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Legendary Punk Band's 2nd Studio Album Remastered on Vinyl LP!
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 333/500!
Formed in 1977, X quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in the first wave of LA's flourishing punk scene, becoming legendary leaders of a punk generation. Featuring vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake, their debut 45 was released on the seminal Dangerhouse label in 1978, followed by seven studio albums released from 1980-1993. Their second studio album, 1981's Wild Gift, was produced by the Doors' Ray Manzarek and is ranked by Rolling Stone among the top 500 greatest albums of all time.
Over the years, X has released several critically acclaimed albums, topped the musical charts with regularity and performed their iconic hits on top television shows such as Letterman and American Bandstand. In 2017, the band celebrated their 40th anniversary in music with a Grammy Museum exhibit opening, a Proclamation from the City of Los Angeles and being honored at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, where Exene threw out the first pitch and John Doe sang the National Anthem. The band continues to tour with the original line-up.
"For X's second release, 1981's Wild Gift, the quartet followed the same path they had taken a year earlier on their debut, Los Angeles, creating another batch of timeless compositions that merged the energy of punk rock with other musical styles. Former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek reprised his role as producer on what would turn out to be X's last independent release before signing to Elektra. Included are such eventual punk standards as 'We're Desperate,' the melodic hookfest 'White Girl' (sampled years later by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in their song 'Good Time Boys'), and 'Beyond and Back.' Other highlights include the '50s-prom feel of 'Adult Books,' the punk-pop composition 'In This House That I Call Home,' and the rapid 'Back 2 the Base.' While it may be a shade less exceptional than its predecessor, Wild Gift is nonetheless a classic effort." - AllMusic
"Hippies couldn't understand jealousy because they believed in universal love; punks can't understand it because they believe sex is a doomed reflex of existentially discrete monads. As X-Catholics obsessed with a guilt they can't accept and committed to a subculture that gives them no peace, Exene and John Doe are prey to both misconceptions, and their struggle with them is thrilling and edifying--would the Ramones could cop to such wisdom. Who knows whether the insightful ministrations of their guitarist will prove as therapeutic for them as for you and me, but I say trust a bohemian bearing gifts. How often do we get a great love album and a great punk album in the same package? A+" - Robert Christgau
"John Doe and Exene Cervenka harmonize about doomed love over L.A. garage-rock thrash, changing the emotional language of punk. They were the White Stripes of their day, a young couple messing with country and blues in gems such as 'Adult Books,' 'Beyond and Back' and 'We're Desperate.'" - Rolling Stone, 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"Fat Possum Records is doing the Lord's work in helping to bring the first four albums by seminal, and still active, punk band X back into the vinyl markets in remastered form (and blessedly on black wax). Their spotless debut Los Angeles came out this month, and follow up Wild Gift drops at the end of March, and if these are missing from your vinyl library, this is the perfect chance to rectify that oversight. Both records have never sounded better. John Doe's bass playing gets a much needed boost in the mix and D.J. Bonebrake's drumming has a little more clarity and drive as a result of Jason Ward's work on these remasters. The reissues also prove how X's music has not lost a step in the nearly 40 years since these records were first released. Doe and singer Exene Cervenka's work exploring the underbelly of the Southern California landscape still resonates as does the band's rockabilly-flecked attack. These are records to help push you out the door with authority in the morning or to kick the house party up to the next level. Just don't keep any valuables around when you do drop the needle. They're gonna get smashed or stolen." - Robert Ham, Paste Magazine
Features:
• Vinyl LP
• Remastered in 2018 at Chicago Mastering by Jason Ward
Selections:
1. The Once Over Twice
2. We're Desperate
3. Adult Books
4. Universal Corner
5. I'm Coming Over
6. It's Who You Know
7. In This House That I Call Home
8. Some Other Time
9. White Girl
10. Beyond And Back
11. Back 2 The Base
12. When Our Love Passed Out On The couch
13. Year 1
Legendary Punk Band's 2nd Studio Album Remastered on Vinyl LP!
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 333/500!
Formed in 1977, X quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in the first wave of LA's flourishing punk scene, becoming legendary leaders of a punk generation. Featuring vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake, their debut 45 was released on the seminal Dangerhouse label in 1978, followed by seven studio albums released from 1980-1993. Their second studio album, 1981's Wild Gift, was produced by the Doors' Ray Manzarek and is ranked by Rolling Stone among the top 500 greatest albums of all time.
Over the years, X has released several critically acclaimed albums, topped the musical charts with regularity and performed their iconic hits on top television shows such as Letterman and American Bandstand. In 2017, the band celebrated their 40th anniversary in music with a Grammy Museum exhibit opening, a Proclamation from the City of Los Angeles and being honored at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, where Exene threw out the first pitch and John Doe sang the National Anthem. The band continues to tour with the original line-up.
"For X's second release, 1981's Wild Gift, the quartet followed the same path they had taken a year earlier on their debut, Los Angeles, creating another batch of timeless compositions that merged the energy of punk rock with other musical styles. Former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek reprised his role as producer on what would turn out to be X's last independent release before signing to Elektra. Included are such eventual punk standards as 'We're Desperate,' the melodic hookfest 'White Girl' (sampled years later by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in their song 'Good Time Boys'), and 'Beyond and Back.' Other highlights include the '50s-prom feel of 'Adult Books,' the punk-pop composition 'In This House That I Call Home,' and the rapid 'Back 2 the Base.' While it may be a shade less exceptional than its predecessor, Wild Gift is nonetheless a classic effort." - AllMusic
"Hippies couldn't understand jealousy because they believed in universal love; punks can't understand it because they believe sex is a doomed reflex of existentially discrete monads. As X-Catholics obsessed with a guilt they can't accept and committed to a subculture that gives them no peace, Exene and John Doe are prey to both misconceptions, and their struggle with them is thrilling and edifying--would the Ramones could cop to such wisdom. Who knows whether the insightful ministrations of their guitarist will prove as therapeutic for them as for you and me, but I say trust a bohemian bearing gifts. How often do we get a great love album and a great punk album in the same package? A+" - Robert Christgau
"John Doe and Exene Cervenka harmonize about doomed love over L.A. garage-rock thrash, changing the emotional language of punk. They were the White Stripes of their day, a young couple messing with country and blues in gems such as 'Adult Books,' 'Beyond and Back' and 'We're Desperate.'" - Rolling Stone, 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"Fat Possum Records is doing the Lord's work in helping to bring the first four albums by seminal, and still active, punk band X back into the vinyl markets in remastered form (and blessedly on black wax). Their spotless debut Los Angeles came out this month, and follow up Wild Gift drops at the end of March, and if these are missing from your vinyl library, this is the perfect chance to rectify that oversight. Both records have never sounded better. John Doe's bass playing gets a much needed boost in the mix and D.J. Bonebrake's drumming has a little more clarity and drive as a result of Jason Ward's work on these remasters. The reissues also prove how X's music has not lost a step in the nearly 40 years since these records were first released. Doe and singer Exene Cervenka's work exploring the underbelly of the Southern California landscape still resonates as does the band's rockabilly-flecked attack. These are records to help push you out the door with authority in the morning or to kick the house party up to the next level. Just don't keep any valuables around when you do drop the needle. They're gonna get smashed or stolen." - Robert Ham, Paste Magazine
Features:
• Vinyl LP
• Remastered in 2018 at Chicago Mastering by Jason Ward
Selections:
1. The Once Over Twice
2. We're Desperate
3. Adult Books
4. Universal Corner
5. I'm Coming Over
6. It's Who You Know
7. In This House That I Call Home
8. Some Other Time
9. White Girl
10. Beyond And Back
11. Back 2 The Base
12. When Our Love Passed Out On The couch
13. Year 1
