

Felt like Home Depot commercial music to me

Booooooooorriiiinggggggggg

Ahhh yes, the greatest Intro of all the intros throughout the world of music. Beyond this gem the album gleams with simple, yet catchy and moving pop songs sung by male or female (or neither) vocals. It is a lesson in building momentum through tiny, almost unnoticed introduction of a new beat that crescendos into a final, gorgeous, pounding drum of emotion. 7/10

Smooth and melancholic

Uninspired. Uninteresting. Uninstall. Unsubscribed. Unga bunga.

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.

Very fitting that there’s a song on here called “Basic Space”. This whole album is full of that! There should have been another song called “Terrible Breathy Singing”.

I really like the musical theory and soft singing that is put into this. It sounds very good

Ich denke, London Grammar hat sich daran orientiert. Witzig, mir ist da ein Lied vor 5 Jahren eingefallen, das ähnlich klingt, aber nicht mehr die Band: Habe dann nachgeschaut und es war "The xx" ;)

I appreciate the simplicity across this album. Its minimal approach allows for...something to happen. What that something is, I'm not sure. This record is just pretty boring, and unfortunately a misdirection into diminishing returns after the killer, and iconic, first track.

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.

it was pretty chill and i really liked it a lot. Felt like being on a roadtrip during the early 2010’s

#67. This is movie credits music. The kind you don't mind leaving as soon as it comes on. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: Islands I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Nice expanded view on a great staple from the 90s

Always very much liked this album, it hits my indie-loving heart so good. Very chill and cool vibes, sparse arrangements, definitely sounds "of its era" (not a bad thing). The bass and vocals are so sexy -- it's on the list of albums for... ya know. 4 - will definitely listen again

This album was a real indie phenomenon when I was in college. On a critical re-listen, there are certainly some tracks that really didn't live up to the vibe created on the album. Still good though. 3.5/5

Ist und bleibt einfach eins der Top 100 Alben ever.

I must be a lonely middle class girl from the later 2000s

can’t believe that was a phase for me

-"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

excellent chill pop vibes.

Good chill Indy vibes

Blueprint for so many bands of the 2010s. Instrumentals and lyrics beautiful and mixing is great. The run of like 5 tracks at the start is exquisite. Best tracks: islands, shelter, crystallised

I recognized the song Crystalised but overall feels like something that would be playing in a coffee shop.

A couple bangers but that's kind of it

This one caught me by surprise! Very good album, but I had too less time to commit to another listen, excited to dive back in and check out their other works! The songs seem very intricately layered, and both vocals are great! 8 out of 10

Listening on the train heading home from APC in Ft Lauderdale. Heading home to a wife who doesn't seem to care that I'm heading home at all. Yet to be seen though. Album is perfect for this mood though.

i really enjoyed it. night vibes

Khruangbin if they weren't fun. I imagine with all the minimalism it was probably faster to write this album than some songs altogether. Honestly it's as if a high-school indie pop band had a lucky break.

another one where I'm really glad that I listened to it. I did not know the band before!

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

By stripping the production down to the bare necessities, The xx set a template for what Indie Pop would sound like in the decade after their first album came out. It’s simple drum beats, melancholy but melodic guitar lines, and personal lyrics about love and relationships delivered in unrefined voices with regional accents would all go on to be hallmarks of a sound that is still going strong to this day. There is a genuine argument to be made that this is one of the most important and influential albums of the 2000’s. By neglecting the spikier, more raucous elements of the earlier Indie scene and instead replacing them with electronica and sadness, xx by The xx allowed a movement that was running out of altitude a new gust of wind. The reason I’m doing my best to define the sound of xx is because, I really don’t remember 75% of the music to this album, and I’ve owned it for about 8 years. I remember the general vibe, and I remember how much both the press and a lot of my cool friends from Sixth Form raved about it, but I was never able to get past about track 4. I can see how this has affected a lot of music that I really love, but I have never seen it as anything more than a rough sketch that pointed the way for others. I’m tempted to give this a 3 because of it’s influence, but I know in my heart of hearts that it’s only a 2, so…

This is kind of my jam. I have listened to the XX often as they tend to come up when I let my player continue to play similar music as somethng else I have chosen. It's not really groundbreaking music, but I like it a lot.

Very memorable and atmospheric album. Enjoyed most of the tracks very much and will keep them on my list of hits.

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.

classic

Just okay

Rigged lights to this

In the wise words of Rupaul, meh. 🤷🏽

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

fun listen

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

I actually quite liked this.

Boring.

Unremarkable but it wasn't terrible. Never heard of the band before or any of the songs. I will not be revisiting

Didn't really know what to expect with this, and am pretty nonplussed. I know this band and album is somewhat well known, though after listening to it nothing on it is familiar to me. And it also seems touted for blending and borrowing from so many different styles of music, and to me it just kind of sounds simplistic and boring, which is probably why it has such wide appeal. It's fine enough.

Ok

54/100

If it were possible to wear out an mp3 from overplaying it, I would have worn out this album in college. “Intro” in particular is a song I would play on repeat. Amazing for a band to have such a unique, stylized sound and know exactly who they are right from the start. I said this about the xx album “I See You” and it’s true about this one too: None of these songs are club songs or dance songs but they borrow elements of that music. The songs sound like synth-pop tracks that have been refracted through a prism and beamed across a room. And in the process, half the information went missing. They’ve been reduced down to something much more minimal but they still have that feel. I never thought this before but doesn’t “Infinity” almost sound like a Roy Orbison song? Something about that strummed guitar chord has that dramatic country western sound. The difference of course is that even in the emotional climax, the xx sing in a hushed whisper when Orbison would have belted it. But I think there’s a shared musical DNA there. When you think about sexy music, you don't usually think about emotional vulnerability. But the xx infuse that tender, intimate feeling into every song. It makes the music feel very close and personal. Impeccable production and excellent songwriting. Great debut album and a great album overall.

This album was hyped for me before I heard it, with a lot of friends / internet messageboard people saying that it's an instant classic. Usually I don't deal with music getting overhyped well, I tend to feel some unwarranted and forced innate rebellion and have some bad reaction pre-loaded, like "well I'll have to see about that". This album didn't take very long for me to see it's greatness however. It's jam packed with good songs, it's super consistent, it's dynamic, it brings new ideas, and it's the definition of moody and cool. So much of the music has this sexy feel to it and some songs (like "Infinity") feel like a back and forth tease that repeats over and over. It feels like every other phrase on the record is some variation of "give it to you". In fact, I can't really think about this album without thinking about the sexual vibes it gives off. I don't think I'll ever get sick of this album. Easy 5/5 and probably inside of my top~20 albums of all time. How great is this album cover too? I love the simplicity.

The xx bring you into their world - mostly quiet and whispered thoughts and desires. Somewhat unique at the time, they allowed space and silence into their songs instead of overstuffing the production. Especially in the late 2000s, it's impressive that they created such a unique sound, really unlike anything else before it or at the time.

I mean... It's a modern classic. I love it and have loved it since I was 14. Great everything, no notes, no crumbs left

New to me and I like it! 4

Already know it

Se prête bien aux tectonics

se prête bien au train au petit matin

I feel like I've heard this before, but I'm not certain. This is a very good alt rock/emo album. It's hitting pretty good for a Friday afternoon. Low key and mellow beats coming out of this English band.

I knew this one was coming. In the past the "Intro" was all I really enjoyed. Okay let me give it another try! ....a few hours later... Um... it appears my opinion hasn't changed since 2009. Just a poor execution of some of my favorite musical elements... like soft delicate twee electro-pop... but 100% uninspired... which makes me 100% uninterested

After not thinking I knew this band, I recognized the "Intro" track right away as one that plays frequently on my Pandora channel. The rest I wasn't so familiar with, but I loved loved the mellow, dreamy vibe and dual vocals. This is an album I'd be very happy to keep listening to.

Another something new, and at its opening, I thought it sounded nice. It remained nice throughout, but maybe not all that remarkable for me.

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

I had no idea what this was when it popped up but I loved it from the jump. A nice and mellow vibe which suited me perfectly. Moody and kind of mellow without being dull. Good!

amazing

Solid lofi dark bliss

I remember when all my hip friends listened to this album. It's just too...inoffensive for me I guess? Not the biggest fan.

OH ITS ACTUALLY GOOD!!

Iconic indie album

Soft 5 but just dank

I always liked Intro and Crystalised. The rest of it is tolerable but forgettable. There’s not much to it.

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

So incredibly boring. My god. Not the worst thing I've listened to so far, but so boring and unnecessary. Should not be on this list.

Known Before: band, album Standouts: Islands, Heart Skipped A Beat, Basic Space 8

Known before: Some songs Standouts: 1. Intro Rating: 4.0

Known before: Band, some songs Standouts: 01. Intro 03. Crystalised 04. Islands 07. Shelter Rating: 7.5

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

One of the worst implementations of the guitar. I didn’t like it

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

Nice chill heartfelt music with satisfying use of bass.

Probably one of the few albums on this list that I've actually completely listened to beforehand. Makes it hard to rate. I would describe it as: Effortless, cool, indie, catchy - not flashy, minimalistic, mellow. Not really an album I would show off to friends or recommend because of its musical greatness, but an album that really scratches a specific itch. Like when you go for vanilla ice cream or just a plain cheeseburger instead of the fancier options. That being said, Intro and Crystalised are still bangers.

First half bops and the second half is a bit repetitive. Still good though!

It’s no king crimson..

Pretty good! It was rainy today and fit that vibe well.

Banger, really had me going

3 sterren wel Begin knalt goed, daarna wat minder

Great indie album I've listened to so many times before. Love the mellow vocalization and electonic hooks. Not perfect, it finishes weak, but good enough for a 5. Repeats: intro, vcr, crystallized, islands, basic space Skips: fantasy, shelter

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

2.5 not my fav and probably won’t listen again.

I was only aware of this album and band but not sure I have ever heard them before! It is a nice album and one I will probably revisit

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

This is one of those albums I didn’t know I knew. I don’t recall hearing the name “The XX” but listening to the album I kept thinking “oh I know this song too”. Maybe that’s one sign of its impact? It kind of permeated our culture in a subtle way.

Y'know, I don't need any more albums by them. But this one is pretty perfect.

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.

Loved it. Will look for more

Very monotonous album. Every song sounds very much same which makes the experience dreadful. Album itself is pretty much on the trend of 2009 sound where most of the songs sounds exactly same. I can not draw much positive from this album.

А вот здесь 2 первых песни -- 2 хита, но затем треки идут довольно блекло. Долго думал, но все-таки поставлю 5 -- в целом оставшиеся треки не катастрофа, просто норм. Но intro и crystalised -- 2 хитяры.

Enjoyed listening to this. Chill EDM with vocals 4

Mostly chill vibes for relaxed listening

Very chill vibes from the songs, but they're a little too repetitive and similar for my liking. Still a fun and good listen with talent behind it.

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

plena este disco si es joyita super entretenido de escuchar lqm a este disco la verdad la canción 4 joyita la 1 iconic la 7 bellisima pipipipi megustamucho

Sorry. I wanted to like it, but so dull. Found myself skipping through songs. Forced myself into listening thoroughly but still didn’t do it for me.

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

So incredibly dull: recognised the first song as soon as I clicked play on the album and god damn it was one of the most underwhelming records to ever listen to. It's just white girl ambient pondering life pop paired with tiktok business friendly promotional music for videos with only 15 likes. I'm just not a fan and even after reading the reviews am shocked at how highly people rate this.

Only had time to listen once, but this is one of the few albums I had already listened to many times and I already love it. 4.6/5

Intro is an all time great for me

ugh

Fucking love this album

1. intro - 1.5 2. vcr - 1 3. cryztalized - 1 4. izlandz - 1 5. heart zkipped a beat - 1 6. fantazy - 1 7. zhelter - 1.5 8. bazic zpace - 1 9. infinity - 1.5 10. night time - 1 11. ztarz - 1.5 11.

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

Tku taka bel indie glasba, ki je iz 2009, sam zdej je tak stil basicly indiev pop

This is more 2.6 than a 2, I enjoyed some songs. Best song - crystallised

Classic for us as teens

Chill but great

I am not super interested in whatever genre this album is portraying, so I don't think I will listen to this album a second time.

I never knew of this till I found it! Loved it~

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

Very subdued, and as such, it didn't grab me at first. In fact, it's never going to *grab* me -- it's just not catchy like that, but once you accept that it's a very laid back album, it grows on you. I'd like to give this a 3.5, but obviously can't. I've never had such a hard time deciding whether to round up or down (and I see from the global reviews, of 3.5, that everyone else is on the fence as well). Today, I'm going to round up to 4. On another day, I might round down to 3.

Mostly great

Intro and Crystallised are both songs I've heard of before and loved. I enjoyed listening to the rest of the album they come from, I really like the style of all the songs.

Very, very enjoyable listen. Honestly loved it, minimalistic and soothing as hell. The vocals made me float - paired with the crisp instrumentals made for a melancholic, quiet, relaxing album. Fav songs: basic space, crystalised, intro

Awww another big beautiful fave album of mine already. I don't even know which is my favourite because I love so many. Such a dreamy, sad, sleepy album - idk people say it's boring but I love it and I will always love it. Nostalgic and reminds me of being a teen.

Very repetitive, with little going on to encourage any attention so this one's a hard pass from me

Boring after the first song

Super good! Takes me back to high school. Nice vibe

This is the worst album in the history of music. Learn how to sing in tune.

Consistent, distinctive soundscape - breathy vocals; repetitive muted single note guitar riffs; drenched in reverb. Great chill/moody night driving and easy listening - relaxing. One nothing song in the middle but very strong and enjoyable overall.

Dreary overrated indie duo. Novelty soon wears off.

So many songs that i enjoyed the last decade on this album

Amazing and right at the correct time

So so

Meh

Essential Tracks: Intro (Playlist) Stars

I liked it a lot, it sounded very familiar but I don't know why. Beautiful vocals and atmosphere.

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

Incredibly boring.

Love Islands - one of the few songs I can play on a bass. The rest of the album is ok.

Do people actually get something out of this kind of thing? Maybe a good night’s sleep.

Didn’t listen to whole thing but it was a vibe

Didn't think I would like it at first but I really dig the minimalist sound in this album. I would give it a 3,5 not sure whether I should round to 3 or 4

nothing stood out but it wasn't bad

The famous Intro

Takes me back to being 14 - pretty sure the album is still on my iPod classic.

'Intro', the iconic intro track of this album is an amazing track that will and has been used for a lot of pop culture. This track in itselfs deserves a 5/5. This album is one helluva debut for their careers. Amazing record. 5/5

Surprisingly really good

I enjoyed this but didn't find there was anything really remarkable about it. Atmospheric vibes, almost like a blend of shoegaze and pop.

I've heard some of these songs before and while it does have a calm vibe, it didn't really resonate with me while I sat at my work desk today. I listened to it a couple of times through but ended up feeling bored most of the time. No doubt a talented band, just wasn't the right fit for me at this time.

Five seconds into this record, I was fully convinced that this was my cup of tea. Dreamy electronica mixed with warm guitar to create a mesmerizing, endearing minimalistic sound - and with vocals that blend with the instrumental rather than stand out, the result is a calm yet strong collection of music that can be suited for any setting and mood. The first four tracks are just phenomenal. The tight instrumental interplay of "Intro", the relaxing vibraphone & guitar melody of "VCR", the sudden guitar outburst of "Crystalised", and the rhythmic drumming of "Islands". "Fantasy" is also a great ambient cut, and "Basic Space" makes the most of the most simplistic of instrumentation. All in all, a great record that's probably going to grow on me more and more in time.

I loved this album when it came out. Going back to it, it’s still a lot of fun, and has a sound that has reverberated throughout the indie music world in the years since.

Liked it ig? Half ish. Intro is good.

First song right off the bat is very advert forward. This wasn't necessarily a bad album but I can see why all the tumblr kids back in the day loved this album. Didn't have much backbone to it though, it was just ok, nothing special. The sound of the vocals did get on my nerves after a while though, that breathy kind of indie voice just gets annoying.

Loved it, soft, polished

Not that big of a fan, I really liked infinity but overall it was just not my cup of tea

Could not wait for this album to end.

not bad, wasn't really a fan

Intro was nice, the rest was meh..

On paper, I should love the XX. Jamie XX is one of my favourite producers of recent times. I like Romy’s vocals. I like the idea of their music. I love some acts that do similar things, like Sault. But XX (album and artists) just flows around me. I’ve tried a few times to engage with, but I just can’t love it. It’s nice, I can’t fault it, or say it’s bad, it’s certainly not offensive … I just don’t feel the need to ever actively listen to it.

Not my vibe. Did not finish. Next.

Ihan kuunneltava

oli parempi mun muistois

Good 2000s stuff

Mellow. XXtra Mellow but catchy

8/10 Moody and atmospheric although the tracks can get a bit same-y Interesting choice of audio panning

i like the guitar riffs, the opening song is one i've heard plenty of times but never knew. it is super clam. loving it

Very relaxed, easy-going Morcheeba

Sounds calm and stripped down. Simple groove methods that actually work.

Forgettable.

Quiet and dull

meh

It is a real nice album for the genre. The alt electro-pop isn't my thing - but this is a good effort in that world and I believe that is worth...something

Very spacey vibes on this album. Mellow. Chill. The mix of vocalists were nicely weaved together throughout. I enjoyed the heavy use of bass guitar although there the music felt very simple. The pacing was a bit slow for me to rave about but it was a relaxing listen for sure.

Other than the first song and the song Infinity, the album was slow and boring.

This was a band that wasn’t on my radar when I did a previous list. I’ve been listening now for a year or two to them and and they are in my rotation. This is a really good record. They have a lot of cool sounds.

Great indie, does a lot with a little

Warm and nostalgic

i don't need to re-listen to the classics

Interesting. Like the intro.

It was ok

All the songs sound the same.

Weird mixing makes for a really unpleasant listen on headphones

As a lonely middle class girl from the mid 2000's, this SLAPS.

The fuck is x- Ah, it's that one... Okay, sounds lovely. Minimalistic in a good way, pleasant voices, so chill~ Me likey

I saw someone rate this album as incredibly uninspiring with Intro as the only good song. Insane how much I disagree with them. This was just art all the way through, maybe not the strongest 5 I've given (like Parklife) but I do think its much better than all of the 4s Ive given that I can remember Ive listened to Intro, Crystalised and Islands way too many times throughout the years and I will continue but perhaps add other songs from this album into the mix. I was introduced to The xx through reckfuls stream. Man I miss him so much

Pretty cool. This album had the song I have been looking for which is Intro. This song gets used as a transition between multiple shows on 104.5 and Alt Nation.

Mediocre

It was much more chill than I thought it would be, which I loved. Not extremely crazy about it. Would be great for coffee shop vibes.

Classic flannel era indie pop/rock, would’ve been interesting in its time, blends into the decade a bit now

Listened to this multiple times before. Still enjoy the low energy sounds

2.5

Kinda interesting but didn’t make me want to listen to more

I remember this one. Probably ended up on my end of year list that year. What I had forgotten is how non-dancey they sounded back then. It's got very little of the beats that they (and producer Jamie XX in particular) would be known for later. Minimalist, sometimes even quite lo-fi slowpop with some great atmospheric songs. I do kind of miss the beats. 8/10

Meh. I understand bands have “a sound” but every song in here was so similar it felt like one big song. Wasn’t bad, just kind of boring after a bit

4.0

I love the vibe here. Several songs are mood emulators and less full tracks and that does pull back from some otherwise great duo vocal space surf gloom.

Plunky-plunky, twangy-wangy, moanie-droney waste of time. Nice voices but why do that with them?

Svag trea

Intro still goes hard for the youtube football compliation

A brilliant album, so mellow and chilled it’s a cliché. Some crazy lyrics that still make sense and beautifully sang, these 2 have excellent voices. Some awesome dark bass for those with a good stereo. I like it a lot x

I have never been a fan of the xx. I feel like their music is for people who have never listened to an indie band before. The album is the same song, over and over. Clap machine. A little bit of inoffensive guitar noodling. Breathy guy & girl vocals. Formulaic and very dull.

This is a lot done with a little. A relaxed atmosphere of simple instrumentals and slow, intoxicated vocals make these tracks easy to interpret and appreciate. Perfect for porches and headphones with overcast skies and marijuana, watching folks and dogs walk by.

Soundtrack to a shitcanned teen romance movie

Basic and simple instrumentals that are catchy. Fantastic intro track. Gets more complex and louder the further into the album around track 3 and 4. The overlaying lyrics is a great touch.

Pretty good for ambient music. Nothing really grabbed me. Not bad, but not great.

Fine elevator music, not super captivating

Un côté sous Angus et Julia stone

2010 Mercury Prize winner. I listened once. And then I listened again (but I was interrupted halfway). I thought I would really enjoy it, given that they're meant to be similar to other bands I like, but I just thought it was... OK. Not amazing, but not too bad. 'Intro' was my favourite track and 'Crystalised' [sic] was alright -- but none of them, even those two, really stood out. On most albums here, even ones I don't like, I can say to one song, 'Oo, that was something pretty good despite all the mediocrity.' Not really the case here. 5/10.

Minimalist, moody, utterly beautiful. Like a serene feeling while drifting below the sea. Romy's breathy vocal grounds it firmly in the grim pop of the upcoming 2010s and it's rogue's gallery of dark goth inspired idols like Lorde, Lana and later Billie. The guitars are taken from the goth and post punk of the early 80s. It's The Cure, and Joy Division, but with more meditative melodies. The sound of your first serious relationship falling apart, and all of the quiet apocalypse that such an experience can render onto you. As for the songs independently, the first half of the album is near perfect, with my personal highlight being 'Islands'. 'Fantasy' acts as an interlude into side b, which gets off to a dreamy start with 'Shelter'. This song washed over me without much of an impression, but the album gets back on track with 'Basic Space', which starts off in a stilted way, but by the time the drums and guitar get going, the groove makes everything fall into place.

It was okay. I knew Intro already. Good music to put on in the background/easy listening.

Very interesting sound, but very little diversity across the album. Highlights include “Intro” and “Night Time”

Intro is an absolute classic track, rest of the album is good too but just pales in comparison to that opening

There is a little nostalgia factor but this is pretty bad. Singing is bad, songs are not that interesting. It’s kinda like 2012’s version of the chainsmokers

It was fine. Sleepy time music maybe except for the hit. The girls voice isn’t great

I can't say it's bad, but i def can't say it's good neither. The masterpiece of this album is the intro for a simple reason, no one is singing out of tune on it. The music itself is good, the lyrics talk to me but i've heard better talented whispering singers.

Great balance between mellowness and electronics. A lovely and nostalgic journey.

mid at best but helped me sleep