Componentwise linear powers and the $x$-condition

Let $S=K[x_1,\ldots,x_n]$ be the polynomial ring over a field and $A$ a standard graded $S$-algebra. In terms of the Gr\"obner basis of the defining ideal $J$ of $A$ we give a condition, called the x-condition, which implies that all graded components $A_k$ of $A$ have linear quotients and with additional assumptions are componentwise linear. A typical example of such an algebra is the Rees ring $R(I)$ of a graded ideal or the symmetric algebra $Sym(M)$ of a module $M$. We apply our criterion to study certain symmetric algebras and the powers of vertex cover ideals of certain classes of graphs.