Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 59
 Engaging with highlights! August 26, 2010
steve60
Heard and read much about XX and have been impressed by the record. Instant appeal with 80's influenced sound, but improves with listening with many hooks and highlights. Overall I felt that some of the tracks could have been longer, but even this is probably a good thing.
the illusion of originality... August 19, 2010
D. J. Montgomery (Crystal Palace, LONDON)
in ten years this'll be regarded as a standout album of the decade, and it'll bear less resemblance to their 80s indie inspiration. Why do we (we 40 to 50 year olds) insist on spoiling it for the youngsters? Do you realise how jaded we sound? talking as though originality was mysteriously extinguished in 1989. I remember music journalists slagging The Cure, Joy Division, Sonic Youth etc for being derivative of bands like the Velvet Underground, AND for sounding like clones of each other. I was listening to Suede's first album last week which owes so much to Bowie, and yet, with hindsight, has matured to become completely DISTINGUISHABLE from him. To draw an analogy with fashion, during the 90s the indie kids took the best of the early 70s and gave it their own unique twist - dispensing with the Kevin Keegan hairdo's, Mickey Mouse shoes etc, but retaining the style of Bianca Jagger, Biba and Roxy Music - who incidentally, drew upon the 20s, 30s, and 40s, and weren't strictly speaking, that original either. Aesthetically The XX are streets ahead of their influences and their peers, they've even managed to refine that black-polo-necked, angular, Bauhaus, 60s Art College look to the point where it daren't get any sharper.. This is their debut for goodness sakes! I Love it, its beautiful
 Amazing! Gets more addictive the more you listen to it August 18, 2010
Paul Fletcher (Bristol)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had heard so much about the XX but not yet given the music a listen, being a pessimist I tend to expect that the rave reviews are from the too cool for school kids and being 30 now tends to mean I don't get it all any more :D... then I heard Crystalised on the radio and got hooked!! Took the plunge and bought the album from amazon as it was about [...] when i got it so no risk there! Took about 3 or so listens which is about what a great album should take, 1 then its too easy (mainstream pop) and you'll get bored easily, it will be on the pile in no time. This is one you need to hear late at night on a drive, collapsed out on your bed in the dark in some good headphones so you get every whispered lyric, hear every bass note that throbs, every tingling guitar note. Seriously from start to finish its amazing and I don't think I have heard a more perfect album in maybe 5 years. Can't recommend it enough, actually don't want to go into more detail than that. Music is about discovering an album in different scenarios. Sometimes you can hear an album one day when you are in the wrong mood and you put it aside and 4 months or a year later you find it again and put it on and its the most perfect album you've ever heard. Don't wait that long, stick it on, but make sure you hear it in it's entirety and then again and again..
References are obvious with new order, the cure and some eighties electronic bands that you never thought you would hear sound so fresh today. Which I always loved, but don't be put off if you don't like those, if you liked crystalised by the XX you will love the rest of the album. P.S try XX's mix of you've got the love (florence version) it's amazing, stripped back and gorgeous! But i can't find it on amazon sadly. Thank you XX :)
Absolutely fabulous! August 14, 2010
A. Slater (Lincolnshire)
This album is the best I've heard in a long time!
The music is so mellow, but not so much that you feel sleepy... the beats, melodies and talented voices make for some seriously smooth and uplifting tunes.
Total Immersion from the word go. August 12, 2010
Mrs. J. M. Chapman (United Kingdom)
Now this is a rare gem. As opposed to alot of the mainstream generic sound we listen to; which even though I do love and appreciate. It does get a little lifeless and just plain bland. This is so refreshing as it requires you to engage with it just like you would with a good book or film. The bold elusivness of the case alone just encourages you to interprete it as you will. Every song sounds individual and flowed like individual stories to me. The album was sort of like a journey that you embark on. Sort of shaped to your narrative. Its powerful and atmospheric. Like "Fantasy" in particular is just deep, dark and foreboding. Ultimatley I just feel the album is an intense emotionally charged ride but at the same time equally; you can just kick back to it and relax. I would recommended it to anyone who is looking for a unique experience.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 59
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