X the band
- Walk In My Shadow
- Hello Laydeez
- Posts: 38715
- Joined: 23 Jul 2003, 20:02
- Location: The Good, the Bad, both ugly
- Contact:
X the band
Have they been discussed here before?
Never gotten into them and the above is the only album I have by them.
I know Dave Alvin (a fave of mine) sort of helped them out and played with them for a while?
Any help?
Beneluxfunkmeisterlurvegod
- Jumper K
- Posts: 2847
- Joined: 22 Oct 2014, 16:25
Re: X the band
Fantastic band. LA and Wild Gift are personal favourites but by the time of Under The Big Back Sun, they were a little less frantic, even with some Country inflections. Alvin plays on See How We Are, after Zoom left and its definitely got his influence all over it, he didn't last though. having said that he did make the Knitters record with Doe, Exene and Bonebreak. That would definitely be up your alley.
Last Years lp Alphabetland is very, very good.
I've seen them live and they almost always deliver and was hopeful we might see a tour with last years record. Obviously not at the moment.
Last Years lp Alphabetland is very, very good.
I've seen them live and they almost always deliver and was hopeful we might see a tour with last years record. Obviously not at the moment.
- Walk In My Shadow
- Hello Laydeez
- Posts: 38715
- Joined: 23 Jul 2003, 20:02
- Location: The Good, the Bad, both ugly
- Contact:
Re: X the band
The Knitters, yes of course.
Last year Alvin recorded an album with The Third Mind.
Last year Alvin recorded an album with The Third Mind.
Beneluxfunkmeisterlurvegod
- robertff
- Posts: 12074
- Joined: 20 Jul 2003, 06:59
Re: X the band
Got their first album, good enough but I don't need any more.
After checking my records it's the XX album that I've got not X. As I said good enough but I don't need any more.
.
After checking my records it's the XX album that I've got not X. As I said good enough but I don't need any more.
.
- Charlie O.
- Posts: 44849
- Joined: 21 Jul 2003, 19:53
- Location: In-A-Badda-La-Wadda, bay-beh
Re: X the band
For a few years they were one of the best bands in the world.
To me, Los Angeles is almost a demo (albeit an impressive one). The next three albums - Wild Gift, Under The Big Black Sun and More Fun In The New World are where they really whipped their "thing" into shape.
From there, the fall from grace was a precipitous one - first, the worst version of "Wild Thing" ever (which naturally became a hit), then the album Ain't Love Grand which saw them paired with a hair metal producer (though it has to be said that most of the material was sub-standard, too), then guitarist Billy Zoom left. (Somewhere in there, bassist/singer John Doe and singer Exene Cervenka, who were the main writers, divorced.) The daringly-titled See How We Are, though not great, was certinly an improvement (almost anything would have been), and I quite like some of what they've done since. And as Jumper says, they're a fantastic live band still. But if you want to investigate their records, I'd start with Wild Gift or More Fun. (By the way, you can stream these on Bandcamp.)
The documentary The Unheard Music is good, too.
To me, Los Angeles is almost a demo (albeit an impressive one). The next three albums - Wild Gift, Under The Big Black Sun and More Fun In The New World are where they really whipped their "thing" into shape.
From there, the fall from grace was a precipitous one - first, the worst version of "Wild Thing" ever (which naturally became a hit), then the album Ain't Love Grand which saw them paired with a hair metal producer (though it has to be said that most of the material was sub-standard, too), then guitarist Billy Zoom left. (Somewhere in there, bassist/singer John Doe and singer Exene Cervenka, who were the main writers, divorced.) The daringly-titled See How We Are, though not great, was certinly an improvement (almost anything would have been), and I quite like some of what they've done since. And as Jumper says, they're a fantastic live band still. But if you want to investigate their records, I'd start with Wild Gift or More Fun. (By the way, you can stream these on Bandcamp.)
The documentary The Unheard Music is good, too.
- Six String
- Posts: 23075
- Joined: 16 Jul 2003, 20:22
Re: X the band
I like the live album by X also. Live In The Sunset Strip or something close to that.
Everything is broken
B. Dylan
B. Dylan
- Matt Wilson
- Psychedelic Cowpunk
- Posts: 32516
- Joined: 16 Jul 2003, 20:18
- Location: Edge of a continent
Re: X the band
Superb until 1982, then the decline begins. The first four albums are among the best punk LPs LA has produced. Check out their 45 mixes of "Adult Books/We're Desperate," "Los Angeles," and "White Girl," all of which proceeded the first two albums and are superior in my estimation. The band was a curious mix of The Doors (courtesy of producer Ray Manzarek), noir, punk, and Hollywood (the location, not the film capital). Maybe even a little Bukowski. Great lyrics too.
- Jumper K
- Posts: 2847
- Joined: 22 Oct 2014, 16:25
Re: X the band
I think it might be a push to call More Fun a punk album
- Matt Wilson
- Psychedelic Cowpunk
- Posts: 32516
- Joined: 16 Jul 2003, 20:18
- Location: Edge of a continent
Re: X the band
Jumper K wrote:I think it might be a push to call More Fun a punk album
A push for you maybe. Punk can be much more than endless bands recycling Pistols or Ramones riffs.
- Jumper K
- Posts: 2847
- Joined: 22 Oct 2014, 16:25
Re: X the band
Matt Wilson wrote:Jumper K wrote:I think it might be a push to call More Fun a punk album
A push for you maybe. Punk can be much more than endless bands recycling Pistols or Ramones riffs.
And therein lies the problem of lumping bands into shitty genres.
- pcqgod
- Posts: 19948
- Joined: 11 Apr 2010, 07:23
- Location: Ohio
Re: X the band
They were one of the first punk bands I latched onto. I was introduced to them through their version of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Breathless" which got some radio and MTV play. It was pretty accessible stuff for someone just getting into punk -- crunchy guitars, catchy melodies, not as confrontational as the hardcore bands. I liked all of their early albums, but nowadays the only one I have time for is 'Under the Big Black Sun' plus I like the first Knitters album and the first Exene solo record. Apparently Exene went full right wing nut at some point.
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- pcqgod
- Posts: 19948
- Joined: 11 Apr 2010, 07:23
- Location: Ohio
Re: X the band
Charlie O. wrote:The documentary The Unheard Music is good, too.
Yes!
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- 50 Shades Of Blue
- Posts: 1938
- Joined: 21 Aug 2003, 17:43
- Location: Evidently Chickentown
Re: X the band
I have "Wild Gift"
Fucked if I can remember what it sounds like.
Was probably played twice on purchase and filed.
This will motivate me to give it a spin.
There is even a chance I have one of their not so good releases on vinyl with the cover of "Ain't Love Grand" looking familiar athough I don't have it listed in my collection on discogs.
Like every other fud on here I have way to much product.
Fucked if I can remember what it sounds like.
Was probably played twice on purchase and filed.
This will motivate me to give it a spin.
There is even a chance I have one of their not so good releases on vinyl with the cover of "Ain't Love Grand" looking familiar athough I don't have it listed in my collection on discogs.
Like every other fud on here I have way to much product.
Some mother's talking 'bout Guns' n 'Roses
As if i give a fuck
At best i think they suck
As if i give a fuck
At best i think they suck
- 50 Shades Of Blue
- Posts: 1938
- Joined: 21 Aug 2003, 17:43
- Location: Evidently Chickentown
Re: X the band
50 Shades Of Blue wrote:I have "Wild Gift"
Fucked if I can remember what it sounds like.
Was probably played twice on purchase and filed.
This will motivate me to give it a spin.
There is even a chance I have one of their not so good releases on vinyl with the cover of "Ain't Love Grand" looking familiar athough I don't have it listed in my collection on discogs.
Like every other fud on here I have way to much product.
Just looked out and listened to "Wild Gift" a couple of times.
It's good and the disc contains a bunch of extra related tracks and 45's.
Thanks Yves, it was hidden in my collection and not getting any action until this thread.
Some mother's talking 'bout Guns' n 'Roses
As if i give a fuck
At best i think they suck
As if i give a fuck
At best i think they suck