Can you put your hands together for the ???

Not since MGMT made it big two summers ago, have I not known how a band's name is pronounced.  After a few serious beer-induced debates and online confirmation, I eventually conceded that they were indeed M-G-M-T and not Management.

So, it was with great dismay that I misspoke a band's name last night while trying to buy their concert t-shirt.  I made it out to see The xx and Friendly Fires at Bottom Lounge.   Upon requesting to see a shirt for The xx, I referred to them as "The exes."  And boy, was I sorry when the super-hipster behind the counter rolled his eyes, re-tucked his hair behind his ear and sighed, "You mean The  ex ex?"  Yeah pal, that's what I mean.  Glad I didn't go with option number two, calling them dos equis...

So, I have something to say to the band members of The xx: If you're sick of people flubbing your name because you want x and x to be pronounced separately, I think there should be a space between them: The x x.   That's kind of how the English language works.

Or, you could include a little pronunciation guide.  This would have been helpful for me when Radiohead's Kid A came out and I called it Kid Ah for waaay too long.  How was I supposed to know?!  I had only read reviews and never heard the album's title referenced aloud.  (Wow, now that I think about it,  I might actually have a real problem on my hands with these monikers!)

Have you  ever stumbled over a band's name or album title before?  What was it?  Oh, and R.E.M.'s Eponymous doesn't count.  That's a real word.  You can look that word up in the dictionary.