xx - The xx
xx Image
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 215 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut album for the South London quartet.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. It's hard to imagine their music getting much better. But it's not hard to imagine their lives getting much better. Which may be all their music needs.
  2. The xx have made a debut that sounds utterly flawless; it's the kind of album that bands take years to create.
  3. It's strange that such a traditional set-up (drums, bass, keys, guitars, voices) has resulted in one of 2009's most unique debuts.
  4. Their quest for a catchy chorus is often derailed by a love of hazy atmospherics, creating a soundtrack suited for little more than late-night navelgazing. [Fall 2009, p.72]

See all 25 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 83
  2. Negative: 4 out of 83
  1. RG
    10
    Simply great!
  2. j30
    8
    Even though the music feels simple and could be boring, this. vocally driven album cuts deep.
  3. 5
    It's a bland album for me. The songs sounds boring, and often kind of inexpressive. Romy's voice is not suitable for the lo-fi scene, and the band sure enough sounds like over hyped. At least their songs are well-written, but the melodies and beats are saturated sound among so much strangeness. The metal strings are over produced. Maybe the band can improve musically, but now it sounds just like nothing outrageous to me. Expand
  4. MarkR
    4
    Another overrated bore. This record is neither a game changer, nor the best debut of the year. Don't believe the hype. I just don't get what all the fuss is about. The songs are slow and boring. There's no innovation, there's really little of interest going on here. Yawn. Expand

See all 83 User Reviews

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