[The Tens] The 10 Best Non Hip-Hop Albums Of 2012

The XX – Coexist

The three member crew of singers Romey Madly Croft, Oliver Sim, and production guru Jamie Smith that is The XX ran roughshod over what everyone’s idea of what pop music was with their self-titled début. Unfortunately, all that stellar first undertaking did was unfairly mar folks expectations for their refined but not revolutionary sophmore record. This does not mean that it wasn’t spectacular. Undoubtedly, it was. Jamie XX’s production ticks still put you in a mood somewhere between euphoria and existential crises while the whispery intonations of Croft drift you endlessly off some e-pill infused musical high. Detractors might say that you don’t really understand her sometimes and musicians are expected to grow exponentially between each release. We say rubbish. This was the sort of album that you can play around your hipster and banker friends alike. One just shallow enough to be enjoyable and just arty enough to get you laid in the back of your shitty 98′ Honda Civic. Is there even a better compliment? – Andre Grant