Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Obsessed! New favourite band unlocked
Gøy gøy gøy!
Sounds really nice, I love it
Oh hell yes! I owned this one, cranked it plenty to piss off my stuffy college roommates. At first blush, her vocals can be unsettling. But damn if she doesn’t grow on you. The band is tight and the sax adds a great twist to the punk sound. Great album. Too bad they couldn’t really hold it together, but such is the life of a punk.
fire no notes
Whenever 70/80's punk pops up (NOT The Sex Pistols), it's just a great listen. Poly Styrene is a great lead and a roll model for females in the punk movement.
An entirely unexpected yet thrilling and impactful early punk album. The implementation of the sax is astounding and the energy is electric.
Women and saxophones in punk, enough said.
What a great discovery! I loved everything about this album- the lead vocals were stellar, great lyrics, I loved the atypical arrangement of having brass included in more of a punk sound. Loved it! Looked up the lead singer Poly Styrene, and she had such an interesting, inspiring, but also sad life. There’s a documentary about her that I would like to check out.
Que Álbum! Punk com vocal feminino e ainda saxofone. Sensacional! Percebo que bandas como o Bikini Kill devem ter essa banda como referência. Gostei muito mesmo. Celest Phoenixcall.
Had never given these guys a proper listen despite having friends in high school who loved them. Thoroughly enjoying this now in large part due to being reminded of those people. Fun, irreverent, frenetic, and clever punk rock. Second half is more interesting than the first.
Pretty awesome. The energy is fantastic, the lyrics are on point too. Great album to start my day with.
Yes, yes, yes! One of my favorite albums. Poly Styrene is simply brilliant. I love her vocal style. I love her lyrics. X-Ray Spex were exceptional. Something that stood out from the punk monotony. Don't get me wrong, a certain monotony was definitely part of it. And yes, I love Lora Logic and her saxophone; something would have been missing without her. X-Ray Spex simply didn't exist for long enough. "Germ Free Adolescents" is a fantastic album.
I had no idea what to expect going into this. A few tracks in I was having fun and vibing, halfway through I was thinking "this is probably a 4, this is so fun and cool", 3/4th of the way through I started debating myself on if I should give this a 5. It'd be crazy to give it a 5, right? Well... I wish I took notes as I listened, but It's 2am at the moment, and I wasn't sure if I'd care enough to. I ended up grabbing a post it note pad to write down anything I knew I'd want to mention. The guitars and production, synths and sax here and there, it was all so so fun! I loved it. The way she says "rats" on "I can't do anything" and honestly just that whole entire song was so so fun and great! "Identity"...fucking wow. the line "before you read about it" floored me. The song "Germfree Adolescents" was amazing, I loved it. If she thinks she's seen too many ads in 1977 in "plastic bag" I'd fear for what she'd think now. I know I would've had more to say if i actually took notes, but I didn't lol. This album was better than I could've expected, the production, the lyrics, the overall vibes. Honestly fantastic. Maybe I shouldn't...but I do think I'm giving this a 5. I don't think i'll come back to it like everyday or anything like that, but this will be so so fun to revisit when I do. slay
Definitely sounds like a 70's punk rock album. Incorporates a lot of saxophone, which probably inspired the 90's Ska Punk movement. Very good songs on there!
Had never heard of this, and it's blowing my mind a bit - I really like it. Reminds me a ton of X - brings in simple 50's rock and roll themes, like the best of punk rock, but with great horn overlays. Need to dig more into this band, and research more of there context
Searing righteous girl punk with HORNS!!!
Oh my god I love this. Punk needs more saxophone like this. The songs are insanely catchy and all sound like they could have been hits. Before getting this album tonight, I still had some of these hooks pop into my head at random times.
Riot girl punk rock… with saxophone!
Yes yes yes yes yes. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
X-Ray Spex are possibly my favourite punk band.
I was fairly unfamiliar with X-Ray Spex prior to this listen. This day, The List giveth. I've heard of Poly Styrene before as an early light of the punk movement but, at least in Canada, we're much less exposed to the music of the X-Ray Spex than their punk contemporaries like Buzzcocks or the Sex Pistols. It's criminal -- this is excellent. Guitars (Jak Airport/Jack Stafford) are gritty and driving. Bass playing (Paul Dean) is suitably chugging and melodic by turns, the drums (B.P/ Hurding) are just busy enough to feel frenetic and the sax parts (Lora Logic and Ted Bunting) -- yes, sax parts -- are a welcome addition (something I've rarely ever said about saxophone). What a trip. This is a version of Sex Pistols-style British punk that has a better singer, better guitar player and, somehow, horns that really add to it. It's also a fairly early example of punk being overtly political/activist. Styrene is a perfect punk: refusing to be a sex symbol, having lived at least four years as a travelling hippie in her teenage years, writing anti-consumerist and anti-capitalist lyrics and forming a band that didn't even conform to the emerging punk template, her band's sound is that of joyful, defiant resistance. If you don't dig punk, I don't think this will change your mind. Whisky tastes like whisky. If you're open to the brash sounds of punk music and you aren't familiar with X-Ray Spex, you need to check this out. It's Clash-quality stuff -- and it's only 41 minutes long, so it won't take you long. Their influence is clearly only limited by their limited output: this was their only album for 27 years, until they reunited for 1995's Conscious Consumer. 5/5 this is a forgotten punk landmark
I love the manic, bratty energy of this album. It's the rightly lauded precursor for so many incredible (and important) riot grrrl–affiliated records that broke onto the scene in the 80s and 90s. The lyrics are occasionally funny - also: what a brilliant title for an album - but mostly incredibly smart. And so are the hooks and riffs. The whole thing is infectious as hell, never slows down, and has killer sax melodies on it. Plus, the songs are all bangers. Singer Poly Styrene delivers one stunning performance after another. A true classic and one of the holy grails of punk music.
SUCH AN EPIC ALBUM SO COOL
Punktastic!!!
Amazing album!! One of my favorites ever!
Liked this so much i finished listening and then started the album up from the beginning again.
Nicht sonderlich abwechslungsreich, aber ein toller durchgängiger Flow, der süchtig macht. 4,5
Feminist punk rock from the late 70s? Already a positive for me. Very aggressive and fun to boot. Proto-Riot Grrrl? I think so.
I can’t believe I’d never heard of this band until now! I love Poly Styrene’s voice — that sharp, punky high tone feels so direct and powerful. It’s amazing that they created this kind of sound while still in their late teens and early twenties. The saxophone gives the music a unique looseness that makes it even more interesting.
I remember hearing Plastic Bag on Princeton University radio once and the song made such an impact I headed straight over to the Record Exchange to track down the album. I love their humor and I love that saxophone. Great energy and great punk. Is it truly a 5? Maybe not, but it gets a bonus point for nostalgia.
This album creates a very specific ambience. It's sound is both familiar and novel at the same time. The blend of African, French and American is striking. It's a lovely farewell from a very talented musician. Loved it
Added quite a few songs to my Liked Songs playlist
I love girl punk
This one is really fun. I'm a sucker for saxy songs, so already I'm interested. Love the energy, and the sound is fantastic. New to me, I will definitely be coming back to this one. Great album.
Awesome. Punk can be such a stuffy boys club, and this is a welcome gust of fresh air. Catchy, creative and fun.
Nigel enjoyed this.
Obsessed. This is so good. Immeasurably disappointed at how small their discography is. :( Favs: Germfree Adolescence, Art-I-Ficial, Identity, The Day the World Turned Day-Glo
A recent (late August 2025) review says, in its entirety: “This kinda sounds like the Go-Gos on a coke bender with the Clash as the backing band” Absolutely. So why the fuck did you only give it a three? That album’s a six. And this one’s a five. V enjoyable. Ticks all my boxes from the opening chords. Great cover, the right length, love the vocals. Yes please.
One of my all time favorites 😍
Poly Styrene, une précurseure.
I loved this high energy masterpiece. Identity is in my top 10.
This album comes out of the gates swinging and never lets up the pressure, to combine some metaphors. It's an already solid punk album even before the sax comes out, which gives it a new level of character that sets X-Ray Spex apart. There's just the right amount of British silliness throughout that it has to be taken seriously. "Germfree Adolescence" is really the track that brings everything together, taking a moment to slow down and make sure the message gets through. This is everything I want to hear in a punk album.
Another fantastic early punk album I likely would have never heard of without this list. Super fun.
Wow! Brilliant album good call!
Didnt know what to expect here and it was great, garage punk is always going to score high. Amazing it was released in 1978 though, sounds really high energy for early punk. First half was better, second half dipped a bit but that can be forgiven. Singing was great, think it would have got on my nerves a few years ago but this list has helped a bit with this type of vocals. Put the start on again just to refresh my mind and it's staying on, 4.5.
Poly Styrene is on the Mount Rushmore of punk women. What an icon.
I'm amazed I've never heard this before, though I have heard of Poly Styrene and her activism. This album was great, though. Brilliant, brave, and a lot of beauty. The saxophone really elevates it in a fun way, but Poly's voice is also just perfect and sets it apart from so much punk and post-punk. I definitely will be returning to this album. I'd give it a 4.5, but I'm rounding up!
Day554 - what a hidden gem. it’s ranked in all the greatest albums of all time lists and i’ve never heard it. great listen
One of the best punk albums I've heard, and the sax makes it very fresh and unique. I loved it to be honest. This was another of the great discoveries that this project has afforded me.
Love late 70s British punk and this one is great. The album artwork is fantastic. It's aggressive and raw in the best way possible. The incorporation of horns was unexpected but works incredibly well. Poly Styrene is an incredible front woman.
5/5
I have been waiting from the beginning to get this one. And, despite having a rating in the low 3’s I was heartened to see how many 5 star reviews it got from people just discovering Poly for the first time. The first time I heard the dreamy guitar of the title track I was hooked. You know from the vocals that Poly put it all into every performance. If I had a Time Machine this is who I’d go see live in some dive bar in England.
I had hear most of this record but not all at one. I mean, really, you had me at woman-fronted punk band. People seem to hate punk music for some reason, especially if you're reading some of the reviews on this site. I don't get why. The music is generally simple and repetitive, yes. But it's raw, it's emotional, and more often than not it has a lot to say. This is a great record that is all of those things. I get it if punk isn't for you, that's fine. I love this album. 5/5
'I wanna be dehydrated in a consumer society'; 'Sensationalism for the feed'; 'Scrub away, scrub away, scrub away.' Not only are Poly Styrene and the rest of 'em convincingly anti-capitalist, not only are they true punks w/ saxophonic suavity, not only do they foreshadow riot grrrl, not only does Poly exist somewhere between Patti Smith and David Johansen, tho in some ways, she outclasses both, as punks, X-Ray Spex understood the assignment: The Sex Pistols merely completed it. Their societal anxieties are well-founded, indeed are ahead of their time, but their songs never lag under the weight of didacticism. It's more prescient than a whole lot out there, but it's also far more fun, quirky, variegated, inventive, raucous.
Wait, what? No, really? It can't be, can it? Is this really a punk album with good musicianship?? I didn't believe such a thing exists, but it really does seem to be true. Maybe I don't actually hate punk, but rather I hate the genre convention that you don't need to know how to play your instrument, to play in a punk band (if you have the right energy, bla bla). These guys break that mold and the result is actually pretty good. It's a fun and accomplished album and the saxophone adds a lot of personality to their sound. 4 stars for the music, the 5th star is for challenging my musical prejudice in a positive manner.
Hodne bavilo
Absolute banger of an album. 100% an all timer.
with my! Pet! Rat!
Rock and roll babes
Upon listening to Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex, one comes across many things at once. The neon dayglo attires that predicts the colorful decade ahead, the music that reflects the outgrowing that was defining punk rock at that time and the voice blaring out of the arrangements that would serve as a blueprint for the riot grrl of the 90s. In short order, X-Ray Spex were not just a band of its time but a band of the future, being both timely and timeless as their unconventional approach to what would become post-punk and beyond soon became the norm. One of those records that's perfectly fine to become obsessed with in due time.
Never heard of this before and ended up really liking it a lot!
damn this is a cool album! it's late 70s classic british punk and new wave, but foreshadows the 80s ska revival and 90s riot grrrl movements. covers all the ground you'd expect from a punk album and more, including a lot on gender and identity. plus the album creds list THREE saxophonists??? how did i not know about this before? great stuff. also shoutout to the random two lines of the chorus in the day the world turned day-glo that are in 5/4 instead of 4/4 for some reason. hell yeah. favorites: art-i-ficial, obsessed with you, warrior in woolworths, identity, i am a poseur, germfree adolescence, the day the world turned day-glo
9/10 A great punk album. Tunes, energy, funny lyrics. Even the Devil Horn saxophone doesn't spoil the tracks it appears on.
LOVE THIS ALBUM
Superb record that did so much for punk. Particularly effective at waking almost anyone up.
**In-depth Review of *Germfree Adolescents* by X-Ray Spex** *Germfree Adolescents*, released in 1978, stands as a landmark album in punk rock history, notable for its fierce energy, incisive lyrics, and unique instrumentation. Fronted by Poly Styrene, a woman of color whose presence was rare in the punk scene, the album delivers a potent mix of political critique, anti-consumerist themes, and raw musical innovation. --- ## Lyrics Poly Styrene’s lyrics on *Germfree Adolescents* are distinguished by their sharp wit, poetic anger, and vivid imagery. Unlike many punk contemporaries who favored straightforward rebellion, Styrene infused her songs with a blend of humor and pointed social commentary. For example, in “Art-I-Ficial,” she sings: > “I wanna be Instamatic / I wanna be a frozen pea / I wanna be dehydrated / In a consumer society,” which cleverly mocks the artificiality and consumerism of modern life[1][5]. Her lyrics often explore themes of identity, conformity, and societal pressure. In “Identity,” inspired by witnessing a girl’s self-harm, Styrene critiques society’s failure to support youth individuality: > “Identity” is one of the most lyrically zealous descriptions of society’s inability to help the youth[5]. Other tracks like “Plastic Bag” use surreal and psychedelic imagery, such as describing Hitler as “The ruler of the supermarkets,” to satirize consumer culture and authoritarianism in unexpected ways[2]. Styrene’s vocal delivery amplifies the lyrical content with a wild, urgent energy that ranges from confrontational to sardonic. The opening track, “I Am a Cliché,” mocks stereotypes and embraces self-awareness with playful gibberish and defiant lines: > “I am a cliche, pink is obscene,” showcasing her witty approach to punk’s clichés[1]. --- ## Music Musically, *Germfree Adolescents* is a distinctive fusion of punk’s raw aggression and melodic inventiveness. The band’s sound is characterized by driving guitars, frenetic drumming, and notably, the inclusion of a saxophone, played by Lora Logic. The saxophone’s piercing riffs add a unique texture that sets X-Ray Spex apart from their punk peers, creating a sound that is both abrasive and danceable[2][5]. The guitar work by Jak Airport is muscular and relentless, rarely letting up throughout the album except on slower tracks like “Warrior in Woolworths” and the title track “Germfree Adolescents,” which offer a more reflective, almost proto-synth-pop feel[2][4][5]. Songs like “Obsessed With You” and “The Day the World Turned Day-Glo” are high-energy punk anthems with catchy riffs and kinetic saxophone lines, while tracks such as “I Live Off You” and “I Am a Poseur” blend punk urgency with melodic hooks[3][5]. The album’s pacing balances furious bursts of sound with moments of melodic respite, maintaining listener engagement throughout its 36-minute runtime[5]. --- ## Production Produced during punk’s early years, the album’s production is raw but focused, avoiding the cacophony and ramshackle playing that marred some punk records of the era. The sound captures the band’s energy without sacrificing clarity, allowing each instrument, especially the saxophone, to cut through the mix effectively[4]. The production highlights the band’s strengths: Poly Styrene’s distinctive vocals, the tightness of the rhythm section, and the interplay between guitars and saxophone. The album avoids over-polishing, retaining a sense of immediacy and urgency essential to punk’s ethos[4]. Some critics have noted that the album contains a significant amount of previously released material, which may affect its freshness, but this does not detract from the overall production quality or playability[4]. --- ## Themes Thematically, *Germfree Adolescents* is a scathing critique of consumerism, conformity, and societal control. The album’s title itself evokes a sterile, sanitized world, reflecting the band’s disdain for artificiality and mass-produced culture[1][5]. Poly Styrene’s lyrics consistently attack the commodification of identity and the pressures to conform, often highlighting the loss of individuality in a consumer society. This is evident in songs like “Art-I-Ficial,” “Identity,” and “Plastic Bag,” which explore how people are shaped and constrained by external forces[1][5]. The album also touches on political and social issues, including alienation, mental health, and rebellion against oppressive norms. The band’s message is both personal and universal, urging listeners to resist societal pressures and assert their uniqueness[5]. --- ## Influence *Germfree Adolescents* has had a lasting impact on punk and alternative music. Its fusion of punk energy with saxophone-driven melodies influenced later bands seeking to expand punk’s sonic boundaries[1][2][5]. Poly Styrene’s role as a woman of color fronting a punk band was groundbreaking, paving the way for greater diversity and female empowerment in punk and the broader music scene. Her fierce political stance and uncompromising artistic vision inspired the riot grrrl movement and countless punk and indie artists[1][5]. The album remains relevant decades later, with its themes of consumerism and identity still resonating in contemporary culture. Its sound and attitude continue to inspire DIY bands and punk revivalists[1][5]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Powerful, poetic, and politically charged lyrics | Contains a high proportion of previously released material, reducing novelty[4] | | Unique and energetic blend of punk and saxophone | Some tracks like “Plastic Bag” have been criticized for cumbersome arrangements and less effective execution[4] | | Strong, distinctive vocal delivery by Poly Styrene| Short lifespan of the band limited further development of their sound[5] | | Raw but focused production capturing punk energy | Some critics note a lack of musical maturity due to the band’s infancy at the time of recording[5] | | Influential in expanding punk’s musical and cultural boundaries | The album’s anti-consumerist themes, while powerful, may feel repetitive to some listeners | --- ## Conclusion *Germfree Adolescents* by X-Ray Spex is a seminal punk album that combines fierce political commentary with innovative music and a unique sonic palette. Poly Styrene’s incisive lyrics and commanding vocals, alongside the band’s tight instrumentation and distinctive saxophone, create an album that is both a product of its time and remarkably timeless. While the album’s reliance on previously released tracks and some uneven moments slightly temper its impact, its influence on punk and alternative music, as well as its enduring relevance, secure its place as a classic. It remains essential listening for those interested in punk’s evolution and the power of music as social critique.
This is the 100th album I’m rating. I don’t know what this is but I like the name it seems cool. Adding to my Playlist - Art-I-Ficial, Obsessed with You, Warrior in Woolworths, Let’s Submerge, I Can’t Do Anything, Identity, Genetic Engineering, I Live Off You, I Am a Poseur, Germfree Adolescents, Plastic Bag, and The Day the World Turned Day-Glo. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Warrior in Woolworths - That guitar is amazing, and something about her singing just feel right in a way I can’t explain. All in all I liked 12/12 songs. I don’t what it is but something about this feels different from the other punk albums I’ve listened to. Maybe after listening to so many albums I’ve begun to like the sound or maybe the band is just really really good. Either way I like it a lot.
Ooooh riot grrrl's mom was a bad ass! Legit ancestor of Bikini Kill, Amyl And The Sniffers, so many great artists. Dig the vocals. Dig the brass. Dig the energy. On my fifth listen, growing on me more with each listen.
Buena sorpresa (sigo odiando el sistema de estrellas, le pondría 4'5)
This hits hard, would listen again for sure
Loved it. A bad idea boyfriend heard of but never heard. Poly Styrene must have been Corrin Tucker’s favorite…
Perfect album no notes
Loved this, it presages Riot Grrl and New Wave at the same time while still being its own thing
You can really hear the influence this album had on lots of bands. Love it.
I think X-Ray Spex is my new favorite punk band. They're really upbeat and fun! And having a saxophonist in the band gives the music more soul than your average punk band can claim to have. Germfree Adolescents should be a staple of any punk fan's music collection.
Punk with sax! Still holds up, great energy. Incredible voice. The messages still hold up as well. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs seem very inspired by X-Ray Spex.
Super surprising album. It sounds way more recent than it actually is. I loved it. Will definitely listen again.
How is this from the 70’s?! Amazing album.
A punk classic. First heard it 20 years ago and I still like it a lot.
This was really catchy and really energetic punk that is pretty distinct from its peers at the time. Good stuff.
Lots of stuff I love here a lot. And I listened to the expanded CD that has the absolute banger "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" Possibly the best of the female led punk groups from the 70s.
Damn near perfect album.
Hoe kan ik dit ooit gemist hebben?
This one goes hard AF.it works notably well and I can’t believe the use of sax went so downhill after this. I also can’t believe it is averaging less than 3 stars being that most of the reviews are favorable. I’ll rate it 5 stars just for that
Today was a great day for my album review. I had never heard of this band before and I absolutely loved this album. I am only recently learning about some of the new, European, kick ass, female rockers, like Cocktail Slippers and Dea Matrona, and listening to this album made me feel like I was connecting to the roots and inspiration of some of that. This album is a classic. Loved the vocals, loved the arrangements. Fantastic album.
The most underrated gem of an album, ever!
Oh well. The only real problem I ever had with this album is that the one-off single "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" is not included in its original tracklist. But it's a mistake that's repaired in later CD releases of the album. Apart from that, this pivotal British punk record foretelling the later American riot grrrrrl movement (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Kathleen Hannah, Sweater Kinney...) is a keeper, thanks to its infectious saxophone and Poly Styrene's energetic performance. There is no real highlight, but at the same time, everything is rowdy and excellent in quite a timeless fashion. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5 9.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 4.5). Number of albums left to review: 39 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 415 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 242 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 306
Totally old school punk. It is a classic LP
X-RaySpex war eine der wenigen Frauen Punkbands. Geile Mucke
Epitome of female punk!
I was not expecting by the cover for this to be a punk classic. I loved the whole thing. What a debut Rating: 4.8
Freddy tried to strangle me .. but I hit him back with my pet rat yeah I hit him back <saxophone plays> It is impossible to beat this mix of punk / early new wave music and I have listened to this album many times over the years: 10/10.
It just worked.
That was so good, all the way through, I love Poly’s voice, very punk and yet lyrics easy to understand. Lots of energy! Love it
The most intellectually rigorous Punk record outside of The Clash and Patti Smith, and possibly the heaviest and most musically interesting outside of the first wave of Post-Punk and hardcore. Poly Styrene is the standout character, her freewheeling vocal stylings giving the songs a charisma that puts them into the forefront of UK punk. This is testament to what Punk could be. A group of artsy weirdos lead by a half Scottish, half Somali woman, creating heavy yet melodic music inspired as equally by early R&B as by the original wave of Proto-Punk bands, with lyrics that manage to be funny and biting at the same time. Ground breaking musically and socially, this absolutely earns it’s place amongst the most influential records ever. That it’s so damn good is a bonus
Awesome stuff. Didn't know them before, great album so I instantly listened to it twice.
Proper ass-kicking punk - I wasn't too sure about it in the beginning but the longer I listen the more I like it
On paper, this one didn't really appeal to me, but man it was some good stuff.
Fantastic follow-up to yesterday's Neneh Cherry. Released a decade apart, two young women with unique takes on their respective genres. Germfree Adolescents is just so good! Poly Styrene's voice is raw but incredibly pure, confident with a whole lot of swagger. For punk songs, they are musical and catchy. This is a real gem.
Some catchy punk the way I prefer it… just a touch of pop. I started off liking it, and then they endeared me completely and I love it!
I'm sorry, is that a PUNK SAXOPHONE?! Talk about things you never knew you needed in your life...
Wow. Beautiful punk. Her voice is golden and the songs stomp. 5/5
I'm so mad that I had never listened to this album before - this fucking rules. The riot grrl blueprint plus ripping sax solos. Kathleen Hanna definitely got some inspo from Poly Styrene. Identity is such a good song. I love this album - all grilling no chilling.
Still fresh this early English Punk/New-Wave music! This one is not of the aggressive sort, but is fun energetic guitar music, even jazzy sometimes. With lyrics still relevant, like this one: It's 1977 and we are going mad It's 1977 and we've seen too many ads It's 1977 and we're gonna show them all Apathy's a drag My mind is like a plastic bag That corresponds to all those ads It sucks up all the rubbish That is fed in through by ear I eat Kleenex for breakfast And use soft hygienic Weetabix To dry my tears Could have inspired Naomi Klein's No Logo!! Good way to describe current Western society (sorry, is my personal opinion, please enjoy your own life) the bloody way brands and ads and populists are turning Western citizens into sheep-like consumers of useless overpriced stuff, imposing their world view (Money and being Rich and having the new iPhonesold with 90% profit margin is the measurement of usefulness of people, not ones kindness or integrity) ,resulting in everyone in the world dumbing down and having the same overpriced material stuff being produced in low-income country for almost nothing, who says Colonialism has gone?). Favorites are the melodic ones with fantastic singing, Germ Free Adolescents and Warrior in Woolworth’s . Ashame she died at such a young age. Enough rambling, gonna listen to the album again.
This was such a fun album of a band I’d never heard of before. Favorite Songs: The Day the World Turned Dayglo, I Am a Poseur, Germfree Adolescents.
Fire! I know the name but I'm not sure I've ever listened to them before and I definitely regret it. Female-fronted punk is always amazing. This is super fun. I love the sax too.
A bunch of the songs on this album are grayed out in Spotify. What I have been able to listen to I have been enjoying though :) This is like girly B52s but better. Love love love 5/5
Simply Wonderful. Upbeat pop punk at its finest.
Everything punk should be: raucous, energetic, and presented with a message. It has the added bonus of killer saxophone and a fearless front-woman in Poly Styrene. So glad I finally listened to this one. 4.5
I know this album inside out and backward and I am still astounded by how good it is every time I listen to it. It is illogical that it is as good as it is. A perfect record.
This is exactly what I was hoping to find with this whole project - an amazing album I haven't heard (of). An absolute gem.
I don’t like classic punk as much as others (it has a tendency to blend in with other stuff), but this is good. Like really, really good. The lyrics, the melodies, the singing, all great. Not anything more to say, just very enjoyable.
I'm pretty sure I've only ever heard one song by this band (Oh Bondage Up Yours) and now I'm full of regret that I haven't spent more time checking them out. What a fool I was because this is amazing.
"Germfree Adolescents" is the debut album by English punk band X-Ray Spex. Punk rock and new wave. Yep! Critics have hailed this as one of British punk's strongest albums. X-Ray Spex is Poly Styrene (vocals), Jak Airport (guitar), Paul Dean (bass), Rudi Thompson (sax) and B.P. Hurting (drums). Commercially, the album hit #30 in the UK. "Art-I-Ficial" starts out fast. A great rock guitar and a sax playing along giving this a very unique sound. Poly singing about how society shapes us. "Identity" has a more punk guitar. Kind of morbid describing a girl slitting her wrists. The guitar in "I am a Poseur" is more heavy metal. A heavy riff and a nice sax interlude. "Exhibition is the name. Voyeurism is the game." "Germ Free Adolescents" starts out with a wobbly guitar/synth and a slow drum beat. A tremendous sax melody interlude. This sounds like the Beta Band and the Buzzcocks "Why Can't I Touch This." It's about obsession with cleanliness and just a great song. "Plastic Bag" goes fast punk and slows down and repeats. The mind is like a plastic bag sucking up all the garbage thrown at it. And another song with a great name "The Day the World Turned Day-Go" properly ends the album with a searing guitar and driving rhythm section. You guessed it: the onslaught of synthetics in the world. This is quite the album. Poly Styrene talking, screaming and singing. The lyrics are utterly brilliant tackling society, obsession with cleanliness, civil rights, suicide, exhibition, synthetics, partying and genetic engineering. The musicians are top notch and the band just rocks. The sax adds a uniqueness. The music goes punk, heavy and slow. This is a must listen.
Groundbreaking, noisy, punk, feminist. LOVE.
I've never heard or known about this album or band before, I think? Which is okay, my Punk sensibilities aren't great. This was rad! Also, never used "rad" before but I know rad when I see it: this right here. Truth be told, not something I need a whole 40 minutes of*, but how "Identity" sounds like Le Tigre feat. Bad Religion, in 1978, is fucking amazing. A history lesson, this one. (*narrator: he spent much more time with it that day)
One of the greatest punk rock albums of all time. The out of tune sax, Poly's incredible vocals, the songwriting - it's perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Delightfully loopy, unapologetically sax-drenched punk. God bless Poly Styrene.
Punk AF! I loved it, full of spark and energy and sounding thoroughly English
Inicios del punk-rock. Vinilo.
What? When did Spotify remove Oh Bondage Up Yours? Anyone enjoying this who doesn't know XRay Spex must check that out immediately. Also well worth checking out is the 2021 documentary Poly Styrene: I am a Cliche, directed by her daughter. Poly was an absolute force of nature. So sad what happened to her in her life with lifelong mental struggles and cut criminally short by cancer but I'm so glad she existed to make this record. Also fantastic that they got back together for a last hurrah a couple of years before she died. Had to listen to the tracks in the wrong order but I'll take that over fucking about with YouTube ads. Speaking of ads, a real highlight this afternoon's listen was Plastic Bag. Love the lyrics. And the sax! Obviously five stars, it's X-Ray bloody Spex. Five stars every day and twice on a Sunday (which today happens to be).
I love early punk stuff
omg I love this album, getting it on here is dope. perfect. 5/5
Easiest 5 of all time, the pure raw freshness of this albums hits home close to 50 years later. Poly Styrene's tortured but fun vocals unforgettable. Probably the best one and done album of all time.
This album ruled! Love it love it.
What a fun album! Poly Styrene’s voice has such a forceful character that works perfectly for the music. This is definitely a 4.5 star album for me.
Oh Bondage. Up Yours! I didn't come to this album until many years after its release. X-Ray Spex was never much of a thing here in the U.S. That's a pity. Poly Styrene (what a great punk name) and company pack a wallop into a mere 41 minutes of music. Full of political and social commentary, wailing saxophone, and Styrene's screaming vocals, Germfree Adolescents is an iconic British punk album. Granted, this is not for everyone. If you like sweet pop music or headbanger rock, you won't get this album. If you like old school punk - hell, if you like any punk - then this album will grab you.
It’s all about the sax. This is up there with X for late first wave punk. It’s a shame they never made a follow up, this record is so strong it makes you wish for more
Am I giving out too many 5s? Whatever, this deserves it. Top to bottom bangers. Incredible and ahead of its time.
Somewhere between 4 and 5, but giving it a 5 because it’s basically Bikini Kill 10 years before their first album. Plus I love sax
Much more influential than the boys would like you to believe
Top to bottom a bratty punk mess and it’s all the better for it Poly Stryene was born to be a punk rocker! You can hear her influence all over the Riot Grrl scene. Snotty and bratty in all the best ways. A classic in its genre!
More fantastic energetic punk fun. Loving this!
Goofy but genuinely good pop-punk. The first track kind of threw me off, but the rest of the album is really energetic and just makes you want to dance. The singer has the right combination of charisma and great vocals. Love the saxophone. And the retro-futuristic theme in some of the songs gives them a cool flare (or futuristic, for the time, I guess).
Fucking epic! Oi! 5 stars.
This is what makes this list worth it. What a great album that predates riot grrrl by almost a decade and a half. Sounds super fresh and unique. Shame I'd never heard of them since they should be more well known.
Musically very good. Not sure about the singer. Her voice suits the style and the music. Really good, love the quirky nature of it.
Best flavor of Punk stuff imo. Gimme weird girl chants and a saxophone wailing in the background, it's more interesting than tough guy posturing!
A surprisingly strong punk album. Standouts include I Am A Cliche, Identity, Cigarettes, and Germfree Adolescents.
X-Ray Spex's messaging is peppy in spades and wouldn't take much to comprehend if it weren't for the slight lack of coherence on their debut. It's from precisely between those things that the joy springs. The album pulls you along, keeps it brief, loses no impact at all. Sax-powered plastic punk is without equal.
Did music ever move as quickly as it did in the three years from 1977-1980? New Rose by the Damned was October 1976 and barely two years later bands like X-Ray Spex were moving light years beyond the speeded up pub rock punk template. Oh! Bondage Up Yours is one of the classic punk singles - a howl of protest from an extra-ordinary new sort of singer in Poly Styrene, mixed race, wearing braces and with a sandblasting voice. But by their debut album the punk howl was only one of their registers. The title track opens on a hypnotic synth riff and an unfolding rhythm that the new romantics a few years later would kill for. Then there’s Rudi Thompsons er unique sax playing - in fact Laura Logic and even someone called Ted all took a turn at the sax keys. Along with the thrilling sound what impresses in this album forty years on is the strength of the ideas. From OCD cleanliness, genetic engineering, the emptiness of consumerism, personality and identity crises: this is a cumulatively brilliant critique of late seventies society. Though its the student radicalism of the Gang of Four who get the plaudits for injecting post-punk with the overtly political, and the Au Pairs who hold the feminist ring, this album holds its own with both of them in the strength of its ideas. An essential album, one of the albums on the cusp of punk/post-punk that has lasted best. 4.5 stars but surely needs rounding up.
For me Germ Free is the sound of Double J in the late 70's, timeless, wonderful song, quite a songwriter was Poly. Good use of horns a la The Saints, and young Jak could play an awesome punk guitar. I reckon the intro to Day Glo inspired quite a few bedroom guitarists to get out and to their thing. The other thing to say is Falcon pulled off a great sound here, sounds amazing for the era, the mix of guitars and sax is brilliant, Art I Ficial is huge. Good gosh a mighty, this is a great record, goes beyond the genre and the times, love it.
Loud, colourful, fun, unapologetic. This is a punk album that still feels relevant. The simultaneous embrace and critique of consumerism feels very contemporary, even 40 years later. It's energetic and fun. I listened to this through four times in a row, and enjoyed it more every time it went through. This is 4.,5 stars; the only failing is that it doesn't have Oh! Bondage Up Yours on it, which would make it perfect. (I know this was corrected on the deluxe CD reissue, but I REALLY want a vinyl version with it on). But I'm rounding up, because I enjoyed this so much. I think "I Am A Poseur" is my new personal; theme song.
I am huge fan of early, raw 70s punk, Poly Styrene was a queen.
honkin good stuff
A standout early punk album. It definitely has its own thing going on and that's a big part of the charm. The only problem I have with the album isn't a problem at all: I though Oh Bondage! Up Yours! was on this album. It was not. It was a single. I just wish it was here. A classic of the genre regardless.
Been listening to this since 7th grade. The best. So happy to revisit.
cool
Holy crap! This may be my favorite punk album so far, and maybe one of my favorite albums. Poly Styrene was a fucking force of nature! So bright and with an incredibly powerful voice. The sax playing of Lora Logic brings so much melody and texture to the sound of every song. The drive of the fuzzed out guitar and the high speed rhythm section is awesome, but the sax makes the whole thing stand out in a truly unique way. What a great album!
Never heard this before yesterday, freaking rocks though. Reminds me of Bikini Kill in a way, love it.
How is this album not even averaging a 3 right now? Looks like y'all don't like a female singer? GTFO
Inicios del punk-rock. Vinilo.
Oddly overlooked first wave of punk stone cold classic.
Épico, poderoso, à frente do seu tempo. Riot grrrl at its finest.
Just incredible
Not on Tidal. Not on Spotty-fry. Not on Hamazon Music. YouTube? Yeah, that's got it. And I'm glad I looked for it, because it's a solid album.
Quite simply one of the greatest albums of the punk era.
i first heard x-ray spex on a compilation called burning ambitions - which you should check out, incidentally. identity was their track on that comp, and as anyone who's ever heard them knows, polly's voice is unmistakable - and the way she kicks off that track is guaranteed to get anyone's attention. polly's daughter celeste is a filmmaker - and when polly died, celeste was sorta taken aback at the sheer number of these old punks who came outta the woodwork to remember her mom. so she decided she was going to make a documentary about her, and she launched a kickstarter to fund it. i knew nothing of any of this until i got a call from an old friend. my friend called up in like august asking if i could get to london in october. i don't live in the uk, and didn't have a passport at the time, but when he told me why, nothing was going to keep me away. i made all the preparations and met him there. it turns out that one of the rewards for backing at whatever level was a guided walking tour of the early punk scene, led by celeste, seeing all sorts of places where the spex had played, learning about Dirty Old London, and ultimately just kinda hanging out and making friends with the dozen or so other folks who'd go along for the ride. my friend had two tickets, and for whatever reason, called me. so far, none of this is a review - it's just me spouting off about walking around london. (it was great, for whatever that's worth.) so here it is: this is an awesome album, but as you can see, i'm a wee bit biased. the spex will always have a special place, and on top of that, they came into my world at a time when i really needed music like theirs. the fairest thing i can say about this album is, it's not like anything you've heard before, and in the best possible way. just...go do it. maybe you hate her voice - maybe you hate their jangly guitars, who knows - but maybe you'll love them. and if you don't know their music yet, and you like things that are outside the everyday...this is a great place to go next, promise.
I can here where the B-52’s got a lot of inspiration from.
Sheer brilliance. Pure punk with a charismatic vocalist.
yup
This was great!!! It's so raw and real. I'm devastated for not know this band before. A great album that deserves much more attention. The songs are cool and different during the whole album, this "punk" sax thing is kind of a special thing and the vocalist is a very good example of the best punk singer. I don't have any complaints. Just a great album.
Exuberant and rocking with some cool saxophone skronk to jazz up some pretty standard punk chord progressions. An antecedent to SK and bikini kill.
some people think little girls should be seen and not heard , but i think ...OH BONDAGE UP YOURS ! ONE TWO THREE FOUR !! 🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷
If this was all you heard of Punk in 1977, we would all probably be in the same place today. It was this guitar sound that was the cornerstone of what defined punk rock. The guitar tones on this record, like The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Slits, Stiff Little Fingers and the Adverts all have the same basic overdriven and slightly distorted tone resembling a buss saw that defined 77 punk rock. What made all these bands different were the fabulous vocalists who looked and sounded nothing like any one before them. Obviously, there are numerous bands from that era who went on to big careers, but X Ray Spex were a singles band and this album, like Buzzcocks Singles going steady was really a collection of the bands singles with a couple of new tracks to round things out. Poly Styrene’s unique vocals set the band apart from the Slits and Adverts, and the songs were catchy melodic and covered a huge range of mostly political topics. The singles had made their way to Vancouver BC where I was attending college in 1978-81 and when this record came out as an expensive import - I still bought it hoping to hear the songs I had missed. Crazy to thing almost 48 years have passed. Still a fun record. 4/5
Hadn’t heard of them, but it’s really good!
4.4
it was fun
Decent late 70s pre 80s punk vibes
I actually kind of love it. Reminds me of Siouxsie but somehow more cuddly.
An absolute party from start to finish. Super ahead of its time with several bangers within different sounds and moods. My favorites were the sublimely catchy "Warrior in Woolworths," "Identity" with its earworm riff, and the proto-thrash metal "I Am a Poseur." Sax punk is a cool sound that should have been bigger than it was.
7 - GOOD
8/10 That's the perfect example why I choose to start this challenge - to discover albums like this one Will i add this album to my library: yes
High energy punky new wave / new wavy punk? I like the braying crazed monologic sax and the catchy sing song. Loud, bright, fired up.
A near perfect punk offering that carries attitude and melody in parts. The whole album blends together leaving no individual memorable track but that isn’t atypical for punk. This is a classic for a reason.
Completely overlooked this album. The first entry of this list I didn't know the band and the record. Nice surprise and I will look further in their discography.
Pretty pleasant. Obviously the biggest general problem with an album such as this one is that it 1. Doesn’t really resonate too much, and 2. Is redundant as hell. I really like the inclusion of the saxophone, and I really enjoy the vocals. The disposition of anti-consumerism and establishment is nice, and there are some great songs here, too. I enjoyed this. 8.0/10
Alright, a female-led 70s British punk band. Never heard of these guys(and two gals), but then I'm not very well versed in 70s punk. This is sadly not as much of an uncorked punk fury-fest as I was expecting, but maybe I just wanted some hardcore punk. It still has a lot of punk elements, such as political lyrics condemning consumerism and the artificial world(they are somehow more relevant today than they likely were in 1978) and simplistic guitar. However, there are some key sonic differences(namely the saxophone and surprising variance of tempos). The vocals are ass, but they sound punk and that's probably more important than their technical quality. There are some legitimate bangers here, but also plenty of fairly mediocre songs, making for a somewhat uneven album. In the end, I wanted to like this more than I actually did. This album is ranked #19 of 33 albums for 1978 by global rating. Other 1978 albums rated by me: Darkness on the Edge of Town(6/33)-5 Stardust(8/33)-4 Live and Dangerous(11/33)-4 This Year's Model(13/33)-3 All Mod Cons(14/33)-4 Duck Stab/Buster & Glen(32/33)-3
I love Poly Styrene so much Solid 9/10
Razor sharp guitars and feisty vocals. Very little else from that era sounds like. Day-Glo is a classic album closer.
Without any context or pre-reading, this feel like one of those pioneer albums that a lot of albums look up to. It's very raw, very authentic - especially the lyrics. I dug the saxophone throughout - hadn't really heard that on a punk album before. Highlights: Let's Submerge, Plastic Bag, Germfree Adolescence
This is a fun album. Love the mix of punk and sax.
So fun and invigorating. The title song is a masterpiece.
Now this is alot easier to talk about than fuckin green days Broadway bullshit. This is just some kick ass British girls doing it up. Just simple solid punk rock. With some interesting horn stuff that isnt really ska stuff. Not a ton to say. Its just good all around from front to back. I like punk. And I like ladies. Nothing else im looking for
Listened Before? N Neat album. Great vocals. I love the variety of instruments and the variety of subjects. At his heart it's still punk, but it has a lot of variety for a punk album. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist; I Am a Poseur
this album is fun! I love listening to music like this. the album cover is really funny close up
This album really grew on me as I listened through. There’s so much youthful verve! It’s funny, I’d never describe myself as a punk fan but I truly do enjoy it every time I listen to it. It’s such a distinct genre and I feel like it executes on the brief every time. I’m looking forward to revisiting this album and connecting with the lyrics; I feel like it’d really bring the whole thing to life.
amazing! exactly the kind of energy and fun new discovery I am always hoping for with these albums. Screaming was great (less than expected), so many cool horns, killer melodies and I can only assume great lyrics and content (not what I really listen for). Art - I - Ficial, Getmfree Adolescence and The Day The World Turned Day-Glo were my picks
*Germ Free Adolescents* Proof you don't need to be a music mastermind to create a great album... You just have to be funner'n fuck! Props who brought in the sax on this. It gives the cool 50s feel into to punk format. (9.33) ★★★★½
I think this is a cool album. I like the sax usage, which is really unique for punk. Also, I think this was influential on the riot grrl scene and modern bands like Amyl and the Sniffers. My favorite tracks are "Let's Submerge" and "Identity". 4 stars.
Now we’re talking. Power punk. That sax player has one move but it’s a corker. Just missing Oi Bondage but still slaps.
Solid early UK punk. Can hear some ska in here as well with the horns. Like it. 4/5
New Wave meets punk - really good stuff
Bella sorpresa, molto punk. Apprezzato
Good punk album lifted up by the saxophone section
Fun punk album
Awesome punk, with lots of extra variety.
I really like the style and attitude. The saxophone fits right in with the vibe of the album.
Phenomenal record! The raw punk energy is immediately felt, Polly Styrene's voice is felt in the echoes of groups like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney, and the band follows behind with loud as fuck guitars and above all else a freakin' SAXOPHONE. It fits in extremely well and adds to roaring cacophany of loud punk music. Sounding incredibly ahead of it's time, I can easily see why this is considered one of the best punk records of all time and how insanely influential it was to artists and bands down the line.
4.5 Stars
Great guitars, and particularly enjoy the mix of punk with saxophone - something you don’t hear every day. The vocals fit perfectly with the music, but I’m not sure I could listen to this kind of delivery much longer than the album run time.
A Kick in the pants!
Unlike a lot of punk bands of the time X-Ray Spex manage to pack a ton of variety into this quite short album. Every track is different, and great in its own way. There's melody and nuance, humour and drama, hard rocking out and lots of fun. This band should have been far more commercially successful than they ever were.
ouyeh wiedermol chli öppis punkigs ouyeh. ah punk aber sie cha actually singe und sie hend blöser und s isch no geil?? obsessed with you isch au sehr fun. es isch uuuuhuere arsch gmixt hahah. aso s tönt halt nöd so guet. es isch feelgood feministische punk what the hellyhell ich find so cool?? aso musikalisch ischs nüt speziells aber afoch au fun. dees isch guter punk. ich habe gern. es tönt wie mit ein blechdos aufgenimmt aber sie fittzed ane. moll git e vieri. wirds worschinli nüm viel lose aber s het huere spass gmacht.
waaas e alti punkband? art-i-ficial macht na easy spass d riffs sind na heavy fürd ziit ok warrior findi chli zu chinderlied mit e-gitarre sie het aber megaaa e cooli stimm s sax isch am ahfang mega cool gsi aber es müsst nöd ih jedem aong vorcho PLASTIC BAG GAHT AB und isch jz am schluss auno schön mite blöser jaa es isch nüt megaa speziells aber ich han offesichtlich chli en softspot für ältere quirky punk
Certainly one of the much better UK punk albums that litter this list 4*
This is a fun one!
I can't deduct marks for saxophone when it's played this poorly; it's just so punk
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected, given its age and genre. Strong musically, vocally, and lyrically - I'd definitely give it another listen.
Classic punk. Why would anyone listen to the Sex Pistols when you could listen to this?
V dobe vydania albumu to muselo byť silné. Určite by zo mňa bol fanúšik, ak by to bolo v mojom teenagerskom veku...
Fun
Punk with sax - now that rocks!
Really fun
Idk dude it's not my flavor of music exactly but its also fascinating as fuck and messy and beautiful and meanigful exactly like punk rock music should be and im fascinated and grateful to have been exposed to the album.
"I hit him back...with my pet rat!". What a great lyric. I really liked Disc 1, but Disc 2 was just fantastic. A great punk album, with the added brass backing, I'm super happy to have listened to this. Favourites: I Can't Do Anything Genetic Engineering Germfree Adolescence The Day The World Turned Day-Glo
I was 14 when this came out, just at the time I could only listen to music on the radio. I remember the singles and how much I liked them then. So 48 yrs later I get around to listening to the album. Wow, what have I missed out on? Great album and still relevant today
I loved the sound of this, except for the vocals, where I'm torn. I can absolutely see how the screechy, ugly feel is a deliberate artistic choice that gives this its unique identity. But it's a bit much for me. I think I could handle it better in a live performance than listening to it at leisure. Which is quite fitting for a punk record, I guess.
Germfree Adolescents is the opposite of my ex-wife
Gritty and real, but enough weirdness to give some variety across the tracklist. Couple songs the vocals get a bit nasally (for my lack of a better adjective) kinda like Cyndi Lauper, but very strong on others.. overall 3.75/5 liked it and easy to play though several times
yet another album that make me question the popularity and endurance of sex pistols
Lot of people hate particularly noisy punk, but this album is amazing. Also goes to show I guess the Sex Pistols could inspire some great bands while being not good.
X-Ray Spex, X-Ray Spex… it’s the best time of the year girl
just one of those bands that all around kicks a huge amount of ass
Sonido chulo, aunque no me ha parecido muy original.
Finally some real punk!
pretty lit. they put in the time for rah rah original flavor punk and still get a little whacky. very enjoyable. favorite song is either Plastic Bag or The Day the World Turned Day-Glo
I was surprised by how much I liked this album. I wasn't a huge fan of the lead singer's voice, but I still liked the music. Experiencing different types of music was one of the reasons I joined this list, and today it opened a new group to me which I liked. Best song: "Identity" and worst song: "Plastic Bag".
I loved this! Good fun punk time. Her voice is amazing and compelling and the sax is on point!
Another one I'm not familiar with, but definitely enjoyed this one! Some days you just need a little punk.
I really enjoyed this, some super solid punk/riot-grrl stuff that doesn't fall into the many pitfalls that 70s british punk seems to. Definitely sufers from british voice but this is a new favorite. These are the exact 4/5 bangers that I started this project for! 4/5
Superb!
Really great. First album on this list where I haven't skipped any songs in a long time.
I had never heard of the x-ray spex, but after listening I realized that many years ago I had heard a couple of songs. It is very much the punk of the 90's that I do like. I really enjoyed this album, it had that fast paced beat that I enjoy along with some very nicely angry songs. I would definitely relisten and would probably own this record. The only thing that keeps it from being a 5 is the voice of the lead singer. I found it a bit grating about mid-way through the album. Still liked the songs etc but her voice made it difficult to listen to a lot.
god bless punk music
Screw David Crosby and his diss of the punk genre. There were some bands that didn't have it but this one did too bad it was short lived.
Loud, fun, sax. Loved it.
This is some OG punk. I dig it. The saxophone? Not so much. Still a good album.
Das fetzt!
Hard not to compare this with the (similarly appealing) Siouxsie and the Banshees album which was released within 3 days of this one. Guess it took everyone a year from the Sex Pistols release to get their tribute acts together. But that’s doing this a massive disservice. Punk wasn’t so much about musicality as the attitude, and there’s tonnes of energy to be had here. She has a great voice and one might say a bit more pop sensibility than your average punk. Musically it has a slightly rockier sound with the simple but effective sax giving their spin on things. Very entertaining (I am a Poseur the almost glam rock highlight), almost more so as this was their only ever offering. In your face, and done, that’s punk.
This is ace. A really cool band that I'd heard of, but stupidly never tuned into. The sax on this is superb, ahead of it's time in my eyes.
A punk album that stands out from much of the rest on this list. Finally.
# Album Name: Germfree Adolescents # Artist: X-Ray Spex # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: What a lovely listen with my corn flakes this morning. Banger of a punk album. Love the punk vibes of the band mixed with the trumpet and vocals. Very english. Very British. First disc was the highlight. # Top Tunes: Artificial / obsessed with you / lets submerge / identity / poseur / Day-glo # Would I listen to it again? Yes
i LOOOOVE the way Poly Styrene says the name of some songs at the beginning. i wanna be like her so badly.
Interesting
A very fun and wild blend of new wave and punk, with a very interesting incorporation for a punk project: an absolutely killer saxophone. I know there is some very experimental and weird bands that surely use horns as one of the main instruments in a punk album, but for something as "conventional" as this, it is unusual. I hope I'm not sounding as a super disconnected person or saying something super stupid. Either way, doesn't stop how well integrated the saxophone is. It gives a lot of personality and blending incredibly well with both the the catchy and energetic sides of this record. While I'm giving a lot of praise to this particular instrument, the others do an incredible job as well, specially the super euphoric and sometimes smooth vocals. Is not only great to hear a female voice in punk, but she also sounds really passionate and giving all that she has in theses performances. The guitars also have some incredibly killer riffs and the rhythm section can get very frenetic. The two starting songs "Art - I - Ficial" and "Obsessed with You" with "Plastic Bag" I think are the most energetic and my favourite parts of the project. When it comes to the lyrics, at first I thought they would be silly, but once I started to reading them, as it can be a bit hard to clearly hear what she is singing, they ended up being really good critics of capitalism and the consuming society mixed with some other themes such as identity crisis or OCD. In conclusion, a very fun album. I would say that I prefer the punkier side to the other more accessible new-wave, but still a great and fun experience.
Album 1046 of 1089 Germfree Adolescents - X-Ray Spex (1978) Rating : 4 / 5 I remembered this one well from my straight-through listen of the original 1001 Albums list, and I was glad to see it come back around. Punk isn’t always my go-to, but this album hits in all the right ways. This is punk for punk’s sake - high energy, sharp edges, fun songs, and just enough musicianship to keep things from collapsing into noise. It’s aggressive without being sloppy, and it never forgets that punk can still be entertaining. Poly Styrene is absolutely perfect out front. Her voice cuts through everything with attitude, intelligence, and personality, and she brings something genuinely unique to the genre. There’s conviction there, not just volume. She isn’t trying to imitate anyone - she is the statement. A true punk legend, in my opinion. I had let this one slip past me after that first listen, but I won’t make that mistake again. This album holds up, delivers exactly what it promises, and earns its place. If you need to get your punk on, this is a great place to start.
Whatever it would take to get punk like this back, I’ll do it, pay it or whatever. Bring it back please!!
Omanji punk klasik
Very fun
saxophone 👎🏻 women led punk bands that sing about how much capitalism sucks 👍🏻
Never heard of them, but this was fun! Who woulda known girl punk + mildly out of tune but still somehow awesome sax was such a good combo.
Surprisingly good album. Really fun music, with quite some variation in it as well. Just misses the exclamation point somewhere to really elevate this up to the highest mark. 4/5
Punk, with horns thrown in
Took me a bit to get into this but really enjoyed it once I did
I am not a germ-free adolescent, in fact I'm listening to this record with an ear infection. Thankfully Poly Styrene's vocals are piercing! And that Rudi Thomson saxophone is shrieking! It's a punchy record, catchy and compelling. Today's listen is just one tinnitus riddled ear doing the work of two and I can tell you this record, while this version lacks "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" (readily found on the anthology and even some later CD versions of this record) it still feels like a complete X-Ray Spex experience start to finish.
Very fun album. Had a bit of a rocky start for me, but lots of good stuff in the second half. Wish I could understand the vocalist better, but I'm pretty sure that's just a skill issue on my end. Favorite Songs: "I Can't Do Anything", "Identity", "Germfree Adolescence" Least Favorite Song: "Obsessed With You" Mid 4.
Enjoy
This was great. Surprisingly, I don't think I've listened to this one before, and I have to say a bunch are better than Oh Bondage Up Yours. Definitely will be listening to this more
Szkoda że tylko 2 kawałki... Ale szczerze ideolo na sobotni mroźny poranek
i am a poseur 1978 united kingdom punk rock
tuff 8/10
I love the tone and spunky style to this. A lady leads the vocals and the guitars are punk with a lot of spirit. This was a fun listen.
high energy fun punk music i'm into it. 4 stars
Fun album that never flags, with appropriate use of saxophone in rock (rare). 4.0/5.0: Great
not the greatest punk album but it was fun
Rocking and fun! I’ll go back to this one for sure
Love george
Really fun, angsty, high energy. It’s a shame they only had that one LP.
Wow sounds very riot grrrl over 10 years before the genre gained momentum, really cool and great vocals even if theyre a little much at times
Punkish moments were great and refreshing, but poppier moments ruined some fun for me... Also I'm not sure if this band really needed a sax. Probably will be a grower, so will relisten at some point.
This was rad.
The punky music on this was pretty class
I love early female led punk bands - especially when there’s a saxophone involved!
Direct, thrilling, and right in your face
This was pretty fun if not a little samey-sounding. This makes me think of pop punk but if it came to prominence in the late 70's instead of the 2000's. Those drums do a ton of work here and they produce a pretty good album!
Shockingly I enjoyed this punk album! The addition of some killer saxophone really had me vibing. The guitar work was pretty boring punk stuff but overall I thought this was a pretty fun album!
Fireeee!!! 🔥🔥
Rock, cool beat. I like the use of the sax
so bougie und cute🥹 ich liebe frauen 8/10
Hey I actually enjoyed a British band I’ve never heard of.
A very nice surprise! 4.
Class
So much damn fun. Would be a blast to play guitar in a band like this.
Oujee tää on tämmöstä turboahdettua Blondieta. Aluks mietin, että laulu menee liian revittelyks, mutta levyn edetessä siihen joko tottui tai se vähän seestyi. Joka tapauksessa aika pitkälti kaikki nippelit kohdillaan ja kivaa kuunneltavaa. Koska menee kategoriaan "voisin kuunnella lissee" niin arvosana nousee sit samalla. Nelonen todistukseen ja hymyt huulille.
Album #8: Germfree Adolescents - X-Ray Spex Genre (according to Wikipedia): Punk rock, new wave Singles?: No. Have you heard any songs from this album or group before?: No. Thoughts?: I love classic punk rock, and I think this album, so far, is the genesis of ska! I think Poly Styrene’s writing is the best part of it though, since most punk rock sounds very similar. She reminds me of a lot of future (at the time) punk or indie bands like The Replacements or The Smiths. Mainly with bite and wit about societal issues, or any topics. Favorite songs?: Art-I-Ficial, Obsessed with You, Let’s Submerge, I Can’t Do Anything, Identity, Genetic Engineering, I Live Off You, I Am a Poseur, Plastic Bag, The Day the World Turned Day-Glo As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: Because of reading about its influence on feminine punk and the riot grrrl movement, I wouldn’t be surprised if I did stories about those types of movements with this music in the background. File correlations: #007: Tallis Tales, or #009: Force Devils
Very good punk music. Probably my favorite punk I've heard so far. Nearly a 5, possibly a perfect punk album.
This was more fun than I expected, and a good high energy album for the morning. For once, the saxophone doesn't feel like an add-on, or a friend who wanted to be in the band but could only play saxophone. It adds to the sound and I think taking it out would actually ruin this or at least turn it to unremarkable. Everything else is a good amalgamation of speed, excitement and aggression, the way punk should be. For once an old punk album by a band I've never heard of isn't a complete mess. You don't need to know about anything here other than the fact that it's a good listen.
Angst mixed with musicality, providing an energetic and enjoyable experience.
How can you not love it when a punk girl gets her energy out?
Really good punk, but too much saxophone (if that’s even possible).
I can only imagine how great this must have sounded in 1978, in context, and on vinyl. But hey, it still stands out from the crowd — a unique, interesting, enjoyable punk-to-new-wave experience. Riot grrrl before Riot grrrl, a bid to be your Joey Ramone before Sleater-Kinney made the ask two decades later.
This was a delightful surprise! Punk s still a little bit of a hard genre to embrace, but bands like this with a fresh, interesting voice are just fun to discover. I love the blend of other genres and sounds, and the message packs punch without being too over the top. I mean, this is punk which by definitions is over the top, but there is some fun cleverness here that makes it stand out.
Interesting. Melodic sense, not just the messy punk of the era. Poly Styrene is iconic on the stronger tracks. Some uneven points that just come across as a bit more naive and lyrically clunky (I mean, they are young punks) like Plastic Bag. But the strongest points - wow. Identity, Germfree Adolescence. Never heard this before, but they're fresh and these are massive tracks. Super enjoyed this one. Go saxophones!
Spunky and has sax! I'm on board.
Classic Punk album. Contains some absolute bangers. Sad that their output was so minimal because their form of high energy Punk was very palatable
own
Чудесно, великолепно, ярко, необычно. Приятно удивлен. До сих пор звучит свежо и актуально. Несколько песен добавил. Твердая четверка
It's not my style of music, but it's good, I appreciate it