Skip to main content

"On Hold" - The Xx

I had a friend once tell me, "You know, Britt, even though you have a blog called "The Useless Critic" - I rarely see you be critical. You typically praise things."

Hold up. That's about to change (and, yes, pun intended in the previous sentence).

The Xx is a band I've adored for years and been pleased to see popping up again in my news and social media feeds. Their first album was a modern indie classic (wow that sentence was gross to type) and their second album was a tour de force in its own way, a remarkable follow-up. Even their song for the Gatsby soundtrack, "Together," still sends chills up my spine.

But. But. But.

All great artists are capable of dropping their brush at least once. And maybe every great football player trips right before scoring a game-winning touchdown, too (I don't know, I don't know sports). So the fact that Xx released "On Hold" was only a matter of statistics not in their favor more than a warning sign of decreasing talent.


"On Hold" feels like a ghost of an Xx song. Or what some people might term "phoning it in." It lacks that passion I've come to expect from the band. Not this boisterous, shove-it-in-your-face passion, but like - a quiet, building feeling.

This pathos has been a staple of most (if not all?) of the band's songs. "Chained," "Crystalised," "Reunion," "Angels." What you get with "On Hold" is something cold and lackluster. Some songs, I give them my benefit of the doubt. "This could be good, maybe I just need to listen to it a few more times and explore the possibilities, etc." Big fat no with this one. Try harder, Xx. Do better.

This all being said, I feel confident for their new material. Not every song is going to be a winner, and I feel like there might be a great track lurking in the shadows of their new album. I choose to hope so, anyway.

Listen to the song below.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Give JR a Break

Recently, I've been reading some sites that have criticized James Roday, the lead actor on the USA show PSYCH for an apparent weight gain. But you know what? Who gives a flying fizzle stick if James Roday is slightly larger than he was 4 years ago. Apparently, it wasn't enough to scare away his current girlfriend/ co-star Maggie Lawson. (Who is one hell of a Catch!) And NO they are not engaged. That seems to be nothing more than a rumor, but there is a very high chance of it happening in the near future. Anyway, as long as PSYCH continues to entertain I don't mind about James Roday's waist. He, and Dule Hill, and Corbin Bernson too, can eat all the fried broccoli they want. The last episode of PSYCH wasn't so smashing, but I don't blame it on dietary issues. QATFYG: Are you keeping up with Psych? And who is hotter, James Roday or Maggie Lawson? (Trick Question but idk why) PS: If you have heard any more news on Roday and Lawson becoming Roday-Lawson, send it...

No Time to Fuck: The Goldfrapp Essay

Konnichiwa! This is Irina Cummings and I'm here to discuss one of the most brilliant, innovative, and creative artists in the entire history of mankind: Goldfrapp – or as I like to call them , GODfrapp – the fantastique, highly inspirational, and sometimes criminally overlooked electronic music duo from London consisting of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, whose godly music has certainly influenced the vast majority of today's synthpop ladies, including Lady Gaga, Little Boots, La Roux, Annie and Florence + the Machine (not electro but still worth your while). They're primarily known for their mind-blowing music (which have spanned pretty much every style of electronic music – and some non-electronic as well), their abstract, sexually ambiguous – at times forthright – lyrics which are often not gender- specific , and their elaborate shows, not to mention the amazing visual aesthetics of their work, conjuring images that masterly complement ...

Flashback Friday: Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

Since I was unable to post this week's TBT yesterday, I decided to make up for it with a Flashback Friday today. But instead of posting about music, I'll be paying tribute to an awesome TV show that was gone too soon: Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 . Exactly two weeks ago (yes, I'm often late due to my eminent laziness), on April 11, the pilot episode turned two years old. In the opening scene, June (Dreama Walker) comes home to find her new roommate, Chloe (the amazing Krysten Ritter), having sex with her fiancé on her birthday cake as " Infinity Guitars " by Sleigh Bells plays in the background. Classy And that was just one of many crazy, unexpected things that happened throughout the show. For instance, Chloe tried to set June up with her father (a fact initially unbeknownst to June) just so he would cheat on her mother, who happens to be in a wheelchair. The list goes on, but I don't want to spoil the fun for those who haven't...