Xx (album)

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xx
Studio album by The xx
Released 17 August 2009
Recorded December 2008 – April 2009;
XL Studios (West London, England)
Genre Indie pop,[1] dream pop[2]
Length 38:34
Label Young Turks
Producer Jamie Smith
The xx chronology

xx
(2009)		 Coexist
(2012)
Singles from xx
  1. "Crystalised"
    Released: 27 April 2009[3]
  2. "Basic Space"
    Released: 3 August 2009[4]
  3. "Islands"
    Released: 26 October 2009
  4. "VCR"
    Released: 24 January 2010
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 87/100[5]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [6]
The A.V. Club A[7]
Robert Christgau A[8]
The Daily Telegraph [9]
The Guardian [10]
NME 8/10[11]
Pitchfork Media 8.7/10[12]
Rolling Stone [13]
Slant Magazine [14]
The Times [15]

xx is the debut studio album by English indie pop group The xx, released on 17 August 2009 by Young Turks.[16] The self-produced album was recorded at XL Studios in West London between December 2008 and April 2009.

Upon its release, xx received acclaim from music critics, and it was subsequently included in several publications' year-end lists. In 2010, it was awarded the Mercury Prize.[17] xx spent over 100 weeks on the UK Albums Chart,[18] and was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[19] As of September 2011, the album had sold 405,000 copies in the UK.[20]

Critical reception

xx received universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 87, based on 25 reviews.[5] Music critics noted elements of post-punk, indie pop and R&B in the album's music.[6][12][14][15][21]

Accolades

xx rated highly in several publications' lists of the best albums of 2009. It was placed at number two on NME's 2009 albums of the year poll,[22] and won XFM's New Music Award 2010.[23] FACT magazine named xx the best album of 2009 and the fifty-third best album of the 2000–09 decade.[24][25] It ranked fourth on the Chicago Tribune's list of the twenty best albums of 2009.[26] Pitchfork Media listed it as the third best album of 2009.[27] In addition, The Guardian named it as 2009's top album of their Top 50 Critics Poll.[28]

The album won the 2010 Mercury Prize, the annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland.[17]

Usage in media

The song "Intro" was used during NBC's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games,[29] and the BBC's coverage of the 2010 United Kingdom general election.[30] It was also sampled by recording artist Rihanna for her song "Drunk on Love", from her 2011 album Talk That Talk.[31]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, except where noted, all music composed by Madley Croft, Sim, Jamie Smith and Baria Qureshi, except where noted.
No. Title Length
1. "Intro"   2:07
2. "VCR"   2:57
3. "Crystalised"   3:21
4. "Islands"   2:40
5. "Heart Skipped a Beat"   4:02
6. "Fantasy" (lyrics by Sim) 2:38
7. "Shelter" (lyrics by Croft; music by Croft, Sim and Smith) 4:30
8. "Basic Space"   3:08
9. "Infinity"   5:13
10. "Night Time"   3:36
11. "Stars"   4:22

Personnel

Credits for xx adapted from liner notes.[34]

The xx
  • The xx – design, photography
  • Romy Madley Croft – vocals, guitar
  • Oliver Sim – vocals, bass
  • Jamie Smith – beats, mixing, MPC, producer
  • Baria Qureshi – guitar, keyboards
Additional
  • Phil Lee – art direction, design
  • Rodaidh McDonald – engineer, mixing
  • Nilesh Patel – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009–10) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[35] 40
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[36] 9
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[37] 41
Danish Albums Chart[38] 32
Dutch Albums Chart[39] 29
European Top 100 Albums[40] 12
Finnish Albums Chart[41] 10
French Albums Chart[42] 35
French Digital Albums Chart[43] 1
German Albums Chart[44] 54
Greek Albums Chart[45] 41
Irish Albums Chart[46] 14
Irish Independent Albums Chart[47] 1
New Zealand Albums Chart[48] 13
Norwegian Albums Chart[49] 23
Scottish Albums Chart[50] 4
Spanish Albums Chart[51] 73
Swedish Albums Chart[52] 39
Swiss Albums Chart[53] 52
UK Albums Chart[54] 3
UK Indie Albums Chart[55] 1
US Billboard 200[56] 92
US Alternative Albums[57] 14
US Independent Albums[58] 9
US Rock Albums[59] 23

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[60] 18
European Top 100 Albums[61] 71
French Albums Chart[62] 148
UK Albums Chart[63] 36

Certifications

Region Certification
Australia Gold[64]
Belgium Gold[65]
Canada Gold[66]
Germany Gold[67]
United Kingdom Platinum[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Interview: The XX – XX make their mark with XL Records". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  2. ↑ Boden, Sarah (11 July 2009). "CD: Pop review: The XX, XX". The Observer (London). Observer Music Monthly section, p. 41. Retrieved 23 February 2013. 
  3. ↑ "YT023: The xx – Crystalised". Young Turks. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  4. ↑ "YT030: The xx – Basic Space". Young Turks. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "xx – The xx". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 28 October 2009. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Phares, Heather. "xx – The xx". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 September 2009. 
  7. ↑ Rizov, Vadim (5 January 2010). "The xx: xx". The A.V. Club (Chicago). Retrieved 23 February 2013. 
  8. ↑ Christgau, Robert (December 2009). "Consumer Guide". MSN Music. Retrieved 16 May 2013. 
  9. ↑ Arnhold, Jack (13 August 2009). "Young Turks: The xx, CD review". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 23 February 2013. 
  10. ↑ Simpson, Dave (14 August 2009). "The xx: 'xx'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2009. 
  11. ↑ Mackay, Emily (11 August 2009). "Album review: The XX – 'The XX'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 24 August 2009. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Gaerig, Andrew (28 August 2009). "The xx: xx". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 28 August 2009. 
  13. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (13 October 2009). "The xx : The xx". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2010. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cole, Matthew (2 October 2009). "The xx: xx". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2009. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Edwards, Mark (16 August 2009). "The xx: xx review". The Times. Times Newspapers. Retrieved 24 August 2009.  (subscription required)
  16. ↑ "YT031: The xx – xx". Young Turks. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "The xx win the Mercury Prize for debut album". BBC News Online. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010. 
  18. ↑ "Official UK Albums Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
  20. ↑ Stoddard, Katy (7 September 2011). "Mercury Prize 2011: Every Mercury Prize winner, ever, including PJ Harvey". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 
  21. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (11 October 2009). "Critics' Choice: New CDs". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 18 November 2009. 
  22. ↑ "50 Best Albums of 2009". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
  23. ↑ "Xfm New Music Award 2010 Winner Named!". XFM. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010. 
  24. ↑ "40 best: Albums of 2009". FACT. The Vinyl Factory. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  25. ↑ "100 best: Albums of the Decade". FACT. The Vinyl Factory. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  26. ↑ Kot, Greg (9 December 2009). "Top albums of 2009". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved 16 December 2009. 
  27. ↑ "The Top 50 Albums of 2009". Pitchfork Media. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009. 
  28. ↑ Jonze, Tim (18 December 2009). "Albums of 2009, No 1: The xx – xx". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2009. 
  29. ↑ "What's That Song From the AT&T Commercial With Olympic Speed Skater Apolo Anton Ohno?". Spinner. 17 February 2010. 
  30. ↑ Rising stars The xx play out Newsnight election special BBC News, 10 May 2010
  31. ↑ Copsey, Robert (10 November 2011). "Rihanna's new album 'Talk That Talk': First listen". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 12 November 2011. 
  32. ↑ "xx by The xx". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  33. ↑ "xx by The xx". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 19 February 2013. 
  34. ↑ xx (CD liner notes). The xx. Young Turks. 2009. YT031.
  35. ↑ "The XX – XX". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  36. ↑ "The XX – XX" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  37. ↑ "The XX – XX" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  38. ↑ "The XX – XX". danishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  39. ↑ "The XX – XX" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  40. ↑ "The xx – Chart history: European Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  41. ↑ "The XX – XX". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  42. ↑ "The XX – XX" (in French). lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 October 2009. 
  43. ↑ "Le classement des téléchargements Albums" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  44. ↑ "The XX, XX" (in German). charts.de. Media Control. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  45. ↑ "The XX – XX". greekcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  46. ↑ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 9 September 2010". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  47. ↑ "Top 10 Independent Artist Albums, Week Ending 9 September 2010". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 
  48. ↑ "The XX – XX". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  49. ↑ "The XX – XX". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  50. ↑ "2010 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 
  51. ↑ "The XX – XX". spanishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  52. ↑ "The XX – XX". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  53. ↑ "The XX – XX". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 September 2009. 
  54. ↑ "2010 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 
  55. ↑ "2010 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  56. ↑ "The xx – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  57. ↑ "The xx – Chart history: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  58. ↑ "The xx – Chart history: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  59. ↑ "xx – The xx : Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  60. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2010" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  61. ↑ "2010 Year End Charts – European Top 100 Albums". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  62. ↑ "Classement Albums – année 2010" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  63. ↑ "Top 40 UK Albums of 2010". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  64. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 October 2012. 
  65. ↑ "Gold and platinum certifications – Albums – 2010". Ultratop. Hung Medien. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
  66. ↑ "Gold Platinum Database". Music Canada. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2012. 
  67. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The XX)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 29 September 2012. 

External links

The xx
  • Baria Qureshi
Studio albums
Singles
Other songs
Related
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