•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
One of the best 33 1/3 RPM debuts of the Eighties, a great american music album by a Californian quartet making its debut, nestled between the angry marginalization of punk and the genuine feeling of tradition. In 1980, the couple Exene Cervenka and bassist John Doe (the name given to unidentified corpses) intertwine their voices as if they were the Kantner/Slick duo, with musical propulsion provided by Billy Zoom's fifties guitar and D.J. Bonebrake's drumming.
They deliver a thrilling record, magically suspended between driving vocal melodies and the riotous sound blend typical of punk'n'roll. Former Doors member Ray Manzarek produces, and occasionally lends his mythical organ, to nine wonderful songs where the raw poetic of the alley manages not to completely bury the hope of finding some human warmth. The interwoven voices in the love story of the two outcasts in "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene", the rebellion against the most depressing side of the city of angels in the title track with the big X in flames like every tormented soul, the collapse of every ideal in "Nausea" and again the accelerated rendition of "Soul Kitchen", bequeathed by Manzarek through the doors of perception.
And above all, the track that closes the album, that "The World's A Mess, It's In My Kiss" ignited by Billy Zoom's Chuck Berry-style solos shaking his banana pompadour and made unforgettable by the constant interplay between John and Exene's voices.
The fire still smolders beneath the ashes of the blank generation.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
X's 1980 debut album 'Los Angeles' is a standout punk rock record blending raw poetic lyrics and driving melodies. The interplay between Exene Cervenka and John Doe's vocals, combined with Billy Zoom's vintage guitar and D.J. Bonebrake's rhythms, creates a thrilling sound. Produced and partially played on by former Doors member Ray Manzarek, the album balances punk intensity with traditional rock 'n' roll elements. Iconic tracks like 'Johnny Hit and Run Paulene' and 'The World's A Mess, It's In My Kiss' cement its legacy.Tracklist Videos
X
X are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1977 by Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. Known for tight punk fused with rockabilly/roots and the distinctive Doe/Cervenka dual vocals, their first two albums were produced by Ray Manzarek. The original lineup returned for Alphabetland (2020) and released the final studio album Smoke & Fiction (2024).09 Reviews
Other reviews
By jeremy
X brings to life a sound that is the perfect fusion of old American rock, particularly rockabilly, and punk.
The voices of Doe and Cervenka chase each other and blend in breathtaking duets.
