Band-O-Week: The xx

Eugh, so I know that I have been a really bad blogger lately, what with all the Qype reviews popping up that are of no interest to you seeing as though you are not in Europe and could give two shits about the bar around the corner from the U-Bahn.

I hope you can forgive me, because now I'm feeling inspired and ready to write some things. The xx...they have been around the indie circuit for quite some time now. Top albums from Pitchfork and all that blah, blah. But really, I listened to this album once, intrigued, twice, stalking and three times ready to google them.

I can't even begin to explain the wonderfulness of this groups intense use of 80's rhythms (the good ones, think Thomson Twins in 2010), guitar, electronica and raw emotion. I love that these two singers, although seemingly unromantic -- in this album seems to have this bond that you really can't put your finger on. It just adds to the tension that exudes from their lyrics. Personal favorite is "Heart Skipped a Beat" which outlines the path of two people, in that dance of semi-love, semi-distance, wanting to say something, but not wanting to be the one to say it. When you say, "Sometimes I still need you..." I think it goes to that part of ourselves that doesn't want to give up that person from long ago (even though we said we did).

"Basic Space" also hits quite close, story of a girl that is holding on, trying to keep it together and hold her own, then all of a sudden, someone makes her loose all that self-control...and he knows it. She resists, gives in, gets hurt and then can't get back to that place she was. Excellent.

Of course, everyone is loving the song "Crystalized" but really my favorite thing about this track is the dual lyrics towards the middle, absolutely amazing and one of the most impressive musical moments I have heart in a while. Again, the sexual tension between the singers, this back and forth of the power struggle -- he says, she says -- all in their minds and not vocalizing? More true to form than any other love song I've heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pib8eYDSFEI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHZVGqqf3gg

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