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Coexist
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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 186 Ratings

  • Summary: The second release for the British indie pop band was inspired by club music.
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Top Track

Angels
Light reflects from your shadow It is more than I thought could exist You move through the room Like breathing was easy If someone believed me They... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Sep 10, 2012
    100
    The world adored the xx's Mercury Prize-winning debut album xx. Coexist is, if anything, an even finer piece of work.
  2. Uncut
    Sep 14, 2012
    90
    Coexist is a masterpiece. [Oct 2012, p.80]
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  3. Beats Per Minute
    Sep 17, 2012
    81
    The end result is a quieted, more suppressed record that steps delicately from one note to the next and shines even more of a spotlight on the twin vocal sentiments of longing and crumbled romance.
  4. BBC Music
    Sep 5, 2012
    80
    With a signature sound established at the first time of asking, The xx's challenge was to both expand their palette and satisfy the demands of a huge audience. And through refinement rather than reinvention, they've succeeded in singular style.
  5. The Boston Phoenix
    Sep 5, 2012
    75
    At a certain point, the xx need to turn off that reverb pedal and learn to sing above a whisper - but I'll be damned if they haven't worked their magic again.
  6. Dusted Magazine
    Sep 10, 2012
    70
    This album certainly sounds more produced, but the band's investment in studio time mostly means sighing washes of prismatic reverb rather than a new architecture of synths and drums. Still, many of the album's best moments are its most... well, not beat-driven, but beat-bedazzled.
  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Sep 12, 2012
    40
    Where xx was an album that got its hooks in you, Coexist becomes a somnolent atmosphere-in-itself, in which hooks are conspicuous by their absence. It all works best when the tempo rises (relatively speaking), as on "Tides" and "Swept Away;" still, the pulse races placidly.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 28
  3. Negative: 4 out of 28
  1. Apart
    Sep 11, 2012
    10
    In the end, Coexist is a love letter, simple, honest and beautiful. "Missing", the album's finest track, you hear Oliver more passionate thatIn the end, Coexist is a love letter, simple, honest and beautiful. "Missing", the album's finest track, you hear Oliver more passionate that ever, the emotion in his voice is truly captivating.… Expand
  2. zmusicmovieman
    Sep 11, 2012
    10
    Many people may say that The XX didn't push their sound to be different from their brilliant debut album, however the fact is no one soundsMany people may say that The XX didn't push their sound to be different from their brilliant debut album, however the fact is no one sounds like them, and they have their own unique style and originality and are easily one of the best new bands to come along in years. Their new album is even better then their debut I believe. And with multiple listens, it only gets better. There are no throw away songs, or ones in which they try too hard to make it good. Many standout songs for me. But none more then "Missing", which is easily the best song of the year in my opinion. "Angels, Chained, Swept away, Try, Reunion, Tides" are all quite impressive too. I can't wait to see them live again, they are intense live, and have a feeling of a band not since Radiohead that has nothing but the sky as the limits to what they can do in the future. No sophomore slump here. This band will be around a long time (as long as they don't break up or something, let's really hope not). This album is easily one of the top 3 albums so far this year. Only Beach House and Frank Ocean have done albums anywhere near as brilliant. I still like the XX more then anything else this year and I listen to a lot of music. Long live the XX and I pray they keep making albums that make people think and listen to many times, until they understand that it is an album of everlasting beauty and perfection.… Expand
  4. ChristyDunne
    Feb 15, 2013
    9
    First, when listening to this album you must take it for what it is. It is mellow and soulful. Jamie xx's reverb-filled melodies fill out eachFirst, when listening to this album you must take it for what it is. It is mellow and soulful. Jamie xx's reverb-filled melodies fill out each song without forcing the song down your throat. The album allows the reader to easily engage and connect with the music, particularly songs such as "chained" or "angels" which, in particular, manage to evoke an emotional response… Expand
  5. ConnJack
    Sep 19, 2012
    7
    The new album from The xx titled 'Coexist' is lovely sounding and has it's moments but overall this record is otherwise pretty forgettableThe new album from The xx titled 'Coexist' is lovely sounding and has it's moments but overall this record is otherwise pretty forgettable because it is all drowned out by beats and doesn't focus enough on the lyrics… Expand
  6. longjetty7
    Mar 5, 2015
    7
    I don't think Coexist is quite as good as their first album, but it still has some nice moments. This one is a lot more subdued andI don't think Coexist is quite as good as their first album, but it still has some nice moments. This one is a lot more subdued and introspective, so some of the songs aren't as memorable as I would like, but at the same time, I wouldn't say there's anything here that's bad. It's all a very consistent relaxing and melancholy mood, so I can see myself listening to this one a lot more. It would be better though if more songs had the same impact as Fiction or Swept Away, for example.… Collapse
  7. bingbongbananas
    Sep 13, 2012
    6
    Not much in terms of dynamic contrast, but if you're in need of a mellow album you could do much worse. The vocals and instrumentation is niceNot much in terms of dynamic contrast, but if you're in need of a mellow album you could do much worse. The vocals and instrumentation is nice and light. A high point is the track "Reunion".… Expand
  8. aethelyon
    Sep 13, 2012
    0
    **** boring. Don't waste your time thinking that this is something brilliant or epic. This album lacks everything that made their first album**** boring. Don't waste your time thinking that this is something brilliant or epic. This album lacks everything that made their first album worthwhile. This record sounds lazy and bored. I imagine the band felt the same while making this.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Most Discussed Album of 2012
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2012

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