Tag: the XX
The 25 Finest Albums of 2009
Dec.30, 2009 at 12:25 pm, under Finest Albums, Finest Albums of 2009
2009 was undoubtedly a big year in music. Animal Collective kicked off the year with Merriweather Post Pavilion, which was questionably their most accessible album to date. They ventured more into the world of dance and electronics, and created what can only be best described as a sort of “Postmodern Pop”. Dirty Projectors released the widely celebrated Bitte Orca – another album that featured a Brooklyn band delving into the world of pop and catchy melodies — while newcomers the Antlers (also from Brooklyn) chronicled the sad and tragic play out of events that ultimately led to the death of a close one that would make even Plath proud.
For the past decade, Brooklyn has proven to be the epicenter of cultural trendsetting musical outlets, but in 2009, Brooklyn bands made it look like they were the only one’s that mattered.
2009 also seemed like the first year where indie acts were absorbed, and nearly uncontrollably obsessed with the world of hooks and harmonies (at least on a much larger scale), as opposed to shunning them away with post-punk rebellion. Indie music was now being significantly acknowledged by the mainstream world, especially once Jay-Z was sighted at Grizzly Bear show in Brooklyn — with his lovely arm candy Beyoncé close by — in which he afterwards stated:
“What the indie-rock movement is doing right now is very inspiring. It felt like us in the beginning. These concerts, they’re not on the radio, no one hears about them, and there’s 12,000 people in attendance. And the music that they’re making and the connection they’re making to people is really inspiring.”
It felt like 2009 was truly the first year where admiration wasn’t limited to a performers specific genre, and that really, anything were possibile… at least in terms of music. Everything eventually overlaps. Maybe the crash of the music industry won’t turn ot to be so bad after all…
Neon Musical Insight present’s it’s 25 Finest Albums of 2009:
Hot Chip and The XX Touring Together
Nov.16, 2009 at 3:39 pm, under Tour Dates
The XX may have just lost a member, but that’s not gonna prevent them from moving forward. For their final five shows of their presently planned tour, they will act as openers for Hot Chip, who are also on the heels of a new album and 2010 tour. The five dates are below, with more expected to be added.
The XX, One Member Less
Nov.12, 2009 at 12:16 pm, under News
2009 buzz band The xx recently dropped some U.S. tour dates due to “exhaustion” after touring extensively prior to, and during CMJ this year. Performing a show in London without their keyboard/guitarist Baria Qureshi, the xx planned to take a few dates off before fully resuming their American tour. Last night, the band performed at New York’s Bowery Ballroom once again without Baria Qureshi drawing some speculation, only to be worthy. Baria Qureshi has officially left the xx, making the group temporarily a trio. They still have a pretty massive tour ahead of them which hopefully will continue.
The xx tour dates:
11-13 Philadelphia, PA – Making Time at Pure
11-15 Washington, DC – DC 9
11-16 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
11-17 Atlanta, GA – 529
11-19 Austin, TX – The Mohawk #
11-20 San Diego, CA – Casbah #
11-23 San Francisco, CA – The Independent #
11-24 Sacramento, CA – Sacramento State University #
11-25 Portland, OR – Doug Fir #
11-26 Vancouver, British Columbia – Commodore Ballroom #
11-27 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s #
11-30 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club #
12-01 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge #
12-02 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix #
12-03 Montreal, Quebec – Le National #
12-04 Boston, MA – Paradise Lounge #
12-05 New York, NY – Webster Hall #
12-15 Belfast, Ireland – The Speakeasy
12-16 Galway, Ireland – Roisin Dubh
12-17 Cork, Ireland – The Pavilion
12-19 Dublin, Ireland – The Button Factory
01-15 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
01-16 Aarhus, Denmark – Vox Hall
01-18 Oslo, Norway – Garage
01-19 Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Slussen
01-20 Gothenburg, Sweden – Pusterviksbaren
01-21 Malmo, Sweden – Debaser
01-22 Berlin, Germany – Astra
02-16 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
02-17 Brussels, Belgium – AB
02-18 Paris, France – Cigale
03-01 Brighton, England – Komedia
03-03 London, England – Shepherds Bush Empire
03-05 Birmingham, England – Birmingham Academy 2
03-06 Manchester, England – Manchester Academy 2
03-08 Leeds, England – Cockpit
03-09 Edinburgh, Scotland – Studio 24
03-10 Liverpool, England – Kazimer
# with Friendly Fires
(thanks to P4k for compiling list)
In Constant Rotation
