Wish You Were Here/British

Have you heard The xx? This indie brit-rock phenom debuted with a self-titled album last year. As of yet, however, they seem not to have caught on in the States much. I was lucky enough to be introduced to them last weekend, and I just can’t get enough of their music. Here’s why:

The first thing you notice about The xx is their mellowed-out electronic groove. Even though the rhythms are played on a 6×4 electronic drumpad, “xx” (the album) doesn’t come across as club music at all. Think Mazzy Star with a touch of Radiohead; it’s slick like The Gorillaz and mellow like The Dandy Warhols.

The merits of this post-shoegaze gem are implorable – a stripped-down sound features two lead vocalists – a guy and a girl. Each singer takes turns, and they often arrange the vocals to loop and overlap in an outright brilliant fashion. What results is two tracks of stunningly expressed vulnerability, stitched together at the chorus and given a bassline.

The bass and guitars make additional melody, and give liberally what much of modern rock is missing – space! Lightly strumming and turning the rhythm guitar down allows the listener to breathe a little while they listen. It’s this space that allows you to really enter the song, to really begin to identify with the singers.

Lyrically, the album is simplistic and seemingly heartfelt. There are times when the band could stand to add more variety to their lyrics, but other than that, they do alright. I really like the love story lyrics of their single “VCR.” Neither rocket-science nor elegant prose, it sounds very beautiful nonetheless, “I think we’re superstars./ You say you think we are the best thing,/ but you…/ you just know.”

Though self-released, “xx” has met some enthusiastic critical acclaim (Chicago Tribune, Pitchfork.com). Many people around the world have found it enlightening and aesthetically pleasing. You should definitely check it out. It might make a perfect addition to your music collection.

“Shoegaze” is a genre from days gone by characterized by multiple dissonantly raucous rhythm guitars and the use of vocals as an instrument. In the British rock scene in the 1980’s, people noticed that many of these bands barely moved while performing onstage. It appeared to onlookers as if the musicians were string at their own shoes shoes.

While The xx doesn’t fit into the “shoebox,” they do display some slight remnants of it, as seen in this video:

Also, I created a mix of shoegaze artists, and later artists that seem as if they are influenced by the shoegaze movement.

I Can See My Shoes From Here (2010)

1. VCR – The xx
2. Ocean Colored Days – The Arctic Flow
3. No New Kinda Story – Starflyer 59
4. You Were the Last High – The Dandy Warhols
5. Thursday – Asobi Seksu
6. Sometimes – My Bloody Valentine
7. Breather – Chapterhouse
8. Just Like Honey – The Jesus and Mary Chain
9. Kisspeach – Astrobrite
10. Skies You Climb – Highspire
11. Allison – Slowdive
12. Pie in the Sky – Dear Ephesus

On Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=148B116876E5EF00