I See You

A nice baroque pop album with 3 stars

OK

Kind of reminds me of Gungor! Not too bad but not something I’d have in my collection, I will say the lead singer had a great voice. 2.8

Solid album. I enjoyed it. Good music for a tired morning.

Starts well, but a bit the same after a while...

Good but not their best. By 2017, other bands were doing their sound better than them.

Started this record as a stranger to xx work. By the end of it,i was sold to their sound. Not my type of "rode", i admit,but really gret qork on the albim Loved the atmosphere, the vibes,the journey to meet that platonic love. Great work

I See You is very fine and pretty, but it rarely resonates with me. It feels too sunlit and airy without any sense of consequence - the exception being “A Violent Noise”. It’s not bad, don’t get me wrong. But I would probably rather put this on in the background while competing chores.

Just okay

3.1.

Interesting soulful sound. Enjoyed it

why did this album edge me into thinking it was gonna be amazing and just kinda fell on its face, at the start of each song I felt it was gonna be good but damn I felt like it didn’t unlock its potential

You know in hotels when they have a resort channel and it has some non descript indie indicating fun and adventure in a non-threatening way playing in the background

Probably less relevant than the band's debut, this records still profits a lot from Jaimie xx's stellar solo adventure two years before--which saw him exploring electronic and EDM soundscapes in a successful way (*In Colours* is surely an "essential album", there's no arguing about that!). As a result, The xx manages to create a rather strong tracklist that also grooves quite a lot, even if it's a subdued fashion more in keeping with the band's initial aesthetics. Yet is this result, as "nice" as it is, the stuff of legendary albums? I don't think so. You have nice vocal and instrumental hooks everywhere, sure. Yet you also have unobtrusive songwriting, with some (wittingly?) frail moments, lyrically and vocally speaking. Such frailty may charm quite a few listeners. But I still think it will very rarely truly *impress* the bulk of them. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums". Which translates to a 8/10 grade for assessing albums in more general terms (5+3). Number of albums left to review: 341 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 298 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 158 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 212 (including this one)

I didn’t much care for this album but I think if I was in a different mood I might have enjoyed it more.

I'm mad at it only because I've been in an ornery mood to brand something with a 1 rating. But goddammit, this thing won me over after just the first two songs. It's brand new to me and I'm already confident in declaring this outfit as the thinking person's Everything But The Girl. I'll give it more time to see if it keeps. And who knows. Maybe I'll hear this playing in the background of Banana Republic and realize I don't like it enough to throw $150 down for a new pair of pants.

This is right up my ally in terms of indie but it was just meh. Allegedly they are back in the studio to release a follow-up and maybe that will get me into them but this was just meh.

Not sure if it deserves a spot on this list, but it was pretty enjoyable. Fave Songs: On Hold, Performance, Dangerous, Lips, A Violent Noise

The sparser songs are better than some of the later ones. Overall I love the sound and the hidden complexities XX weave into even the simple sounding songs. I think lyrically this album gets weaker as it progresses. Not as stunning as their debut but still beautiful.

Mixed bag for me. The good: It was interesting how all the songs flowed into each other, so it sounded like the album was one continuous song. The music didn't fit into any genre or decade, so it was very unique. The bad: It didn't really pull me in. There wasn't any part of it that stood out for me. Kinda sleepy.

Not nearly as good as the last album I had by them

One description said this was atmospheric. That seems spot on. I like the songs like Violent Noise that have the male and female vocals sang separately rather than in duet. They both sing well.

This is not music for me per se, but the bass playing throughout the album is pretty great. I am not a bass player but there are some very tasteful bass parts on this album that sound very nice to me. Other than that it's not too special.

This didn't do all that much for me, proficient and slickly produced as it was. The vocals and lyrics in particular I just didn't warm to.

Ok my first reaction is/was "wow" because after really not liking their first album (emo to the point of self-caricature; boring, etc) I was not expecting this melodic explosion at all. Modern as hell production, sampling, loops, etc; i.e. an electronic album in every conceivable way yet song construction fully in the standard 20th century pop-rock vein... much more variety in songs and mood than on their debut. I think my problem was that I listened twice. I loved the first pass. Yet the second go-around sounded... sterile. Seems like the first time around I was blinded with the apparent energy and melody and as I settle in and really digest the songs...none are bad (although I'm not a fan of "On Hold" - more of a tarted-up cheesy 80s song that tries to hard to not be and fails) but there's a clinical precision to the crafting of each of the tracks that overall it becomes too polished. I can see how people might love this - overall it does have a great sound and makes me re-evaluate the band overall, but I need more...daring? edge? a guitar solo or sense that it's not all/so crafted "in the box" - it's too bad because why should I hold a "group" up to a standard that I don't hold a stereotypical electronic artist to. I suppose standard-form songs like this for me come with some expectation of feeling the energy and that's what's missing here. 6/10 3 stars

Love this album and band in general. They really expanded their sound a lot with this album. You can hear the influence of Jamie xx’s solo project quite a bit. Definitely won me back after their lackluster second album. That said, I still think albums this recent should be excluded. I don’t think this album has really had the influence or cultural impact to justify its inclusion here.

3.8 + Jami XX does more of the heavy lifting on this one, filling out the minimalism from the first album into something deeper and richer. But somehow, though the results are more nuanced, they’re somewhat less catchy and this one doesn’t have quite as many ear worms as that first record. Still, I do love “Say Something Loving”, “On Hold”, and “I Dare You.”

I don't particularly resonate with this brand of mellow, emo indie pop. When "On Hold" was on the radio I found it mildly annoying.

I remember tangentially liking their debut album, but as I've gotten older I find it just a bit too straightforward and poppy for me. This album just continues more along those lines. Production-wise and vocals performances are good, but don't appeal to me at all. Regardless, it's doing what it is trying to do; not my thing.

A pretty and vapid singing album that Is pleasant to listen to as background music but I probably wouldn't seek this out. Enjoyable and there were 2-3 songs that I actually throughly enjoyed. 6/10

Pretty inoffensive

synth-pop beach lounge with breathy indie vocals. Fine but forgettable road trip music.

Easy listen. Pop/ambient electronica. Nice melodies and vocals. Not very interesting though. Includes radio hit On Hold.

a little boring. but strong album. 3-4 3

Pretty solid for a pop act and an indie act. I had low hopes but this was actually pretty good.

This reminded me a bit of Deee-Lite. You can argue amongst yourselves if that's a good thing or not. Seriously, I did enjoy this quite a bit. Some of the later tracks on the album were a bit uneven ("On Hold," for example), but it opened really well. "Dangerous"" was good and "Performance" was haunting. Wish the album stuck the landing at the end better, though. Still it was short and didn't overstay it's welcome. Enjoyable.

I mean sure? Let's throw Bastille and the 1975 in there too. Who else you got in England that puts pop and dance, and maybe rock together? At least I've heard of the other two bands. I'm not sure what makes this album (or this band) special. Especially because this was their third album and is pretty late in the game as far as this genre goes. So I'm not sure what makes it groundbreaking. Their sound is easy on the ears but it's not overly complex or impressive in its composition. Meh.

Each year's indie-club record comes roaring in with some kind of character. The xx do it interestingly here, with horns shuttling us from Sinatra (providentially, in list terms), and remembered songs dispersed and somewhat grayed. That suits the record well, the strange loss of bombast from singles-in-memory. Most indie-club producers don't bother adding the depth which Jamie did here.

Good background music Heard it done better, but also a lot worse.

Ambiente. Dance. Pop.

Da hora, me lembra uma sexta feira que eu agitaria a galera pra ir na Pixel. Muito música de baladinha indie. Gostei da energia. Depois virou uma música tranquilinha, que parece ter naqueles cortes de cenas de filmes de romance, uma chuvinha, e essas músicas no fundo. Legalzinho.

Some nice electro pop. But sadly rather uneven.

Great album by a great band. I love the vibe, the energy, the inherent coolness that runs throughout. The vocals feel more present in this album. I don't know if that's just an evolution of their production style over the years, but I think it's a good choice. The balance of their mix is a standout feature of theirs that I really tend to agree with often. I am holding out hope to hear their self titled album on this list as well.

Think the voices complement each others very well to give quite a calming sound. Good album overall but abit basic, kind of sounds like 1975

Still lovely, with bigger, deeper beats and stronger vocals from Oliver (Romy's remain delicate, charming and beautiful). Very good progression, but I'm going to give three stars since it doesn't have the wow and newness that stunned me with their debut.

Their third album proves two things: dance pop can have true emotion, and that just because your first album nailed it doesn't mean you can't hit a different target square in the middle. Romy is captivating as always, and Jamie's production has continued to evolve, better capturing both bigger rock and more soulful electronic elements. What really strikes me is the continuity of the album. While this sometimes negates the element of surprise I think it shows a mastery many who try to make music in this space fail to achieve. Personal highlights are "say something loving", "violent noise", "performance".

This was a little too experimental for my personal taste. Nice production value, but too many tracks just sounded like someone tossed a bunch of samples from a random noise generator together and hoped to produce something unique. It was... unique, but not particularly inspiring.

Meh.

Somehow slow and one dimensional, but at the same time it’s not actually bad and is somewhat enjoyable at times

Not bad.

Not aware of this album (or band), so I had no expectations before listening. A Chill, cool record that isn't flashy or in your face and it's a good solid pop record. Not sure how this would be categorized, but I'm a sucker for co-ed vocals and it was an easy and somewhat relaxing listen. Actually, listened twice, once in the afternoon and later at night and it's enjoyable either way. Essential, probably not, but not a waste of time.

meh, generic - 6/10

It reminded me of the early 2000s indie EDM genera like Chvrchs or something else in the genera. I give it a solid OK!

I had a hard time placing this one on my musical map. Alternative? Easy listening? Electronic? Duet? Slower pace than expected for sure. Kept expecting the bass to drop but it never really did. Might grow on me if I listened more times but not sure if I will. Three stars.

Nothing too special about this album. I think there are better songs by the xx. I think overall their 2009 album xx is better and has more iconic songs. I do like modern music and how full the sound is with the electronic instruments and mixing

Quite pleasant in a dreamy sort of way, but doesn't excite me.

eh it's fine I don't think they've ever been for me but a pretty cool atmosphere building, just not an atmosphere I care for

Never heard of them, but I kind of like it actually.

I See You is the third album by English indie pop band the xx - their first in over four years. The music on this album is progressive and wide-ranging, making it more accessible to the general population than their first two albums. Released to critical acclaim, this album was the No.1 album in the UK, No.2 in the US, and reached the top 10's on many charts worldwide. It has been certified gold in the UK. I love this band and am shocked I did not know about their third album. This was a pleasant surprise for me to listen to this album for the first time. The xx did a great job of evolving their music for this album without subtracting from the intimate style they're known for. Please give this album and the previous two albums from the xx a listen, because they're amazing.

Fine. Clearly British favoritism here.

I’ve been looking forward to getting an album by The xx because in the contexts I’d heard about them, I had a feeling I’d like them. I was surprised this was billed as alternative because it seems like straight pop to me. While I found it pleasant and inoffensive overall, it didn’t really do anything for me. I would give them a chance on another album, but I doubt I’d listen to this one again.

Saw them live few years ago so was familiar with this album. Not bad, 3 songs I like the rest I don’t mind.

It lacks the outright excellence of their debut, and honestly drags a bit by the end... but the intelligent craft of it still makes it a pretty solid experience. I just can't help but feel a tad disappointed.

Not exactly my favorite style of music, but for what it is it's very well done. It has a nice feel to it. 3 stars.

Zoals al vaker gezegd hier; dat andere plaatje van deze lui is beter. In dit geval nòg iets beter, want dit is ook al behoorlijk tof.

Dit vond ik wel lekker catchy

Heel fijne vibe weeten die XXen te creeren.

Prettig, maar ook een beetje zouteloos.

This is another group I had never heard before, and I'll likely never hear again. The album wasn't bad and it wasn't good, ultimately falling into the unremarkable, forgettable, middle of the bell curve that represents my ratings on the 1001.

Kakkosen ja kolmosen välis. Annetaan nyt kolmonen, en tiedä pitäiskö.

Perus ok

Not great, not terrible.

Enjoyable.

Yeah, very 'nice'. Calming and that...

This just isn't my thing. I can understand why people would like it.

Best Song: I Dare You. Feels like the most similar to their earlier work. Worst Song: Brave For You. Melodramatic and emotionally overwrought. I find their schtick more enjoyable when it's more subtle and subdued. Overall: Not as good as their earlier stuff, which I'm more familiar with. This feels like more standard indie pop. Nevertheless, the interplay of their two voice timbres is always nice.

I'm not sure I'd ever listened to this in full! But it was a good listen, a lot more optimistic than their second album right? I enjoyed listening to it but I don't think the XX is my bag completely, doesn't always put you in a good mood but definitely apt on certain occasions

Their debut album is so good and it will be so hard for them to make anyhting else as good. It's a very difficult task. I don't think they lost the fight here on this album, but it lacks something. Not very mystic, nor mysterious. They try go in this direction, but I personally think they should make some slight changes in their style.

The xx are pretty good. I have no idea why this album was deemed more culturally significant than their previous albums that really defined them.

They’ve certainly honed in on their target sound. 6/10

A very okay pop album. I felt mild satisfaction during it.

Surprisingly good!

Didn’t really find this interesting some vaguely pleasant stuff tho

Never really gave this band a fair shake and while I did enjoy parts of this I found it a little one-note and drawn out.

I feel like this fails to have the same impact on me as the original xx album.

I really tried to like this today, but it kind of just doesn't land with me. It really just feels like when indie went bad. I like the electronic elements, and even some of the pop stuff, but it just feels like some appropriation of what was once really good music. The album ended and a Yeah Yeah Yeahs song started playing, and for a second I thought it was The xx, and I was like "Ohhhh this is a cool song. This must be the big hit that everyone likes. Its definitely familiar" and then I realized I was listening to Karen Os vocals. It was all clear at that point.

really fucking boring

“Oh! Its finished” was our most pertinent observation.

I fell asleep listening to the last few songs on this album, and I have absolutely no desire to revisit it to hear it out. I wouldn't call this DNF though - I really did try to get all the way through it. Just wasn't my thing. At times I thought - that's a great baseline, or this is a fun little melody, but then the song carried on without it.

Don't know why TWO of this acts albums are in this list. Granted, there are 2-3 passable tracks with better tunes, but this to me sounds like stripped back bedroom laptop recordings without a great deal of substance or 'wow' moments. Not my cup of tea, sorry.

I have no idea why this is on the list. There is nothing special. It’s not bad. But it’s boring pop music.

This didn't really click for me. It just sounded a bit generic or even corporate to my ears. I wasn't a big fan of the vocal performances, and I wish it leaned more into the weirder, dreamier, or poppier places it could have gone.

It’s not terrible, it’s quite pleasant, but that’s about the best I can do for it as it was just a little bland, like Everything But The Girl reinvented for the next generation. Ironic band name really as they are getting The ⭐️⭐️

Ew. This is the type of music I would think of if I said I dont like modern music. I dont say that now but maybe 10 years ago I would have. Its not horrible I guess. Like its not a thing I would even think about if I was shopping at the jc penny and it was on over the speakers. But sitting here and listening to 40 minutes of it really got to me by the end. Its just so generic. I dont hear anything new or interesting. Its the popcorn marvel movie of music. Its fine to like it but i just cant see it as fine art. Its art of some kind just not good art for me. Its just so smoothed out. Its perfect. It makes me feel like a robot made it. It grosses me out. I just cant really find anything worth it for me. The music just stinks all around. But its not a 1 star stink I guess. It took a long time for me to get mad at it at least. Only in the last 2 songs did I get the come on wrap it up feelings. If it went on much longer I might have been able to justify a 1, but as it is if I heard it I just wouldn't notice it instead of fly into a blind rage. Still not good though

Second album proposé après xx que j’avais plutôt apprécié (noté 3/5, sympa sauf voix masculine). J'ai un peu moins accroché sur cet album, je n'y ai pas retrouvé les ambiances qui m'avaient séduit dans le précédent album. Le premier morceau et sa section de cuivre m'a plutôt déplus. L’accompagnement s'améliore par la suite mais sans retrouver le niveau du premier album. Je ne suis pas sur d'avoir envie de l'écouter une seconde fois. =>2/5

For one song it's fine, but man, this album drags on. It kept feeling like it was going somewhere and then just never arrived.

I'm not a fan of The XX and I wonder how they became popular. Every so often you realize that maybe the music you like is not the same that other people like.

Nothing too crazy, I enjoyed the female singers voice for a couple songs so I will bump it up to 2 stars.

Not a fan. Anytime I'd start liking it, they'd start singing again and I'd have a bad time all over again. I just need singers to actually sing the notes instead of dropping off the moment they hit it.

I didn’t really leave myself much room to manoeuvre by giving their debut 3. This didn’t really develop that sound in an interesting way for me and feels a bit disjointed.

Jamie is still carrying the other two, but in trying to reach his level they've actually regressed. While I appreciate the craft, I wanted this to be over for most of it.

I kind of hated the singing on this. It sounds like they're trying a lot harder than the first album and it rubs me up the wrong way. Production really good in place, like the drums on track 1.

Jamais écouté avant. Quelques morceaux assez accrocheurs, ambiance dance mélancolique, ne suffisent pas à effacer l'impression d'un album mesuré au millimètre, calibré et lissé à l'extrême, où chaque beat, chaque ligne de basse, chaque nappe de synthé, chaque harmonie vocale, est exactement là où il doit être, dans les cases prévues à cet effet. Résultat : toutes les émotions sont stérilisées et on s'ennuie ferme. Franchement dommage, d'autant que la production impeccable et les quelques fulgurances pop laissent penser qu'en prenant plus de risques, en lâchant les rênes, il y aurait des choses à faire... Top : Lips Flop : Brave for You

If you're gonna write shit like this, you'd better be Cindy Lauper. Or at least Madonna.

Lame.

2/5 - I could not recall one thing from this. Why is this here?

I don’t really know what to do here. How does one be unbiased when they just don’t like the type of music they are hearing? Vocally weak but fitting for the type of music. The music has glimpses of dancehall beats and it definitely leaves the door open for remixes to bring life to some of these stale songs. Am I comparing this to the Black Eyed Peas? These guys lose Pet Shop Boys? These guys lose Armon Van Helding? Tie or whatever his name is Wet Wet Wet? Is that a band? Either way, these guys win. It’s just….this album….and being selected for this list….i just….i don’t….. it’s meh

First album was great. More of the same here. No evolution. A bit dull

2/5

Didn't finish but seemed soulless. Terrible lyrics

Not in my edition of the book! 2017. 2 stars Pleasant but instantly forgettable electro-indie pop. No idea why this is on the list?

1.7

Listening session: may 9th, while cleaning Listened to before: no Thoughts: this was just boring, not something that belongs on this list in my opinion Favourite track: On Hold

Kind of boring

dreg

Nah man this is boring. I thought about giving this a 3 but there’s just way too many people in this genre that prove to me I don’t have to convince myself that this album is good. It is not good. It is boring. And derivative as fuck.

ja is ok. bissi langweilig. 2/5

I mean, it is not like it is unbearably bad, and maybe it would be worth the list if was released 30 years before, but it really doesn't make sense in this context. 6/10

I found this pretty bland. Just not my kind of thing.

Not my style. It doesn't hurt either.

This is very plain. I don't see myself listening to it again.

Review - this album is nowhere near as good as their debut. Maybe the production was wearing a bit thin, or it's just that the juxtaposition of their calm quiet voices and the increasingly bombastic production was a bit much for me, but stylistically I just found it didn't work for me as well as their debut does. Some good songs here and there but a lot of forgettable songs. Just have their debut on the list. Rating - 4.5/10 Need to hear? NO

One of the most overrated artists of the current era. I do enjoy their house sensibilities, but it does sound like music for buying clothes in a mall. A couple of songs are bangers, but this is a dull album overall.

This is pop not alternative in my eyes. Professional writing and recording but not my scene.

I guess overall I don’t like anything that sounds like it would be played by the pool at a “hip” hotel

sorry, je suis du bord de 'je catch pas la vibe' pour les XX. J'ai trouvé ça vraiment downant pour faire de la route, et je sais pas trop c'est quoi qu'on essaye de faire... de l'electro-pop avec une touche hip-hop?

I remember listening to this band way back in the day, but was not still following them by the time this record dropped. I had moved on from their breathy alt pop. I started to feel like they were trying too hard to be sensual and ended up sounding boring. Listening to today's album made me realise that I was right in having those feelings. This is music that desperately wants to add itself onto your sex playlist. To the band's credit, they do try and build upon their minimalist style. You get hit with horns right out of the gate on 'Dangerous'. The beats might be occasionally interesting when they take more cues from dance music, but its hard to get excited with those uninterested vocals bringing the whole project down. Album closer 'Test Me' features a Brian Eno style soundscape, but the album is too far gone to win me back over. Never outwardly offensive, this is just dull and drab.

I See You ist das dritte Studioalbum des englischen Trios The xx – bestehend aus Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim und Jamie Smith –, erschienen im Januar 2017 auf dem Londoner Independent-Label Young Turks. Die Aufnahmen entstanden zwischen März 2014 und August 2016 an mehreren Orten: in der Marfa Recording Company in Texas, den Greenhouse Studios im isländischen Reykjavík sowie unter anderem in den RAK Studios und weiteren Londoner Studios. Genretechnisch bewegt sich das Album im Schnittbereich von Indie Pop und Indie Electronic und markiert eine spürbare Öffnung des Bandsounds. Gegenüber den introvertierten Vorgängeralben xx (2009) und Coexist (2012) präsentieren sich The xx auf I See You deutlich extrovertierter. Jamie Smiths Erfahrungen aus seinem Soloalbum In Colour (2015) sind unüberhörbar: Blechbläser, dichte Synthesizerstrukturen und tanzbare Rhythmen verleihen dem Album eine Unmittelbarkeit, die das Trio zuvor konsequent vermieden hatte. Dennoch bleibt der charakteristische Minimalismus erhalten – vor allem in den Gesangslinien von Croft und Sim, die sich nach wie vor komplementär überlagern. Die Singles „On Hold", die einen Hall-&-Oates-Sample geschickt einwebt, und „Say Something Loving" zeigen exemplarisch, wohin die Reise geht: Intimität und Clubkompatibilität schließen einander hier nicht mehr aus. Auch „Lips" und „Dangerous" belegen, dass die Band ihr Repertoire erweitern kann, ohne dabei die eigene Stimme aufzugeben. I See You ist das mutigste und offenste Album von The xx – ein kontrollierter Aufbruch, der Risiken eingeht, ohne die eigene Identität zu verleugnen.

Wasn't really in the mood for this one. Most of the songs were kinda dull and weepy. And I get that's the vibe they're going for, but it needed some kind of oomph to kick it up a notch. Test Me had a good angry vibe, but it needed to be longer and really hammer it home.

I don’t really like it

Mostly blows

Generic pop

A rainy day made this album an OK companion. Here's hoping for better weather. 2/5.

i was surprised at the negative review, but yeah, that wasn't great. I really enjoyed their first album in college, but haven't listened to anything beyond that. apparently for good reason.

I didn't know a album from 2017 could alreayd sound dated

Blind album, liked the debut album more for sure. This felt off like unsalted chicken compared to the delicious dish I had from the 1st album. 2

cet album émane la décennie trentenaire. je sais pas comment l'expliquer, cet album serait parfait dans une brasserie "roots" pour bobo chenus s'appelant julien ou quentin avec des doudounes sans manche et ils travaillent dans le marketing. je ne comprends pas trop pourquoi cet album fait partie des 1001 albums à écouter une fois dans sa vie. 2.5/5

This was good to make breakfast to but I could not tell you what happened in any of these songs.

The XX gets a 20 divided by 10 from me.

ehhhhh

Not sure if this wants to be dance music, or synth pop, or what, but it stays pretty forgettable for me.

so, the xx have three albums, I have listened to two of them through my first 80 albums on this project. That is 66.7% of The xx's discography. I never asked for this. No Beatles yet, no Dylan, no Zeppelin, no Soul Asylum.... Album is a whatever for most of it and then track eight (On Hold) is a banger

Dos temas y skip. Quizás me perdí de una perlita pero no es lo mío

I think this album is just not meant for me and that’s fine. I don’t really have anything negative to say.

On Hold is the only thing keeping this album from being a 1. Mind numbingly boring.

In contrast to their debut - which I love - this album leaves me without any emotions.

I See You Compared to xx this is pretty boring. Although xx is a bit one trick, it was a very well done one trick, with a reverby, atmospheric elegance and legerdemain. That well very much feels like it has run dry here, there’s a real lack of artfulness and interest, missing the enigmatic character of xx, and it all feels pretty rote and uninspired. The only song that really stood out was I Dare You, the only song hinting at the quality of xx. A bit of a disappointment, and I don’t think I’ll revisit, so a 2 for me. ❌❌ Playlist submission: I Dare You

Electronic music with no soul. A couple okay atmospheric tracks but most of this was pretty boring. The songwriting and vocals just did nothing for me.

Occasionally hard beats with the worst lyrics ever. Hate these guys

It seems that somewhere between the debut album and this album they learned that music should maybe musical elements. That being said, it still sounds like 7th grade poetry for lyrics slapped over extremely uninteresting guitars and synths. I saw another review that said they were really cooking with this. Maybe cooking boiled chicken and rice.

Idk what to say about this one it's very 2010s tbh I like it but also am cringing a little. I could've guessed it's millennial british indie pop. Like it's not bad definitely. I probably wouldn't play it around other people though. I wonder why I have to listen to it before I die. Its only 39 minutes though praise be. I think there'll be some gems. Bring back the girl I don't like the guys voice. Yeah I honestly just don't think this is all that groundbreaking. Pretty mid if I'm being honest. Yeah I'm just not that into this. It sounds like they would perform this in a seedy club while they speak into a mic too close together and the audience is vaguely uncomfortable. Ykwim. Oh I'm not hungry. Like this is kindve just annoying me at this point. Ok wait on hold is actually pretty good. I like this vibe. Ok now I like the guy better than the girl. Favourite: Say Something Loving/On Hold Least favourite: Performance

This album makes me feel sad about the state of 2000s indie pop. Maybe I'll give it another chance at some point.

thought i would love it. didnt really at all. a product of that saccharine avicii-adjacent 2010's moment, except im not nostalgic for it because i didnt hear any of these songs in grade school so it doesnt really do anything for me. kind of youtube rewind-coded. honestly a similar level of energy/cringe for me as your 2010's hey ho stomp claps. favorite song is On Hold

Rating: 3/10 Known mostly for the intro song on their debut album, I’m not really sure what The xx’s third output is on this list for, besides what I think is massively undeserved critical hype for the band. This is a real case of boring uninteresting textures for me here with the songwriting just not being there and I have no positive opinion on the vocals, with lyrics that amount to nothing much. It’s not the worst thing ever but really just a whole lot of boringness

AI music made for bots to enjoy. Like if you're on a rooftop bar and the sun is setting and there's a warm breeze and this is on in the background, I could see how these songs are engineered to be enjoyed in that moment, but as songs made to be listened to, the album pretty bad. Additional points off for lame ass basic themes in the few lines of lyrics that I caught 3.8/10

This sounds like some millennial virgins made some trip-hop without having any concept of sexy. It's just so... banal. Zero real emotion of any sort. The backing tracks are somewhat interesting, which saves this album from being one star.

Psicodelia doesn’t rank well on my taste. Personal opinion only. I like the band post Barrett era

Zzzzzz

weird and kind of like religious sounding?

This album is some sort of abstract piece of acrylic/plastic decor, dusted in glitter, glazed in a lavender and vanilla-infused lacquer, and then shrink-wrapped. It's mall-core, reminiscent of every Banana Republic-Hollister-Anthropologie excursion you've ever been subject to.

I didn’t mind the first track but that was about it. Very dull album overall. Definitely will not live long in the memory.

Not my usual. Listened while getting ready to go out for dinner, had a good time.

olvidable

Good news is they have a really cool song where no one sings, bad news is that it is not on this album.

Vocally good, just found it a little boring, not something I will be in a rush back to

Not bad but not for me

Some interesting arrangements and use of instruments. But i don’t like how the vocals sit in the mix — they are highlighted and centered so much that the overearnest lyrics become way too overearnest. I want to like this because it is an interesting blend of musical streams (electronic, dance, emo) that are usually less interesting to me— but in the end i don’t. A 2.

It's not the worst thing ever... just a bit bland and uninspired. 2.5

Say Something Loving On Hold I Dare You

A male female duo delivers pop lyrics back by a synth beat. Sounds cooler than it was. Needed more 80’s synth new wavey…could have worked.

Favorite songs: Replica, I Dare You

oloko de 2017 :0 FAVS (top 3): dangerous, a violent noise, on hold mençoes honrosas: performance, i dare you assim, o album n é mt grande e a track 1 deu MUITA expectativa do q seria o album mas ele é bem chillzinho, só a track 1 e talvez outra ai saindo da chill, acho q como é um album de 2017 podia ter dado espaço pra outros albuns pq nsei se merece o titulo de ser ouvido antes de morrer mas OKAAAYYY nota final: 2.5/5

These songs were just in one ear and out the other. I was surprised to see how popular these were on Spotify, maybe I'm just not in touch with modern music... but the last "The xx" album stunk, so it makes sense they continue to stink.

Missed the boat on this

Pretty standard pop album. On Hold is a decent song.

Not too bad but the first album was better

Nothing album that feels more like half-finished ideas rather than stripped down indie-pop. Dull. I don't hate it, I just...don't really have any opinions about it at all.

Grabación del siglo XXI y poco más. Agradable pero totalmente prescindible.

I don't remember much about the first xx album I got on this list, but I don't recall it being quite as dull as this one. This felt and sounded uninspired, with equally bland vocals. There's just not much soul here. There's nothing remotely "dream pop" about this.

Once you've heard the debut album, which I really liked, that's all you need with the XX. Just more of the same with 'I See You'.

I was excited to listen to this album but I am now disappointed but also I don’t think I ever knew what kind of artists The xx are. I guess I kind of understand why people would like them but I really don’t like her voice and I can’t get past it.

it’s just not for me.

Idk why they picked this one over their debut album. Still didn’t age well, but better than this shit

Ugh. This album was so boring and repetitive. I was hoping that the lyrics would be a saving grace, but they were not. The xx have lovely voices but simply nothing to say. Because I told myself I’d pick a favorite from every album, my favorite is on hold because it sounds a little different from the rest and because unfortunately I resonated with the lyrics

quite dull compared to the earlier albums

what a dull album. it's not bad in terms of quality, but my god is it boring. ethereal and ambient in a not pleasant way. the vocals have that 2010s indie sheen that make them sound too polished in an unpleasant way. pass.

This really did very little for me. I have two tracks which I semi liked and they were the opener Dangerous, and Replica. Other than that this style of music just doesn’t seem to be for me. The subtle and beats and baselines are fine, but the vocals to me just felt so bland and generic that it was hard to stay attached to each song. The singing really did absolutely nothing for me, and I was kinda counting the tracks until the end. Yeah just kinda boring.

1st track is poppy and catchy. A real toe tapper. kind of downhill from there.

I like XX a lot more than this album, I find the lyrics very 2010s coded (derogatory).

the reviews on this had me laughing. It's not completely dull but it's not music that I'm itching for more of. I feel like I hear this when I walk by a car full of teenagers. Indie pop, edm?

Total waste of space. In Colour is a great album and should've been on here instead

I gave the last xx album a three, which looking back was perhaps generous. I found this to be inoffensively bland.

Borophyll

I am feeling unusually harsh toward this album, less for the content and more for its placement on the list. While I do find most of the tracks to be standard, samey, and at times boring, I don't think they're bad. More importantly, the album as a whole does not seem "important", "influential", or "best" in class to me. The band's debut (xx) from 2009 has a better case, doing many of the same things as I See You, only 8 years earlier and - in my opinion - much better. So I don't see how this record from 2017, that treads no new ground even when compared to The xx's own body of work, earns its spot here. In conclusion, Gaga was left off for this???

It’s hard for me to believe that someone listened to this album and was like “people need to hear this before they die”

Some nice dreamy pop songs. Nothing overly extravagant. It’s well produced and a pretty easy listen, but I don’t find it very striking or mind blowing.

This is the second album by The xx that they’ve suggested to me. Very atmospheric and all vibe. The vocals are well done, but I find them a bit too soft and breathy. The beats are solid and very close to some of my favorite dance hits from the 90s, though it’s missing some of the energy and bombast. And with all of that, I find I just don’t care. Their music has a definite setting. It’s just not one that I connect to. I’ll say they are competent and talented, just not my thing.

Genre de monde qui t'invitent chez eux et une fois rendu y proposent de faire de la thérapie de groupe pour passer la soirée.

A second album from the xx? The first one mostly sucked, but it at least brought a minimalist mood that made it interesting. This one layers on a bit more sonic texture, to mostly ill effect. This is emotionless, Apple Store inspired homogenized adult contemporary indie with no heart or soul, and only a few songs that make it worth listening to ("Say Something Loving", "On Hold").

I love Jamie xx's production, but the vocals don't offer much in terms of improvement. It seems like a disservice to his music to add these middling vocals to it.

This may be the most boring album I’ve ever heard. It sounds like the score of a second-rate Netflix romantic drama aimed at twenty-somethings.

If I could give this negative stars I would

This was disappointingly boring

Ei oikein iske musiikkityylinä. Tunnelma ihan ok. 2/5.

Like their earlier LPs. This one bores

lo riascolterei solo per poi non ascoltarlo davvero. troppo pop, noioso

ZZzzzz...2 estrelas

I really kept wanting this to resolve into other, similar music that I *like*. But it never really did, just continued to be off to the side from where my taste lies.

eh, whatever. unsure if i don't think this is as good as their other album on this list, or if i'm just not nostalgic about this one. 1.5

Not really a fan of the xx doing vocals

Sincero non pensavo fosse una band così recente Non mi è piaciuto

Not engaging in the slightest. Boring, insipid and very proud of itself (without justification), I drifted off several times while listening to this. Although it is not actively bad, this is one of the most blah records on the list so far.

eh, medíocre. não foi inescutável, mas foi chato, viu. dancei de leve umas 2 vezes só e eh isso.

Boring music for people who love to complain

Do you remember that old comedy sketch about going for an English, where a group of Indians go to a restaurant and challenge themselves to order the blandest thing on the menu? Well, this album is the audio equivalent. It’s aggressively middle of the road and unchallenging. Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly acceptable to listen to, just not very exciting. Apparently they came second in the Brit awards to Mumford & Sons, which tells you everything you need to know about where they stand in the pop firmament. On the positive side, I did enjoy the lead vocals from Romy Madley-Croft who reminded me of Sophie Ellis-Bextor. There must be something about singers with double barrelled names that appeals to me.

An album that passes you by and reminds me a lot of Houmous & Chutneys 38th studio album ‘Pay Attention (or you’ll regret it)!’ 2.0 9/10 I Dare You

Yet another "guess you have to have lived in the UK when this was a big deal to appreciate" album. It's fine. Didn't move me much and the singles that was obviously the single with the Hall and oats sample felt like a calculated lab-generated hit.

8 years after their debut it's nice to see the band still making boring crap

Musically is fine, but a bit boring. Definitely not one for the car. The voice is meh. I'd really have to be in the right mood for this sort of thing, and today isn't it.

Electronic pop from the 2010s Favorite track: on hold other picks: say something, a violent noise, i dare you

Quite a bit to slow and soft for me, it just doesn't have anything that I want to listen to.

The first xx record being on this list makes sense. This one? Not so much. I know it's one of the band member's solo album, but I think Jamie xx's In Colour was much more deserving if you had to pick another record by them.

granny always said a shitty xx album is better than the best beck album

Forgettable.

why? WHY?

Not good or interesting at all. the type of so calledindie roxk i despise

Nothing notable about this album, not sure why it's on this list.

It was meh for me. Jamie xx in colour - amazing. This was bland and the female vocal annoys me.

This record is making me question the 5 star rating scale I've been using. This isn't terrible but I don't see how it's noteworthy. I don't know how but 3 feels simultaneously too high and just right, I dunno. Like, why do I need to hear this before I die? Is it impactful? Unique? I'm leaning toward neither. Honestly this entry is again making me question the recency bias on the later additions to the list. Of the records that came out in 2018 that had were better... Sleep, Mark Lanegan, Shame, Cat Power, Kurt Vile, David Nance... Etc etc. I think there should be a 5 year grace period before something enters the list.

They lost it. Starts middling, down from there.

4/10

It was just OK

No

Didn't like this one! Not necessarily bad but very generic, I've already forgotten everything about it. Baby's first indie album. Some of the newer albums from this seem like they just needed to throw something in to justify a new best album book revision.

I just think overall the vocals are the weakest part of this album. The indietronica styling is good, the bass is solid, and samples are engaging. Jamie xx solo material is more entertaining for me. Just kinda meh. Favorite song was Say Something Loving.

Boring. XX & Jamie XX success due to a master-class in marketing. Rich boi probably.

On hold á spretti, en annars finnst mér þetta varla neitt neitt, eiginlega frekar döll.

big meh

Cover 5 The lyrics sound a bit generic. The musicality is limited. That isn't bad in and of itself, on a per song basis but an entire album of it kinda seems like they actually can't play instruments and makes me wonder why there are three people in the band. Of course, sometimes less is more. Other times less is indeed less. This band had been around awhile and have never impressed me although they've garnered a decent following. The songs, disregarding the above, are ok. You might like chilling to these tracks, but there are others out there for this purpose.

ummm pretty drab

Fine album. Definitely a bit surprised that this is on the list. seems like an alright album, with some songs that are highlights for sure. It does have great instrumentals, but overall it was kinda boring with okay singing and pretty good production

2 out of 5. This album really came and went by. It wasn't unpleasant, so there's that.

The mixing is excellent - very sharp. The music, though, is emotionless, boring, and pointless. I didnt mind listening to it, the same way I don't mind looking at a blank canvas.

It's obviously decent, but a little too dreamlike for my tastes. I want some more BALLS in my electronic music. Otherwise it's just digital folk. The Hall and Oates sample just about saved it.

I don’t get this album. Aside from the couple minor hits, it really did nothing for me.

I should like this, but it's so boring. A few good moments, but overall, it feels slow and pointless.

who the FUCK put two of their albums on this godforsaken list ????? I feel like I am on AGT the way I would have hit my buzzer BOTH TIMES X X

Kind of folky, not really vibing with this style of music.

Huh, did not expect to see something this lightweight included on this list but I should not be by this point. I like Jamie xx a great deal, especially his singles/club tracks, as well as a lot of In Colour, so I had some hope for this one when it came out. The xx, however, were always a tough sell for me given the melodrama/so sad vocal affect. I admire the technique - close mic’d, quiet - but as a listener I’m just like stop talking to me. “On Hold,” the track most reminiscent of In Colour and a big, real deal mid-10s pop single probably should work for me, but it just feels forced. I’ll always stick up for these kids, I guess, but it’s just...not my thing.

I thought it was a really long first song and then I realized it was the whole album. Boring and British ...

decent chill vibe slightly boring good for revising to 6/10?

8 tracks in it suddenly occurred to me I'd been listening the same song for quite a while. But no, 8 separate tracks, they just sound identical. Ambient and calm, but overall just meh.

i used to like the xx alot but i think listening to the whole album again, its a bit too indie for me now

The second xx album here, and I just think that I don't really understand this band, nor their mass appeal. Or maybe I do, I mean, there is something kind of cool about their very subdued, and kind of dark and brooding take on indie-pop. But a majority of the songs, especially in the first half, and even with the dynamic vocals, just felt super one-note. I did really like the songs 'On Hold' and 'I Dare You', but that's about it. Don't think this group's for me in all honesty.

I think this just confirms this band is not for me. I would almost prefer it to just be instrumentals with zero vocals and maybe some melodic synth lines or even just like two note melodies. I have no interest in the vocals on this album. It's just well produced, boring electronic music with boring vocals.

Good but not my cup of tea

Meh

Decent 2010's indie electro-pop. Pretty derivative but generally inoffensive. Saves the best parts for the end, and not much else noteworthy throughout. Top tracks: On Hold, I Dare You

Ja ei. ⭐️⭐️

Pari isoa hittiä näiltä löytyy omiltakin listoilta mutta tämä oli kyllä harmillisen tasaista settiä.

Можех да мина и без това преди да умра

Gear: Letshuoer S12 PRO Artwork: ✖️👥🚾 Production: 🎧🙂👌 Music: 🆕📉✍️ Rating: ✖️(✖️)/5

Never been a fan of the XX. Solid production, I like Jamie xx work but already know this isn't for me, just don't enjoy their voices, personal opinion.

inte så kul du.

I was not looking forward to this after hacking heard their other album on the list. However, this was much more varied, has better songs and was all in all a nicer listening experience. Still not my kind of music, but at least parts of it were actualité listenable

So much worse than their first album. If xx isn’t on the list and this is itd be embarrassing

Proving that music isn't math. "X" = 5 stars. "XX" = 2 stars. 2/5.

What’s with this list having repeat entries of mediocre bands? The 2010s are a great era of music but this does not summarize it well. Why didn’t you include of monsters and men instead? It sounds similar, but was much more prominent during the time and was less boring.

Im suspicious of any newish album I’m not familiar with (probably incorrectly as I’m not exactly plugged in to new music). This album ever so slightly surpassed those tempered expectations. Competent pop album. Pretty forgettable but I never considered turning it off, even if I frequently forgot it was on. Definition of a 2.5

2.0 Some of the earlier xx stuff is interesting. This wasnt, for me

En skiva i mängden. Lyssnade på den igår och jag har redan glömt bort hur det lät.

Enjoyed it, but didn’t love It. Frankly some of the songs sounded too slow or they were missing something. Also a bit corny or cliched in lyrics and themes.

Something about this doesn’t hit.. a lot of the songs remind me of other, better songs (On Hold is kind of a shameless rip-off of TI and Justin Timberlake’s Dead and Gone?? No??) and in some cases, other, better The xx songs!

It grew on me and I made it through the whole album with no skips, so that’s clearly a win, though not something I’d ever listen to again.

This was ok. I was not offended listening to this. The entire album felt a little muted. It just didn’t evoke any feeling from me good or bad.

The “anyone can get greenlit for Netflix” joke but make it any British musician can get their bland album added to 1001 albums list

The first 4 songs did make it for me. The rest of the album, not so much.

I didn't really care for this. It's not terrible but pretty poppy and not really my taste.

I mean be pop be pop it’s aight

Honestly wasnt expecting this Give it a 2.7 star

Still not my thing

Not really deserving of a spot in this list

It's not bad, but as their groundbreaking (and much better) debut album is already on the list, this album has absolutely zero business being here. Zero.

I usually like dream pop/indie but this was rather uninspiring and boring. Good production shadows the lack of good songwriting.

Hmmm... I could hear some UK Garage elements which I didn't expect. Not heard of this band at all. Vocals are not great, lyrics are uninspired and music is repetitive. Not for me, effortlessly boring. Probably doesn't need to be on this list.

Kind of bad. Boring, even. These other reviewers are definitely onto something. The best tracks on here are ones with the female vocalist, though even she gets a little flat and monotone at times. I would pin this up as AI-sounding, except it was made before the era of (convincing) AI audio. On Hold and Lips are two of the most energetic and internally varied tracks, though I still can't really recall much about them except that I was nodding my head a little more than usual. The lack of percussion is slightly destructive to the overall sound. On the back-to-back songs A Violent Noise and Performance, it's obvious the listener needs a pick-me-up after the relatively sluggish opening trio of songs. But then these two end up being even slower, featuring melancholic tempos and textures, and zero percussion to keep any kind of interest. The following track, Replica is *slightly* better, but not by much. I appreciate the interesting bass lines occasionally making up for lack of any other interesting musical elements. But once you realise said bass lines are either electronic or trying really hard to be, most of the soul is sucked out. What's left is an empty shell of an album trying much too hard to sound important. The slow synths and drawn-out vocalising is an attempt to obscure the fairly poor songwriting here. If you actually pay attention to the lyrics, they're a big old nothing burger. "I need a reminder, the feeling's escaped me / I went looking for it / Could have been anyone's kiss / Throwing my arms at no one / When I gave up, I found love / The thought flows through my mind / And it's growing all the time" ...Bored yet? That's actually one of the better set of lines on the record. 2/5 Key tracks: Lips, On Hold

2.5/5 it's fine. Didn't wow me. I don't know how it's considered influential or important.

Don’t think I was in the mood for this atm. Would be fun to go to a concert w this music whilst high.

I really, really, really am not vibing with either vocalist. With no vocals, I bet the rating would be a 3.5 or a 4 for the music.

I See You finds The xx trying to expand their sound beyond the minimalist intimacy that defined their earlier work, bringing in brighter production and more prominent beats, largely thanks to Jamie xx's influence. While the attempt to evolve is clear, the result feels uneven. The album often sits in an awkward middle ground between their sparse, moody origins and a more extroverted, dance-inflected direction that doesn't fully land. Tracks like “On Hold” offer glimpses of something fresh, with its chopped vocal samples and upbeat energy, but much of the album feels distant and emotionally vague. The chemistry between Romy and Oliver is still there in moments, but the songwriting doesn't always support the more polished sound.

2.5

Very boring. I was extremely bored for most of this album. There’s very little interesting stuff going on, and the little bits of interesting musical moments rarely last and are often overshadowed by the mediocrity surrounding it. I felt nothing most of the time, as I spaced out from sheer boredom and didn’t feel any emotions that should have been invoked. It’s hard to call it a bad album, it’s just really bland. 2/5

Fine, very 2010s electronic

I did sign up to this project in order to listen to stuff outside my comfort zone to be fair. But turns out my comfort zone is not such a bad place to be after all 😐

Not for me, but it's fine.

This album was very disappointing. I gave it several chances listening to it front to back and just NOTHING stood out. The problem with hating this album though is that the instrumentation is excellent and the production is so amazingly clean and crisp. It’s just that the lyrics do nothing for me, the vocals do nothing for me, and too many songs are too slow for the instrumentals to carry the songs. And that’s really the problem at the end of the day. This album is so boring and edgeless. There’s no danger to this album. This is a bit of an exaggeration but this album almost sounds like an attempt to just make songs that will get picked for commercials. Like obviously no one would pick “performance” for a commercial, but the album as a whole is just a boring bland slice of modern indie pop white bread. Snore.

Very meh. Found the lyrics to be dull and uninspired. Sounds too much like other indie-pop albums from that era but doesn’t really measure up.

It definitely sounds like it was released in 2017

Mmmmmmmmm. No thanks. Not a big fan of their dance/electronic vibe. I have no framework with which to decide if it's actually objectively bad, but it's certainly not my speed.

Not my kind of music, but strangely listenable.