X - Los Angeles Audio CD

Total Rawkabilly Bliss
Take Chuck Berry's good ol Rockabilly sound, The searing punk rock Of The Sex Pistols, and the southern california fried pop rock of Fleetwood Mac, and it's almost there for a apt description. Agree with (oooh boy!) Shotgun Method. While Los Angeles the album itself was not worth the amount of money thanks to some of it's mediocre tracks, at it's best, it rawks in so many ways.

The harmonies and vocals from Exene Cernenka and John Doe are steeped in old rockabilly charm, but are off-key, more menancing, and full of attitude. Billy Zoom's guitar playing really shines on here, fried with old fashioned surf rock and rockabilly, wielded with a sharp, tight punch of punk rock rawness. And DJ Bonebrake's underrated drumming does quite a bit to their sound. I like the organ cushion as well, provided by ex-Doors memember Ray Mazerick.

The only reason this album is really average on the whole is because there are some mediocre songs, which are Naseau and Sugarlight. So that's leaves about 20 minutes, or less than that. But that's still a damn good 18 minutes. But it still doesn't totally ruin the album. This album is still worth checking out for sure. X makes some excellent music.

6. 0/10.

Street Life in the Shadows of High Society


Produced by Ray Manzarek - who also plays organ - the 1980 release had nine selections and featured the unique vocal interplay between Exene Cervenka and bassist John Doe, with the rhythm pounded out by drummer DJ Bonebrake and guitar licks from Billy Zoom. In a few seconds more than 28 minutes, X revolutionized the American punk movement and delivered incredible punch to the emerging West Coast sound.

The sizzling cover of the Doors' Soul Kitchen is alone worth the price of admission. Johnny Hit and Run Pauline, Los Angeles, Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not and Sex and Dying in High Society are landmark originals. There are five bonus tracks that brings the total CD time to nearly 40 minutes.

The California punk scene was smashing into gear as the East Coast version was nearly finished imploding. X shows the way for the new wave of punk that valiantly kept the movement alive through music chronicling street life in the shadows of high society. .

catchy, melodic sonic assault on your ears
I bought this shortly after it came out in the early 80s. I can't add much more than most of the reviews here have already gushed. Some of the songs are quite short, but they pack quite an aural punch.

The thing that set X apart, I think, is that (as some already mentioned in their reviews) the individuals in the group weren't merely using punk aesthetics, enthusiasm and DIY chutzpah that epitomized that time and era of independent music; they were already good MUSICIANS.

I would add that above and beyond good musicianship, the members of X knew how to craft great songs. The songs stick in your mind because they are quite catchy, but not in a sickly-sweet, pop-music, commercial sense. Unlike some punk bands who barely knew how to play their instruments (not that there's anything wrong with that; to this day, I don't think Keith Richards can sight read music at all), X knew how to play their instruments WELL and how to write songs. Thus they created a specific, unique sound that carefully married song structure (verse, chorus, verse, etc. ) with melody and rhythm sections, upbeat tempoes (for the most part), and without the annoying dissonance and amateurism that mars many efforts of bands who were flashes in the pan.

I saw X several years ago at a local House of Blues show and they STILL pack the same punch live. The songs stand the test of time, even those that refer to low-tech dodges that, for the most part, no longer exist (Your Phone's Off The Hook, But You're Not) (everyone's got cell phones or land lines that go to voicemail or answering machines, now).

Great stuff, highly recommended. .

Ah, X.
One of the finer genres to my musical taste. Punk rock. Fast, loud, and just plain great, this record is definately one of the finer moments in punk history, with X displaying not only the raw energy and emotion necessary for a fine punk album, but also superb musicianship, of all things! A must have for fans of punk rock, and a fine introduction to those not yet aquainted with the style.

You can see a complete list of all X discography, or go back to the X tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.