While the familiar foundations of elegantly slow-strummed guitars and delicate brushwork drumming remain, X's steps away from 1950s and '60s pop ballad frameworks. Instead, the tracks lean heavily into late '70s and '80s slow dances and bedroom R&B.
Throughout the album, Cigarettes After Sex's sound is characterized by a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. Tracks like "Kiss It Off" and "Each Other" showcase Gonzalez's ability to craft melodies that are both catchy and understated, while his lyrics probe the complexities of human connection. Cigarettes After Sex X--39-s Zip