Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



X

Los Angeles
1980
Slash

X - Los Angeles (Cover Artwork)


Review by: joeg
See others by this writer

X homepage (link)

Only registered users
can post comments

Print this Review Send this Review to a Friend

Published on July 25th 2006

The early L.A. punk scene had a rich and diverse array of bands that included the Germs, the Bags, the Weirdos, the Screamers, and the Go-Go’s. One of the most talented and accessible from that group was X. They drew from `50s and `60s rock while like their fellow West coast bands, crafted a sound that was theirs and theirs alone. In 1980, they released their debut Los Angeles, a sprawling, moody punk rock‘n’roll barrage that resonated as loud and clear back then as it does today.

“Los Angeles” upon closer look seems like a clash of contrasting elements but ultimately ones the band makes work for them. From the opening riffs in “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene,” the record charges through at a frenzied pace courtesy of veteran guitarist Billy Zoom’s amped up, rockabilly flair. But it also maintains direction and control via the tight drumming of the aptly named D.J. Bonebreak. The record is rooted in punk’s explosive energy with tracks like “Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not” and the snarling stomp of “Nausea.” But with the addition of keyboards from producer Ray Manzarek (ex-Doors), it also paints a warm, visceral landscape that borders on an outright spiritual sensibility. The dreamy textures within “The World’s a Mess, It’s in My Kiss” are an example of this. Make no mistake though, the core of the record is still melodic rock‘n’roll in a blender set on high as their hyperactive cover of the Doors’ “Soul Kitchen” should attest to.

What is immediately noticeable about X is the dual vocalists, Exene Cervenka and bassist John Doe. Their differing styles make them an unlikely pair. Exene has a wail to go along with a voice as sweet as it haunting while John’s more soulful tenor is sturdy and grounded. But with each taking turns at lead vocals, they effectively add a compelling dimension to the songs via their pinpoint harmonizing and distinct vocal interplay. Case in point is the beautiful ballad “The Unheard Music,” which is seemingly a reflection on their then flourishing underground punk counterculture. The highlight of the record may be their back-and-forth call in the classic title track “Los Angeles,” which is about a girl leaving the city after succumbing to xenophobia.

Lyrically, X’s songs had a dark and gritty quality to them, a byproduct of an honest and unfiltered look on sex, love, and life in Los Angeles. Their poetic style naturally has an abstract, stream of consciousness trait to it such as in “Nausea,” but also a tangible and graphic one as in the horrific account of a rape in “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene.” In the blistering “Sugarlight,” when John sings “Sugarlight we're addicts / Why do you think we came / He's pasting gold leaches on my arm / We sharpen up our teeth / White sugar he speaks French / Memorizing torsos he's open throated,” it feels like you could be in some dingy room in Skid Row shooting up with him, until a closer look at the song reveals it is actually about gay men living in the city.

On successive records throughout the `80s, X would further expand on the blueprint set here. It’s debatable as to whether or not they ever topped this effort. Nevertheless, the collective inputs of accomplished musicians and talented songwriters helped to add another unique face to punk’s beginnings. From Billy Zoom’s rockabilly footprints and DJ’s powerful drumming, to the incomparable Exene / John Doe dynamic and a dash of the Doors spirit, X firmly stood up to and stood out amongst their contemporaries. Los Angeles would be proof of that.



People who liked this also liked:
Descendents - Milo Goes To CollegeThe Clash - The ClashMinor Threat - Complete DiscographyAdolescents - AdolescentsRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeDead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting VegetablesOperation Ivy - Operation IvyThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Strike Anywhere - Dead FMAgainst Me! - As The Eternal Cowboy



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by C-Men on 2008-07-01 17:49:45
    My Score:

    love this CD!!!

    Posted by Ike_Ness on 2006-07-27 02:39:46
    My Score:

    Man this was a great album. Didn't leave my cd player for months.

    Posted by lushj on 2006-07-27 01:18:56
    My Score:

    Absolutely incredible album. It stands up over time no problem. Plus the great thing about X is you can start from "Los Angeles" and work your way pretty quickly to "Under The Big Black Sun" and "Wild Gift" and then eventually to "More Fun".... and whomever says the Australian X is better... well... they're really good but there's no comparison.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 10:16 PM (EDT)

    This review was pretty good, but here's how I'd make it better:

    1. Do you have to be over 18 to legally buy this album?

    2. Where's my slice?

    3. Fuck the kids.

    Posted by feeeding5000 on 2006-07-26 11:26:26

    Oh, and the band Nausea is better than the song Nausea...though Blatz does a pretty good cover of it.

    Posted by feeeding5000 on 2006-07-26 11:24:40

    Wow. Surprised this was not reviewed yet. I'm glad that someone other than me reviewed this, because I would have totally fucked it up. Pretty good album, but not perfect. It sounds even older than it is; more akin to Jefferson Airplane on speed. Hooray for "gap-filling" reviews!

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-07-26 02:25:36

    "Oh yeah, as for this band, I like the Australian X better, but these guys have their brilliance as well..."

    Wow. Just, wow.

    Posted by TheYoungInfluential on 2006-07-25 23:02:24
    My Score:

    A classic!!!!

    Posted by totalstranga on 2006-07-25 19:13:57
    My Score:

    I got this on a 2 for 1 with Wild Gift about 10 years ago. X was the better of the two though IMO. This along with Fire Of Love by The Gun Club were both classic L.A. punk/new wave albums.

    Posted by rinjonjori on 2006-07-25 17:09:04
    My Score:

    The rest of their releases were good to bad, but nothing tops Los Angeles.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2006-07-25 14:52:17
    My Score:

    This album is an all time classic. And as for Flag's 'My War'...it is easily one of the bravest and most groundbreaking records of the past 25 years.

    Posted by greenerton on 2006-07-25 14:09:48

    Decent, but ":Under the Big Black Sun" owns the shit out of this. Love the song "Los Angeles" though, probably one of the best songs they've written.

    Posted by kingofsuck on 2006-07-25 13:04:04

    how am i supposed to download this shit with a band name like "x"

    If they were really groundbreaking, they would have had the foresight to have a name that would be easy to search for on a database down the road.

    Posted by nocigar on 2006-07-25 12:28:52

    how am i supposed to download this shit with a band name like "x"

    uhm, is it really that hard? All you do is type in the album name.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 12:09 PM (EDT)

    how am i supposed to download this shit with a band name like "x"

    Posted by nocigar on 2006-07-25 09:31:18

    wow, the only good album reviewed.

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2006-07-25 07:06:02
    My Score:

    I love this band. This album is great, as is "Under the Big Black Sun." A

    Posted by SlackMFr on 2006-07-25 06:09:17
    My Score:

    I just listened to this album yesterday. X is one of the greatest bands and are full of true originality. THIS IS PUNK!

    Posted by joeg on 2006-07-25 04:17:43

    i actually wanted to give this a 9.75 but my teachers always told me to round up so..

    why this is a 10. only 9 songs but many are considered classics and not 1 filler or throwaway track ....inspired and will continue to inspire generations of bands to come....timeless/cross-genre appeal and sound that will never be reproduced....high replayability factor....nope this isn't another "old so it deserves a great score" record.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 3:59 AM (EDT)

    great album, and he cro mags classic albs are still great today, black flag began to suck when greg ginn and rollins thought they should be a jam-jazz band or whatever, dez cadena ruled
    @ topic: Great Album, though I even like the first Legal WEapon releases a lil bit better

    Posted by riversmonkey on 2006-07-25 03:37:22
    My Score:

    What a vital album, it still sounds great today. You must own this !!!!

    Posted by theOneTrueBill on 2006-07-25 03:37:11

    "Old doesn't equal good, and if you want proof, pick up the Catholic Discipline reissue bootleg"

    Yeah, Catholic Discipline is pretty bad. I watched their section of the Decline once because I don't like fast forwarding through movies the first time watching, but have never come back for a second view.

    Another perfect example - the Cro-Mags.

    Posted by rubyx on 2006-07-25 02:49:44
    My Score:

    I LOVE this album, and X is my favorite band, but I'm still not giving it a perfect score. Some songs are just plain boring and long ("The Unheard Music," "The World's A Mess, It's In My Kiss"). And I just don't like the organ! I love the alternate version of "Adult Books" that comes on the reissue though.

    Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-07-25 02:32:33
    My Score:

    Oh yeah, as for this band, I like the Australian X better, but these guys have their brilliance as well...

    Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-07-25 02:31:11

    "My War" is definitely flawed... It's a very important record, but I see it as experimental sludge metal taking its babysteps at points.

    Lots of old LA punk is flawed, though. Old doesn't equal good, and if you want proof, pick up the Catholic Discipline reissue bootleg.

    Posted by kingofsuck on 2006-07-25 02:17:45

    Honestly, if I was reviewing say, the first couple of Black Flag records, I wouldn't give My War a perfect score. It's a classic album, but it's pretty flawed in the second half.

    Doubly agreed.

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-07-25 02:10:56

    Honestly, if I was reviewing say, the first couple of Black Flag records, I wouldn't give My War a perfect score. It's a classic album, but it's pretty flawed in the second half.

    Probably one of the most debated statements in punkrock. I actually agree.

    Posted by aubin on 2006-07-25 02:07:32

    "is it a rule at punknews.org to give all "classic" albums perfect scores?"

    No, but considering that after 25 years, this one still holds up, it certainly deserves them. Honestly, if I was reviewing say, the first couple of Black Flag records, I wouldn't give My War a perfect score. It's a classic album, but it's pretty flawed in the second half.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 2:01 AM (EDT)

    is it a rule at punknews.org to give all "classic" albums perfect scores?

    Only the ones worth remembering.

    Posted by kingofsuck on 2006-07-25 01:52:42
    My Score:

    is it a rule at punknews.org to give all "classic" albums perfect scores?

    No, since Milo Goes to College only has 4 1/2 stars. Which is bullshit, in my opinion, since I consider it to be the perfect punk album. Maybe I'll write a review for it...

    Anyway, I'm not going to give this album a perfect score. Take that, X!

    Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2006-07-25 01:34:08

    is it a rule at punknews.org to give all "classic" albums perfect scores?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 1:06 AM (EDT)

    the phrase is "call and response" not "back and forth call."

    © 1999-2006 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • FAQ • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon