I See You

Not unpleasant but somehow boring.

Third album by The xx (formerly The twittertwitter). Modern production fails to disguise a lack of quality songwriting. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: A Violent Noise Date listened: 20/11/23

Modern indie is just Lite FM for people with full sleeve tattoos.

Remember when this dropped as the first post-"In Colour" xx release and it was immediately clear how Jamie was doing 90% of the heavy lifting for the band's musical output. The move toward greater sample usage meant the songs felt fresh, kinetic, and a bit more inspired than those of the band's previous output, and several of these tracks ended up in my heavy rotation. Looking back, however, it almost feels like this could've been "In Colour 2" and almost suffers for the other band members being there. Romy at least has some great solo moments that feel heartfelt and genuine, but Oliver feels kinda like he's just there to provide the obligatory male vocal and maybe play a cool bass line before going back to playing the root for every single bar. The project had clearly transcended both of them by this point and this one feels almost like an awkward goodbye in recognition of that, especially since everyone went their separate ways following its release. Regardless, it's by far the xx's best album and has some stellar standout tracks.

Here are some adjectives other than the word ‘boring’ to describe ‘I See You’ by The xx. dull mundane stale stodgy tame tedious tiresome uninteresting

I'm confused with this entry, as there's no reference in the 1001 book or even the ex-1001 list. So I'm unsure why it's on this website. 🤷 As for the album itself, I enjoyed it, it's subtly sublime. Though I preferred The xx's first album (which was previously listed in the book, now an ex-1001, or "xx-1001" for the dads in the room 🤦).

I know this app is neither sentient nor, indeed, responsible even for the albums on the docket - but if I could appeal to its mechanical heart, I would way "please, no more of The xx". That this music is so highly esteemed is utterly, utterly baffling. It has as much heft as candyfloss. The vocals are annoying and churchy, though sometimes the guy sings like a robotic frog. No más. Avoid.

Having known Jamie XX for a little bit I never made the connection that he would be from this band. Honestly this album blew me away in how much it vibes and flows into itself. An album that feels like it was made for late night driving. Not an album for every moment but when this album clicks it's exactly what you need.

These guys again? I just rated their debut album a rounded down 2.5 stars 25 albums ago. I'm afraid they didn't get much better. They went from a toned down and uninspired yet pleasant shoegaze-meets-indie-pop to what seems to be toned down chill-club-muzak. The instrumentation might have worked with much better vocals. The vocals might have worked with more intense and touching instrumentation. The combination is lacklustre to say the least. This is probably still my most listenable 1-star rating on this list, but I can't bring myself to give it anything higher.

didnt expect to be that good. loved that kinda sweet trip touch and pop/electric genre. 9.5/10

This was marginally better than their first two albums. The music utilized sampling very well and created a nice quasi club-like atmosphere. The musicianship was all fine but the album sounds like it should have been released about five years prior. The vocals are just dreadful though. The male voice was better on this album, but I just cannot stand the female voice. There's a fake soul-like quality to it that is just grating and thin sounding. The affection in general is just puzzling and there is an occasional awkwardness to syllabic placement. There are so many indie bands from this period who are more original and are much more deserving of a place on this list.

About as much substance as the royalty-free music that accompanies pre-teen contemporary dance recitals. The singers sound like they’ve never had a single emotion in their lives and are pretending they know what it’s like to feel but they’re don’t actually get it. I’m genuinely astonished this album’s not rated lower on this website. Sure, it’s more radio-friendly than most the stuff at the bottom of the global stats, but it commits a far worse crime than being “unlistenable”: being boring as hell

This is the music that comes on at 10pm when your driving home and your phones dead so you can't listen to your own music and your wondering if it's worth driving home in silence just so you don't have to listen to such trash.

I liked xx by The xx (the previous album that came up on here) very much. While I’m always a little skeptical when a second album from a group I never heard of appears, this album is really terrific! I See You retains that kind of moodiness of xx but brightens things up without losing the feel. The album opens strong with Dangerous and after the first four songs I thought we were headed for another 4 rating. Then Performance played and the lyrics grabbed my collar and had my full attention. Who knew such a restrained song of heartbreak could be so devastating. After that Replica… “Your mistakes were only chemical. Do I chase the night or does the night chase me?” The moodiness isn’t completely dark on this album though. Brave has such strength and hope powering its sentiments. What can I say about On Hold? It’s phenomenal. As it started I thought we were in for another moody tune, but the beats fade in and Hall & Oats’ loop helps elevate this into a perfect late night dance floor tune. I can’t get enough of this song! I Dare You is so wonderfully joyous - these are the feelings that makes a relationship. And yet The xx’s trademark restraint is still quite present. What a compelling love song. Test Me closes the album leaves us with the quieter, restrained The xx style with those complicated feelings creeping back in. I See You is an incredible exploration of relationships and the complicated feelings one has while in them that had me spellbound. I’ve already listened to the album four times and I can’t get enough. So, so perfect.

Jamie's rhythms and beautiful sounds, Romy's and Sim's gorgious voices are once again an immense joy to hear.

Started off strongly but sort of melts into a puddle of sameness.

Why this

Ehhh

Did this group really need 2 entries on this list? Thinking of all the other great artists that aren't included AT ALL, subjecting us all to another go-around of this boring vibe music feels malicious. If you like this sort of thing, great, but this isn't radically different from the other XX album here to warrant a 2nd inclusion.

No you don’t. Wish I hadn’t heard you.

i’m really trying to not give threes anymore and I feel like I either have to be harsher or more lenient and honestly for this one I think I’m gonna have to be harsher. I don’t think it gave me anything I was looking for it wasn’t anything new and that’s why I’m gonna give it a two I just feel like sure they were cool aspects to it but all in all it wasn’t a memorable experience and for just listening to it yesterday I don’t quite remember how it sounded and usually I can recall a little.

True wallpaper music.

it's like lift music. its a collection of sounds that don't offend but also don't arouse any interest.

Not as good as they think they are

wank

This is not a very good album.

This was pretty terrible and makes me reconsider whether whomever put this list together really understands good music or not. I could have gone my entire life without listening to this and would have been just fine. However, it still isn't as bad as Everything But the Girl.

Really didn’t like this

A very special album for me. On Hold does many things to me, as does I Dare You. This is one of my most valued CD's I still have at home and sometimes listen to. I wish the XX would reunite sometime. Until then, I give this album a 5 - because I know almost every single word, because 'On Hold' is one of the most melancholic tracks ever, because it's sexy, because the samples are great and because you really should listen to this with an open mind.

I loved the duet and it was beautiful

cool

Perfecta continuación de uno de los mejores debuts de la historia y de Coexist. Un disco que suma el talento de Jamie y Romy proyectando lo que será su excelente debut en solitario (y los imperdibles de Jamie XX). Son los mismos The XX, pero diferentes, más coloridos pero igual de inspirados. Ya desde el inicio de Dangeorus te das cuenta de que es otro disco especial y con Say something loving coges altura y no bajas. Lips, ritmo bailable con cuerdas, guitarras y bajo marca de la casa. A Violent Noise y Performance remiten a los discos anteriores. Replica es un maravilla, esa guitarra tan The Cure ,tan The XX, y esas voces que juntas suenan celestiales. Brave for you sigue la estela. Jamie XX tira de samples como genial complemento, por ejemplo en On hold, la mejor de todo el disco (la Being Boring del siglo 21?), con I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)’ de Hall and Oates (empleado también por Simply Red en Sunrise) aunque tanbién hay sitio para Drake en Naive (en la versión Deluxe). I dare you es otra de las gemas del disco, otra joya para la colección. Echan el cierre con la exquisita ambientación de Test me. 2017 tuvo otros buenos discos: Melodrama de Lorde, Slowdive de Slowdive, DAMN. de Kendrick Lamar, Arca de Arca, Los Ángeles deRosalía, MASSEDUCTION de St Vincent Cigarettes After Sex de Cigarettes After Sex, American Dream de LCD Soundsystem, Pure Comedy de Father John Misty, A Deeper Understanding de The War on Drugs, Sleep Well Beast de The National ...

best

Wonderful album, the best by The XX

Beautiful voices, album is a mood.

Already an album well enjoyed.

Ethereal, haunting masterpiece. Loved it complete 10

Cool

Awesome!

Well now I can't stop listening to this. Cool club-ish grooves, great vocals, original sound.

Beautifully produced, great flow.

Had never heard of this one or the musicians—very pleased with the listen. Actually playlisted it and would never heard of it without this experience. Just the right tempo and style to get this old girl off the couch and moving around. Really steams me to hear folks ‘my age’ complain about ‘music these days’ when no effort is made to crank the radio dial past the Oldies channels. Kill me now… I may not care for all of these albums, but listening to them is broadening my brain instead of grouching my disposition and I thank you for that.

Beautiful, I loved it!!! Fave track: on hold

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Dangerous, Say something loving, Lips, A violent noise, Replica, Brave for you, On hold, I dare you

Amazing album. Jamie xx puts on a master class of production. Oli sim and Romy have perfect contrasting voice that puts your soul at easy

Well holy cattle, batman. That was a sensational album. Loved it from beginning to end.

Wow! i think i like them! Crystalized is the one of those ive heard, but theyre all good so far. Ill give em a rare 5. Sometimes it just hits right.

Sounds a lot the first days of Florence. Great music

Great beat lyrics and mix of instruments

So beautiful

So cool, some of my favorite songs, great production

фантастика

Un 5 et rien d'autre

incroyable si on me demande

This was great! I especially loved the lyricism.

Great stuff. Was a big fan, still am.

loved!

Another superb album by The xx, I have no words to describe how this band always impacts me.

really good album

Love me some XX. 5 stars.

At this time of writing, it's been eight years since the release of the xx's I See You and when that album came out, it had been eight years since their eponymous debut album came out (not withstanding Coexist). In between those times, a lot can change. Things must open up, as have they and it shows on this album. As of it time it may seem in regards to the urgency and need for inclusion amongst audiences (not that there is anything wrong for that), I See You is chock full of genuine bangers and, for close to forty minutes, that's all one needs. Favorites: Dangerous, Say Something Loving, A Violent Noise, Performance, Replica, Brave for You, I Dare You.

Great album, but just falls short of the original

Enjoyable and catchy

British group the XX make atmospheric pop, with a distinct sound coming from dual lead vocalists: Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. Their vocal exchange is a defining element of the moody, soulful songs they create, with extensive production from Jamie Smith, who performs as a solo electronic producer as Jamie XX. I See You includes a few of the XX's hits, like "Oh Hold" and "Dangerous," which made successful pop songs out of down-tempo dance tracks. Their ballads, like "Say Something Lovely," drift closer to an ambient electronic sound.

I'd heard of this group, but wasn't really familiar with their music before this. I like it a lot. The male and female voices sound great together, and they harmonize really well. The music tends to be a bit ambient, which makes for a pretty cool pop album 4/5

Once again, the intimacy level of this album by XX is 11. They make me feel I've been invited to hover etherial over their bedroom as the conversations of loss and pain and love and passion are floating by me. Absolute delicious observatory of love.

Not at all pornographic and easy listening for the most part. The Hall and Oates loop is mildly annoying on the 'On Hold' track.

The xx certainly expanded their sound palate compared to their debut album. Initially I was afraid they had pivoted into house music. But by the time Performance came around, the songs felt a lot more like the sparseness of XX was back, but with slightly more forward electronic elements. Overall I like the evolution of their sound and appreciate the opening couple tracks knowing that their signature ambiance is still present.

Space and timing used to maximum effect….

Interesting to see this, in my opinion, worst The XX album on the list. Maybe we will see the other albums as well then? Regardless, it was still much better than I remember it. Obviously I have quite a sweet tooth for The XX. The opening track 'Dangerous' is a really good way to kickstart this album. Cool horn sequence that goes straight into a very cool beat, and then we the familiar XX vocals we love. Following up is 'Say Something Loving', which is also a good song, but not as groovey as the first. The mid part of the album is perhaps the weakest part of the album, but it's still quite good, and 'Replica' is an example of a really good song that sounds like something from the previous XX albums. The album finishes very strong with 'On Hold', which is perhaps the coolest song of the whole album, and then 'Dare' which is also lovely. This whole album definitely sounds different (perhaps more poppy?) than their previous albums. I remember being a bit on the fence when it came out, but hearing it again now I am not sure why I didn't like it. I also can't really come up with any reason to not give it a very high rating, it's just that good. I am obviously biased, but to me The XX is a band that has managed to be very consistent throughout all of their released material so far. And all of it is very very good in my opinion. Was debating between a 4 and a 5, but unfortunately 'A Violent Noise', 'Brave For You', and especially 'Test Me,' are not that good, which drags it down a bit. So it's going to have to be a strong 4. Time will tell if I regret it or not.

I like The XX. This album is also good.

Really enjoyed this album. Would definitely listen to again

On their third album, the London trio finally sheds the excessively hushed and incredibly influential electronica of their 2009 debut. Instead, they turn to the kind of vintage samples producer Jamie xx has long used in his solo work, setting richer, more uptempo backdrops against mournful dialogues about romantic disappointment and isolation.

Virkilega góð plata. Smooth og slakandi. Hugsaði samt þegar síðustu 3 lögin komu með smá beat hvað restin væri betri með smá stuði.

Einhver allra besta vinnutónlist sem til er. Mjög fín og þægileg plata, þó hún sé ekki alveg jafn góð og fyrsta platan þeirra.

Probably the worst XX album, but that is still decent overall. 4/5

There was a lot I liked about this one at first. I liked the horns in the first song and I liked that it was almost electronic, but still very indie and alt. It seemed like it would almost fit betters in the 90's. The other problem is it kind of drug and just went on and on. I would prefer to listen to this band with one or two songs at a time, but not the whole album. I enjoyed pretty much all of the songs but just too much of one thing.

Honestly shocked to get more than one album from the xx on this list. Then again, they are British. Anyway, this one does have my favorite track from them, "Say Something Loving." Outside of that, some other great songs too. It's a really solid album, I'm feeling generous in giving it four stars today but I really don't think we need two from them on here. Favorite tracks: Say Something Loving, I Dare You, Lips, Dangerous, Brave for You. Album art: The classic X, but it's a reflective surface and I take it that's the band members in the obscured reflection. Here I thought it was just a duo (brother and sister? not certain). 4/5

This is at the same time niche and four quadrant Chainsmokers, indie-(something) in an inoffensively cool way. It will be interesting to see how the later albums hold up, because I can't really tell when this list is okay with popular works, or for the critics. This seems like the most boring middle ground, praising the most popular album from a respected mid-tier artist, like the flipside of Youth & Young Manhood. I'm curious to see how the later additions hold up a decade or two down the line. As for the album itself, I like it more than I should. It hits in kinda the same way Chvrches does. It's either a high three or a low four.

Electropop profonde et dramatique, avec voix féminine veloutée et voix masculine posée. Certaines pièces m’ont fait penser aux pièces de Billie Eilish

Hyvä indie pop/rock levy. Kappaleet tunnelmallisia ja hiukan haikeamielisiä, ja siitähän mä tykkään. Kaikki kappaleet oli kyllä tosi jees. Parhaat: A Violent Noise, Performance, Brave For You, I Dare You

I can completely understand why people may describe this as boring, and maybe once upon a time I'd have done the same. When I was 16 and was discovering the world of heavy metal, I would have probably dismissed this as utter shit. I wanted more from my music. I wanted it to be exciting, full of huge guitar riffs and soaring vocals. I most likely would have said about this album something along the lines of: "Nothing happens. It's dull. Monotonous". But now I'm older I have to say I like this sound. It's lo-fi, but also adds something a bit more. It transports you to another world. It sounds slightly ethereal. a delicate dream like sound in places, which I enjoyed. I like both the male and female vocalists. they definitely help keep the sound that the music is pushing. At the risk of sounding cringe as I'm now 30 years old. It's vibes. It's pure vibes. Before I knew it, it was over. A short album at just under 40 minutes long, but it seemed to go by quick as a flash and didn't drag at all. A delight to listen to.

I am a fan of Jamie xx's production and this album has allot of sampling and producing in his vein which i guess is due to the success of "In Colour". It's not as great as In Colour and aren't as memorable. But it is still a great album and well produced.

I tried getting into this when it came out but it didn’t really happen; enjoyed it much more this time around. Thanks, list!

This is the first album I've heard by The xx. I was familiar with the name, as well as front man Jamie xx. But I hadn't really predicted what I've be hearing. I expected something a bit more dance pop. And The xx clearly have all of the elements of that but packaged in a surprisingly slow and sparse format that fits better in a quiet bedroom than a lively dance floor. For that reason, I didn't initially connect to 'I See You' but it really shines on repeated listens. There's something beautiful and open about the sounds. It's not only room to breath but room to reflect, which is certainly unusual in this genre. The rhythms fill the empty space and sometimes tempt you to get up and let them run through you. But it's never demanding and also lets you rest well before the point of exhaustion. The four singles are the perfectly curated high points of the album. The rest is perhaps a bit of filler but the album works as a whole very well regardless. It took a bit of listening but I'm now impressed enough to seek out more.

Really really great. Interesting, vibes, good stuff

Beautiful album. Always loved The XX and I'm glad to see them on this list

I didn’t love at first, but on my second listen I heard it through headphones and really enjoyed it. Maybe even better than their self-titled album.

Pleasantly surprised

Funny how we see almost back to back selections. Enjoyed this more than the previous one.

Their 2009 album came up only a few days ago so I was a little annoyed to see another album pop up so soon, but I liked this one a lot more! What a great listening experience.

This album started a little slow for me, but as I continued to listen I started to really enjoy it. This, again, is not an album I listened to when it came out and yesterday was the first day listening to it. I liked it. It was a good vibe, and I could see listening again.

Jamie xx is such a great producer. While it’s technically indie, it leans heavily on electronic elements, creating a dreamy and ethereal soundscape with an almost ambient vibe. The music manages to be both experimental and accessible, while the keyboards and synths add so much texture and depth to the music, giving it layers of color and atmosphere.

Would spin again

Oon aina valmis kyllästymään xx:n levyjen aikana, mutta tässä en ollenkaan kyllästynyt. Erinomaisesti sijoitetut kappaleet: hitillä kakkosbiisinä sisään, ja On hold nostaa b-puolen ennen kuin menee liian hiljaiseksi. Mietitysti nais- ja miesäänen vaihtelu. Arvostan.

Pretty nice, especially at 5:30 am

Love it! Unique vibe

4/5

Very chilled album, i liked

- Kannte das Album schon aus persönlichem Konsum und weil Lasse Say Something Loving mal in der Liste hatte mein ich. - Einfach eine tolle Platte, so stilsicher, wie man es von the xx gewohnt ist, trotzdem abwechslungsreich. Nicht ganz so catchy wie ihr legendäre self-titled - Aber auch wie beim self-titled packt es mich am Ende leider nicht zu 100%. Weiß nicht woran es liegt. ist einfach ein Gefühlsding und sehr subjektiv* 4/5