themed week // The XX, Last Christmas

The XX are a British alternative rock band, created in 2005 and composed by Romy Madley Croft (vocals and guitars), Oliver Sim (vocals and bass guitar) and Jamie Smith (beats and production).

Since the beginning of their career, they've released two records XX (2009) and Coexist (2012).
They are considered to be one of the British latest music sensations.
Read our previous posts about them - here and here.

Last Christmas it's an original by Wham! and it was released in 1984. As some other songs, this song is a sad love song that is usually related with Christmas.

This song was covered by different artists like Coldplay, David Fonseca and Arctic Monkeys, check our last year's version here.

This cover of Last Christmas was recorded on a special session made for BBC Radio 1.

"Tell me, baby, 
Do you recognize me? 
Well, It's been a year, 
It doesn't surprise me 
(Merry Christmas)"

The XX, Crystalised

The XX are a very successful British alternative rock band with touches of electronic. Created in 2005, in London by the original members Romy Madley Croft (vocals and guitar), Oliver Sim (vocals and bass), Jamie Smith (beats and production) and Baria Qureshi (keyboards), but Qureshi left the band in 2009 - for what initially was mentioned as exhaustion but later the band confirmed she left The XX for due to "personal differences".

The XX participated on huge international festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza or Austin City Limits,  enforcing their success and talent.

With only an album release, the self-titled XX was a very acclaimed album by critics and audience. Ranking very well on "Best Of The Year" lists, placing ninth on Rolling Stone and second on NME.
The album was released with the British independent label Young Turks, on August 17 2009. The album was recorded on a small garage part of the XL Recordings studio, contributing to "the low, almost whispered nature of this record".

Crystalised is the debut single from the album, firstly released on April 29 2009 by Vinyl and on November 25 2009 as a digital download. Later on October 11 2010 was re-released again as digital download.
This video still counts with Baria Qureshi's presence.

"Things have gotten closer to the sun
And I've done things in small doses
So don't think that I'm pushing you away
When you're the one that I've kept closest"

Jamie xx - Far Nearer

Happy Birthday MIKE!

As you described him "muy bueno".

Jamie Smith AKA Jamie xx is an English producer and remix artist, who gained notoriety as a member of the well known band The xx.

He began is careeer in 2007 when he joined The XX.
He first used his stage name in 2009 in a promotional mix for the band's début album xx released on the FACT mix series of the FACT Magazine.

On June 6, 2011 the two-track self-produced EP Far Nearer/Beat For was released. It featured the single "Far Nearer" which charted at #128 in the UK singles chart.

A.