I See You

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

3.5 Moody House

Another more recent album that just makes me feel like an old fart. It sounds incredibly dull to me and has one of the current variants of singing style I find really unappealing. It also sounds to me like a lot of acts are more or less singing the same unmemorable melodies. You wouldn't be able to tell from my scores but I do like plenty recent music.

This was whatever.

I hadn't listened to this one before, but am a big fan of their debut, and Jamie xx's solo work. I went into this expecting to have a grumble about them not deserving a second spot in the book, but was very wrong. Although this isn't quite the breath of fresh air that their first album was at the time, it's such a significant departure from their past albums and really shows a lot of growth. It's also a good representative snapshot of pop and electronic music in the late 2010s. I think it will age well. There are some great songs on here; Dangerous, Say Something Loving, Replica, On Hold, I Dare You. Equally danceable and intimate, with some fantastic instrumentation and sampling alike.

Impeccably crafted

Atmospheric and cool, but none of the tracks demanded attention and hooked me. On Hold was the most interesting moment and definitely worth a listen.

Fedt produceret, det hele lyder bare lækkert. Deres stemmer er rigtigt gode sammen.

Not sure about this one. Still moody and muted, but it teeters into overly emotional pop a few too many times.

Intriguing but a bit one-note. Eager to compare it to their debut album

The XX are one of my favourite bands, and this is my second favourite album by them, so personally glad to see this on the list today. But not sure if it’s an album that’s really in the same league as their debut, so can’t give it the full 5 stars.

Not half bad

It is quite odd to get two albums by The xx in two days, but it has actually been a welcome surprise. It has properly introduced me to the band and made me pay attention in a way I had not before.

I See You feels a little brighter and more open than xx. There is still that minimalist core, but the production has more colour and movement. The hooks are stronger and the songs feel slightly more immediate.

On Hold is incredibly catchy and easily one of the standout moments. I Dare You has a warmth and confidence that really works. The whole album flows well and is an easy, enjoyable listen.

Favourite songs: On Hold and I Dare You
Least favourite: None that stood out negatively
Album artwork: Simple, bold and instantly recognisable, very much in keeping with their aesthetic

Ihan jees indie-elektro-poppislevy, mut tää on vuos jollon kuunteli jo aika paljon uusia levyjä. En ehkä itse olisi nostanut tätä vuodelta 2017.

2.4

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.

Impressive for 1997...oh wait, no, this came out in 2017. Nevermind, far less impressive then. In fact, this doesn't leave much of an impression on me at all. I'm bored, but the weird thing is, they sound like they were bored themselves in the process of making this. The most exciting thing on the record, by far, is a pitch bent sample of Hall and Oates. Listening to this album is like eating an entire loaf of refined white bread as a meal. Soft, low fat, and easy to digest, but lacking flavor.

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 🤦).

Fairly forgettable, like the music in a nightclub in some third rate soap. Almost entirely devoid of emotion, even the vocalists seem bored and uninvolved. I'm really not sure why this is on the list - someone trying to seem "hip" & "modern"?