xx is the first studio album by English indie rock band The xx. Produced by the group themselves, it was originally released by Young Turks Records on August 17, 2009 in the United Kingdom and was released on October 20 in North America. The album was recorded at XL studios West London between December 2008 and April 2009.
I fell for this album at first listen. I didn’t even have to listen all the way through; I was hooked by the first spare atmospheric guitar pluckings on the unfortunately-titled “Intro.” (I only complain because it seems like a dismissive title; the song is so much more than a mere lead-in to other things.) Granted, I was predisposed to like it; I’d been seduced from afar by the rave reviews, the sexy group name and album title—is anything sexier than an X? Yes, four … more