Reviews (page 3 of 7)
1978? Holy shit. This is great. The addition of the sax fills in some of that early punk sound, and it's a complete package. Somehow, it didn't grip me the way I wanted it to, but still, real winner here. Slicker than you'd expect while still being rough around the edges.
Sehr cool, der Gesang ist nicht immer Grade, aber es war ja gut gemeint
Noch nie gehört. Punkig, rotzig, irgendwie New Wave. Wie grandios sind denn hier bitte die Bläser? Erstaunlich gut gealtert! Gefällt mir sehr gut, meine erste richtige Neuentdeckung hier.
Really fun album. I only knew Germfree Adolescents and Oh Bondage going in, but there some other great songs on here as well. It's nice to hear a classic punk album that hasn't been played to death, it sounds pretty fresh and ahead of its time. Singer sounds quite like Johnny Rotten, but over all I think these songs are much better than the Sex Pistols. It is a but repetitive, and maybe there are a few songs too many. But I think some of the ones toward the end were bonus tracks. No other notes really.
Excellent album!! Classic Sinatra. Smooth, clean and fresh. Could listen to this music for hours.
A fun, high-energy album bursting with personality. A great listen all around.
Love the saxophone. Lyrics are great on a few songs and I enjoy her voice when she doesn’t scream her lyrics.
I don’t know if this just hit me at the right time or what because I really enjoyed it.
This was the musical, female-led side if Punk. The saxophone is brilliant, Germ free adolescents was one if the best punk songs ever and Poly Styrene is an absolute legend. Love it.
Favorite Track: Warrior in Woolworths
What a fun album. Saxophone!!
I liked the "don't care" attitude YEAH I, HIT HIM BACK WITH MY, PET, RRRRAT
Fun
First time listening to X-Ray Spex, and I love it! Very good, simple, raw, and even better: a female-fronted group. Very vocal, very political. They don’t have many albums, which is sad, but it’s probably one of those discoveries that will become part of my regular listening.
Amazing! I love when women make better music than men (exactly, all the time). The saxophone in this is great
Really enjoyed this one. The saxophone is an unusual choice for a punk-rock band, but it added a cool twist to the straight-ahead punk guitars and drums. If it hadn't been for the saxophone, I would have thought the band came from the 90s Riot Grrrl scene.
Solid punk
For a punk album, it's pretty slick with more melody and chords and not the same DIY basicness of other punk acts. It also includes a lot of sax, which brings another unique element to it. The vocal delivery and lyrics are definitely punkish, but it feels more like Siouxsie and the Banshees post-punk than pure punk. Even though it's hard to put my finger on their sound I can hear it in a lot of 80's punk, post-punk, and new wave and I think that's probably an indication of their influence. I have never heard of them but I still get the impression they were influential. And the whole album is pretty catchy even if not totally my thing or I can't point to specific songs that stand out above the rest (maybe the title track and The Day the World Turned Day-Glo?). Feels like a 3.5 but I'm rounding up for their uniqueness.
Catchy punk tunes with slightly off-key (but energetic) singing and somewhat amateurish sax playing - I want to say the sax sounds "flat" - not in an out-of-tune way, but just lacking energy, despite the speed of the playing. Supporting this impression, when I heard Identity I thought, "Hey, the sax sounds a lot better now!"...and then saw it was a different sax player. Still, the sax is a nice touch and the whole album has a ton of energy. Poly Styrene's singing style grew on me, even the occasional off-key moments, and she was clearly influential so credit where credit's due. Finally, I've got to imagine the live shows were a lot of fun. Favorite tracks: Warrior in the Woolworths, Let's Submerge, Germ Free Adolescents, The Day the World Turned Day-Glo.
This album was so fun to listen to!!! Definitely up my alley.
great album!!
Great album, would listen again. Loved to hear where the punk and riot grrrl queens got their screams and styles. Also, I love a saxophone.
Surprised to find out how much depth this band had in their sound and songwriting. I had only heard a few singles before this and was excited to spend my morning with this first wave punk band. The fact that they were so young at the time makes their craftsmanship that much more incredible. On the flip side, one would think a band like KISS would make a powerful statement with their comeback disappointment, 1998’s “Psycho Circus”, specifically because of their age and expertise. Turns out a majority of THAT atrocity was played by underpaid, uncredited studio musicians. “Germ Free Adolescents” on the other hand, is performed and written by the band themselves. A young group of British punks on the edge of a burgeoning and powerful scene, with something to say and an original sound to back it up. Raise a glass for Poly Styrene, the original princess of punk.
Really enjoyed this more than i expected to on rolling it. Really great punk music with really great horns is always appreciated. Didn’t love every song but for this to exist in 1978 is beautiful and I have no idea how I’ve never heard of any of this.
Riktigt roligt, full fart punk-energi. Kanske blir lite mycket med en hel LP, men kul och ösigt!
I think it's a good album and I liked a lot of songs from it. Let's Submerge, I Can't Do Anything, Identity, Genetic Engineering, Germfree Adolescence, Age (Bonus Track) 4/5
Great!
9/15/25. Great discovery! Sounds like the source of a lot of later punk bands I like, notably Sleater-Kinney. Fun songs and great vocals.
The world needs more female lead punk rock bands!
Fun punk, really enjoyed the inclusion of the saxophone.
Deceptively clever. Really takes off from Identity.
It's Ska ya slag
On second listen - really good. And the sax is so nice. R LOVED hearing Warrior in Woolworths.
Fuck yeah this kicks ass. Absolutely electric lead vox, and unapologetically loud and blaring sax, what more could you want in an early UK punk album (with a hint of ska??)
Amazing punk record, this is the force that was starting the movement and made it what it is today. The aggressiveness, the screams, the sound in general was excellent and roaring through the speakers. Will keep it in rotation. Very good!
Honestly a lot more fun than expected, i can easily see a lot of the riot grrl bands being inspired by this band here. The lyrics are often a bit hard to understand due to the way they sing/processed her vocals but it doesn't take away much of the quality of the album.
I think as a whole album it's pretty good. There's a few tracks that I really enjoyed and were real iconic 70s punk. There were also a few tracks that I think took me out of the mood a little. Not bad per se, but didn't keep me in the same mode. It's worth a listen
Bon early punk avec des cuivres!
Not bad, but a lot of shouting.
I had never listened to this album before, although i saw loads of copies when I briefly worked part time in a second hand record shop in Sunderland. Indeed the only things i knew about the band were the single 'Identity', and that Poly Styrene came from Kent (always a good thing!) ;-) Listening to this, i couldn't help but be reminded of my thoughts when listening to The Who's Live At Leeds last weekend. The latter lacked energy, whereas Germfree Adolescents positively fizzes with it. My favourite tracks are; Genetic Engineering, Germfree Adolescence and I Can't Do Anything... but in all honesty there's only three track Plastic Bag that i struggled with. On Genetic Engineering, I thought the worries about science replacing humans had interesting parallels with current concerns about AI... nearly half a century later! But the main thing that lifts this above many other punk albums, was the inclusion of saxophone! What a winner!! Although this is not an album I will return to regularly, i loved it.
ez
mid 4 im aint no punk, but when i am im germfree. unless fungus is a germ of course
Tight, fast, fun, honest, unique. Loved it. 4.5/5
proto riot grrrl?
I like anything from this era. I appreciate some of the differences between X-Ray Spex and other punk bands of the era like keeping the saxophone in there. It can be difficult here almost a half century later seeing that the world these bands were lashing out and rebelling against won out. I will reappraise in 2078
Girl punk, kooky sax - super fun and stands apart from other punk acts of the time.
This was a fun album. I enjoyed it more then I expected.
Einzigartige Mischung aus britischem Punk und Saxophon, mit kraftvoller Botschaft und der charismatischen Poly Styrene. Leider etwas eintönig und klanglich unausgewogen. Wichtig für die Punk-Geschichte, aber kein musikalisches Meisterwerk. Man sollte dem Werk eine zweite Chance geben.
I've never really listened to these guys. Good stuff from a really great time in punk rock.
85% Best: Art-I-Ficial; Let’s Submerge; Identity; I Am a Poseur; The Day the World Turned Day-Glo Must-Hear? Sure
Fantastic! I can hear hints of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones 1st album here. Love Poly Styrene!
Pretty damn exciting and energetic. Tasteful sax, bitchin' riffs and grooves. Cool multi tracked vocals. I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to spinning some of the live stuff.
A female Sex Pistols. Terrific.
What a fun album to listen to, punk at it's best. The horns make it sound like the band really had a blast putting this together. The album isn't really more than a collection of lots of their singles, but it doesn't really need to be. It's the perfect length with the 2 bonus tracks on streaming, I'll listen to it again for sure.
I really liked this, a real surprise for me.
Cool
Angry girl punk. But there are a bunch of cool horns. There is also a real sense of melody amongst the aggression. I quite liked it.
I've never listened to X-Ray Spex before. "Art-I-Ficial" is rocking pretty hard right away. I'm not sure I've ever listened a 70s punk bank with a frontwoman. I like the spin she's putting on it. "Warrior in Woolworths" is a funny song. I love it. I'm liking the sax on "Genetic Engineering". "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo" also has great saxophone. This was a great album filled with consumable punk. I liked her voice a lot. The instrumentation has a fun variety in it, but keeps it simple. 7/10
Know of them but not sure I've ever heard them. Thought this was pretty great. Punk check, female vocalist check, trumpet/sax check. Pretty up my street. Think my favourites were: The day the world turned day glo I am a poseur Genetic engineering Let's submerge Basically the ones with the trumpets! 4.5, I'll be back
BEST SONGS: - Art-I-Ficial - I Live Off You
I love a good surprise. Just a joyous album, crunchy and rockin.
Kick ass.
That´s the way Rock´n´Roll had to sound in 1978!
Fucking awesome. She took the Sex Pistols aa inspiration and made it way better. Fun lyrics, good performances, and just a good time.
This blew me away. Super fun, super high energy. Vocalist comes off like a female Johnny Rotten. Enjoyed this way more than expected, will be on the lookout for a vinyl copy.
Wow. Really good.
First time experiencing this band and it was great!
Classic punk that still hits. Loved this one.
Man, what a surprise. I had no idea what to expect from this and can’t believe I never heard of it before. Awesome punk album, it rocks. Plain and simple. Sharp lyrics, loud guitars, great vocals, and blaring saxophone that really makes this one memorable.
Way more fun than I expected it to be. Good energy.
Germfree Adolescents was a pretty fun album. I always am in the mood for a good fun punk album and this album seemed to scratch that itch pretty well. The main stars of the show on this album were the guitars and the saxophones which were what made the album as enjoyable as it is. There was also that classic 70s cheese in the vocals, lyrics and even some of the general melodies and i did enjoy all of that and i never found it too annoying. This album is a short one but thankfully, it's not a case as to where the album felt like it was going far too fast. I had a good time with this one and found it to be a worthy entry to this list. Best Song: I Am a Poseur Worst Song: I Can't Do Anything
Very good. This is such a great type of punk plus the saxophone!
If someone had given this album to me for my 15th birthday, their timing would have been impeccable! That's the day it was released in the U.S. and it sounds like the neighboring Joan, Blondie, Pat, and Martha grooves spun daily on my turntable. This takes me back to my not-so-germ-free adolesence.
Fav: Identity; I Live Off You; I Am a Poseur; The Day the World Turned Day-Glo
I like all the songs, but I don’t love them. Favorite song: identity
I really like the guitar tone, just feel really warm. The sax feels like a surprisingly perfect fit for music like this I wonder why more people haven't tried it, especially when multiple parts are layered on top of each other to make chords and stuff. I feels quite fitting going from listening to Sleater-Kinney right before this, as I think the singer's vocal style in this band heavily inspired hers, which I think fits this type of raw instrumentals very well. The more slow-tempo songs are also good, the lyrics and general attitude are also very good. Favourite songs: all except I can't do anything, the day the world turned Day-Glo, highly inflammable. Overall around 8/10
Very original and cool. I love the way the production complements the instrumentation, especially the guitars in "Obsessed With You". The fact that it was made in 1978 is really impressive. Lyrical content was wonderful, vocals were everything they needed to be to sell what they were saying. As for all punk albums, a little more range would have been nice, but for early punk, they did really very well. Very punk rock. Enjoyed it a lot. 4/5
I’m reserving true 5 stars for the albums that are really special, but this would be 4 1/2 - the first one that will stay in my library and I like it more than my previous 4 stars. Had only vaguely maybe heard of this band, but this record is right up my alley - punk with a female lead + grimy sax? Sign me up.
Perfect response to the pomposity of Clapton
The saxophone takes a bit of getting used to for me, but the punk is GOOD. Excellent vocals as well, this is wild! Great bass sound, great songwriting. Yep, I really like this.
Spex brought the horn and made me angry \m/.
a woman-led punk album?? let's fucking gooooo to be totally honest, this isn't my favorite kind of music and i'm not even sure i liked this entire album. but i really, deeply love that it exists, and i love that it's on this list even more. it really does feel important! based 1001 albums W
brit girl punk
I really liked what I heard. Listening tobit made me realize I know almost nothing about OG Punk Music. And that is a crying shame. This album will be my stepping stone to it. Genre Impact: unk. Decade (Relative) Impact: unk. Absolute Impact: unk. Listenability: High Re-listenability: High
Pleasant surprise. There’s quite a lot of punk on this list. This was one of the better ones.
One hit is good but I generally prefer at least two.
Great punk
This is punk as fuck. And some of the best saxophone use in rock music.
Fun!
divertido, apesar de eu detestar punk rock.
Two things this list could use more of 1) Women 2) Energy
A pretty solid punk album. They have a great energy, and I like the singer and the sax. Mid 4.
Mjög skemmtilegt, annað meira.
Usually not a huge fan of 70s punk, despite the fact that it's an important genre as far as influences go-- the majority of it I just don't find interesting. This album was a pleasant surprise. The saxophone is a really fun addition, even though "punk album with a saxophone" sounds terrible on paper.
That’s punk
I have no Idea what they're singing about most of the time but it sounds good. Really liked Plastic Bag.
Crazy coincidence that the first time I heard this album was one year ago on this day. So good and so germfree
Surprise record, good punk!
Hell yeah, this is the good stuff. Definitely glad I heard this. Poly Styrene rocks and that sax is great.
I like this QUITE a lot. I think I should listen to more punk music. It’s just very good and exciting and her voice is so good for this kind of music. Reminds me of the sex pistols but thats just me not knowing much of this kind of music. I liked it a lot though. High 4?
Pretty fun album. Probably not a frequent go-to, but definitely something I would play again around the house when I need something bright and high-energy. 3.5
Used to not like this album very much but it's grown on me. Poly Styrene's vocals used to bother me but I like it now. 3.5/5
That was a great listen! I love Germ Free Adolescent the song but hearing in the context of the whole album was fun! I remember seeing them on TOTP and thinking what the hell is this, wow memories,
This one surprised me. Germfree Adolescents is an energetic punk album with a female singer, Polly Styrene who very clearly influenced future female punk leads, Corin Tucker immediately comes to mind. 7.9/10
3.75 stars bc I blanked out on the last couple tracks. I enjoy it far more when women sing badly let's goo punk women who can't sing nation!!!
Fun punk, feels like a slightly more rebellious version of the bangles.
Solid, feels before it’s time.
Best album of all time? No way Very fun and from an extremely specific time in history? Absolutely.
Really enjoyed this one, energetic & driving guitars with sax blended in throughout. Unexpectedly amazing
I freaking love the sax on this album!
Лихой и задорный панк-рок, с левым зарядом и мелодичным саксофоном.
I really appreciated this album, I loved the way they succeeded to use some sax in it like for a punk/rock band that's unusual to see this kind of instrument which is amazing. I really liked the energy of the band during the entire album and I love the way the singer screams the name of the song at the beginning of some like for "Art-I-Ficial" or "Genetic Engineering".
Art-I-Ficial : Great riff, not a fan of her voice Had a really good time? I got a child-like, innocent vibe out of this album that I really loved 4!!
Reminded me of how much I like early punk.
40/1001 - Can't understand the vocals (strong de-esser or lisp?). Can understand the loud and awesome guitars drums and flat sax.
This goes hard. I'm generally anti-sax for the most part but for some reason it really works with this kind of punk.
Pretty good Unique titles
Admittedly, I was fully prepared to trash this album. When an album has a relatively light Wikipedia page, I get a slight bias that it will end up being bad, which I acknowledge is not very fair. However, I genuinely had fun listening to this one. The saxophone elevated nearly every track.
Great UK Punk. I didn't know this one in my youth but I would have loved them even more in those angsty teen years.
X-Ray Spex and Poly Styrene truly broke new ground with this, their only full-length record. Countless artists were influenced by them. Gotta love a Punk band with a saxophone that doesn't do Ska.
Great album, and the title track is such a gem. In my head I always confuse X-Ray Spex with Poly Styrene and X with Exene Cervenka but that's not their fault.
3.5 It's great. I hear how they influenced so many. Love the horns. Almost reminds me of Murphy"s Law at times
Highly underrated. I think this might be my favorite punk album. Also, it could be released today and still sound equally relevant.
Genuinely really strong punk album. Punchy and melodic at points.
Like the sax
I've meant to check out X-Ray Spex but just hadn't got around to it until today. Really great stuff. I can hear their influence echoing through lots of other punk and riot grrl bands, especially everything Kathleen Hanna has done. I like the horns too. Will definitely listen to this again.
very punk, loved it
Im suddenly very motivated to rebel against the establishment
Dat sax tho
Een aardig punkalbum. Het geluid kan in dit genre een stuk slechter, dus dat is alvast een dikke meevaller. De gitaren, drums en basgitaar klinken goed. Tante Piepschuim (ik kende haar niet moet ik eerlijk zeggen) doet het meer dan aardig op zang en ze trekt de kar prima. Tuurlijk is het af en toe een keer wat vervelend hoe ze zingt, maar punk mag een beetje schuren. Wat lichte ska invloeden door die sax ook, maar het gaat er vandaag in als zoete koek. De titeltrack is fucking irritant. De track daarna (Plastic Bag) vind ik dan wel weer enorm interessant op de één of andere manier. Een compacte 36 minuten, weinig mis mee. Ik ga de 5 sterren wel op zak houden, want ik mis wel een nummer of 2 die je op repeat wil zetten.
I'd only heard Oh Bondage before this. My loss, this whole album kicks ass.
26/01/25 I have never heard of this band, and it wasn't as bad as i was expecting.
Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪 Production: 👂🔪🩸 Music: 🎷🎤🤗 Rating: 🧪🧪🧪🧪/5
I've said it before and I'll say it again—we need more saxophone in punk. I think Ska had it all wrong by incorporating trumpets everywhere. Sax just brings a whole extra layer to this already kickass record. It's vigorous when it needs to be, but backs off with poppier tracks just to keep a fresh pace.
Punky, funky, sexy, and saxy; you don't need X-ray vision to see why this is a classic of the genre.
Started as a very fun listen, but got a bit repetitive.
As punk goes, this is very tuneful and accessible. Very enjoyable.
I like it. It is interesting. Not crazy, earth changing music. But girls doing punk is fun and different for this list. 4/5
Punk, grimey, stick it to them, saxophone. Great punk album with some interesting vocals and sax usage. My only real complaint is that most of the songs go on a verse too long. 7/10
nice eipc
This is pretty great. It’s raw and honest and unpretentious and out of tune and out of time and in the pocket and (almost) on the nose and not-quite-what-you’d expect and just-what-I-needed and fresh as fuck even 30 odd years later. Thanks 1001
Actually really enjoyed this album- never heard the group but will put this into my listening rotation. Can totally hear their influence in so many bands that came afterwards. I’m in a bang up mood so I’ll round up to a 4
i'm always a sucker for early new wave, this album does have that awesome sound that i've heard from all sorts of rock albums from around this time. the high point of this album to me is the energy. the wailing vocals and the mostly fast tracks leave you with a sense of urgency as you listen. this high point eventually becomes a bit of a weakness later on, a lot of the tracks, while nice sound a bit samey.
Urzekła mnie energia tego albumu. It's not one for the ages, nie mam co do tego złudzeń, ale to zwyczajnie kawał energetycznego, gładkiego punka. Niektóre riffy brzmiały, jakby wyprzedzały swoje czasy. Gitara w "Obsessed with You" kojarzyła mi się mocno z tym, co grała stara Metallica. Brudne, twarde, miarowe, szybkie. Trochę mnie to bamboozlowało, ale w taki pozytywny sposób. Teksty mnie bardzo zaskoczyły. Zdecydowana większość z nich mogłaby być śpiewana dzisiaj bez najdrobniejszej zmiany i być bardzo, bardzo aktualna. Co prowadzi mnie do dwóch refleksji - negatywnej i gorzko-pozytywnej. Negatywna: niczego się nie nauczyliśmy przez 50 lat od czasów opublikowania tego albumu. Gorzko-pozytywna: świat po prostu tak wygląda i jego zepsucie to nie produkt dzisiejszych czasów, a nasze utyskiwanie na to, że jest gorzej niż kiedykolwiek to po prostu recency bias. Wynika z tego jednak pozytyw, że jakoś to będzie i przetrwamy też dzisiejsze czasy. Przejdziemy przez jakiś gigantyczny kataklizm, który raz na jakiś czas musi się wydarzyć, ale jako ogół jakoś tam przetrwamy. Dużo fajnych riffów, mega duża energia, teksty, które bronią się nawet dzisiaj. Bardzo mi się też podoba porywający głos Poly Styrene (zajebisty stage name w ogóle), broni się zarówno w hałasie instrumentów, jak i eksponowany na pierwszym planie ("Germ Free Adolescents"). Podoba mi się ta jego skrzekliwość. Bardzo dobrze spędzony czas. Kiedyś to powtórzę.
Girls doing punk is probably one on my favourites genres ever. I love the energy and vocals. Album is uneven but it has decent kick. Not a masterpiece but I'm a slave to my unoriginal but specific taste.
Chef, can you make my Go-go's gourmet? 4
A Cornerstone of not only punk and 3rd wave ska, but the seeds of future Riot Grrrl music. Great stuff, and super accessable.
It is quite great, almost excellent.
i'm not weird for immediately loving Poly Styrene's vocals, right? everyone treats it like this acquired taste, but i personally find her stylings to hit that sweet spot between grating but also pretty melodic and memorable? its a damn shame she didn't put out one more album in the prime of the UK Punk scene before everything started splintering, because she's got a lot of personality when doing vocals -- no wonder she sticks with a lot of people getting into punk. of course, she isn't the only reason the record's great. i think putting saxophone on your punk rock record at a time when that was the cheeseball or dad rock instrument makes it stand out from every other 70's band with loud simple chords and shouty vocals. it makes each song go from a typical uptempo punk number to a barnburner, searing a melody across the guitars, almost like a second vocalist. it's great. i might need to come back to this one some time soon.
Energetic and fun punk. Standout songs: Lets Submerge Identity The Day the World Turned Day-Glo
Almost a perfect album, Plastic Bag and Warrior in Woolworths are not very good tracks but the highlights Art-I-Ficial, Let's Submerge and The Day the World Turned Day-Glo are outstanding especially when you realize the band was formed in '76 and this album released in '78.
Pretty great record. The sax adds to British punk rock guitar. I can hear roots for Sleater-Kinney and Amyl & the Sniffers here in Poly Styrene’s vocals.
Took a little to get used to her voice. A good punk record overall.
Entre el New Wave y el Punk, X-Ray Spex desarrolla un LP increíble, ejecutado con un espíritu fresco directamente salido de los mejores garages de Inglaterra. Una excelente entrada en esta lista que, si bien no es tan influyente, promete unos buenos 43 minutos de entretención de la mano de una de las mejores vocalistas de punk del otro lado del Atlántico. Gran experiencia, por favor, escúchelo.
Relisten to this and previous one
Much more interesting and fun than the Ramones and some of the other late 70s punk I’ve come across. Sure, this is a must-listen, if nothing else than for the thrill of a creative early punk album. #51
89/100
This was difficult to rate, it felt like it fell somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but I'm going with 4, as I particularly enjoyed a few of the tracks.
Great album. Want to give it 4 but something never stuck with X Ray Spex. Fuck it I will. Love the passion and it was kicking against the pricks
This is my shit!
7/10
Great sound.. loads of energy still sounds fresh
Wow, pretty cool album from a band I've never heard of before. Vocally, it's kind of like a punk Cyndi Lauper with it sounding a bit Sex Pistols and Blondie. It gets a little shrill at times though. There are horns too. I'll give this one another listen. Favorite track: Warrior in Woolworths
I bet they were fun to see live. What's not to like? Punk rock w a strong female lead and sax! The sax was my favorite part. My favorites were Obsessed w You and Identity. I'm about a 3.5 with this but I'll go 4 cuz of the sizzling saxamaphone.
I liked the old school punk of all this, and especially loved the sax. The added layer of sound brought some fun and funk. Recording quality isn't great, but overall I quite enjoyed this!
Some fun punk. Some of the songs felt familiar, but I wasn't sure if I had actually heard them before.
Great
He’ll fucking yea mate
I love the sax on some of the tracks, but great rock with excellent female vocals.
Quality, fun punk, 4.5
Même si je commence à en avoir ras le cul des albums punks de cette liste, je dois avouer que celui-ci se distingue des autres par son drôle concept omniprésent dans toutes les tracks et par sa chanteuse du calibre des best du Riot Grrrl
Really enjoyed this. Much prefer this type of punk to the Sex Pistols.
In 2011, when Poly Styrene—arguably punk’s best stage name—lost her battle with breast cancer, there was an overdue surge of appreciation for her solo work and Germfree Adolescents, the only proper X-Ray Spex album. That was my first real encounter with her music, and now, years later, these tracks still have the same magnetic pull. Let’s make no mistakes: this is one of the most messily delivered albums on the list (in the best way possible). The musicianship is scrappy at best, but that’s punk rock for you. Melodies and message took the front seat, while nailing a tricky Fmaj7#11 or G13sus4 was, let’s say, optional. Germfree Adolescents has both punch and plenty of hooks, its raw energy infused with a sharp sense of alienation and a swipe at mindless consumerism and plastic conformity. The saxophone is an unexpected and essential twist—more ska territory than punk but here it adds a playful roughness. It is always almost on the beat and more or less in tune, giving the whole album its chaotic charm. At the core of it all is Poly Styrene herself, defying expectations with her bold image and delivery. Back in 1978, seeing a woman lead guitar-driven music, confrontational yet playful, was rare—arguably, it still is. Her cry against artificiality and rampant commercialism feels as relevant now as it did then. And yes, I get the irony of streaming this album with Amazon open in another tab. I should do better. Did/Do I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? Yes. Would this release make my personal list? Unlikely. Will I be listening to it again? Occasionally.
I really enjoyed reading about Poly Styrene and the X-Ray Specs, and this female fronted 70s punk record. Hell yeah
Phenomenal work here from an early, female led, sax toting, punk project. Real hidden gem. I think the vocals are a tad too aggressive, but I'm forever grateful that I had no input on the production. This is what music used to be.
really enjoyed this. Particular shoutout to Genetic Engineering, new favourite work song
It's crazy how "fully formed" punk was from the start. This still sounds fresh. Hard to imagine Bikini Kill or Sleater-Kinney without this album. This might even be a better collection of songs than the best BK or SK albums...
Where has this one been hiding all of these years? A half-Somali woman-led 70s punk band with saxophones? It's as amazing as it sounds! It seems obvious that this would be a major influence on bands like Bikini Kill. While the classic punk bands like the Sex Pistols needed to demonstrate their angry and disenfranchised attitude at every corner, it's bands like X-Ray Spex that dared to actually have some fun doing it. The gaudy, bright outfits on the cover stand in stark contrast to standard Vivian Westwood punk style that the genre is famous for. As early as 1978, it was the women who were keeping punk fresh.
Warrior in Woolworths is very solid. Let's Submerge also carries forward with a great energy. Solid songwriting and good use of horns. I Am A Poseur has a nice hop to it. Reminds of a more freewheeling and crusty Pat Benatar. Germfree Adolescence is a standout here -- production is cool with the echoey synths. Plastic Bag is also a jam -- like what they do with the tempo play. This was in all parts more enjoyable than I expected. Maybe not something I would throw on frequently, but a fine ride straight through. Solid 4 / 5.
This is #day73 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... wow, that sax! This is my first-ever experience with X-Ray Spex, and it's already one of my favorite records of all time. My initial thought was that it’s like a female version of the Sex Pistols. Then, it made me think of Blondie's debut, but it definitely stands on its own, very much its own. The album is rowdy and raw, yet incredibly melodious, pure punk with bits of ska and reggae, plus a hint of new wave. Standout songs are "I Can't Do Anything," "Identity," "Plastic Bag," and "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo," but honestly, the whole record rocks... You just turn it up and let it flow. Poly Styrene was a true punk icon and a forward-thinking artist who did feminism before feminism was a thing. I’d go so far as to say she’s one of the most influential frontwomen in rock music. This is a fantastic discovery, a trailblazing record that deserves more recognition. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day74.
Not heard of this before, what a trip!
I had absolutely zero expectations, which makes being blown away even more delicious. What a band; what a charismatic lead vocal performance. Highlights: Art-I-Ficial, Warrior in Woolworths, Identity
Obviously you come for Poly Styrene's vocals. What a voice for punk. However, the lyrics and tone are pretty incisive, and the band offers an edgy-but-informed take on the 1970s UK punk scene. Has some pop elements that foreshadow the impending post-punk wave but I don't think this detracts from a band that should be on any OG punk playlist.
The Spotify link goes to an Anthology not the original album. Make sure you do a little search to get the Album. This is a great album. Loved it.
Okay, surprisingly good album, with few exceptions. I quite liked Poly's vocal, music wasn't ordinary, as it is with punk in general, I enjoyed most of the record. It's quite unexpected, because after looking at the album cover, I was ready to skip it.
This was enjoyable. Fun, great guitar parts, and the use of horns makes it stand out in the crowd. Sounds like a cross between Blondie and The Clash to me
Short, but beautiful.
Mikið echo, mjög hress saxófónn, töff rödd og afar hressandi lög. Ef við þurfum að hafa pönk, þá er þetta pönkið sem ég kýs.
Super fun
4.0
Cool early girl punk.
Probably most influential riot girls album
I was bought up listening to this band. Some people thing little girls should be seen and not heard. Not after this album.
So cool - these guys (probably mostly polly styrene) had an ethos, a vision, a style! Singing in what I think of as Johnny Rotten delivery - often sadly imitated by punks to come but she and he were pretty much originating it as far as I can tell. Love the aesthetics, the themes, the saxophone, and the songs have pretty solid hooks.
Fun album, superb sax, a bit shouty.
Super rough mod pop punk, no frills all jams
8/10. This is a really interesting album in comparison to other punk albums. I felt some retro vibes. The vocals were interesting. In general, I enjoy punk music with female vocals over punk music with male vocals. :)
I hate man punk. I love woman punk.
Pour un album de 1978, me semble préfigurer la musique des années 1990, le punk, les Riot grrrls (Bikini Kill), utilisation des cuivres. La première pièce m'a un peu rebutée, mais j'ai aimé le reste, l'énergie et l'humour.
Proto Amyl
An excellent catchy punk record. Loved this.
Spiky and likable. The horns are a major additive. Definitely dated-sounding however, and the vocals can be a touch grating. Rounding up a bit for effort and an authentic edginess. And also the very strong range and creativity that's on display here – "Highly Inflammable" and "Warriors in Woolworth" make this more than a simplistic and direct, immediately post-punk record.
Lady punk - marvellous! 3.6
A wonderful, raw piece of punk energy. Just a shame about the saxophone
Cool girl punk music!
Some proper new wave punk with Poly Styrene's piercing and distinctive voice. Something the edgy kids in college would listen to that I would struggle with then but somehow enjoy more now.
Classic!!!
Got some iconic tracks on there.
Pretty kick ass punk rock. Sex Pistols style with a woman's touch plus a sax. Yes, please!
Awesome early punk, can hear the influence on later bands (Go-Go's, The Waitresses)
Good punk album, surprised I've not heard more of them. Identity is a great song.
Pretty good punk stuff, saxophone playing makes it quite unique
Pretty fun and entertaining album.
I’m enthralled with Poly Styrene’s voice and it’s obvious that Kathleen Hanna is as well. I think that the musical structures of X-ray Spex’s tunes are really interesting and not the typical straight-up-and-down punk arrangements that you might expect. That said, I appreciate the well-defined outro curb for each and every track - that’s a true gift. This album fits for me into the “you really should have listened to this by now, you twat” category. I love this list reading me for filth like that. Bonus star for the “dubiously-tuned saxophone”.
I remember back in 1978, my older brother playing the 45's of "Day-Glo" at peak volume... It was weird, but it was awesome. I only know a couple of songs from these gyts, but they're all weird and wonderful. It will be interesting to see if it'll work across a whole album. This is everything that was great about late 70's punk. A little sloppy, but a lot of energy... played fast. Rapid fire short songs: get in, make your point, and get out. Attitude over aptitude. And unlike anything you heard before. These guys get full marks for originality, and extra credit for style. That said, they're a little bit of a 1-trick-poney, and better suited for singles that a long listen. Stilll, it works, and will get listened to some more. 4/5
Awesome album. X-Ray Spex have a similar style of punk as Blondie but with an extra edge. Fast riffs, big energy, an ear for pop melodies and a really charismatic frontwoman. And as a bonus, there’s a saxophone player in the band! Amazing. Sharp lyrics too.
Leuke ontdekking! Siouxsie and the Banshees maar dan punk.
la voz de la mina a veces me irritaba pero excelente sonido, carrea el album
It takes some getting used to her voice, and in turn I could see listening to the songs on this album out of context from each other could lead to annoyance, but once I got over that hurdle, this was a pretty good punk album. It feels just pop enough for its anti-establishment attitude to feel a tad tongue and cheek, something the album refers to a decent amount of time, and the variation on the genre, not only with a female lead vocalist in a male-dominated genre, but also with the inclusion of new wave elements a year before The Clash made that a standard in London Calling, and saxophone playing to make it stand out instrumentally as well. It doesn't even suffer from the repetitive tone issues that plague many a punk album, having enough speed-up and slowdown to feel like there was actually some thought put behind it all. It can still fall into that grating sound at times, and I'll admit I don't remember a great deal about the record when it comes to specifics, but as a whole I'm glad I enjoyed this pretty solidly, and perhaps this means I should start exploring the feminine side of the punk movement, because so far it seems a lot more honest, and therefore, good, in my eyes.
This was a fun punk album. Got a lot of B-52's and Riot Grrrrl vibes. Was very surprised to see this came out in 1978 and not in the mid to late 80s. I had a good time with this one.
Oh fuck yes! I needed this palette cleanser after listening to a bunch of hippie crap. Unpretentious, unvarnished and straight from the gut. In Poly Styrene’s voice, you can hear Cyndi Lauper, Bjork, Bow Wow Wow, Bikini Kill, Blondie and The Slits. Loving this. The band is tighter than you’d expect. Her voice is stronger. The whole thing is really well produced. Lots of fun. I swear the intro from the title track reminds me of Talking Heads’ Love->Building on Fire.
Punk del bueno
Surprisingly good. Felt like this was full of sounds that other bands would build on in the 80s. Like punk Blondie. Light 4
Pog Punk. Love the leader singers raspy ass voice opening up the album. Album absolutely shreds ! So many saves throughout. Back half of the album was weaker but still good
Great punk/ska punk album. The recording sound is a bit meh, but it adds to the chars. The lyrics and delivery is great. Not sure why this one is on the list but I definitely enjoyed it
Good album.
Either I'm starting to appreciate punk or I'm just getting great punk albums lately. Either way, I enjoy this recent array of unique, daring punk albums. This one boasts a delicously messy brand of saxophone sprinkled, female-lead punk.
70s uk pop/punk nothing groundbreaking, nice to hear saxophone used in such fast-paced music
It’s old school punk but also proto-riot grrrl. You can tell Kathleen Hannah was inspired by this. Digging the sax, actually! 3.8/5
Poly Styrene was a true original (and one of the few women of colour in the punk scene of the 1970s). For me, the standout is her voice; she was as comfortable roaring over a crowd as she was cajoling listeners on some of the slower tracks. Some flirt with pop (e.g. Germfree Adolescents).
That sax! “Plastic Bag” my fave, but overall very enjoyable.
Solid early punk rock. Mixing in saxophone at times is not what you'd expect from punk rock but it works. "Germ Free Adolescents" was my top.
Classic punk rock that set the bar for many other bands. More than anything, it was frontwoman Poly Styrene and saxophone from Rudi Thompson that gave X-Ray Spex a differentiating edge that put them a step above their contemporaries. Even compared to other vocalists of the day, Poly Styrene had a distinct look and sound that practically defined the band. No doubt, her voice would help shape the sound of Kathleen Hanna and the eventual riot grrrl movement of the '90s. Track listing varies depending on which version you had, something that always bothered me. Going with the streaming track list, it opens with the slow grower title track before bursting into its punk rock form with non-stop energy. It's kind of incredible how every track hits its stride, resulting in a cohesive punk album that feels somewhat rare for this era. Dynamic and memorable, X-Ray Spex had a winning formula to keep punk colorful.
Always a huge fan of female punk rock.
This rocks. but other punk bands, please don't go listening to this & thinking you should add saxophone or other horns. You're not X-Ray Spex, ok? You have to be able to drive & groove at the same time. don't do it, ok? ok. glad we got that sorted out in 1978 before anything bad could happen. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Boy this should definitely get a lot more recognition than it does. I thought I was familiar with the way they sounded, but on listening to this, I was wrong. The saxophone rips ass, and the whole thing holds up with the best of any early wave English punk.
Early New Wave/Punk album. Poly Styrene definitely makes her mark here and blazes her own trail.
"I eat Kleenex for breakfast" A lyrical masterpiece
Well worth another listen. 3 songs could do with being chopped but the rest is really energetic.
A great bit of early punk
Massively underapreciated punk album. Highly listenable. Up there with first Clash album and Bollocks.
This is a new album and band to me. Based on the description I’m surprised I haven’t come across them before. I’m hoping they’re more Clash than Sex Pistols. The opening title track suggests they are exactly that. Germfree Adolescence is a super interesting track, not what I expected given the description of the band. The next two are more punky punk, except the presence of the SAXOPHONE. I know not everyone agrees with this, but I think a decent saxophone makes anything better. This is certainly the first punk rock accompanied by saxophone I’ve listened to, and I think it’s interesting.
This is the kind of punk I like. Spirited energetic vocals, and the sax adds a lot of texture to it. Fun!
Lively
What a train ride! First off; it was very hard to understand what songs that were part of the original album. The Spotify link sent me to Germ Free Adoloscents: The Anthology. Then I checked wikipedia and the original tracklist was different and with another order of the songs. Also turns out it has been re-released a few times with different set of songs and orders, so that made it more tricky. I gave up trying to make sense of it and listened to whatever the Anthology that the link sent me to. It didn't start off very strong with 'Oh Bondage! Up Yours!' which was very punky, but grew on me after that. I really enjoyed 'The Day the World Turned Day-Glo' which had some metal vibes. And then 'Germ Free Adolescents' was probably my favourite song, but was neither punk nor metal. So the whole album was quite a mix of different genres, with saxophone and everything, and in this case it worked quite well! Overall I enjoyed it a fair bit, and there were some songs that stood out as quite good! It was not even enough to really warrant a higher rating, but I'll still give it a weak 4 just because of the handful good songs and the pure joy of hearing something weird and different that actually works for once (very often it does not)!
8/10 pretty great punk album! the vocals would occasionally bug the heck out of me, but this album has really solid production and a great energy
HL: “Plastic Bag”, title track, “Identity”, “Highly Inflammable”, “Art-I-Ficial” Haven’t heard of this before Apple Music doesn’t have the songs in original release order- but at least all the songs are there! Punk album of the month? I realize I just had the seminal Never Mind the Bullocks…, but in terms of vocals I’ll take Poly Styrene over John Lydon most days Part of the Wikipedia article for this album is just shitting on “Plastic Bag”. I liked it tho…? January 30th, 2024
I can see why this was well liked and sounds like it influenced a lot of current bands I listen to
not my thing
Loved this
This is great
Meir sax i punken
This is pretty great, though I have a fond spot for punk in all forms. The female vocals and the sax make this unique.
Sleater Kinney, Epoxies, Kudu - this wasn't the prototype on which those bands built, it was the O.G. Some of this sounded like it could have come out yesterday, which I was not expecting.
pretty rockin
first listen fresh sound i like it
Loved it, but the saxophone kept throwing me off. Sometimes i liked it, sometimes i did not! But the energy & lyrics kept me listening.
sax is always going to get a pretty decent rating from me
This one rocked. Girl pink from the early days, loved the instrumentation and the kick ass attitude. Glad to have discovered it!
I liked this album, don't know how much I will relisten to it though.
British punk with sax. Fast and fun, yet biting and honest. The lyrics alive and bristling with social criticism and sharp commentary, most of which is still relevant and pointed today. I want to say ahead of their time, but the issues and problems with modern society they are pointing to, like consumerism, technology overtaking our lives, and issuers of identity, are all issues they faced at the time, but the album does seem oddly prescient. I will say that the message is a little undercut by the fact that I had to look up the lyrics. Nonetheless, (we are now so inundated and surrounded by these issues, it is harder to see them clearly. Corporatism rules the world but we just about universally celebrate the takeover. Identity politics rules both sides of the aisle. War rages round the world. Anti-human sentiment comes in hot and heavy. To be punk now seems to be to reject the trappings of anti-traditionalism and maybe start a loving family and join your local community. Who knows?) I’m glad this album exits.
Good punk
Knall funk
This album is awesome. The horns add a lot to the music.
An English, female lead punk band with a sax!? Don't know if a band has been more for me.
How have i never heard this before.
This album encapsulates all that is fun about being young and rebellious: the rage, the creativity, the energy, the music! Poly Styrene is the one making most of these things happening, with her ferocious voice and her protesting delivery. But the music is great too, especially with the inclusion of a sax in the chaotic and somewhat primitive punk rock the band is playing.
Wow! This was totally unexpected! A very energetic and rebellious record that I never heard of before. The title is gold!
A thoroughly enjoyable album. I was already familiar with the band, having seen them some years ago at a punk all-dayer festival, but this was more new wave than I expected. That said, it was great fun throughout. Not every song is a classic or anything, but the album as a whole has a lot of energy and personality. Well worth a listen.
I quite like this. Poly Styrene is an excellent lyricist (and vocalist) and she rips her way through twelve songs about the emptiness of consumerism, the artificiality of society, feminism, and the gradual sterilisation of humanity (and what it means to be human) via scientific progress. It’s earnest, but it rocks and still sounds fresh today. If anything, it’s more relevant than when it was released 45 years ago.
An amazing album. Drummer is killing it, love the sax and the singing is amazing. Love this
I didn't know what to expect with this cover, but really fun!
That sax really makes it
Amazingly fun classic punk album that should be talked about more Favourite tracks: Germfree Adolescence, Identity, The Day The World Turned Day Glo, I Am a Poseur
Terrific energy to this album. While I enjoy a lot of punk, at an album level it can get a bit tedious, and this fell into that trap just a bit.
It trope along quite nicely and is just the right length. Good stuff
Such great energy, joyfully catchy punk/new wave songwriting, and an incredible, unique and iconic voice from Poly Styrene. The use of sax just makes this so much fun
Intoxicating and enjoyable from start to finish.
Brash, loose, and really fun. Just enough bite in the lyrics. The horns add just enough to a soundscape that might otherwise get a little tiring over 40 minutes, but the vocals are top notch for this style. Can imagine this popping off in the dives. Three and a half. Fave track: Identity
Nice med det borde lyssna åter
Fun and groovy album. Always have to rep punk with wind instruments
Mycket swag! Kathleen Hanna tog mycke vocal inspiration av denna tjej... kan int klandra henne dokk
This was a great listen!
What a wonderful surprise. I did not have them in my punk radar and that was a crime. I can see lots of Riot Grrl bands listening to this and grabbing the guitar. Again, it is a crime that these bands don’t have the credit they deserve. Loved the songs, attitude, background, art… couldn’t ask for more
Aldrig hört förut. Vilken jäkla röst. Ganska bra platta.
Það er eitthvað við breska paunkið sem gleður mig svakalega. Mjög góð orka í þessu bandi, allt eitthvað svo frjálst og hrátt. Luv it.
Punky AF. Lyrics still relevant today, some decent tunes. What's not to like?
Fun upbeat
Enjoyed
Really solid
Enjoyed, punk music I like! But Spotify is missing half the album
Never heard this, but I loved it. There are so many 70s-80s Brit Punk bands in this list that I wasn’t super excited to hear another one, but this stood out. It’s got all the sloppy punk stuff that I love but it’s executed with precision and the musicianship exceeds that of most of their peers. The saxophone was a nice touch as well.
this is awesome. i had never heard of this until now. the singer absolutely kills it and has plenty of spunk and personality. she reminds of sugarcubes-era bjork or the lead singer from sleater-kinney. the music reminds me of parallel lines by Blondie or of a Madness record. This stuff is fun, dancey, and quirky.
A catchy and fun punk rock record, it was really refreshing to listen to. There are some new wave influences and I loved the saxophone on it. Great album.
This album was a great listen. The genre is listed as punk, but that doesn't begin to cover it. There are new wave, psychedelic, and hard rock elements of this album that emphasize that punk was already turning into something more exploratory with more musicality. X-Ray Spex also predict the Riot Grrrl movement that would later emerge in the 1990s.
Original, catchy, fun and high intensity punk rock album that still stands tall to this day as a total classic. The unique voice of Poly Styrene and the use of saxophone really makes this album unique and special. 8,1/10
Solid punk record, with their own distinctive sound. Has saxophone always been a part of punk music or am I just noticing it now?
Pretty good early punk. The horns were a fun surprise, I bet they were a ton of fun live. Singer is great. All around good stuff, I can see the influence on early riot grrrl stuff too.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Identity, Plastic bag, I am a poseur
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, and had never heard of X-Ray Spex before. The Saxophone is an awesome addition that gives it more of a Ska feel. 4/5