I usually like my pop music one of two ways: Exceptional (like “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone or “EI” by Nelly), or pure sugar fun (like XTina or Pink). Consequently, The xx have never really resonated with me: Their stuff has always been fine, but nothing about it stuck with me.
As I understand it, their new album “I See You,” is a bit of a departure–I got that from reading a few reviews by people who are much bigger fans than I am. If that’s the case, I hope they keep departing because I See You is fantastic. The lyrics have incredible depth, especially “Say Something Loving,” which is so true it hurts. At least, for me. “Performance” is another standout of the same stripe. The slower songs on the album tend to land best with me, although the clear single, Replica, is also fantastic. Much of it is duets, and the interplay between vocalists and lyrical exchanges are part of the constantly surprising aspects of this record. I love this!
A great album.
