xx

I didn't hate it, but it was just more background music (my third such album this week!) come on generator give me an album to love or at least hate. This is getting old!

first time hearing of The xx or "XX". defined not bad but it feels like background music, not in a good way.

chill

k vind haar stem niet echt chill.. maar de muziek erachter s wel goed

Great

A few more listens and this will probably be 4, super chill

It is OK, it's very listenable and chilled i get why people like it so much, but most of it lands a bit flat for me

There are definitely a few really good tracks on this album that I enjoyed and added to my playlist. The minimalist, atmospheric vibe is cool at first. However, my main issue is that almost all the songs sound exactly the same. The lack of variety makes it feel a bit monotonous over the full runtime. It’s a cool signature sound, but just too repetitive for me to rate it any higher. A solid 3/5.

3 stars - v chill. V of it's time! ------- My ratings: 1 star - actively disliked 2 stars - boring / not me, wouldn't listen again 3 stars - it's ok, would listen again, but no strong reaction 4 stars - liked it, will seek it out to relisten 5 stars - earworm, would listen and smile any time!

Just fine. I have a few songs I like, but it really all blends together into snoringly boring early 2010s alt pop

Really enjoy it, good travel music for when you want to nod off after a few songs. But it I'm trying to stay awake and listen to it, then I think the second half of the album needs a little lift towards the end.

You know, it’s fine? I dunno if it’s aged that well? It’s a little bland.

First 3 songs are all timers. Falls off a bit after then though

After the album finished I allowed the similar artist’s feature to continue playing. It was not able only because immediately I enjoyed and in some cases recognized those songs. I cannot really articulate why that matters but it seems to me that says something about whether this one was a must hear.

Dreamy quality. No complaints, but it didn’t really grab me.

Drifted by without leaving much of an impression

For what it is it's pretty good and well made. Personally I like my instrumentals to be a little more complex and not half empty.

It was good but a little goes a long way for me on dream pop. Maybe a little too chill for me to actively seek it out to listen again.

It advertised being ambient and I really didn't hear anything from it. Like, no memories of this.

I have not head of this band before. When I first started listening, I muttered my prelude to high praise – im not hating this. And that fuzzy feeling continued when the vocals started. Nice tunes, great vocals, some of the guitar sounded like Chris Isaak but all in all 3 stars is sufficient for me.

I liked the minimalist aspect of The xx. Most songs are just a drum set, a guitar, a bass, maybe some piano. They don't overplay, so it makes it a little more intimate. Having one male and one female vocalist gives the tracks a fun vibe, but it sounds more like two friends having a chat than a couple (which they obviously aren't). The lyrics are a little young, but they were 20 (or 'xx" if you will) so that's hardly an indictment.

I always get The xx confused with other bands from this time. I keep thinking they're going to be a bit bluesy, a bit rocky. Essentially, I get them confused with The Black Keys. They're not Royal Blood either. Nor are they The 1975. So what are they? Indie electro dream pop probably works as a description.

The intro gave a false hope of energy, as this was very low key and mostly boring. It faded into the background so much that I was surprised to find I was on the 7th track of 11 before I noticed. The final two songs, Night Time and Stars, were OK.

This was a pleasant record. Super relaxing, really enjoyed the vibe. Thought the instrumentation and vocals were extremely tasteful. The artists stayed perfectly on their lane. This is like English primordial Khruangbin. Lost some steam throughout the record and didn’t break any barriers, but I would absolutely put this on again. This is going in the rotation. 3.5/5.

This ok. Got old toward the end. 3

It's fine. That's all. 2.9/5

I remember listening to this when it first came out and giving it a few tries but it never really stuck with me. I no longer have the album in my collection so I clearly decided that it was not for me. it is not bad, but at the same time, it is not grabbing me. It is like milky coffee. There is something there but it has been watered down and the impact is lost. I feel like Lorde was influenced by this album, because the song Basic space sounds exactly like something you might hear on Melodrama. I got a little bit bored by the end. The album did not really go anywhere. Again, one of those albums that is ok, but I really cannot see what makes it stand out to be on this list. Intro or VCR was probably the standout. Average 3 stars

To my ear is so similar to Daughter

It’s okay, y’know? No real highlights, no emotion or anything like that. Decent tracks right through, so dont get any hate but it starts like a new massive attack record so its a disappointment that its not. 3/5.

Very front loaded. Found myself losing interest come the end

cursi cursi cursi ay que cursi

Ok

I like intro and vcr but the rest kind of falls flat.

Pretty satisfying minimal production, with very interesting instrumentals here and there. Overall not the most interesting songwriting melodies though - it gets a bit mechanical after a while. Faves: Intro, Crystalised, Islands

Quite low key and vanilla. It's ok and I'll give it another go again in the future as I think the songs would grow on me as I listened more

Little too electronic but otherwise pretty fye

Overall Rating - 2.95/5 (5.91/10). Overall a decent album. Nothing great, but nothing bad, either. Not really my preferred style, but, again, no reason not to give this a middle-of-the-road rating.

It wasn’t really my style, but I did enjoy “Islands”

tumblr era throwback

A great album that came out of the blue. Again as a guitar teacher a lot of my students, Simple melodys but cleverly done.

overall rating: 7/10! there's a completely different vibe with each song & i wasn't expecting to like this album given the fact that it came out in 09 and it's a trio band... idk 2000s band vibe yk? i was expecting paramore but corny and cringe but it was actually pretty decent!

I like their sound, but overall a bit boring.

Low-key and downcast to a fault. The songs are already background fodder as they are but the instant the rhythm section takes a backseat the songs become downright anemic. There's still some highlights here and there but they're mostly in the first half of the album. One thing is that the group definitely understands its sound and its niche right from the get-go, though they would only ever improve it on later outings. Key Tracks: Intro, Islands

As weird as it is accessible…

esse álbum é para todas as pessoas que viveram a era Tumblr em 2009 !!!

Intro is the best song on this album. But it doesn't totally drop off after and is a vibe. 3/5

Plutôt sympa!

so 2010s, intro is so overplayed but not their fault.

Another album that I hadn't listened to in a long time. Has somewhat stood the test of time. Relaxing and enjoyable low-fi indie dance rock. Drags a little in the middle but worth a listen. 3 stars

Understated, but mostly unexciting. Intro is a great start, but nothing else meets those heights for the rest of the album. Technically competent but sadly The xx seem to be lacking x-factor

Listening to this convinces me that their other album on this list has absolutely no place here. This album feels much more interesting, with more thoughtful production choices overall. I do think it's funny that "Intro" is probably the most recognizable song on the album.

thought id grow out of it but nah Intro still whips ass. it seems like the xx sound is defined by those snappy echoey guitar rhythms and i do enjoy them, but it does feel like most of the vibiness around that isn't as compelling. there's exceptions obviously, Heart Skipped A Beat has this wacky super sick production to it (probably my favorite track). as a whole though the album hits. other favorite is maybe Islands. very strong 3

Always tried to like them but have always found the vocals a bit shit

Excellent start, wee bit of a drop off but still great (3.5)

They're a weird one because they're clearly good. Jamie xx is a good writer and musician. Their songs are inoffensive but the powers at be were trying to make them headliners which they are not. They're a shoulder band made to fill up playlists but a good one.

el intro de este álbum podría ser la intro del universo. lo mejor del album es el intro sin lugar a dudas pero también me ha sorprendido el outro y alguna canción por ahí. En general es un album tranquilo, para escucharlo de fondo o de viaje. El intro todos lo conocemos no hace falta hablar de él pero sí del outro. que sensación de soledad, como los cantantes se les quebrantaba la voz a la vez que la instrumental se acababa, mágico. Muy triste que es obviamente lo que quiere transmitir el outro y lo consigue.

Me gustó la onda tranquila. Me dio romance me dio yearning, definitivamente una banda de la que quiero escuchar más.

I get it, but not my style, a little too self serious

I listened to this album a lot at the time. I liked it. I liked it on the re-listen. It troubled me that I had completely forgotten it since 2009. Like this band didn't exist in my headspace until this popped up again. So it is lovely, completely forgettable music. I am not sure what that means except it means nothing.

- Chill, quiet listening - The album felt quite short and kind of forgettable, apart from the first song

I really wanted this to be better than it was. Intro is obviously a banger, but the rest seemed to be missing something. I'm not knowledgeable enough in music theory to know what was missing, only that it felt like a soup without salt.

Don't mind the xx at all but I struggle to get fully into them. That said this album is perfectly fine, want to give 3.5 but downgraded slightly...

Friday, 8 May, 2026 Low fi in every way. Minimalist to the extreme. Several memorable songs. No real clunkers.

Quite pleasant and easy dream pop. Focuses more on textures than melody I think.

Пресная музыка, хотя пара хитов есть

Made me fall asleep

Все чет мурчали, чет пукали, грустили. Вроде норм, а вроде вообще ничего что зацепило. Спасибо что не прогрессив рок.

Another album I never would have listened to if not for this collection. Also another album that is perfect for an early morning drive. Outside of that I don't know if I will ever return to this album after today. But I didn't hate that I had to listen to it. 3/5

If the early 2010s had a sound, this would be it. In my opinion, this is well-made millennial indie pop. 6/10

Fifa pack opening music

Wasn't expecting to have recognized a couple of these songs. In total it's nice to know that there are some decent recent entrants in the Alt genre. Sure the subgenre is decently popular and getting new music all the time but this was at least fairly fresh from a new artist. Was good through and through, lull at times but nothing bothersome

Meh, not a big fan of indie pop

Pretty great, really listenable, light electro-synth harmonies

Videl som ich naživo na jednom festivale a tam im to vôbec nepasovalo. Lepší by boli v malom priestore. Inak sú príjemní.

Ik weet dat dit album erg veel impact heeft gemaakt, maar ik moet zeggen dat ik het toch wel tegen vind vallen. Het begint met Intro, en dat is natuurlijk wel een episch, anthem-achtige song. De rest van het album is wel een beetje veel hetzelfde recept. Bij het tweede nummer was ik terecht een beetje bang dat de zangeres de rest van het album om dezelfde lome manier zou zingen, ik vind haar stem al snel een beetje saai worden. De jongen doet dat ook een beetje op dezelfde manier. T’ gitaarspel vind ik wel goed, de dingen die ze speelt, maar vooral ook de sound die ze heeft. Ze maakt de Les Paul weer relevant. Ik snap verder de vibe wel, maar ik vind het niet per se een superleuke vibe.

Lo recordaba genial y me pareció muy repetitivo

La verdad ni fu ni fa. No diría que es exactamente el estereotipo de música de la época, se parece pero tiene un distintivo. No queda guardado.

better than i expected

Understated but cool.

I see this get compared to Colossal Youth, one of my favorite albums, a lot. And while they're superficially similar in their minimalism, I think this comparison misses the mark. See, the minimalism of Colossal Youth underscores the beaten-down anger of that album, whereas here the minimalism is in service of a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. That latter is something that I hear *a lot* in music that followed, and while I recognize that this is the originator, I'm just so tired of that type of thing, I prefer for there to be more substance in my music, personally.

Interesting album, almost chris isaac like in places, but nothing stood out for me.

I am not generally an Indi person, but this album was decent.

This was good. Nice background music for just being chill!

Interesting in a way and some of the music and guitar riffs are quite pleasing to listen to in a dreamy, super chill sort of way. But the songs never seem to go anywhere and there's not enough going on. It's not bad but it's not outstanding either.

É ok, me lembrou um pouco blonde redhead

Classy production. Atmospheric. However, I'm not a fan of the vocal delivery, and everything is quite flat and monotone, to me.

Good, but way more downtempo than I typically like. I'm also not a fan of the mumbly vocals.

joa, eher hintergrundmusik tbh, auch wenn da diese ultra bekannten melodien drin sind (intro)

Started good and then turned simply boring. Reminds me of a very stripped down and bland version of Daughter.

Legendary album for the time when it was released. Sort of repetitive, slow guitar, seems to use appropriation, lyrics lost in air. Nonetheless, can't deny my love for indie, hipster sound. I am rating lower that I actually like it.

I had heard "Crystalized" before listening to this album, but was unfamiliar with the band. Pretty decent, some sexy sounding tracks in this one.

It was okay. I didn't have many thoughts on this one.

Okayy

Out of the 1001 albums on this list, I'm sure this will be one of the few bands I've never heard of. Guess that's the point of this, to find new bands - very happy to have stumbled upon The xx. The duo of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, co-vocalists, combine on most of their tracks. Their eponymous album starts off with "Intro," an earworm of an instrumental track, famously mashed up with French Montana's "Unforgettable." Catchy melodies, soft guitar, and buildups that never fully crystallize into a beat drop characterize this listening experience. By the end, one completely understands this band's vision - they aren't trying to replicate any one sound or appeal to average pop music listeners. These guys are comfortable and content in their own lane. They have their own sound - don't try to put them in a box! Isn't that all you can ask for? The xx uses the negative space to build tension. If anything, we can call it "Minimalistic Pop." Highlights: "Crystalised," "Shelter," and "Intro."

i’m sorry but it was mid

Olipa tunnelmallista mies ja naissolistin hempeilyä

3/5

It was aiite man

Indie Pop seems like such a contradiction. You want to be independent of the big record companies and do your own thing... But still make your music as commercially viable as possible. Tangent aside, this was better than their more recent album on this list. The R&B influences are mostly prevalent in Croft's vocals, while Sim's vocals are more... monotone.

I was surprised that the four first songs of this album all turned out to have been radio hits here in Belgium. So I was familiar with a good portion of it. And while there is beauty in that minimalist sound, that also cuts the other way by not really asking for your attention. Those radio hits have had years to percolate into my brain. The remainder of the album was not really making a strong impression.

Nipples are covered

Really well produced. It’s minimal but still has atmosphere. Just didn’t really grab me

It's ok

It was pretty decent, not bad.

The instrumentals sound really calm and kind. The sound of the songs themselves remind me of warm summer memories. I also think the lyrics are beautiful. Overall, i like this album, but sometimes it can get a bit boring or repetitive.

I can understand how people might find this boring. But I did find it quite enjoyable, even if I’m not a fan of the genre.

Middle of the road.

Cool vibes

Good chill album. Not a mindblowing experience but definitely a good listening. Best track was Islands.

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.

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!

Eh? Alright I guess

First few songs were great, rest were kinda OK but droned on/blended into each other a bit

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

calmado, pajín. buenas líneas de guitarra.

🥱🥱😴😴😴💤

y buen álbum, demasiado chill, no fue tanto mi estilo

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"

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

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.

Enjoyable and great background noise for when I need to lock in for work

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.

Un poco monótono, aunque tiene sus momentos

ambient, spacey, moody, new-wayey. I dig it as much now as I did when it came out.

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

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

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.

Intro was the highlight, but the rest was ok. I'm not 100% sold on the vocals, but this would be decent background music

*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.

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

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.

Shelter stood out. Very mellow, easy listening pop. 3/5

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.

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.

interesting

I like this band, and this album, just fine. I just find both of them very unremarkable.

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 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

Sexxy

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.

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!

Xcellent

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

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

Boring

maybe hasn’t aged incredibly but Intro still bangs. Good not great!

Great group, great songs, great album.

Average overall. Some songs are ok.

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

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

music for infographics

i liked it overall, definitely something i would listen to in high school

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

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.

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.

It was ok, didn’t make my ears bleed

I like the atmosphere of the mood- the whisper hipster vocals I could go without.

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

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.

ehhhh

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

Meh.

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.

Recht gut.

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

Interesting enough, will revisit again.

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

It’s fine, but I’d never choose to listen to it.

One of the most influential short film songs is on this album

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.

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

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.

Liked it, didn't love it. Started strong but dipped

a classic. perfect for aimless listenings

Opening song has a nice strong build up and rhythm, draws you in well.

Ok so overall I like this a lot. It’s really like gentle but also interesting to listen to. The bareness of the actual tracks makes the bass super prominent which is cool. I just feel like I wouldn’t have that much of a reason to listen to it again. Fav songs: VCR, basic space

this was such a staple in my high school years. to listen to the xx while scrolling through tumblr was such an experience. i've never listened to the entire album but hearing it takes me back to such a specific time and place in my life and evokes such a nostalgic feeling.

Pretty good indie songs here, nothing insane though.

Not bad - on paper i should like this more, all the elements are there, post punk, minimalist arrangements, good mix of male and female vocals. Songs aren't really there though. Might open up something over a couple of listens, but i doubt it.

These guys are new to me. Sounds like my thing from reading about their influences. Let’s go! Ah I’ve heard the intro before and quite like it but the rest of the album is a bit underwhelming

Intro is great, but most of the other songs blended together. I think it’s a little too soft for me.

I would study/ work to this I like it, recognized the first song and I think I like the band after listening to some of their other stuff on autoplay

This album is a nice and simple listen, nothing too dramatic or energetic. Great for a cold snowy day that I have right now. This album reminds me of my Alt-Rock era and the album ultimately leaves me wanting a show stopper song I cant help but sing along to, but the laid back nature keeps me from getting that. Overall, it was a good listen but not anything above average.

Intro

Me esperaba algo completamente diferente, no se si es algo que yo escucharía me parece mdio genérico, pero no malo.

New to me but I liked the guitar. Shame that they screwed over the guitarist and she is not on the later (disappointing) albums.

A solid indie-tronica album! Some solid moments and singles on this album. I’d give it a solid 3.5/5 if I could in here. I think the second half is a little better better than the first half.

This one was okay. Just so slow

So solid!

🥇intro 🥈crystalised 🥉islands HM: shelter, infinity

not terrible.

The instrumentals on this are timeless. It think my enjoyment of it is more limited by the vocal performance. However, this album still has a soft spot for me.

The XX’s self-titled debut features muted, introverted vocals paired with a distinctive, sparse indie-twang guitar. While the production and arrangements are impeccably executed, the downcast vocal delivery lacks the dynamic range needed to truly command attention. There is nothing offensive or disappointing to the ears in this album but neither is there anything remarkable. It is a pleasant listen, though it occasionally struggles to stay engaging. Of the eleven tracks "Infinity" was oddly compelling and stood out the most, closely followed by "Heart Skipped a Beat". Three stars but not an album I will be revisiting. 1 "Intro" (3/5) 2 "VCR" (3/5) 3 "Crystalised" (3/5) 4 "Islands" (3/5) 5 "Heart Skipped a Beat" (3/5) 6 "Fantasy" (3/5) 7 "Shelter" (3/5) 8 "Basic Space" (3/5) 9 "Infinity" (4/5) 10 "Night Time" (3/5) 11 "Stars" (3/5) Total - 34 Average - 3.09 218/1001 122/218 albums reviewed were new to me.

I have PTSD when listening to Intro as we used it for a dance warm up every morning of high school marching band. Never listened to the rest of the album because of that. So it is like an indie thing. Not my speed, but I am sure someone out there likes it.

Good ambient music kinda of a chill background album

Okay, this is an interesting one. Musically it is very minimal, but in a way it works. I think the singers’ voices complement each other very nicely. However there isn’t much variation in sound or tempo and it stays to get a bit repetitive by the end. Overall not bad and a fairly pleasant listen, might come back to this one again at some point, we’ll see. Standout Songs: Crystalised Islands Shelter Infinity

The soft guitars on this album are marvelous - great album to relax to, read, work...

Great chill album with calm beats. It is very of its era and doesn’t have much re-listening value for me, but some songs I did enjoy. Top Songs: Infinity, Crystalised, Islands

melancholic

The intro is too cool. There's a scale to it that by comparison the rest of the album feels weak. They're like demo scratch tracks. Most of the album just seems like a couple college kids goofin off with music software.

After shelter it was great but wholly forgettable before it

if the concept of sleepiness was an album! Intro is a classic of my youth, the rest is eh

interesting gets a 3 for composition more than anything even though im not the biggest fan

I dismissed this album when it came out. Upon further reflection, it's fine.

Solid intro and fun listen. Won’t be coming back to it

Timeless goated opener

Intro Alone makes the album a banger. Overall not my style of music, but was enjoyable.

some songs 5 others 2. i cannot stand romy singing in some songs

It was fine, appreciated the minimalism of it, the call and response vocals, but wouldn’t say it got me excited.

THE XX — xx (2009) — Notes Summary • Final score: 72.6/100 (Tracks 31.6/40 + Album-only 41/60) — C • Top tracks: Islands (10/10), Stars (10/10), Crystalised (9/10) • Weakest track: VCR (5/10)

listend to it while cleaning my room, I enjoyed It I might listen again to get full experience. it was good but it didnt stick out to me nothing special alot of songs have this sound 6.5/10

Might have sounded groundbreaking when it came out, but now that everyone's copied it, doesn't really stand out. Kind of sterile and overly clean. The intro is the best track here, can't remember much about the others. Don't love it, don't hate it, it's alright.

Very low energy but nice

short and sweet, intensely indie

Need a relisten to this album, but definitely not bad.

Would give it a 2.5 to be honest but it was fine. They could’ve gotten a better singer but the album was easy to listen to

Kind of white depressive girl songs. But I liked 4 of them. Specially "Crystallized".

Indiest album that ever indied.

Love the opening track, Intro, one of my favourites. I have listened to the rest of this album before because of that track, but it's not really my cup of tea.

Portishead fans rejoice, they're back, instead now they're called the XX. It's good stuff, I liked that they ended the album with the hot single instead of starting with it. I reckon they'd be better live because I did want just a couple of moments above second gear, I feel like they could have lifted and done a bit more with it. There's a song that fades out for god's sake! I think the engineer just fell asleep on the board.

Album is really good but her voice starts to get on my tits. Also one of the worst bands i have ever seen live.

Great indie sound.

Minimal...atmospheric

Calm, not very dynamic

Never listened to the whole album. Good album that's really chill.

Some songs were pretty good

Laid back and moody vibe, nice singing and sound, quite cinematic.

bastante interessante, é bastante bom para acordar de manhã, ou para ouvir numa tarde assim mais calma.

It's a cool album, and the first half is great. But the second half just drags on. "Intro" and "Crystalized" are fire though.

Yeah pretty good, surprised I hadn't heard it before. Starts better than it ends. Quite Tycho-y.

3,5 stars

Classic

At the beginning this sounded very fresh, but it got bit 'same old same old' towards the end. Good pop album though.

This by all accounts should be one I favor, but I have to admit there's hardly any depth beyond the ambient, melancholy vibe. However I do know the influence this had on indie electronic music in the 2010s and I imagine lots of current popular music would not exist without it. I do appreciate that for a time when EDM was all the rage, this album refused to dial up the energy past 2 or 3 despite having the aesthetic qualities of a 2010s EDM/pop track. But ultimately, when paying attention to it, I was somewhat bored and disappointed. Being good background music isn't sufficient to make a great album.

I See You is better but this still sounds like being a teenager.

I think it’s one of those albums that you have to give it a couple listens to really appreciate it. You can definitely tell it shaped a huge part of early 2010s indie pop.

Loved

I have never heard of these guys before. I think it’s a bit of an acquired taste. I usually like more upbeat music. It was somewhat relaxing. I like the songs with a female lead singer better than the male singer.

The opening and first few tracks have a sense of intimacy about them. a closeness. I like what they're doing, I also enjoy their music in general.

Pretty good

Better than first listen

It’s a really good sound, the breathy spoken vocals get a little old for me

It was fine.

This was a tough one to rate. "Intro" and "Crystallized" have been in my rotation for a while now, and listening to it now, I enjoyed "VCR" and "Islands" as well, but this album kinda falls apart in the back half. It gets a little too loose and ethereal and forgets to make music happen. If it was just the first half it'd be a solid 4, maybe even 5.

Almost halfway through, and this is largely a snoozefest. Islands is alright, as is Heart Skips a Beat. I mean, this isn't a bad album, but I don't think it belongs on this list. There are groups that came before this that put out better music in this style, so I'll give this a 3.

This has some decent hooks but is overall anemic and sleepy. Without any real ear candy or fun production tricks this is a bit too boring.

Favorite track(s): Crystalised, Fantasy, Infinity