In Waves (Jamie xx album)

In Waves is the second studio album by English producer Jamie xx, released on 20 September 2024 through Young. It was preceded by the singles "Baddy on the Floor" featuring Honey Dijon and "Treat Each Other Right", and is his first album in nine years, following In Colour (2015). The album also includes collaborations with Jamie xx's xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim, as well as Honey Dijon, Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, Panda Bear, Robyn, the Avalanches, and Oona Doherty.[1] An additional collaboration with Erykah Badu features on the deluxe vinyl.[2]

In Waves
A series of black wavy lines on a white background, with an blank angled white rectangle in the lower-left corner.
Studio album by
Released20 September 2024 (2024-09-20)
Length44:44
LabelYoung
Producer
Jamie xx chronology
In Colour
(2015)
In Waves
(2024)
Singles from In Waves
  1. "Baddy on the Floor"
    Released: 15 April 2024
  2. "Treat Each Other Right"
    Released: 4 June 2024
  3. "Life"
    Released: 17 June 2024
  4. "All You Children"
    Released: 30 July 2024
  5. "Dafodil"
    Released: 29 August 2024
  6. "Waited All Night"
    Released: 18 September 2024

Background

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The album was recorded over a period of four years.[2] In a statement, Jamie xx likened his experiences since releasing his previous album to "waves that we have all experienced together and alone", and said that he wanted to "make something fun, joyful and introspective all at once" as "the best moments on a dance floor are usually that" for him.[3]

From 2020 to early 2024, Jamie xx released the standalone singles "Idontknow", "Let's Do It Again", "Kill Dem", and "It's So Good"; the latter was made for a Chanel ad campaign.[4] All of the singles were included on the deluxe vinyl edition of the album, in addition to the new track "F U" featuring Badu.[2]

The track "Wanna" contains samples of "RipGroove" by Double 99, and "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Tina Moore. The track "Still Summer" contains interpolations of "Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues.[5]

Promotion

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The first single, "Baddy on the Floor", was released in April 2024, while the second single "Treat Each Other Right" was released alongside the album announcement on 4 June.[6] The third single, "Life", was released on 17 June.[7] The album was promoted with a residency at Venue MOT in London called "The Floor", which was held from 16 to 25 May and was described as a series of ten consecutive parties with surprise guests.[3]

On 28 June, Jamie xx headlined the Woodsies Stage at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival and performed several tracks from In Waves among other songs. Romy, Oliver Sim, and Robyn joined him during the set to perform their collaborations from the album.[8] A show to celebrate the release of the album will be held at the Alexandra Palace in London on 26 September.[2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian     [5]
Pitchfork7.3/10[10]

In Waves received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 18 critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim".[9] For Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, "there are noticeably more tracks on In Waves [than on In Colour] that are evidently designed to be heard through big speakers at 3am. [...] The work of a smart, skilled producer that never seems to betray its lengthy and apparently anguished gestation, In Waves hits the target far more often than it misses, and when it does miss, it's not by far."[5] Jessie Dorris of Pitchfork described it as "a well-polished record animated by the ecstatic and easy pleasures of the dancefloor" that "generally plays to [Jamie xx's] strengths".[10]

Year-end lists

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Select year-end rankings for In Waves
Publication/critic Accolade Rank Ref.
Rough Trade UK Albums of the Year 2024 22 [11]
Time Out The Best Albums of 2024 6 [12]

Track listing

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In Waves track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Wanna"InstrumentalJamie xx2:15
2."Treat Each Other Right"Almeta Latimer
  • Jamie xx
  • McDonald
4:00
3."Waited All Night" (featuring Romy and Oliver Sim)
  • Smith
  • David Brandt
  • Alesha Dixon
  • Alan Glass
  • Juber
  • Madley-Croft
  • Mary Ann Morgan
  • Sim
Jamie xx3:28
4."Baddy on the Floor" (featuring Honey Dijon)
  • Jamie xx
  • Honey Dijon
  • Solomon
3:42
5."Dafodil" (featuring Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear)
  • Smith
  • Adams
  • Glacier
  • Jordan
  • McJunkins
  • Lennox
  • Jamie xx
  • McDonald
3:32
6."Still Summer"InstrumentalJamie xx3:25
7."Life" (with Robyn)Robin CarlssonJamie xx3:22
8."The Feeling I Get from You"Edward Nelson
  • Smith
  • McDonald
  • Nelson
Jamie xx3:42
9."Breather"InstrumentalSmithJamie xx6:16
10."All You Children" (featuring the Avalanches)Nikki Giovanni
  • Jamie xx
  • The Avalanches
4:14
11."Every Single Weekend" (Interlude)Howard Harris
  • Smith
  • Chater
  • DiBlasi
  • Harris
  • Szekeres
  • Jamie xx
  • The Avalanches
1:11
12."Falling Together" (featuring Oona Doherty)Oona DohertySmithJamie xx5:37
Total length:44:44
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."It's So Good"4:39
Deluxe 3×LP bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."F U" (featuring Erykah Badu)3:34
14."It's So Good"4:39
15."Do Something"2:20
16."Let's Do It Again"7:19
17."Kill Dem"3:43

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart performance for In Waves
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 10
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 18
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] 40
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 22
French Albums (SNEP)[18] 54
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] 17
Irish Albums (OCC)[20] 26
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[21] 85
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] 11
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[23] 45
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 60
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 15
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 5
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[28] 1
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[29] 2
US Billboard 200[30] 146
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[31] 26
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[32] 3

References

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  1. ^ Torres, Eric (4 June 2024). "Jamie xx Finally Announces Album, Shares Video for New Song "Treat Each Other Right": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Fu, Eddie (4 June 2024). "Jamie xx Announces New Album In Waves, Unveils "Treat Each Other Right": Stream". Consequence. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b Dwyer, Riccardo (4 June 2024). "Jamie XX announces sophomore album In Waves". Hot Press. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  4. ^ Schube, Will (9 January 2024). "Jamie xx Returns with New Single for Chanel Campaign 'It's So Good'". Flood Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Petridis, Alexis (19 September 2024). "Jamie xx: In Waves review – bright, blissful bangers for 3am on big speakers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  6. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (4 June 2024). "Jamie xx announces first new album in nine years In Waves along with UK headline show". NME. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ Gregory, Allie (17 June 2024). "Jamie xx Drops Robyn Collaboration "Life"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  8. ^ Kreps, Daniel (30 June 2024). "Jamie xx Reunites With the xx, Performs With Robyn at Glastonbury". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b "In Waves by Jamie xx Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b Dorris, Jesse (20 September 2024). "Jamie xx: In Waves Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Albums of the Year 2024". roughtrade.com. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  12. ^ Time Out (23 November 2024). "The Best Albums of 2024". Time Out. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Jamie xx – In Waves". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jamie xx – In Waves" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Jamie xx – In Waves" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Jamie xx – In Waves" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jamie xx – In Waves" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Top Albums (Week 39, 2024)". SNEP. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jamie xx – In Waves" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 25, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Charts.nz – Jamie xx – In Waves". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Jamie xx – In Waves". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Jamie xx – In Waves". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Jamie xx – In Waves". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of October 5, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Independent Albums: Week of October 5, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Top Dance/Electronic Albums: Week of October 5, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2024.