the XX - XX (young turks records)

What can I say about these youngsters? The XX are a trio from London whose songs a very simple, dark, and easily creep into your head and stay awhile If simplicity is key, than the XX may be the true locksmiths.

The debut record was in the top 10 on just about everyone's list in 2009. With dual vocals from Romy Croft and Oliver Sim, the melodies come across as hardly trying, an almost talking, effortless way of singing, and it works with the instrumentation (guitar, beats, keys) which also seem to pull back. To me, this is great "night music," and its darkness is reminiscent to the Cure's early days, i.e. Faith and Seventeen Seconds. Maybe, that is why I like it so much, and obviously the rest of the critics do as well. I think the XX pull from the Cure in a different way than say...the Black Kids, but its good to hear how they interpret an older sound in a new way and concentrate on the simpler side of things.

The key tracks here are, the back and forth male/female banter of "VCR," the hand clap interplay with the guitar and vocal melody on "Heart Skipped a Beat," and "Shelter," whose naked vocals over the heavy reverb of the guitar is both haunting and addicting to the listener.

My biggest drawback is that the simplicity may be so simple due to the musicianship of the band. I can hear a little struggle in the guitar picking, but hey, it doesn't not make me not like the songs, so who cares, right?

The Score: 8 out 10 bells
The Math: The Cure's Faith x Seventeen Seconds - the instrumentation + soft female vocals = XX