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The xx - I See You |OT| Say Something Loving - January 13th
- Thread starter TheOddOne
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You came to this conclusion after using your scientific accurate talent calculator I assume?
What a weird thing to say but ok.
They definitely sound more confident but their singing is literally the same in every song since their debut lol
Their range is pretty much the same as it's ever been. Some more ooohs and ahhhs on the hooks here and there. I think it's just the overall sound of the music that'll add more enjoyment to their live show. Sorta like when beach house added a drummer to their live setup. Might as well let Jamie do something other than live drumming on an npc.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
I have it a listen, and it didn't do much for me. The lyrics were a tad distracting. I'll give it another shot on the train over the next few days.
That's just hyperbole. Romy in Angels vs. On Hold is a really stark contrast, as one example. Maybe just in approach, but there's a lot of range there and certainly not "literally the same".
Ampersands
Member
I really enjoy the first 5 songs but everything after blobs together. It's the most I've listened to them since their debut which says something.
Remembrance
Member
How anyone can speak ill of an album that opens with a brass section is beyond me.
Seriously, "dance" influences doesn't mean literally making EDM tracks. This is a band discovering funk and soul influences by way of electronica, if anything. Except for A Violent Noise, which is so trance it could be remixed and played by a DJ with a Dutch name.
Seriously, "dance" influences doesn't mean literally making EDM tracks. This is a band discovering funk and soul influences by way of electronica, if anything. Except for A Violent Noise, which is so trance it could be remixed and played by a DJ with a Dutch name.
Auron_Kale
Member
Picked up a physical copy and I now understand why the digital cover art is the way it is (a fuzzy reflection of the band can be seen)...
The neat detail was the mirrored message on the rear of the booklet.
The neat detail was the mirrored message on the rear of the booklet.
The mash up of Gosh and Shelter they're doing at live shows is something else, honestly wouldn't mind their next album to go full on dance.
RebornYeti
Member
So far I'm really digging "I Dare You", but other than that no other song has grabbed me. Will still listen on repeat several times to make a final judgement.
That... doesn't work for me at all...
After one listen: pretty, pretty great. As much as I loved "On Hold" I was worried Jamie's style would overwhelm the band's sound. Fortunately it's incorporated really well, the record sounds like a band in sync with each other. Jamie's samples and programming support Romy and Oliver's vocals and guitar and bass wonderfully, each element has space. I'd even say that, while there are now prominent samples and brass and strings and garage drums, this isn't markedly dancier than the debut. Think of "Basic Space" or "VCR" or "Islands" or "Heart Skipped a Beat", those songs all have a lot of groove even if they're comparatively instrumentally pared down. (EDIT: after listening to a playlist of xx and I See You I'm walking this back; this is absolutely more dance-y than the debut. Still, that's always been a part of their music, they came out of the gate claiming R&B influences after all.)
I liked Coexist a fair amount but this feels closer in spirit to xx, and like a more natural artistic growth. Their reputation for being downer music is way overblown, most of their songs are ultimately positive, but I See You is undeniably brighter and more joyous. "Dangerous" and "I Dare You" and of course "On Hold" are all brilliant. still the best song is the most emotionally fraught on the record: "Test Me" is a stupendous closer.
Also a big fan of "A Violent Noise" and "Performance". Only song I dislike is "Lips", but maybe it'll be a grower.
I liked Coexist a fair amount but this feels closer in spirit to xx, and like a more natural artistic growth. Their reputation for being downer music is way overblown, most of their songs are ultimately positive, but I See You is undeniably brighter and more joyous. "Dangerous" and "I Dare You" and of course "On Hold" are all brilliant. still the best song is the most emotionally fraught on the record: "Test Me" is a stupendous closer.
Also a big fan of "A Violent Noise" and "Performance". Only song I dislike is "Lips", but maybe it'll be a grower.
Auron_Kale
Member
I thought it was something abstract too initially when I first saw it digitally. Then when I got the physical copy and saw myself in a fuzzy reflection, it clicked that it was 3 people looking at it the cover. Since the band itself consists of 3 people, I figured it had to be them.
outunderthestars
Banned
It has taken a few listens but the album has really started to click for me.
Something about the record just feels really intimate and personal while not sounding one dimensional.
This might be my favorite XX record!
Something about the record just feels really intimate and personal while not sounding one dimensional.
This might be my favorite XX record!
Vincent Grayson
Member
Heh, "Lips" is my favorite track.
Mine too.
outunderthestars
Banned
It's a damn good song. Reminds me a bit of The Knife/Fever Ray.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Idk wtf to think
I liked their debut. Felt their follow up was kinda samey and sorta bored me. Then felt Jamie's solo record was dope as fuck.
This is nice in that it's definitely a different sound for the band vs the first couple records. That being said I feel like Jamie's solo dance record did the whole vibey thing better?
I liked their debut. Felt their follow up was kinda samey and sorta bored me. Then felt Jamie's solo record was dope as fuck.
This is nice in that it's definitely a different sound for the band vs the first couple records. That being said I feel like Jamie's solo dance record did the whole vibey thing better?
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
Yeah. A Violent Noise, On Hold, and Replica are standouts so far.
Don'tBeWeird
Member
Replica and Lips are the two best songs on the album.
But yeah, I prefer the Bonobo album overall.
But yeah, I prefer the Bonobo album overall.
Daffy Duck
Member
This album is very good.
Really enjoying it.
Same here, my joint favourite song with On Hold.
Really enjoying it.
Same here, my joint favourite song with On Hold.
Fancy Clown
Member
Pleasently surprised with this album after not being too hot on the singles initially. The more poppy songs feel well placed within the album as a whole, and the sound feels more like an expansion of their old sound than a total rejection of it.
Standouts so far:
-say something loving
-lips
-replica
-test me
Standouts so far:
-say something loving
-lips
-replica
-test me
Getting 'round to the bonuses, "Seasons Run" is a logical extra. Pretty good but wouldn't really fit anywhere in the album.
"Naive" is excellent though. Love the symmetry of Jamie sampling a Drake song from an album that famously sampled a Jamie/Gil song, that sample goes perfectly with the lyrics, and Oliver's vocals on it especially are real nice.
heh I know I'm the only person who doesn't like Lips but I'll nonetheless say I wish SSL had been the track they played for the show, not a web extra. Romy and Oliver's playing on that song is fantastic.
With repeat listens SSL and Brave For You have gotten better and betterwhile my love for A Violent Noise and Performance has diminished some, they're great in the context of the album but don't work out of sequence as well.
"Naive" is excellent though. Love the symmetry of Jamie sampling a Drake song from an album that famously sampled a Jamie/Gil song, that sample goes perfectly with the lyrics, and Oliver's vocals on it especially are real nice.
heh I know I'm the only person who doesn't like Lips but I'll nonetheless say I wish SSL had been the track they played for the show, not a web extra. Romy and Oliver's playing on that song is fantastic.
With repeat listens SSL and Brave For You have gotten better and betterwhile my love for A Violent Noise and Performance has diminished some, they're great in the context of the album but don't work out of sequence as well.
Fancy Clown
Member
Yeah violent noise and performance art my least favorites on the album persobally. Thankfully they are sandwiched between two of the best.
I get it, they work great as texture pieces but having them back to back is an odd choice, makes for an eight minute chunk in the middle of the album that's very diffuse. I feel like if Performance were after Brave for You or something it'd flow better
outunderthestars
Banned
Every time I listen to this record another song jumps out at me. this morning it was "I Dare You" Damn i love this record.
Same, I actually have them unsaved in Spotify. They just kill the flow of the album for me. Feel like holdovers from xx or Coexist while the rest of the album is forging ahead into new territory.
Auron_Kale
Member
After listening on repeat all weekend and during my commute, I too admit that my love for A Violent Noise is diminishing a bit while I'm also not super big on Say Something Loving either. It's odd because I liked the song enough but in the context of the album, I'm kinda over it.
Dangerous has jumped out big time for me while Replica has also grown for me.
Performance is a track that goes either way for me: some days it works for me on this album, other days it feels like a missing piece on Coexist and doesn't belong on I See You.
Dangerous has jumped out big time for me while Replica has also grown for me.
Performance is a track that goes either way for me: some days it works for me on this album, other days it feels like a missing piece on Coexist and doesn't belong on I See You.
I Dare You put a big smile on my face today, for which I was grateful as there wasn't much else to smile about today. It's such an infectious, joyful groove.
The only track that hasn't resonated with me is the closer. Each of the three parts is pretty good, but together it's a disjointed mess that just sort of peters out, without leaving anything memorable in its wake. After 3-4 listens I've taken to ending the album on I Dare You.
Which brings up the only other thing I don't like about the record: it's pretty short. Less than 40 minutes across the ten tracks, and since I've dropped the last one, about 36 minutes total. It's a strong album, with no fat (until the end). My main critique being there's not enough of it is a sort of compliment, but it is one of the shortest albums I own.
That said, I can't wait to see what they play live.
(As a side note, it debuted at #1 in the UK. Woo!)
It really does feel straight out of Coexist. But I love the hell out of that album, and appreciated the throwback to it.
outunderthestars
Banned
I think it would work for small club shows, but be dreadfully boring in large arenas and amphitheatres.
I saw them in amphitheater on the last tour and they sounded great. They do rearrange the songs (at least from Coexist) a bit for a bigger, more dymaic sound.
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