Saturday, April 18, 2009

X -- Los Angeles (with Bonus Tracks)


On the run today but wanted to throw this log on the fire because activity has dropped off around here a bit. Must have something to do with more sunlight, nicer days and the venom of the indoors wearing off in Middle Teabaggin' America and else/where.


So here's something to discuss: If X were the Beatles of American punk rock, who were the Rolling Stones?


Chew on that cud. Have a lovely weekend friends.

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Allmusic.com:
By the late '70s, punk rock and hardcore were infiltrating the Los Angeles music scene. Such bands as Black Flag, the Germs, and, especially, X were the leaders of the pack, prompting an avalanche of copycat bands and eventually signing record contracts themselves. X's debut, Los Angeles, is considered by many to be one of punk's all-time finest recordings, and with good reason. Most punk bands used their musical inability to create their own style, but X actually consisted of some truly gifted musicians, including rockabilly guitarist Billy Zoom, bassist John Doe, and frontwoman Exene Cervenka, who, with Doe, penned poetic lyrics and perfected sweet yet biting vocal harmonies. Los Angeles is prime X, offering such all-time classics as the venomous "Your Phone's Off the Hook, but You're Not," a tale of date rape called "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene," and two of their best anthems (and enduring concert favorites), "Nausea" and the title track. While they were tagged as a punk rock act from the get-go (many felt that this eventually proved a hindrance), X are not easily categorized. Although they utilize elements of punk's frenzy and electricity, they also add country, ballads, and rockabilly to the mix. [In 1988 Los Angeles and Wild Gift were combined as part of a CD reissue by Slash Records.]


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