Reviews (page 4 of 15)
i honestly dont remember much...i need to do a relisten for lolla though
I remember working really hard to like this at the time.
Good
A millennial classic. If there's an album that defines an aughts era style onward it's this one. And it definitely holds up.
I love The XX, but this album is a little sleepy. I prefer all the remixes on the dance floor.
Watching them perform at Couchella last weekend really cemented their singular sound and quiet prowess. All three of them went on to have distinct, successful careers in different corners of electronic and dance music, and yet their chemistry created an intimate indie album that doesn’t have many parallels in terms of production.
feines album mit sanften tönen
Endlich wieder einmal ein Höhepunkt! Sauber gemachte minimalistische Musik die gefällt.
Yeah, this is good. A complete unknown to me. Some of the trip hop and electronic elements from the 90s that I am ever so fond of. The call-and-answer singing duo works well in most of these songs. The lyrical content is perhaps not venturing beyond the usual pop themes, but hey, it doesn't have to.
How to make an xx song: drums, guitar, and some mellow sleepy vocals
The sound of the 21st century was emerging in 2009 when this record came out. Minimalist arrangements, occasional joy division like riffs and an absence of song structure conventions - verse, bridge, middle 8 - gave way to urban mood and ‘vibe’. Not my cup of tea but interesting to identify the demos from the actual (still) laptop sounding final tracks!
solid album
Intro was amazing.... and then completely meh
Chill pop that leaks toward electronic. I enjoyed it.
Eh? Alright I guess
It's ok!!! The music was a lil..... slow and soft for me. ALso the intro song has been used in so many generic youtube videos its hard to not hear it as watchmojo music
First few songs were great, rest were kinda OK but droned on/blended into each other a bit
Just a great time. Blends together a bit towards the end but gives me very melancholy vibes
obrigada por salvar minha vida, 1001 albums
1. Intro - 11 All time FIFA banger. Just an instrumentally brilliant track with a filthy sound that builds into the drums flawlessly. 2. VCR - 10 Brilliant track. Lyrically it's good and vocally it's brilliant. The way the guitar is led in as well as underpins the whole track is superb. 3. Crystalised - 9 Instrumentals are absolutely brilliant and come and go from the track superbly to allow space for some amazing vocals. Excellent track. 4. Islands - 9 Another brilliant sounding track. Vocally very good, with lyrics that both contrast and compliment each other between the female and male vocals to near perfection. Solid track. 5. Heart Skipped A Beat - 7 Lyrics are very repetitive but the vocals sound fantastic and instrumentally it's just as strong a track as any of the others. 6. Fantasy - 3 Lyrically it makes no sense and it's a complete nothing-burger of a track. Not much to like or even cling onto in this track. 7. Shelter - 5 The pace feels painfully too slow in the first half of the track, almost to the point where it feels like the track is being restrained quite a bit before it finally opens up brilliantly in the second half. By then you're ready to move on to the next track. 8. Basic Space - 6 Male vocals on the opening verse have the same issue Shelter had. Still it's a better track and instrumentally it's very good. Lyrics are a bit empty of meaning though. 9. Infinity - 11 Lyrically great, instrumentally pleasant, this is the best track on the album outside of Intro. The way the vocals contrast and hold their notes while moving up and down in range is just sublime. 10. Night Time - 9 Slow burner. It's not that I don't like pop it's that I don't like bubble gum pop, and The XX have managed to produce an album that is an excellent pop vibe without the bubble gum bullshit a lot of artists regurgitate endlessly. It's made this album quite enjoyable. 11. Stars - 10 Superb vocals that work off each other so well. Breathtaking track. Music as art Average Rating: 8.18 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 4.09 Rounded Down: 4 Stars
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is interesting. I see wikipedia calls this indie pop or dream pop. That's a fair assessment I suppose. It has mostly airy vocals with reverb-drenched instrumentation. I enjoy this sort of music from time to time, so I would listen to this again.
ambiance sonore géniale, nostalgique, romantique, moderne, l'immersion c une réussite apres c'est pas du génie non plus niveau bla bla
Quiet and atmospheric, but generally too slow for my tastes. Probably a 2.5. I remember when this album was all the rage, but despite my love for 2010s indie music I also could t get that into it then.
Sounds like the kind of music a committee consisting of middle-aged men in salmon pink acrylic jumpers would come up with when asked to produce an album of "chilled indie". The Postal Service cover Young Marble Giants (two infinitely more brilliant bands who should have been on this list!).
Boring. Why did I "need" to listen to this before I died? Amateur instrumentalists and tuneless singing
This is a solid album overall. They set a distinct tone right away and carry it through the entire record. “Intro” is probably the best track, and opening with your strongest song does leave you chasing that high a bit, but the rest still holds up well. “Infinity” was another standout for me.
calmado, pajín. buenas líneas de guitarra.
🥱🥱😴😴😴💤
Had forgotten about this album. It was good to hear it again.
y buen álbum, demasiado chill, no fue tanto mi estilo
Very good album. Great vibes.
I'm sure I've heard the intro track on TV over the years, it might have been on something like MasterChef. As for the rest of the album, I'm convinced that Robert Dimery gave up after the first edition of the book and just started plumping for albums which had made some random, ostentatious indie YouTuber's year-end lists as how the fuck is this something you need to hear before you die? It's vapid, corporate, air-conditioned nothingness. About as exciting as receiving a tax bill in the post.
I mostly remember the XX because of their song in the Sin City trailer. The rest of the album is decent, much of the same, which is not to say a bad thing. Highlights: "Intro" and "Stars"
Beautiful
I just find this album very dull, I love Jamie XX and Romy's solo albums but this is just flat.
Pressing play teleported me to a teenager's room, making me feel nostalgic for a time and life I never experienced.... This album is good as background music; the songs blend into each other, creating a coherent, dreamy soundscape. Personally, I’ve never really got on with that sort of music, nie włączyłabym sobie tego sama z siebie, wrzuciłabym taką muze do wora "co-worker music" a wór do jeziora
Some good vibes here
Buen album tiene muchas canciones tranquilas pero con un sonido peculiar e interesante
Bro this was so boring - I was not engaged and I was not pleased and I did not dance even a little bit
Pretty much was what artists were gonna sound like in that scene for the next few years but it’s not like it’s particularly special
The only half-decent track on the album is the intro track... which should tell you how dull this album is. It definitely carried the scene forward, but the amount of ambience doesn't do it any favours.
Dreamy, minimalist, not terrible indie from a weird time in music. Some truly lovely songs but hard to digest over the course of 40 mins or so. I quite like The xx if I’m being honest. Only on occasion. This album is good in its oeuvre. Didn’t skip any tracks either.
not for me
Enjoyable and great background noise for when I need to lock in for work
Such a good album!
repetitive
I'd like to think the opening track inspired Tycho. Its a very light and airy album that doesn't take up a lot of space. You can put it on, and just do things without having to worry about being deeply introspective of the album, the lyrics, the riffs, or anything else. It just exists in a way that a lot of other music can not.
Had the same problem as my first listen, in theory i should love this because its so dreamy and groovy but for me there are a few too many minimalistic, almost purely vocal songs, not a total bad thing but just not for me in this instance. The standouts were great though, being Crystallised and Islands.
That was okay, really enjoyable at times, but nothing unforgettable.
I've already forgotten it.
finally something modern, somewhat. why does it still sound more emo though like the previous ones. at least i can hear the guitar more clearly. halloween music lol. i liked islands and heart skipped a beat.
Really liked this album. Really meditative for me. Always enjoy music with some electronics whispery aspects.
Un poco monótono, aunque tiene sus momentos
One of my favorite albums
It sounds as though they’re as bored by their music as I am.
ambient, spacey, moody, new-wayey. I dig it as much now as I did when it came out.
it has a place but on the dull end of the spectrum
I’d never heard of this band before today. I rather enjoyed it. Kind of dark and brooding.
Like pretty much everything else from this time period, this was fine but thoroughly forgettable. 3/5 Highlights: Intro VCR Shelter
Intro and Crystallised and that's about it.
Good
Blended really well, but at times that was its weaknesses; The songs were too in tune with one another it could be hard to tell when one began and one ended
Superb indie album from start to finish. Loved it when it first came out and continue to love it today
Really loved listening to Crystalised and Islands. Great album to follow Justice.
Took my Brest away
At first their voices were so monotone, that it grated on me. But as the album progressed, I warmed to their harmonising. One to revisit.
I really like this album - looping electro tracks, interesting vocals, plinky musical themes.
Intro was the highlight, but the rest was ok. I'm not 100% sold on the vocals, but this would be decent background music
Another perfectly fine album that is completely forgettable.
Открытие. Прослушал 3 раза. Непонятно почему это назвали попом.
23/03/2026 1. intro - not massive on this immediately... wouldn't listen again 2. vcr - don't like the intro... bass is alright i guess? singing is a bit cursive. not a fan. lyrics aren't my thing either. 3. crystalised - vocals are still absolutely not for me. bit grating. very breathy. beat drop is alright? what do these lyrics even mean. 4. islands - like the bass at the start. don't like anything else. 5. heart skipped a beat - guitar and synth is quite nice in the instrumentals. *5. fantasy - really love the bass about 1:30 in... still don't like the vocals, but the instrumental is nice :) 7. shelter - nothing to say. just not my thing :/ 8. basic space - this is primark music to me... peak advert music. 9. infinity - like the guitar and bass at the start, just reaaalllly don't like the vocals. not even halfway through this song jesus.... like how loud it got near the end. 10. night time - nothing to say again. wish this was the last tune. 11. stars - bass at the start is nice. nothing else though! so glad this is over!! never heard of this band or album before so went into it blind... did not enjoy this at all... one of the most boring, corporate albums i have had the misfortune of listening to!!! will NOT be listening again <3
I am not a fan of this genre, so this missed the mark for me.
*2009. Indie English. *I wasn't familiar with these guys until On Hold came out in 2017. I thought they were fine, not great. *I enjoyed this more than I though I would, but toward the end, I was getting a little fatigued (even though it's only a 39 minute album). *It's a little bit of a moody downer, but most of the songs were short (4 under 3 mins) and pretty listenable. *I wouldn't revisit, but would be totally fine it someone had this on. RATING - 6.5/10
I liked it.
I really like this!!!!!! 4.5
Moderni klasika
Meh. Did nothing for me. It’s fine. Can’t imagine going back to it.
I was very bored with this one. Intro track mislead me.
Difficult to rate, I think on revisiting I will enjoy it more, it still sounds a bit too poppy (idk why) to me. I do not get why some of the songs are so popular in comparison to others, interesting album. 1. Infinity 2. Stars 3. Crystalized
Mid
A lot to like here. Smooth, minimal lyrics and a solid flow. Can feel the influence from bands like The Cure, here. Atmospheric, but also rather plain. I don't think this one will stick with me, but I might give it a revisit in the future.
Hell of a debut and nostalgic as can be.
An indie album that this pop girlie completely fell for. The xx proved that less could be more. Instead of chasing huge choruses or flashy production, it built tension through quiet moments, sparse instrumentation, and whispered conversations between its two vocalists. Islands is the quietest banger I’ve ever heard. It’s remarkable how modern it still sounds—I can’t believe it’s already been 17 years. Listening to it instantly transports me back to cégep, when this was the soundtrack to trying to be effortlessly cool while still being incredibly accessible. I wish I could have experienced these songs at a festival. There’s something magical about the idea of standing in a sea of people while the music somehow makes everything feel intensely personal—as if the crowd disappears and you’re left alone with your thoughts.
Shelter stood out. Very mellow, easy listening pop. 3/5
This was pretty cool. I didn't love it, but if I heard it some more that could change. i like the sound.
This was an easy listen. Pleasant enough. One song had the exact guitar tone of Chris Isaac’s wicked game. This wasn’t bad at alll.
This is ok
not really my genre but i actually kind of enjoyed it as background music
I loved the travel vibes of the album, but it can get quite repetitive.
good background music
Good, but basic
nostalgia factor, but not enough to stick for me
Tätä oon kuunnellu joskus ennenkin, muistin ehkä paremmaksi. Ihan kivaa, rentoa, tasaista. Ei suuresti herätä mitään tunteita suuntaan tai toiseen - tykkään kyllä mutta ei mikään ihmeellinen. Aika tällaista tasapaksua ja maalailevaa.
goated intro, el resto no esta mal pero nothing exciting
Loved 'crystalised'.
It's wild to me that this is rated so much higher than their third album. This album feels like a prototype. I really like this style of indie dreampop whatever but this whole album is a little too bland, a little too sparse, and a little too samey. Not every electronic band has to be maximalist or fun, but give me a little more to work with. I'm probably going with a 3? I'm tempted to rate it lower just because I think I See You is a much better album and the differences between the two really highlight what I find frustrating about this album. And I like The XX but honestly I don't know if they rate inclusion on this list, especially not twice.
this is fine but does not feel fully formed, would be way more interested in hearing a later album of theirs. not sure why this is on the list honestly
Good
interesting
pulga de bunda
Helt okej, vissa trevliga att lyssna på andra inte. Vissa var lite tråkiga, andra inte. Tyckte sången var lite jobbig att lyssna på ibland 🫣 Tyckte också att introt var bättre än många av låtarna 🫣 Islands och fantasy var najs 4,5/10
5/5!!
Genialidad para todos los estados de ánimo y momentos que podás experimentar. De los mejores álbums debut de la historia.
It was nice to have on in the background while I’m working, other than that this Album left no lasting impression on me, other than recognising the opening track as it’s been used in countless British TV dramas. 2.5/5 - boring
Sinceramente, achei o álbum bem chato. No começo, com a intro, até pensei que ia gostar, mas a cada música ele foi ficando mais cansativo. As vozes dos cantores são muito monótonas e acabam deixando tudo meio sonolento, e as letras também não me prenderam. Dou crédito apenas às melodias, que em alguns momentos são boas, mas no geral é um álbum que eu não ouviria de novo. (Única música que gostei foi a primeira pq não tem cantor só instrumental)
I like this band, and this album, just fine. I just find both of them very unremarkable.
Refreshing find.
I feel like there's a lot of potential here but it's lacking that something extra, which is probably energy. The atmospheric sound is interesting but at times it feels like they played a wrong note or didn't hold one for long enough. At the end of the day, it's fine I guess.
Great sound actually. Only knew the intto but liked the whole album!
Need to edit and write a review…
Good bass lines and beats. Songs are a little too slow. "Intro" is the best of the record.
One of the times where quality instrumentals with lower key vocals actually really worked for me!
Bardzo dobre. 4 lub 5
Used to listen to this all the time so it's hard to give it an honest review since all the songs feel familiar and natural. If I had to give it a flaw, it would definitely be the lack of range. Everything feels the same, like describing the same feeling even though some are happy and some are sad songs. But I guess that gives it a feeling of cohesiveness. Favorites: Intro, Fantasy, Crystalised.
oh wow the song that plays in every annoying instagram reel is on here
Very easy listening, nostalgic, there are some classics here
Super playful album, lots of simple sounds that build out into fun little ear worms. really chilled out, too. could have multiple in depth conversations with this just rocking in the background. it’s sort of unobtrusive in that way, but if you do want to focus in on it, you’ll find something to like in pretty much every song. very consistent, tonally. *full of songs that are probably really easy to learn on guitar to impress your crush i can’t say any of the tracks truly stuck out to me or are very memorable. i don’t think i’d ever return to this for anything other than relaxing background music.
Strong debut album, the guitar has The Cure vibes and is very good.
Really tempted to go higher considering how much this shaped 2010s pop to come - Lana del Rey, Lorde, The Neighbourhood etc - I do think it's a damn solid 3* considering some of the stuff on here, I listened to this a bunch at uni
Very ambient, simple, clean.
While I have nothing against dreamy trip-hop — and I would be fine with any of these individual songs in the right spot on a playlist — this kind of droning, simple, unadorned, repetitive album does nothing for me.
Songs share a similar tempo and a “me too” feel at times — but the consistency becomes part of the album’s identity and it worked for me. It will be a great addition to late night chill.
9/10 - The xx with banger after banger, one of the best intros on an album; also best song is Heart skipped a beat
Very very good to work to but her voice bothers me a bit lol
I like it but in a lukewarm way. Better than the shitty album this 1001 thing forced on me last time. Its like the cucumbery burp of a good indie album
Solid album, chill vibes not a bad track on it.
A fantastic, sombre listening experience. The perfect album to play on a dark Friday evening, when you just wanna sit with the lights off and relax.
Sexxy
A lot of these types of music on this list. Slow paced pop/rock indie shit. Alternative that is somehow boring and even worse than mainstream. I tried, i really did, but I cannot for the life of me like any of it.
Too mainstream type of sound for me Too generic i would say. Not that i am saying it is bad but its not for me icl
Good Indie. I will say that my favorite song off of this album was the one that autoplayed after it was over, so it has to lose a star for that 4 stars.
Crystalised is one of my favourite songs of all time. Still I don’t think I have ever listened through this whole album before. I think it starts off great, but gets somewhat bland in the end. Still, the best songs makes it a good album after all. Favourites: Crystalised, Intro, Islands.
I really love some XX songs but I realize now there's a lot of filler here. VCR to me for some reason is a classic. I was thinking it would be 5 stars based on what I've liked of them in the past but turns its not.
I bought this when it came out and is not for me. Seemed like a young marble giant thing idk
Intro had me feeling that something cool was gonna happen but it was just quite mid
Starting off the album with a 2016 instagram edit song… gotta love that. overall though, i’d say just a mid album. the kind of singing they do bothers me a bit though. nothing is too crazy or unique for the vocals or sound, but it’s calming to listen to while doing some work. don’t love it or dislike it!
Rocky rock iconic from the 2010s. Already a classic.
VCR is a nice songs, islands is slow but catchy, infinity takes you on a trance, night time makes me wish there was the rock guitars too in the instrumentals to take us higher, the tempo does pick up though
Xcellent
Mi favorito hasta el momento, pega muchísimo conmigo, los ritmos son tan tranquilos, tan melancólico. Por momentos se siente tan personal que lo lograr apreciar de otra manera. 9.5/10.
this is a top 1001 album? someone explain?
Soft and minimalistic but not very remarkable. I forgot I was listening to something and started working without thinking about it. Favorite songs: Intro & Crystalized
Chill, cool, but not ice cold. I like the blend of the singers voices a lot, easy and not overdone. Production feels minimal, but not sparse. Every tracks sounds vaguely familiar, like something I’ve heard in a show or movie. Kinda boring, but overall a fun lil vibe.
This is fine I guess. I liked Heart Skipped A Beat. It does drag on for me because it's extremely samey and while I can appreciate that in some bands for this it's just kind of a drag. It's not terrible or anything but pretty boring.
This album is such a great experience. The vocals are so smooth and each track is compelling in its own way. Beats and vibes for days.
Every one of us goes through that music discovery period, when you have enough time & energy to keep up with current musical releases. For me this was the last great album of that era. Minimalistic, vibes only and 17 years later (wow, where has the time gone) it still sounds fresh to me.
The first half of this album is excellent. The band plays space better than most bands, but it seems to drag on toward the middle and then get back to form in the last song.
I knew what this would sound like as soon as I saw the artist's name in all lowercase. I wasn't wrong.
Very mellow and atmospheric
138/1001 First listen. I did give this a try one time and nothing caught my ear. This is my first full play through. Same result except now it’s that song from TikTok. Reminds me of the band Of monsters and men but more boring. This sounds like what depressed people might listen to. Music doesn’t have to be complicated or hard to play, so I can get into this but there’s probably something better out there to do the job. I’ll keep this in mind for the next blasé rainy day glum mood I’m in. 5/10
One of the most millennial coded albums out there, particularly with Intro, which just seemed to show up everywhere in the years that followed and continues to be a playlist staple. This one is for all my fellow tumblr addicts back in the day who posted songs like Crystalized and Fantasy so you could let everyone know you’re sad and alone at 2AM.
Didn’t like it much on first listen. But then put in on my nice stereo at home. Much better. Definitely an album that benefits from high quality speakers—good production hiding under the surface.
the xx is famous for a sound that, at first glance, seems pretty innocuous. the songs on xx are pop songs, but they're incredibly sparse, a far cry from the pop that was topping the charts in 2009! the compositions are fairly straightforward; the guitar work in particular often forgoes chords for single notes, played against the basslines like a first-species counterpoint exercise. the thing that set the xx the most apart, though, is the percussion, forgoing a traditional drum kit in favor of beat machines powered by Jamie xx. his solo albums (which all came later) show that he can really fill a track up with space if he wants to, but with the xx he does more or less the opposite, allowing Romy and Oliver Sim to dictate the pace of each song. I mean, it was their band first, after all! for such an understated, simplistic set of tracks, it's pretty staggering just how much of an enduring influence xx has had in the 15+ years since it came out. by the mid-2010s (and especially in the early 2020s), the pop mainstream quieted down a lot, taking plenty of cues from the xx's introspective, introverted sensibilities as a band. decent 7/10.
There’s nothing really wrong with this record. The production is clean, the minimalism is intentional, and the mood is consistent. It’s clearly well crafted. But it all starts to sound the same. The restraint, while impressive at first, eventually flattens the dynamic range. The songs blur together, and the emotional arc never really builds or shifts. It’s pleasant, but rarely compelling. I respect the aesthetic, but I found it mostly kind of boring. A solid but unexciting three.
Album 120. xx (https://open.spotify.com/album/2nXJkqkS1tIKIyhBcFMmwz?si=Qko6cnxxRyKRMQ8oPPnEBg) — The xx (2009) Oh no, I turned on the album, but somehow it started with some wilsacom bullshit Apple product video review. It's nice, cute, minimalistic album, but forgettable. 3/5 Liked songs: — Shelter — Infinity — Night Time
easy listen - pretty minimal! I liked some songs outside the main singles I feel like. Birdy's "Shelter" cover CLEARS and I feel like that song in general showcases what's not clicking with me --- the song structures either work or don't work! I feel like (and genuinely just structuring the verses and all that stuff together), sometimes it sounds a bit choppy to me! I definitely would listen to some singles again, but it wasn't as interesting a listen as I wanted it to be. In fact, it was a bit boring to me, which I was disappointed in! But I understand wholeheartedly why it's a classic!
5/10 This lasted the exact length of my commute - not worth anything, but at least it was the right length. However, it is dull. Dull, dull, DULL. Has a band ever sound more bored by their own sound? Its a greyscale canvas of some pebbles from Dunelm. A stroll along Exmouth seafront in February. Mild cheese on a Jacobs cracker. An average commute into an IT job in Exeter. A dreamless sleep. Coma
Solid classic
Haven’t actually listened to them before, I like it! Don’t love the two singer dynamic (giving of monsters and men at some point) but similar to what everyone was doing at the time period! Like shelter the most I think
it's an album that doesn't really go beyond minimalism. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not musically impressive, nor are the lyrics. It was perfectly ok cooking and work music
Atmospheric in Mount Nicole, low toned and relaxed, the definition of chill music
Prior to being assigned this, I already had 5 songs liked from this album and 13 songs liked by this band. I think I first heard them on SiriusXMU back in the day. So, I am familiar with them. Excited to see if I missed anything from this one. After a few listens I ended up adding 3 more songs. "VCR", "Basic Space" and "Infinity". This whole album is a mood. It's spare, quiet instrumentation and singing voices just brings things down to a very relaxed state. Not the album you want to play to get a crowd pumped up & but it definitely has its time and place (maybe on a long drive, or at a chill gathering, or hanging out with your sweetie, or even while working from home). Liked songs on Spotify: 8/11 Rating: 4/5
Unexpected solid album!
I liked this one, pretty chill music.
It sounds like two people took a few downers and decided to make some music "or whatever". They sound bored. Its not bad, but it doesn't really strike me.
Will go back to this. Nice find
This isn’t bad, it’s just painfully dull.
These guys are bad ass. The house I was living in at the time of its release, we were obsessed with it
3/5 Some bangers, some really decent tracks, and some that do not make a strong impression on the listener.
Acho que é um álbum que ouviria em contextos muito específicos, mas o ambiente é muito interessante. Muito homogéneo e ajuda a refletir
Never listened to this album in full before, and not been a huge XX fan despite being familiar with a lot of their work. 4 catchy tracks to start off the album. Maybe catchy isn’t quite the word, but 4 very XX-y songs emblematic of their style. Whilst I’m not desperately in love with their sound (and much prefer to actually listen to the dancier direction they took on their next album and particularly Jamie XX’s solo work) I have to admit this album has a very unique, polished sound that has been important to the modern pop canon, and deserves to be on the 1001. 3.8/5
Really weird!
nice
Boring
maybe hasn’t aged incredibly but Intro still bangs. Good not great!
минималистично, просторно, воздушно. несколько ленивое томное звучание - имеет место быть. по сравнению с большинством альбомов, которые здесь мне предлагаются, этому я уже готова ставить 5. хоть как-то ближе к моим преподчтениями, а то слушать 150 мужиков 60-х с их пустым кантри роком надоело. но не дотягивает. как будто пространства и скромности звучания в этом альбоме было уже слишком больше, чем таланта
Just a bit dull, too minimalistic, just not my taste. Crystalised was my song of the album and fav first listen
Album 56 Top 3 favorites off the album: VCR, Night Time, Stars I think I need to borrow a copy of this book because I truly do not understand why some of these albums are on here. Case in point: this one. How is this an album I need to hear before I die? Please, someone, explain it. Something about minimalism and ambience and and space and silence. I get it. I'm a musician. I promise. It is not a bad album. It's just not one I think I needed to hear before I die. Like if I had 1089 days left to live and I listened to one album every single day, this is one that would make me go, "really? I just spent 38 minutes of the last 1089 days of my life listening to this?" Maybe if I had an extra 38 minutes to spare, I'd put it on in the background, but damn. I genuinely try not to compare albums to one another, but here we go: at least it isn't Bob fucking Dylan or Coldplay. Also, if I wanted something with this vibe, I'd listen to Cigarettes After Sex instead. That is all.
Great group, great songs, great album.
Average overall. Some songs are ok.
boring
Great album. Every song is good. Musically sparse with mixed vocals/duets. The effect works really well to lend weight to the songs. Definitely interested in finding more by this group.
Pretty chill but didn't wow me
Decent album, not my favorite, but better than some stuff I’ve had so far.
Generic pop music
Nostálgico mas todas as músicas parecem intro de canal de Minecraft de 2012. 3,5 pq passa de ano com folga e nada mais
QUE ÁLBUM BOM
Definiu uma era
2/10
Only 38 minutes? Felt like 90 minutes. Ugh. I had to look up when this came out, 2009. Then I looked up what came out that year and now I know why this is so liked. 2009 was a shit year for music. It was a bunch of American Idol and Xfactor crap. My favorite albums from 2009 was Baroness’s Blue Album and Cuban Linx II by Raekwon. While I love those albums, they don’t scratch a top 200 list on mine. Also, what a waste of a cool name line The XX. Like Elon, these guys ruined the letter ‘x’.
electric
A lot more low-key and pop driven than I See You. I like it a touch more even if it didn't have any particular songs that stood out to me.
Definitively influential but only in terms of the basic sound of rock. Very solid songwriting overall, but too simplistic and hushed for lasting impact. Fantasy is probably my favourite track.
Electric moods more melancholy than emo. Despite having such a distinctive thumping and stripped back sound, album is really well structured to provide variety and give space/relief to the bigger tracks. Equally effective as background or pumping the bass.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
More hum drum dull drab as dishwater albums. Has this list only got very few really excellent albums in it, you know albums that you want to go back to again and again. This is just wallpaper.
5/10
This is the worst inclusion of the list so far. What’s next, imagine dragons?
Iowa Football 9, xx 7. About as interesting as waiting in line at the Secretary of State. I vaguely remember this being popular in its time, its inclusion in the 1001 serves as a testament to the how terrible most rock and roll has gotten. Coming up next: Old man yells at clouds.
There's so little here to even critique. It's not unpleasant, and they nail the ethereal, quiet vulnerable vibe quite well, but this is like a serious version of Cattelan's Comedian
One of my favorite albums, lovely memory of times in highschool
Easy on the ears. Pleasently surprised. Applause. No major hit but Leaves me wanting more!
What a great "vibes" record. Never spent any time with this, and it is excellent. Will return. Solid 8/10.
music for infographics
Really like the tones
Melodies are fine, but it's mellow and on the whole a lot of aesthetics I didn't like. Nice work, but only 2 for me.
Really enjoyed this one. Will listen to again
Atmospheric and pleasant-sounding indie music heavy on the delay and electronic rhythms. Kind of a laid back post punk vibe to it. All the songs on this album sound approximately the same. I can pick out their influences here and there, but it never transcends any of them. It’s the sort of thing that’s bland enough to have a broad appeal, which I guess is what landed it here. Not bad, but I assume that I’m going to forget what they sound like five minutes after the album is over.
The xx's debut is like a love letter to lounging. It's so mellow and dreamy that you can practically feel the lethargy oozing out of every note. While I appreciate the vibe they've cultivated here, there comes a point where it starts to get snoozy. It's not bad by any means; in fact, there are moments when it feels comforting and familiar. But those moments don't come often enough to keep me fully engaged throughout. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Intro - VCR - Crystalised - Islands
A surprise to be sure but a welcome one
Like a slow ambient pop. I liked it.
Hard listen, very boring, should not be in this list. I think its telling that their most streamed song on spotify is the one in which they do not sing.
Completely faded into the background. Nothing stood out to me at all. 24 hours later, doing this review, I have zero memories of any of the songs.
i liked it overall, definitely something i would listen to in high school
I'm so sorry but I cannot do either of their voices.
I’ve been wanting to check out the xx so this was perfect timing. Definitely an album I think I’d like with repeated listening.
Stand-out tracks: Crystalised, Islands, Basic Space, Infinity, Night Time Honestly a very unoffensive album, the music is quite chill paired with those soft vocals. Most of the tracks are pretty ok to listen to, some stand-out more than others, but in general nothing really impresses me that much. Nothing outright disappoints me either, but I feel like maybe there could have been more experimenting with the music to bring something new to the indie rock/electronic scene. As it stands now, safe to say this is a pretty average album.
Highlights: Intro, VCR, Crystalised, Islands, Shelter, Night Time I don't understand why the intro track has the most streams. I mean yeah, the instrumentals are kinda the best part of the record (at least in the first half), but it's not that much better than any of the tracks with vocals. All in all a very strong opening, but then it got more atmospherical which I found dull (not bad doe). The second half really leans on the lyrical content and due to it being emotionally "specific" you have to be in the mood to appreciate it, which I wasn't, but I recognize its value. I don't see myself revisiting the record as a whole, but the highlights are great.
Always loved the first 4 tracks (Intro being generation-defining in a way, impressive work for an instrumental track), but then kind of falls off a cliff into a forgettable (but not unpleasant!) chasm for me. One of those album covers which looks like the music sounds, if you relate the black void of the cover to the sparseness of the tracks
Need to give this another listen I think, could grow on me 3
When this first came out, I really didn't get what the big deal was. It felt like sleepy, boring droney music. I'm happy to say that I now quite enjoy this album. It does suffer a bit from monotone voices, and a few songs mid-album kind of mushed together, but even those tracks I may not have liked as much were still pretty good. I was a bit surprised how low-key danceable many of the songs were. A pleasant surprise!
crazy instrumental
I listened to this a couple of times and it just didn't stick. Didn't care for the dude's voice.
I remember checking the xx out around when this album blew up, and now I know why I haven't revisited them. I do appreciate the minimalism, but in small doses. Throughout an album it starts to feel kinda one-note. Kinda shocked what a big deal this was, considering it's pathologically understated. If I saw them live, I'd be afraid to put my beer bottle in the garbage for fear of making too much noise.
Pretty great. I listened to it years ago and it’s still pretty great
Pure nostalgia
The great arrangements, barebones instrumentation, and sincere lyrics combine to give more than the sum of its parts. It never forces itself on you… coy. 3.25/5
Unoffensive, laidback indie music. No complaints, but no compliments. Fave track: Crystalised
A pleasant inclusion. 3/5
A double feature with Moby's Play for Albums That Didn't Garner Immediate Commercial Success But Won the Licensing Game. Leans more towards "sleeper" in the "sleeper hit" category for me. This is the sort of music I'd hear underneath the noise of a Starbucks between classes. Which does not mean I dislike it. The hand claps, intimate vocals, and simple backing tracks are comfortable like a pair of plain white sneakers.
Amazing listen, high production and thought. 10/10 late night drive album
It was ok, didn’t make my ears bleed
peak music
I like the atmosphere of the mood- the whisper hipster vocals I could go without.
Tracks 1 - 5 SOLID The rest . . . whatever . . .
The first track has become ubiquitous but I’ve never heard any of the rest of the album until now. I like what they can do with the minimalist take but at times this album was sleepy
its so late 2000´s i cant omg. look, i like indie pop, i cant stand this album currently, i think i liked it back in the 2010s, right now? i cant
That intro is definitely an iconic piece of instrumental indie and instantly sticks in your head. As for the rest of the record, it’s not too bad. It has a DIY quality that gives it a bit of charm. The overall experience can be described as dreamy, understated, and gentle. The guitar playing was the highlight for me. While the album is slightly tedious at times, it has its moments.
For me it's terrible
ehhhh
Overall pretty slow and boring? I see the atmospheric influences that really impacted the indie rock/folk scene of the 2010's but overall it's fairly simplistic and basic. Definitely an album I'd put on to fall asleep to.
Surprisingly decent
Mix of post-punk/indie pop makes for an interesting debut album. Definite Cure and Durutti Column influences even if some of the tracks verge on the bit dour. Remember this being a popular album with the kids so worth a listen.
Music for if your in a situationship with a girl. you're still together but it's not gonna work out.
I think I'm rating this so highly because I've finally encountered an album made after 1972. haha Her vocal style sounds very dated, but i know a lot of the songs and this album hits the nostalgia button
Love the killers. They were my first concert when i was 14 so this brought back memories!
I like it not so much for the music, but for the feeling of nostalgia that this album gives me.
unfortunately have to agree about it all being a bit dull, and the cursive singing got pretty insufferable real fast
Ohhh that's what that song is called. Look, are they more accomplished, talented, or successful than George Harrison? No. But am I rating it higher than All Things Must Pass? Yes. Because I'm mostly rating these albums on whether or not I want to listen and enjoy them in the future, and I'd rather listen to this for 38 minutes in the background than that triple album for 2 hours.
Indie pop & electronic done masterfully, truly special, only bested by their second album, Coexist. Sounds good in probably everything you throw it on, even a car stereo.
3/10
Just no I was super into cutting edge pop when I was a young teen, but I think I really started to stop caring about it around in the mid 2010s when those stupid whisper vocals combined with minimal backing tracks took off (think Taylor Swift’s Blank Space, Beach House, Chainsmokers etc), and it sounds like this is might be patient zero for that epidemic. It’s just such a boring sound. It makes the vocals feel less important even if the lyrics come from the heart and there’s literally nothing else interesting going on musically. I get where the appeal for minimalist music like this comes from but it just feels like such a waste of time. It sounds pretty inoffensive and the album’s over pretty quick, so I can’t give it that dreaded 1 star, but I’m pretty certain I’ll never listen to this one again
Oh yes I'll take a same instrumentation for every song please Oh, and no identifiable melodies on the side
Meh.
I weirdly like this album, it could be that it was late at night when I was listening to this, but the songs just tickled my brain. It was just some nice music to listen too all in all, I can’t really explain why I like it, it was relaxing and the calmness made me feel nice when listening to it and thats about it.
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. 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 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 really shine throughout. Maybe I'll enjoy it more after listening to it a couple of times. However, I feel it is extremely lifeless and has no edge or anything interesting to capture my attention. Did I need to hear this before I die? Probably not
I definitely enjoyed this more 10 years ago. It’s so much more minimalist than I remember, still enjoyable but there are other airy new wave pop albums that I enjoy much more.
Very chill sound and good atmosphere. Not super adventurous and kind of minimal, but managed to not be very boring
2026.02.06
Familiar with most of these songs, start to all sound the same. Intro is 5 and most others are solid.
Really neat and tidy. It was difficult to listen with fresh ears because this was huge at the time. It feels very precisely arranged. I'm not really a fan of the too-cool-to-sing vocal style, but if ever there's a place for it, maybe it's here. The tones and atmosphere are brilliant
I thought this is not too bad listening to the Intro track, however it gets progressively more boring and lazy-sounding. Not too impressed by yet another stupid fucking indie offering on this list. 2 stars
Recht gut.
Feels like I listened to the same song ten times. Enjoyed Angus and Julia stone vibes a bit though
Fun story: yesterday I randomly listened to this album twice back to back. I also found myself wondering how I would rate it and when it might come up in the generator. I’m not sure how the daily algorithm works, but I started laughing when I saw it this morning. It got me thinking about probability. If we assume it’s entirely randomized, and there are currently 1,089 albums in total and I’ve listened to 9 so far, that puts the odds of pulling this one at around 0.09% - which is kind of insane. Anyway, this is a solid record to hear back to back. It defines its style from the mesmerizing intro and fully commits to it throughout. The album perfectly captures a very specific aesthetic. My three favorite tracks are "Intro" "Infinity", and "Night Time".
Less/More Interesting to see another comment mention Young Marble Giants. It does seem like a much-more polished (and very well-produced) update on them
Great album
I’d forgotten just how good an album this is. Songs titles things like Intro usually bring a sense of filler to them, but not here. There’s not a bad track on this relatively short album. It’s difficult to remember whatvthe singles were, the album just works as a cohesive piece.
Absolute guff.
I am irrationally annoyed by the band being called The XX and the album being called XX yet the album cover being singular X. There better be a second X on the reverse of the physical copies, I swear... I saw the name and assumed I didn't know them (this was released during my wilderness years - it's amazing how having a tiny human who refused to let me sleep impacted my desire to listen to anything new). Then I pressed play and instantly recognised the opening track. I wasn't sure how to feel about this album. I listened to it twice to try and work it out. I kept starting tracks, instantly disliking the vocal, then during the song it would start to win me over, and by the end I'd think it was alright. And then cycle would start again. My first run through was on my walk to work and the second was lying in bed in the dark - it definitely worked better at night. I liked Intro, Crystallised and Basic Space quite a lot but overall I think this is a 3 for me. 3/5
no. just listen to Paramore.
Interesting enough, will revisit again.
Album #1,034 I know not a thing about this before listening. I was pretty bored listening to this. The singers sounded bored as well, especially the male singer. The music was kind of sparse but effect heavy. Not for me.
First song has no lyrics it’s just straight instrumental which wouldn’t be bad if it didn’t remind me of Smurf Cat. The only songs I like is Basic Space, Night Time, and maybe Stars. Vocals aren’t very appealing to me; they’re okay.
Very peaceful, soothing album. Came off natural and not too much autotuned. I never heard of the band too. The intro had a very recognizable rhythm too.
The intro is one of those songs that I’m pretty sure most people have heard, but couldn’t name. This is definitely a headphones album. Subdued vocals and the chill instrumentals really work especially with repeated listens. Favorite songs were Intro, Crystallised, Fantasy, and Basic Space.
This album is perfect for the day I listened to it on: a cold, cloudy February day. I've never heard of the band or any of the songs before so it was cool finding something fresh. It's a very good ambiance and a good album for background music. Some of my favorites were intro and VCR. The intro is really nice, honestly would've been fine if the entire album was like this. In VCR their voices sound very good together (in different verses as a part of the whole song and also when they're singing directly together). Overall I like the little guitar parts and their voices sound good together, but I don't know if this album could be anymore than background music or something to put on just to fill space. Not hate though, it's beautiful sounding! It kind of reminds me of "Of Monsters and Men" and feels very quintessentially 2010s.
Very nostalgic! Reminds me of high school. Very vibey and chill, but kinda suffers from singing in cursive.
Nice ambience but a bit plain for my liking. Good album
Pretty chi
Is it good, yes. Would I buy it, no. 3
Minimalist indie pop; rewards both active and passive listening. The imitators who followed misunderstood the assignment.
It’s fine, but I’d never choose to listen to it.
What a snoozefest. It’s truly telling how boring an album is if the best tracks are the intro and the interlude. The production is admittedly on point, but the sparse instrumentation and vapid subject matter leave this devoid of any emotion. Some interesting moments peak out during Shelter and Basic Space, as well as the intro and Fantasy which I already mentioned, but they’re too few and far between. I also hate this dude’s voice. It’s the worst of the late 2000s hipster style. I avoid using that descriptor because it’s usually so reductive, but in this case that’s the truth. Could be why I enjoyed Shelter more than the others (because he shut the fuck up). With the XX headlining Kilby Block Party, I was initially glad this popped up so I could give it a critical listen. I’ve at least confirmed that I can go home early that day.
Great uplifting tunes, thx!
I mean.... its not bad. I can see why the instrumental track 'Intro' has almost as many plays on streaming sites at the rest of the songs on this album combined, its the best song here. I listened more than once trying to figure out why this is so critically acclaimed. The answer lies within the Billboard Hot 100 songs of 2009. Here is your top 5: Boom Boom Pow - The Black Eyed Peas, Poker Face - Lady Gaga, Just Dance - Lady Gaga, I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas and Love Story - Taylor Swift. Trust me when I say it doesn't get much better than that for the remaining 95 songs. UGH, what a horrible year to have ears. That being said I can see why critics praised this. In comparison to the rest of the years charts its pretty darn good and doesn't sound like it was produced by the exact same production team as everything else getting play that year. Let me know if in 25 years this is still an album you must hear before you die. Its not. 3 because 2.75 isn't an option.
One of the most influential short film songs is on this album
Love the minimalist production of this album. Despite its quiet tone the songs build and fall nicely and the trade offs between the male and female vocalist are very pleasant.
This band came prepared with two strikes. I’m primed to give the third. I suppose I can already justify the first two. Strike 1. Being from 2009. We’ve spoke of cultural death here at the ol’ reviewin’ post and Rigor Mortis set in around the end of the “oughts.” Second strike. Naming your band in a quirky stylized fashion. I don’t want it. I don’t like it. You know what I REALLY don’t like? Albums that sound like a jam session featuring a wealthy, polyamorous couple (no thirds found) who will aggressively tell you about their health and fitness regimen. You know, soulless , dead eyed sociopaths focused on image to distract from their unquenchable thirst for blood. Can that be strike three? Let’s go with that. Drink the wine! Drink! They’ll be here with flamethrowers! 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Getting very sleepy.
It’s interesting, the sparse production and ambient soundscapes are both this albums greatest strength and weakness- depending on the song you’re listening to. Their voices are unique and the performances are intimate. High 3 probably 3.7 if I was forced to answer.
Still as boring.
Tough one to rate for me. Lots of (good) memories attached to this album. Me and my partner probably over listened to it on various car journeys in 2009/2010. It takes me back to the early days of our relationship - which is sweet. But I never want to actually listen to it anymore. The album is probably not as good as it was once.
oh this album was released in 2009 alright. nice vibes but not much more than that. parts of fantasy and shelter gave me kinda the neighborhood vibes
make me wanna cry but in good way but also not a perfect album
I forgot the songs before they even finished
Another new one to me, a minimalist approach to their music with echoes of 80s electronica and, I can hear at least, a Brian Eno influence, from his early solo songs. not bad.
I really like some of these songs and didn’t realize this group sang them. Pleasant surprise! I liked their other songs well enough.
Liked it, didn't love it. Started strong but dipped
nothing special
a classic. perfect for aimless listenings