X's (album)

Last updated
X's
Cigarettes After Sex - X's.png
Studio album by
Cigarettes After Sex
ReleasedJuly 12, 2024 (2024-07-12)
RecordedAugust 2020 – February 2022 (Los Angeles) [1]
Genre
Length38:13
Label
Producer Greg Gonzalez
Cigarettes After Sex chronology
Cry
(2019)		X's
(2024)
Singles from X's
  1. "Tejano Blue"
    Released: February 28, 2024
  2. "Dark Vacay"
    Released: April 16, 2024
  3. "Baby Blue Movie"
    Released: June 4, 2024

X's is the third studio album by American ambient pop band Cigarettes After Sex. It was released on July 12, 2024, through Partisan Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from August 2020 to February 2022 in Los Angeles. It was supported by the release of three singles, "Tejano Blue", "Dark Vacay" and "Baby Blue Movie", along with its accompanying world tour, the X's World Tour.

Contents

An ambient pop and shoegaze album, X's features ten tracks of music identical to "slow-dance pop ballads" of the 1970s and 1980s. Upon release, X's received generally favorable reviews from critics upon release. It debuted at number 32 on the US Billboard 200, making it the band's highest charting album on the chart to date.

Background and promotion

Following the band's second studio album, Cry (2019), they released several singles which were recorded during the sessions of their self-titled album. [2] On February 28, 2024, the band officially announced their third studio album X's. [3] To support it, they simultaneously released its lead single, "Tejano Blue", and announced that they will embark on the X's World Tour throughout 2024 and 2025. [4] [5]

The band's lead musician Greg Gonzalez stated that the album "feels brutal" to him. The musician revealed how he actually had to "write" and "sing" about a loss (of a four-year relationship), instead of just talking about it which would simply "scratch the surface". [6] Only then, he would be able to "learn from it" or "relive" it instead of just trying to forget about it. [7] "Dark Vacay" was released as the album's second single on April 16, 2024. [8] "Baby Blue Movie" was released on June 4, 2024, as the album's third single. [9]

Music and writing

An ambient pop and shoegaze album, [10] X's sees Gonzalez exploring "slow-dance pop ballads" of the 1970s and 1980s, while the lyrics deal with romance and intimacy. [11] Writing "Tejano Blue", its second track, it was inspired by Gonzalez's life in his hometown, El Paso, Texas, as well as Selena's "Como la Flor" and Cocteau Twins and "somehow" tried combining the sound of both artists. [3]

"Hideaway" focuses on a specific moment in Gonzalez's life, when he and his girlfriend went to a beach near Marina del Rey, California to let their problems fade away. [12] "Dark Vacay", the sixth track, is about someone Gonzalez fell in love with a long time ago and how they fell apart while travelling through Europe, eventually breaking up after. [13] The title of its next track, "Baby Blue Movie", is a reference to softcore pornography and was primarily a reference to pornography before adding "Baby" onto the title. [14] [15] The final track, "Ambien Slide", uses a Tejano beat. [16]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.6/10 [17]
Metacritic 69/100 [18]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Clash 8/10 [20]
The Independent 9/10 [21]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [22]
The Line of Best Fit 6/10 [23]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Sputnikmusic 3.8/5 [25]

X's received generally favorable reviews from critics. According to Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received "generally favourable reviews" based on an weighted average score of 69, from five critic scores. [18] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 6.6 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [17]

In a positive review, Tom White of The Independent proposed that X's is "made for late-night headphones moments" and added that it "shapes up to further cement [Cigarettes After Sex's] appeal". [21] Writing for Clash , Matthew Mclister supposed that the album is "undeniably alluring from the off" and considered it to be the band's "most consistent" album. [20] Heather Phares of AllMusic suggested that the album "frequently feels like some of their most personal work" and added that it "delivers enough glamorous brooding to keep fans happily miserable". [19]

In Lauren Murphy's review for The Irish Times , she wrote that the album is "not the most dynamic album [to] hear in 2024", further stating that "after several listens [the album's] songs take on a meditative quality that becomes hypnotic and even enjoyable in places". [22] Michael Hoffman of The Line of Best Fit said that Cigarettes After Sex "deliver[s] another set of songs that more or less could fit on any of their previous albums". [23]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Greg Gonzalez.

X's track listing
No.TitleLength
1."X's"3:33
2."Tejano Blue"3:54
3."Silver Sable"3:52
4."Hideaway"4:37
5."Holding You, Holding Me"3:30
6."Dark Vacay"3:33
7."Baby Blue Movie"4:05
8."Hot"3:57
9."Dreams from Bunker Hill"3:39
10."Ambien Slide"3:33
Total length:38:13

Personnel

Cigarettes After Sex

Additional musician

Production

Artwork

Charts

Chart performance for X's
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [26] 32
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [27] 9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [28] 8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [29] 5
Croatian International Albums (HDU) [30] 5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [31] 6
French Albums (SNEP) [32] 24
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [33] 7
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) [34] 23
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) [35] 19
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [36] 32
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [37] 11
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [38] 7
Scottish Albums (OCC) [39] 4
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [40] 31
Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [41] 3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [42] 10
UK Albums (OCC) [43] 12
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [44] 2
US Billboard 200 [45] 32
US Independent Albums ( Billboard ) [46] 6
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums ( Billboard ) [47] 10

Related Research Articles

<i>Meteora</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Linkin Park

Meteora is the second studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on March 25, 2003, through Warner Bros. Records, following Reanimation, a collaboration album which featured remixes of songs included on their 2000 debut studio album Hybrid Theory. The album was produced by the band alongside Don Gilmore. The title Meteora is taken from the Greek Orthodox monasteries originally bearing the name. Meteora has a similar sound to Hybrid Theory, as described by critics, and the album took almost a year to be recorded. It is the first Linkin Park studio album to feature bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell after he rejoined the band in 2000 following his temporary touring with other bands.

<i>Highway to Hell</i> 1979 studio album by AC/DC

Highway to Hell is the sixth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 27 July 1979. It is the first of three albums produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, and is the last album featuring lead singer Bon Scott, who died on 19 February 1980.

<i>Billion Dollar Babies</i> 1973 studio album by Alice Cooper

Billion Dollar Babies is the sixth studio album by American rock band Alice Cooper, released on February 27, 1973 by Warner Bros. Records. The album became the best selling Alice Cooper record at the time of its release, hitting number one on the album charts in the United States and the United Kingdom, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>The Gray Race</i> 1996 studio album by Bad Religion

The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction.

<i>Language. Sex. Violence. Other?</i> 2005 studio album by Stereophonics

Language. Sex. Violence. Other? is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band Stereophonics. Produced by Kelly Jones and Jim Lowe, it was released on 14 March 2005 on V2 Records. After the band's two previous albums, which contained much more acoustic music and an overall mellower sound, the band brought back the harder and more abrasive alternative rock and indie rock sound they were known for and songs such as "Doorman" and "Brother" are some of the band's most aggressive songs. A new wave influence is also prevalent on the album.

<i>Dragontown</i> 2001 studio album by Alice Cooper

Dragontown is the fifteenth solo album by American rock musician Alice Cooper. It was released in 2001 on Spitfire Records. Like Brutal Planet, the album displays a heavier metal style than many of his previous releases. It peaked on Billboard's "Top Independent Albums" Chart at #12, and the Billboard 200 at #197, his lowest album chart performance since 1983’s DaDa, which did not chart at all.

<i>Libertad</i> (Velvet Revolver album) 2007 studio album by Velvet Revolver

Libertad is the second and final studio album by American hard rock band Velvet Revolver, released on July 3, 2007. The name is Spanish and translates to "Liberty" or "freedom" in English. According to a 2007 interview with Rolling Stone, along with the Stone Temple Pilots albums Core and the self-titled 2010 album, Libertad is one of only three albums lead singer Scott Weiland wrote while sober.

<i>Costello Music</i> 2006 studio album by the Fratellis

Costello Music is the debut album by Scottish indie rock band the Fratellis. It was released on 11 September 2006 on Fallout Records and Drop the Gun Recordings and on 13 March 2007 on Cherrytree Records in the US and was a success, peaking at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and spent 83 weeks in the Top 100. It debuted behind FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake and stayed in the No. 2 position for two more weeks, this time behind Ta-Dah by Scissor Sisters. The album had five single releases, as well as the download-only EP Flathead. "Chelsea Dagger" was the most successful single, peaking at No. 5 in the UK and No. 4 in the Netherlands, but the other singles failed to chart in most countries.

<i>Sonic Boom</i> (Kiss album) 2009 studio album by Kiss

Sonic Boom is the nineteenth studio album, and the first in 11 years, by the rock band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA and produced by Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins. This is the first album to feature new lead guitarist Tommy Thayer. It also features the return of drummer Eric Singer following his return to the band in 2004. Thayer and Singer also have lead vocal performances on the album. Stanley stated, "the purpose of this album isn't to let people know that we're still around – it's to let people know we can still knock out anybody who's out there!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RY X</span> Australian musician

Ry Cuming, better known by his stage name RY X, is an Australian singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was the first artist signed to the Stockholm-based label Dumont Dumont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Kite</span> Musical artist

Jeff Kite is an American musician, composer, producer and member of the band, The Voidz.

<i>Cry Baby</i> (Melanie Martinez album) 2015 album by Melanie Martinez

Cry Baby is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Melanie Martinez, released on August 14, 2015, through Atlantic Records. Between September and December 2012, Martinez rose to prominence upon participating in the third season of the American edition of The Voice. After the show's completion, the singer began working independently on original material, which she says she spent the majority of 2013 writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cigarettes After Sex</span> American dream pop band

Cigarettes After Sex is an American dream pop band, formed in El Paso, Texas, in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez. The band is known for their ethereal, limerent and often dream-like musical style, lyrics often based on the themes of romance and love, as well as Gonzalez's voice, which has been described as "androgynous". While marketed as an ambient pop band, Cigarettes After Sex are also considered to be shoegaze, slowcore and indie rock.

<i>Cigarettes After Sex</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Cigarettes After Sex

Cigarettes After Sex is the debut studio album by American dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex. It was released on June 9, 2017, by Partisan Records and received positive reviews from critics. As of May 2018, it had sold over 20,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

<i>Cry</i> (Cigarettes After Sex album) 2019 studio album by Cigarettes After Sex

Cry is the second studio album by American ambient pop band Cigarettes After Sex, released through Partisan Records on October 25, 2019. It was preceded by the single "Heavenly".

<i>Pluto × Baby Pluto</i> 2020 studio album by Future and Lil Uzi Vert

Pluto × Baby Pluto is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Future and Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on November 13, 2020, and was previewed through several trailers starting from July 2020. The title signifies the combination of both artists' nicknames: Future is referred to as Pluto, as expressed through his debut album Pluto (2012), while Lil Uzi Vert identifies as Baby Pluto, as expressed through the song "Baby Pluto" from Eternal Atake (2020). It is the second project released by Future in 2020, following High Off Life. It is also the third project released by Lil Uzi Vert in the year, following Eternal Atake and its deluxe reissue, notably after a lack of music released by Uzi between 2018 and 2019.

<i>The Melodic Blue</i> 2021 studio album by Baby Keem

The Melodic Blue is the debut studio album by American rapper and record producer Baby Keem. It was released on September 10, 2021, by PGLang and Columbia Records, with Keem serving as the executive producer. The standard version of the album features guest appearances by rappers Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver. An updated version, released on September 22, features an additional guest appearance from singer Brent Faiyaz. The deluxe edition of The Melodic Blue, released on October 28, 2022, features additional guest appearances from PinkPantheress and Lil Uzi Vert.

<i>Diamonds & Dancefloors</i> 2023 studio album by Ava Max

Diamonds & Dancefloors is the second studio album by American singer Ava Max. It was released on January 27, 2023, through Atlantic Records. Recorded throughout 2021, the album is a dance-pop record much like Max's debut studio album Heaven & Hell (2020). The album was promoted by the release of six singles: "Maybe You're the Problem", "Million Dollar Baby", "Weapons", "Dancing's Done", "One of Us", and "Ghost". The album debuted in the top ten in various countries, including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Spain and Switzerland. In the United States, the album debuted at number thirty-four on the Billboard 200.

<i>Cracker Island</i> 2023 studio album by Gorillaz

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 24 February 2023 via Parlophone and Warner Records. It features collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown and Beck. A deluxe edition was released with additional tracks featuring De La Soul, MC Bin Laden, Del the Funky Homosapien and Dawn Penn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X's World Tour</span> 2024–25 concert tour by Cigarettes After Sex

The X's World Tour is an ongoing concert tour by American dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex, in support of their third studio album, X's (2024). The tour began on August 31, 2024, in Montreal, Canada, and is currently set to conclude on March 21, 2025, in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

References

  1. ↑ X's (LP liner notes). Cigarettes After Sex. Partisan Records. 2024. PTKF3035-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ Castro, Lauren (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Is More Addictive Than Ever". Texas Monthly . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Kelly, Tyler Damara (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex announce their forthcoming album, X's". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ Deville, Chris (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Announce New Album X's: Hear "Tejano Blue"". Stereogum . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ Grimes, Navier (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Announce World Arena Tour + New LP, Share "Tejano Blue" Single". Live Nation Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Pearis, Bill (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex announce new LP & 2024 tour, playing Madison Square Garden". BrooklynVegan . Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ Carter, Daisy (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex confirm new album X's with world tour announcement". DIY . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ Rettig, James (April 16, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex – "Dark Vacay"". Stereogum . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ Kelly, Tyler Damara (June 4, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex unveils new single, "Baby Blue Movie"". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ Chowdhury, Ayaan Paul (August 9, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex interview: In conversation with Greg Gonzalez ahead of their X's tour in India". The Hindu . Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ Ragusa, Paolo (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Announce New Album X's, Detail World Tour". Consequence . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  12. ↑ Mitra, Jay (July 2, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex want their music to be medicine". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Tyler Damara (April 16, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex share new track, "Dark Vacay"". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ Deville, Chris (June 4, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Share New Single "Baby Blue Movie": Listen". Stereogum . Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  15. ↑ Partridge, Ken (June 4, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Reference Softcore Porn On New Song "Baby Blue Movie"". Genius . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  16. ↑ Angan, Kara (June 3, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Are Ready To Confront Nostalgia In X's". Billboard Philippines . Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "X's by Cigarettes After Sex reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  18. 1 2 "X's by Cigarettes After Sex - Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "X's – Cigarettes After Sex Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  20. 1 2 Mclister, Matthew (July 11, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex - X's". Clash . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  21. 1 2 White, Tom (July 10, 2024). "One Republic, Travis and Marc Almond offer up new releases". The Independent . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Murphy, Lauren (July 4, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex: X's - One-note approach lends itself to meditative pleasures". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  23. 1 2 Hoffman, Michael (July 11, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex: X's Review - familiar intimacy". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  24. ↑ Murphy, John (July 11, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex – X's". MusicOMH . Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  25. ↑ Jack, Benjamin (July 12, 2024). "Review: Cigarettes After Sex - X's". Sputnikmusic . Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Cigarettes After Sex – X's" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Cigarettes After Sex – X's" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Cigarettes After Sex – X's" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Lista prodaje 38. tjedan 2024" (in Croatian). HDU. September 25, 2024. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Cigarettes After Sex – X's" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Top Albums (Week 29, 2024)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  33. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Cigarettes After Sex – X's" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 30. hét". MAHASZ. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  35. ↑ "2024 29-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. July 19, 2024. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  36. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 22, 2024. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  37. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 12.07.2024–18.07.2024 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Cigarettes After Sex – X's". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Cigarettes After Sex – X's". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 29". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Cigarettes After Sex – X's". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Billboard 200: Week of July 27, 2024". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Independent Albums: Week of July 27, 2024". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Top Rock & Alternative Albums: Week of July 27, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved July 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.