The album up for review today is self-titled from the band XX.  They are a four-piece band from England who write and sing simplified indie-hip-hip-pop music.  Recently, they have garnered some high praise from music critics for their covers of well-known R&B and Hip-Hop artists.  Where those styles tend to be over produced and lavish, XX takes the same trite lyrical content (sex, relationships) and simplifies it.  The result is a sound more fitting to the content; it comes of tragic with tinges of hope that things do not have to be this way.

I am impressed with how easy it is to listen to the music on XX’s sophomore album.  The arrangements are tasteful and the writing is solid.  The highlight of the music is the interplay between the male and female vocalist–this is a staple of indie-pop music perfected by the band Stars.  XX uses their vocal talent to great advantage drawing the listener in with every song.  Even though the lyrics are never profound and sometimes crass, the mood of the songs and the skill of singers keep you engaged.  This album could easily be a 5-star record crossing genres and topping charts with better lyrics.

On first listen, one cannot help but compare XX to Interpol and Boxer because of the clean guitar and driving beats.  While they borrow from these bands, they do not succumb to mere imitation.  XX’s work is better described by the word ‘understated.’  Each song is simple and clean, never cluttered with unnecessary sounds.  The stand out tracks include Crystalised, Heart skipped a Beat, Basic space, and stars.  I often find myself singing the chorus to Basic space at random moments because it is such a catchy tune.

Sadly the spiritual benefits to this album are few, although the content is somewhat better than most sexually charged R&B and Hip-hop albums.  The obvious talent of this band and the quality of their arrangements leave me wanting for more.  That is not to say their music cannot be enjoyed, but the content lessens the enjoyment.  Musically, this band is very inspiring; their style challenged me to try and do more with less.  XX is a nice alternative to the traditional folk genre, showcasing the same relaxing qualities in a newer music form.  Because there is room for growth musically and their lyrics need work, this album rates at 3 ½ stars.

Pastor Steven