Reviews (page 7 of 8)
That sax really makes it
I really liked the first song, but I feel like it never really advanced from there
This was just noise, and I did not enjoy it.
Punk rock
I think I get why this is on here as it was probably a landmark for its time. It hasn’t aged well though and I was mostly bored, which I don’t think is what punk was aiming for
Is proto punk good because it’s a little more accessible? To me one of those albums where it just sounds like the band is having fun. The sound is a little less refined, which isn’t shocking for a first album, but it’s not unrefined to the point of disjointed. The band supports itself well with interesting bass/drum lines and the vocals put a bow on every song. And you know what? I’ll just say it. The sax is fun and a great call
Fun, raw, high energy album. For me it is a little repetitive but I think that is a common critique for me on a lot of punk type albums, when songs are noisy and fast like this there’s just not much you can do to change things up
Good honest punk
More fantastic energetic punk fun. Loving this!
Purposefully jarring singing is not good.
Spunky punky! Screechy vocals start to grate, but forgivable as interesting to read up about Poly Styrene's life.
No.
music was good but vocals were just annoying
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
After hearing that stupid "Bondage, Up Yours" song on every punk comp forever, I wrote this band off as a complete waste of space. Then I watched the Poly Styrene documentary and was a bit more interested in hearing more. Now, after listening to the entire album, I realize I was wrong - About half of this is pretty good...and the Bondage song is nowhere to be seen 7/10
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.
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).
I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS
Fucking epic! Oi! 5 stars.
I found the lead singer’s voice annoying.
Its not a great album. Its interesting, and punk with a saxophone is different, and the lyrics are smart, but its not great. Or even good. 2/5
It's punk music. It was short. It was tolerable. Probably no need to revisit, but it wasn't bad. I'll round up
It trope along quite nicely and is just the right length. Good stuff
Never really listened to the album before, but it’s good and Poly Styrene really does sing like a female Johnny Rotten.
Loving the shape of punk that was, dig the singer’s weirdly dreamy and detached energy and the instrument choices. I heard some sax, some other general winds, really fun to hear that mixing in with the usual punk guitar.
кричащий панк не воспринимаю)
One of those punk bands with an annoying lead singer voice
AJ: Age is my favorite song. Duh. Fucking rock band. Band goes hard and lead vox lady rips it. Getting a 3 from me but they’re cool.
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
Energetic, poppy, catchy 1978 punk record. Standard off key wailing vocals, but enjoyable overall. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Art-I-Ficial Date listened: 30/06/23
One digs the edginess, which feels authentic, if effortful. "Live Off of You" and "Warrior of Woolworths" are quality cuts, the latter's riffs and hooks make it sound like a different band almost, with some hooks that look glamly back to the '70s. The horns make the record. One finds the vocals a bit annoying after a time, but the level of creativity and commitment are legit, solid+.
I was starting to warm to this, it does have an infectious energy I guess. But when I listen a little more closely to the individual elements, is just so simple. At least one track has all of the instruments and the vocals just the same 6 note riff over and over. These people are not talented song writers.
I just couldn't with this one. I thought the horns might save this but no.
I love the use of horns, but can't stand this woman's voice
I goofed. Sam Cooke was supposed to be 4 stars and this one a 2 blah. Doesn’t seem to be any way to edit.
Pretty good.
I don't know about this.
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.
Once I got past the interesting voice and strange saxophone, it became a quite pleasant punk album
bad
'Germfree Adolescence' was a highlight, just a standard 1970s punk album, not bad, not good
Pretty raw, lot of energy but those vocals were hard work sometimes
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!
Intoxicating and enjoyable from start to finish.
I wish more punk songs started with someone shouting the title at you.
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
Low effort review here but enjoyed the listen. It’s easy to be won over by Poly Styrene’s energy. Not sure all of the saxophone was needed as heavily as it was. Three and a half. Fave track: Plastic Bag
This album opens great. Noisy and full of puss and vinegar. It doesn't hold however. By the end of the record, you can hear new wave sneaking in. Still a fun one though.
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
Vocals could only sound more British if she were gargling tea. A bit grating, tbh :/
Cannot believe I've not heard these guys before. Kick ass punk, a saxophone and a great vocalist. You can hear the Sex Pistols but they also have their own undeniable sound and style. Clearly a huge influence on many of the more modern ska/punk bands I grew up listening to.
This was a great listen!
Actually pretty good although I don't like punk
nah
This is completely subjective. Just not my thing. I found her voice insanely aggravating.
A surprisingly strong punk album. Standouts include I Am A Cliche, Identity, Cigarettes, and Germfree Adolescents.
What I really like about this is that the Sex Pistols and The Clash were pretty aggressive, but then X-Ray Spex took the same format and just had fun with it. I can't think of any genre that's so willing to take the piss out of itself so quickly.
"Debuut" album van de Engelse punkband X-Ray Spex, alhoewel veel materiaal al als singles was verschenen. Nogal oppervlakkige punk met maar een paar ok nummers dat de aandacht niet vast weet te houden. leukste nummer: Identity De single "Oh Bondage! Up Yours!" creëerde interesse in meer materiaal van de band, ondanks een radioverbod van de BBC.
A terribly under appreciated band, X-Ray Spex deserve much more than their usual odd mention on Punk Documentaries. Poly Styrene should be a poster girl for everyone, a true icon who makes you realise how insane this world is. When you see girls today saying that the likes of walking talking Daily Star advert Rihanna are their idols it makes you wonder what the fuck is going on. Poly strikes a blow here for intelligent females all over the world.
It was okay. I never got into them.
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
Good! I especially enjoyed the instrumentals.
Aldrig hört förut. Vilken jäkla röst. Ganska bra platta.
Strong tunes supported by Poly’s fantastic voice. But, who thought this needed saxophone?
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.
I loved the music and lyrics but the singer has the most obnoxious voice!!
Fantastic instrumentals ruined by an AWFUL singer. I want to hear these songs sung by someone who can actually carry a tune.
Okay but not something I’d listen to much
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?
About as bad as the human mind can imagine.
First it was super annoying Brit pop, then it was somewhat tolerable punk. Not my favorite album so far.
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.
Fun upbeat
Enjoyed
My new favorite pastime is reading reviews of punk albums on this site and finding all the reviews that complain about punk records being repetitive and the songs sounding the same. You guys crack me up. Seriously, never change. Maybe one day you’ll find the prog-punk masterpiece you’re after. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying this X-Ray Spex record. It’s a classic.
Really solid
A very unexoted 4. Could this be the answer to my unanswered questions form the film American Beauty? Ah so this is the punk music I missed out on. Better than the sex pistols. Sounds like the sister act. But with better instruments. They took it seriously? Anyway... Yep. She has a kind of a voice and we'll stylaised.... Good brass and the drum kits gets a workout, and telling. it wants to woman does a better job . Funnest songs. THE DAY the world turns dayglo. ( I found my self humming "I am am an ar Christ...." Somehow) . How funny . By the time art-i-ficial came on I think I could like this guys despite it all... Where's my hair gel, safety pin, and tartan? It's fun. "my mind is like a plastic bag" is beautifully dernaged and she goes on to perform a wonderfully unhinged salute. Landmark. It this American beauty explained? She channels Bellatrix Lestrange for a moment ... Is Helena B.H. a time shifter too? What's that, cockney? But yes. Thanks for the Edyukation.
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.
Punk with sax - who knew? Not me anyway. Enjoyable up to a point, being the point when Poly Styrene’s voice went from impressive to irritating.
There aren’t that many original British punk albums that I can throw on & listen to from go to whoa these days, but this is definitely one of them. The ex has the vinyl but I have the 1991 Caroline cd, which changed the track listing and added 4 bonus tracks, including the iconic Oh Bondage Up Yours! and the wonderful I Am A Cliche. From the original album, the highlights for me are Identity & especially the title track, which shows how they could be be equally compelling when they slowed things down. Poly was a stunningly great front-person, but even though Lora Logic had been sacked from the band before the album was recorded, they used the sax charts she had drawn up for those songs, so she’s all over it & that horn sound was so influential in the post-punk years. I love this record. It still sounds fresh to me.
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.
5.5/10 saved by the sax
This was alright! It was kind of repetitive and I didn’t really find any song that stood out more than the others. Didn’t hate but wouldn’t listen to it again.
Might give it a second listen. Interesting. Prob influential to a number of Oughts bands; Hot Hot Heat, Hives…
I am not a big fan of late 70s punk as it all sounds the same. This album is ok. Not bad, not good. Just there.
It was probably ground breaking in 1978, now it sounds like cookie cutter punk
Kass
16th March 2023 Listened all throughout the rest of the week as we had ben and Nilisha’s wedding on Thursday which threw everything off. In the best way. This album is sex-bob-omb and it’s here to kick your ass!
I really wanted to listen to this and it started off with a bang. However, over time it really began to be difficult to listen to. I just didn't like it by the end.
Instrumentals were good could’ve used a different singer
Apologies fellas, i am late to the game but alas i am still here to review. I hate it already. Good god i’m 30 seconds in and i hate it. Lets see if that changes… Well it was the 70’s, so the vocal style makes sense, it just doesn’t sound good. The instrumentals are good, no problem with the backing track. Its just those awful vocals. The saving grace really the saxophone and thats about it. Each song sounds to the same i hate it so much. Just like kid rock, i could not finish this album. Apologies, fellas, i tried my best.
They had me in the first half, not gonna lie, but oh look another song that just has power chord strumming, repetitive lyrics, and a saxophone feature! Under the right circumstances I can understand the praise for this album, but I feel like we’ve been on a weeklong stretch of albums that I really didn’t need to hear before I die. I can spend time addressing the elephant in the room (the outlandishly British accent), but I won’t. Instead I’ll say that I just really wish that every song wasn’t the same tempo, in the same key, at the same length, with the same dynamic range. What can I say? It’s BORING and at times quite annoying to sit through.
Enjoyed, punk music I like! But Spotify is missing half the album
I am huge fan of early, raw 70s punk, Poly Styrene was a queen.
Some great tracks. I can only imagine the reaction of parents when teenagers brought this record home, and played it loudly in their bedroom!
Ikke lige min kop te. Meget uforløsende punk med rigtig skrabet blæs. Bliver kedeligt i længden.
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.
honkin good stuff
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.
Good in small doses.
I liked this, I'll listen to it again. A 3.5 for me (rounded down)
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.
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.
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.
This was not good.
Bit late to this one, but the Spotify link takes you to a weird remaster rather than the original, with the tracks out of order and some missing. I really liked this - it's not super original, but it's catchy, doesn't overstay its welcome, and it's got bags of energy and is full of fun. The R rolling a la Sex Pistols is funny, the lyrics are really quirky but quite clever and I enjoyed it. Not quite good enough for a 4 though, so still stuck in my rut of 3s.
Honestly the very first note I heard I thought oh hey this could be cool! The music was spunky and different and quite interesting. Buy the voice just ruined all holes of it being good. It’s upsetting because without the awful singing the music had high potential, but I couldn’t listen to one more minute with the voice.
Well, punk. Sigh. To be fair, to me this leans a bit more to new wave than punk, but...jeeeez the big roadblock here is the vocals, as ever. Honestly the music is pretty cool - if we had someone who could sing just a bit - just a bit - this could have been something bigger. Short review/impression: head bobbing music that I can absolutely see being fun in the right situation but those vocals (and *weirdly* out of place saxophone) just make it impossible to recommend. killer bass lines tho. 4/10 2 stars
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
First time I've ever heard of X-Ray Spex. Apparently they are a female punk band from Britain. Upon listening, that is exactly what they are! Good old 70's punk! The lead singer, Poly Styrene, can really belt out the lyrics, but there's something about her voice...I can't understand what she's singing most of the time. Musically, this is right down the alley of the Sex Pistols, or the Damned. The strong female lead gives me vibes of B-52s, Blondie, and Garbage. One thing that caught me off guard was the inclusion of a saxophone (not something I'd ever heard used in punk music before). Oddly enough, it worked really well with the fast punk, and gave it their own flavour. Overall, not a bad record at all. Spotify links to the bands Anthology, but I just listened to the original record, as an additional hour of live tracks and shitty B sides didn't interest me, and would have probably hurt the bands overall score. Favourite songs: Let's Submerge, I Am a Poseur, The Day the World Turned Dayglo, Identity, Genetic Engineering Least favourite songs : Germ-Free Adolescents, Plastic Bag 3/5
Solid punk record, with their own distinctive sound. Has saxophone always been a part of punk music or am I just noticing it now?
Had only heard "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" before - never listened to a whole album. It's decent punk, but nothing that gets me too excited.
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
Definitely an interesting album, however in the light of my all-contemporary sensibility a bit too homogeneous, but that is the least of the problems, I did not connect with any of the songs, they just seem to me to be well thought out songs but otherwise leave me with little. I clarify that in my critical evaluations I also take into account the strictly subjective aspect of mirroring or perceiving a connection with the songs. I found the vocal performance and the inclusion of the horns interesting.
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
Didnt hate it
Not to bad.
Nice use of saxophone, but I just couldn't with the voice.
Didn’t really do it for me. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. Seemed like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
Been listening to this since 7th grade. The best. So happy to revisit.
The sax added an interesting twist to a solid album. The vocalist is the star here.
3/5. A fun collection of punk pop but a little repetitive and the vocals are unintelligible at best. Catchy though.
I was not impressed with this punk album until hearing “Plastic Bag.” “It’s 1977 and we’re all going mad!” and the Black Sabbath slow guitar and single sax make it strange and likeable. The recording quality, like most punk of the era, sounds like $%\+.
Thought I would like it but didnt. A lot of songs about hygene
Digging the punk sax.
Antoisa kuunteluhetki.
This was cool but I really have to be in the mood to enjoy punk.
Weird af
cool
Прослушано! Яркий и заводной альбом, очень неплохо.
couldn't get through it
I wanted to like this more than I did, but it hurt my ears.
silly punk album. surprised it isn't all that talked about with other first wave punk. better than early ramones or sex pistols. and funny saxophone.
Really don't like this sound
2/5
It's really compelling. For some reason the track listing on Apple Music is shuffled from what is shown on Wikipedia.
The opening track is a little listless but Identity puts the album on a firmer footing. The album is a punk classic and has that proto-second wave ska sound that still manages to bring it. Some of the songs feel pretty worn out on me, but i suppose thats more me than the recording. I see their influence on Mustard Plug and hear a lot of similarities to the British two tone bands.
Very interesting punk album with some synth influence? I liked it Saved tracks: Identity, I Am a Poseur, Warrior in Woolworths, I Cant Do Anything, Highly Inflammable
Liked it. Will probably never listen to it agian mind
Setting the stage for a generation of female punk groups to come, X-Ray Spex finds a unique tone that doesn't rely on quick thrash tracks. The next evolution of Runaways, but with the British tinge.
3.5 Grows on you quickly
A enjoyable listen punk album that feels ahead of its time
The vocals were way too grating way to much. Took a long time to get used to. Extra star for the music sounding way ahead of it's time
Die sax is wel vet. Leuk album
girl punk
Not into it. Some interesting stuff in there, but largely overshadowed by the grating vocals.
Good album but a one and done. I can see how this album could have influenced a lot of other artist.
Can’t stand her voice but good band
Punk with sax??? Nubbad
This is... not good. At first, I could tolerate it, but then it kept going. There is just something about punk that I cannot stand.
Not great, not inspired, the sound can be good, but some of the songs are more screaming then they are singing.
Low 4, fun stuff
Female vocalist led punk with anti-consumerism sentiment. Standout is "Art-I-Ficial."
Awful vocals
I love punk.
Didn't like the vocals much but the music was great and energetic.
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!
Le Tigre vibes. Great punk vocals, great sax, nice lil punk album.
Somehow missed this interesting gem from my knowledge of the early punk canon. They are an interesting point of view of punk in 1978 - screaming saxophones and pristine production - with an intense voice at the helm of it. There are some great songs here but overall as a record it a too much I feel - the pace is a bit haphazard and the record of a bit too long for the intensity at which it plays.
This was, I found it to be enjoyable but at times the vocals hurt my ears
Very fun, it sounds awesome to be young in 1978! Songs are very dated though, as they are very of their time. Hard to pick a favourite, since they all sound basically the same, but the first three tracks are definitely a very strong start to the album.
What I remembered of X-ray Specs was a lot of noise and very little music. It turns out that my memory was reasonably good. The version of the album that I listened to only has 15 of the 37 tracks available (Spotify in Brazil) which means that I have not had the dubious pleasure of listening to either the live versions on disc 2 or the rough mixes etc at the end of disc 1. I am sure that I haven't missed much. One or two tracks on a compliation of punk would be OK, but 15 tracks in a row is about thirteen too many. ( I dread to think what 37 would have been like)
Wow, that's so bad, it's like a constant whining My mother begged me to stop this torture, but I endured until the end.. it was painful
Good woman punk
An ok britsh punk rock album with some odd lyrics, like looking magizines or having plastics bang. Another thing about this album is how thick the lead vocalist british accents. It can be a bit heavy. Very surprising to me with germfree adolescents was all the metalish riffish
Sounds like a punk band fronted by Cyndi Lauper and featuring the sax player from Men At Work. Which is to say, this thing slaps.
Dans le genre punk on a vu pire
tout me faisait peur du titre à la pochette et ce fut finalement une jolie suprise
I like the instrumentals, but absolutely cannot stand the singer's voice. 2/5
Good punk rock with sax!
This was an interesting album, sound wise This sounds very 80's despite being released in the 70's. I like the singer's voice for the most part, but it can be a tiny bit grating at some points. My favourite songs were I Can't Do Anything, Highly Inflammable, and Warrior in Woolworths.
Never heard this before yesterday, freaking rocks though. Reminds me of Bikini Kill in a way, love it.
Fun album. Instrumentals kicked ass, but the lead singer's voice was hard to listen to at some points. Favorite track: Identity
The music is good but that has to be the single most unpleasant ear-shattering vocalist I have ever heard.
Overall liked it as I like punkish female lead groups but by the end of the album it all sounded the same.
Talk about a cover and name that don't inspire any confidence or anticipation for what's inside. As most people here I suspect, I haven't heard of this band before, let's go! Track 1 - What in the Eliza Doolittle? We doing satire music now? Have a feeling this is heading straight for the 1-star pile. 2. Identity - OK, this is kinda lively, no idea what she's saying, but there's some kinda toy wind instrument in the background, and at least the adolescents are having fun with this one. Already this is miles better than The Smiths. 3. The Day the World Turned Dayglo - Still no idea what Eliza Doolittle is shouting about, but appreciate the vigor. And the toy wind instrument turned out to be a saxophone - go figure! 4. Genetic Engineering - I think I picked up a bit of German at the beginning there? The sax player (Steve "Rudi" Thomson) is starting to establish himself a bit more, go on then! 5. Art-I-Ficial - This is my second listenthrough, and I JUST realized that the name of the band is X-Ray Spex, and the album title is Germfree Adolescents, thought it was the other way around. Anyway, this song slaps! This is by no means a 1 star album. 6. Plastic Bag - "My mind is like a plastic bag" declares Poly Styrene, the lead singer. OK, I finally pulled up the lyrics, not as dreadful as I expected, this band keeps surprising me. They seem to be complaining about the over-saturation of media and advertising in 1977, are they in for a surprise when they cross into this millennium. 7. I Am a Poseur - Another bop. Maybe the best so far. Wow, this band just keeps racking up stars. 8. I Live off You - He might be closer to a random high school band member than Sonny Rollins, but this song is evidence that a sax makes a great addition to any punk band (see also The Stooges). 9. Lets Submerge - Just when I mentioned The Stooges, Miss Styrene goes all out channeling her inner Iggy. Another star earned? Another star earned! 10. Obsessed With You - This is actually supposed to be the 2nd track on the album, but YouTube seems to have messed up the order, or following a different release version. Oh well, this album will be getting plenty more rotation, in the correct order next time. 11. Warrior in Woolworths - Woolworths is a clothing store? Seems like there's something deeper here than just the surface lyrics. 12. I Can Do Anything - 12 songs deeps and the energy is still high. Not getting tired of this at all. Dig those rolling rrrs, and I think I'm finally starting to understand what Eliza Dool.. I mean... Poly Styrene is saying. 13. Age - Bonus track? Why not! 14. Highly Inflammable - Another bonus track, nice change of pace from the rest of the songs so far. Conclusion - MASSIVELY surprised and impressed by this one. Make sure you find the version that starts with Art-I-Ficial, as that is the original and imo best album opener.
A lot of screaming
suprisingly good
Punk with some Sax and Female Vocals? Some heavy riffs are really unexpected on this album! I like more than I actually thought than I would. Very "London" sounding band from the end of the Seventies.
I tend to like this type of punk slightly more than the other punk albums I’ve gotten so far but I was not a fan of this one. Get an annoying voice with not very notable vocals
How is this album not even averaging a 3 right now? Looks like y'all don't like a female singer? GTFO
no me importó en lo absoluto en una palabra: meh
Kind of a bop
Mixed. Love the vocals and sax, but like with most 70’s punk I get pretty bored and worn out during the second half.
8/10. When I first heard the singers voice, I thought it would ruin the album. But I ended up really liking it
Pretty odd but the saxophone was a nice touch. 7/10
I love this album. This was one of my favorite albums growing up and remains a favorite today. I’m sure that the combination of sax, nearly operatic screaming, and the punk aesthetic may seem odd at first listen, but part of the point of making a project of this album generator (and the point of listening to new music in general!) is to learn about the multitude of ways music speaks to a multitude of people. The seeming clash of sounds on Germ-Free Adolescents is purposeful. The sax may represent the traditional oldheads in British society, as it often is involved with a sort of mocking call and response to Poly Styrene’s vocals. This album’s primary theme is anti-consumerism — the clash of musical sounds lead to something that is, on its surface, not at all commercialized. It’s new, it’s odd, it’s art, and, yes, it’s punk at its core. Every song is a trip to the sky, where you find yourself looking at the world with a bird’s eye view, exploitative capitalist consumerist systems clearly at play. Musically and in its message, this album taught me so much when I first heard it in high school. There’s still much to be gleaned from it today. An easy 5.
Really enjoyed this one, energetic & driving guitars with sax blended in throughout. Unexpectedly amazing
Nope. Voice is the main put off.
Feels like the precursor to a lot but also has some dated elements. A fun project regardless, glad I got to be enlightened to it.
Queer-punk klassikko! Todella aikaansa edellä. Tosin Oh Bondage! Up Yours! ei kyl ollut alunperin tällä levyllä mukana ollenkaan. Hieno single tosin. Aika menoa ja meininkiähän tää on, mutta jotenkin hyvällä tavalla omalaatuisesti! 4/5
Oikein jees punkkii. Aika varhaisindierock fibat. 3,5/5
Varsin hyvä torvirock-levy! 3/5
First half is a bit meh but wow they put it together I the second half. Love Platic Bag, Warrior in Woolworths, I can't do anything.
Absolutely loved all of it. I've never heard of this band and this album is now one of my favorites. When it ended, I even listened to all the bonus tracks and then wanted to listen to their entire discography back to back... turns out they only made two albums.. and this is their only one on Spotify. That's the first time I've ever done that from what I remember. Whoever's that saxophonist, I hope he's alive and healthy. What a legend.
i thought it was okay i believe
Wow my ears were already super fatigued of listening to that voice after 2 songs. And then I had to listen to the rest of the album. Actual pain, not just dislike. Had to listen at lowest possible volume. Even HER voice sounds fatigued the whole time. It sounds like the b52s tried to make a punk album. Best lyric was “I’ve dreamt that I was hitler, ruler of the sea, ruler of the universe.”
An extremely precise punk backing band fronted by explosive, raw and untamed vocals. It makes for a solid album that I'm sure was influential to countless artists over the years. This sounds like a group that would've been really fun to see live. I appreciate the break from the norm that the track 'Plastic Bag' provided, and it makes me curious for what could've been if they explored outside of their punk structure a bit more.
For the love of God, DICTION!!!!!
Raw, wild, fluorescent riot-grrl pre-cursor punk. The energy is undeniable, but the awfully obnoxious, 5-minute "Plastic Bag" at the midway point of the record really brings the fatigue on early.
Cool!
Not the best of the era. Lead singer wasn't to my tastes. Interesting background music for drive time
Stevige punk. Niet onmiddellijk iets dat goed blijft hangen, maar wel een leuk album
Second time listening to this one. There are quite a few songs that catch my attention. Still getting to know this, but I like it. 3/5
Not being the biggest fan of punk, I felt this was okay. The instrumentals are pretty sweet and the sax popping in is pretty refreshing. I found the vocals to be a little grating when she sung in the high pitch, aggressive tone. The calmer songs are cool though. 4/10
A few appealing songs: Germfree adolescents, identity. Some strong guitar riffing, ok girly vocals, but too often copycat Johnny Rotten snarls, which could be dropped.
Dit komt toch heel dicht bij herrie. **
I initially pigeonholed this as shouty punk with not much variation (kind of what you would expect from a punk band in 1978) but this gets better the more you play it . Poly was truly one in a million and her personality resonates through the album. The Sax and synth is not a standard Punk sound and I would go as far to say this isn't punk at all? Very early New-Wave? lol! Some slower tracks with quite cutting lyrics too- I mean it's not Shakespeare but better than a lot of other bands I think. "Her phobia is infection, she needs one to survive It's her built-in protection, without fear she'd give up and die" "My mind, is like, a plastic bag That corresponds, to all those ads It sucks up all the rubbish That is fed in through my ear" Plus it's now on Spotify now which is good.
Good fun punk. Faves: Warrior in Woolworths, Plastioc Bag
Inicios del punk-rock. Vinilo.
Fun, dance-y punk album. Kind-of sort-of 1970s pop punk? Vocals remind me of Blondie, lyrics are more junkie/garage-inspired though. A solid listen, I am surprised this group was a one-and-done in terms of albums, I feel like there's a lot of potential here. I really enjoy the double-tracked guitars in certain areas throughout the album. Noteworthy record, glad to have discovered it. Fave tracks: Germfree Adolescence, Plastic Bag, Age
Touching on themes like capitalism, consumerism, scientific progress, advertising, young people, feminism, aging, fame, identity, and more. The critiques on this album are as sharp and relevant today as they were in 1978. All of that is tied together in a nice little punk/new-wave packaged with wicked saxophone accompaniments. The music has a kitschy theatrical feel to it that drives the message home even further. I honestly couldn't ask for anything more. I am reminded of The Peptides when listening to this. I had never heard of this band or album before, but this is a real gem, really glad to have found it. NOTE: Youtube Music does not have the tracks arranged in the proper release order :( Fav Tracks: Honestly ever track here is great. But if I have to choose: Plastic Bag, I Can't Do Anything, Identity
One of the better punk albums on the list. 2.5/5
Raw and energetic, with some parts really rough (inspired by surf rock) while others more smooth (inspired by glam rock and reggae). There's a whole lot of punk attitude. I really enjoy the riot grrrl vocals... something rare I only find in bands like Siouxsie and B-52s. Sax and synths are really simplistic, on the onset of New Wave but still definitely punk, characterized by short track lengths, chaotic vocals, anti-social lyrical matter, and fast yet minimalistic melodies. No signs of weakness on any of tracks; they really go all out. I can't believe these guys made just one album and a few singles but yet are considered one of the classics. I found like three varieties of this album in different track orders, but I don't think the ordering matters at all. Favorites: Germfree Adolescence, Identity, Art-I-Ficial, Plastic Bag, I Am a Poseur, Warrior in Woolworths, Highly Inflammable, Oh Bondage Up Yours
terrible timing for this album to come up. just spent 3 days watching punk bands, which is at least 1 day too many. so this was crap for a couple of reasons. 1, i've gone punk blind. it'll be months before i can listen to punk and appreciate it. 2, it would have ranked very lowly against most of the music i've heard this weekend. I get that its original from off of the time punk was new so its influential, but that doesn't mean i have to enjoy it.
A bit shit fro what i actually bothered with
Oddly overlooked first wave of punk stone cold classic.
Not bad, but can't be doing with a sax on a punk record.
'70s punk plus Pat Benatar vocals plus a saxophone. Also you can't understand a single word on the album, so that was unique. I understand the vibe but it bordered on annoying.
The singer's voice is unbearable, and the band takes liberties with the instruments, including a saxophone, which doesn't fit the feel of the songs at all. The singer feels like she can only hit 3 notes and seems to find a frequency which could break eardrums if played too loud.
Don't really have much to note other than that there have been a lot of ska/punk albums on this list. More than one would expect. Definitely not my favorite genre, but I can get behind some of it.
Shouty girl punk with a Saxamophone. Good shit.
moshpit punk with saxophones. good.
I can hear how this never made it. Cover redeems it. Cover art 5/5
It was ok. I’ve heard a hell of a lot worse, but no really memorable tracks.
That voice hurt my ears
jag kan gilla skrikig sång och så men det här köper jag inte. blir för mycket bara.
Awesome female punk with horns!
Sem entusiasmo, pois não tem no deezer.
This album is just screaming at me for no reason, Jesus. What a God awful beginning song with 'Germfree Adolescence,' but then somehow it gets worse? What is she saying, and why does she have to scream it constantly? Please stop. I like punk but this is ridiculous. The quieter moments where I don't feel like someone has a megaphone to my ear save this from being a 1 star.
Acc kinda poppin
Not big fan, early punk? Need to look up more!
punk with spunk
I Was Taking Care Of Business The Last 2Days. Rabby Ysahhel Fy Kol Mehou Dream, I've Been Writing, But Not Much
Gotta love first gen punk/new wave, and sax :)
Meh
It was OK
Épico, poderoso, à frente do seu tempo. Riot grrrl at its finest.
Such an exciting album. Charismatic, great lyrics, absolutely brilliant take on their times.
I liked this one in small doses -- 2-3 songs at a time was fun but I couldn't do the whole album in one sitting.
Just incredible
Banging
Honestly fire, need more women led punk. Wish it was on Spotify
Mittelgut. Geht teilweise ab. Stimme nervt manchmal bisschen, genauso wie das Sax.
A classic. Thoughtful, early punk. When so many bands were busy being "weird" or "edgy" for edginess sake, they were the real deal. This album has held up very well throughout the years. Can hear who they've influenced over the years, from Bikini Kill to Rocket From the Crypt. I really need to revisit this one more often.
Found a shitty YouTube upload of the album. Cool use of the saxophone, but I’m not digging the punk sound overall.
This punk rock album is OK, but apart from the fact that some of the songs feature saxophone, it's nothing special. 3/5.
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.
maybe this was cool in 1978? 2/5.
Never heard of them before. Wish I had. What a solid band from front to back. Love the horns as well, almost brings an element of ska to the punk. And with a name of Poly Styrene as the lead singer... this is awesome!
I really like Poly Styrene's voice; the punk energy and sound are definitely enjoyable. The main knock is that it does sound very samey across 40 minutes of music. A good listen.
Quite simply one of the greatest albums of the punk era.
Tho I'm not a saxophone fan, I did find the femme vocals on this thrashy trash appealing. It's always nice to discover foundational bands and figures that built some of my favorite sounds in music.
I don’t think it's possible to have germ-free adolescents. They may not be as gross and germy as elementary schoolers, but they’re pretty nasty in their own right. I doubt that Poly Styrene and the X-Ray Spex were germ-free either, despite no longer being adolescents. It wasn’t the germs that did them in, but the X-Ray Spex didn’t last after this album, and then Poly Styrene joined the Hare Krishnas.
This is the second album not on AppleMusic, but I did find in on YouTube. I’m stuck on the saxophone is this punk band. It is so unusual and still unexpected even on the last few tracks. It’s a refreshing addition to the Spex punk sound. I would listen to this again, but I probably won’t because I won’t think to search YouTube.
Hell fucking yeah finally some energy. Cant believe i never heard of them before
It's a great album. Poly Styrene is a great vocalist with a unique style, and the album is mostly thrashy fun. Warrior in Woolworths is such a great song. Even saxophone breaks can't ruin this record for me! A lot of good stuff, but then at the end, Germ Free Adolescent is a beautiful moment of vulnerability. That's a rare trait in punk, and it really works. Beautiful. Finally, I'm listening to the reissue, because to deny myself Oh Bondage Up Yours would be a sin.
45 years late on this one; yet another revelation to me. I wish I knew more cool kids who could have made a mention. Listening to this for the first time, going in cold, literally, I didn't know if this was Cyndi Lauper's pre-Cyndi Lauper band, Kathleen Hanna's pre-Bikini Kill band, or even early Romeo Void. Who knew there was an early new-wave/punk, with saxophone, full throttle ironic siren that pre-dated all of that. Can anyone just give me a list of bands and records that I really should encounter before my end of days to catch me up on all I missed? You're saying there is a list of hundreds of such records right here? Very well then.
Ah, Poly Styrene (RIP) and the gang! Great punk album this, Poly was and still is a feminist Icon, she took the bull by the horns and lead that group of Punk women who changed the face of Rock & Roll in the late 70's. I have this original vinyl in my collection, but first heard the band on the "Live At The Roxy" album where they did "Oh Bondage! Up Yours" a classic of the oeuvre! Highlights for me are "Warrior In Woolworths" (I can't believe there is a whole generation that have no understanding of what Woolworths meant to working class families!)
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.
most of the album missing on spotify. Like the melody and beat but the vocals aren't great imo
Can't listen to it, no longer on spotify.
Yoko Ono-esque shouting that just annoyed the shit out of me. 2 stars due to quality music.
Hidden gem! I've never heard of this group before but this album speaks directly to my musical sensibilities and tastes. It's remarkable how much Poly Styrene's vocals remind me of Kathleen Hanna. I'm digging this so much. Plus, fuck yeah, saxophone!! I am instantly in love with this record and Poly Styrene. She is a punk goddess and badass feminist icon. Oh bondage up yours indeed!
The cool shit
Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex (1978) It’s the kind of thankfully obscure, coprophagic, and hard-to-find British punk album that justifies the flagging of my interest in this 1001 Albums project. I soldier on. I will simply point out here that (1) it is actually possible to tune a saxophone, and (2) melody (by lead vocalist Poly Styrene [sheesh!]) involves more than belting out mere approximations of the major fifth and the tonic. Beefeater and quinine, anyone? 1/5
I can here where the B-52’s got a lot of inspiration from.
Ca dememage,du bon punk 3.5
Today I learned about Poly Styrene!
Very energetic but not really my style I guess.
Love it, a true gem.
What an album...one great tune after another and refreshingly different from anything else at the time. My vinyl copy is an early British pressing and doesn't even include their most famous song Oh Bondage Up Yours, but amazingly Germ Free Adolescents does not suffer for its absence. 4.5 🌟
I didn't hate this, but boy did it get old quickly. Best track: Obsessed with You
Get's straight to the point. A brilliant and varied selection of little punk gems. Came close to full marks but I still find a couple of tracks difficult to connect with. Germ Free Adolescents is a stone cold classic.
this is what I thought punk sounded like when I was a small child, and I was right
7/10
I was really excited to get this album, since I became acquainted with the band through their song "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" earlier this year and really liked it. This whole album is filled with a similar energy and approach to that song. There is something weirdly fun about the combination of punk and saxophones. It's really too bad that this band doesn't get more recognition as a pioneer. The title track stands out a lot as being a sort of proto-post-punk song (whatever that means) 4/5
So much energy! This record speeds by quickly and it's such a shame the band only released one album during their heyday. Every song reminds me of other songs that came later, which shows how important and influential this record was when it was released. An Essential listen for fans of female-fronted bands of all genres!
Sheer brilliance. Pure punk with a charismatic vocalist.
This was a fine listen old punk album. Not crazy good but not bad. 6/10.
Punchy, energetic, squonky fun. Fave Songs: Warrior in Woolworths, I Can't Do Anything, Identity, Let's Submerge, Germ Free Adolescents, The Day the World Turned Day-Glo
yup
Objectively bad music. Kind of felt like I had Stockholm syndrome when the title track came on. I asked myself, “is this good? Or was everything else before it so bad that I now think this is good?” It wasn’t good. Not sure I needed to listen to this one, but it’s still better than that John Zorn album.
Super bon album punk rock, clairement une influence pour plusieurs bands qui ont suivit. À revisiter
Album cover cracks me up. Overall, I thought it was fun. It just oozes character. worth the listen.
Album was awesome. Wish it was on Apple Music. End of the album even better than the top. Meant to be played loud. Really liked Plastic Bag and Dayglo. Good transition time between rock and punk, can see both in this album.
This rocked! Really liked the use of horns throughout and the unique lyrics, like on Plastic Bag. A nice surprise Saved: Art-I-Ficial, Let's Submerge, Identity*, Germfree Adolescence, Plastic Bag
Saved Prior: Germfree Adolescents Off Rip: I Can't Do Anything Cutting Edge: Warrior in Woolworths Overall Notes: Thought I recognized the name "X-Ray Spex" when it came up on this week's Discover Weekly and sure enough. Cheeky punk rock with a sax. It's fine. Strong 2.
Had to go to find a playlist on YouTube for this one.
This sounds like something that could've come out last week: hooks and annoyance. That sax! Angry and fun, this was a real surprise. Given that they only released a few singles and one album, seems they didn't fuck about. (I wonder how much of the difficulty in finding this album (it's not complete or available on Spotify or Apple Music locally) is because of Polly Styrene's 2009 beef with Google over royalties?)
Rownowaga we wszystkim, wczoraj peakowy album, to dzisiaj zwiedzamy otchlanie brytyjskiego punka, Germ Free Adolescents to debiutancki album 5 osobowej bandy X-Ray Spex, wedlug wiki jeden z najmocniejszych punkowych materialow z wysp, a jak dla mnie jeden z najbardziej pretensjonalnych i niepowaznych materialow jakie mialem okazje przesluchac w ramach tej listy, dziwnym trafem frontowym menem jest baba, mianowicie Poly Styrene, ktora na materiale jest odpowiedzialna za teksty i "wokale" czyli najbrutalniejsza strone plyty, bo o ile granie ani mnie grzeje, ani nie chlodzi, a jedynym zaskoczeniem jest mocne wykorzystanie saksy, tak niezbyt punkowo, a raczej skowo, ale to co pani poly przygotowala lirycznie potezna dawke punkowych oczywistosci doprawionych mocnym feministycznym stylem bycia, no ale to jeszcze nie jest najgorsza strona plyty, najwiekszym problemem podczas odsluchu byl dla mnie wokal, wiadomo ze wyspiarskie klimaty, to poziom hard zrozumienia, ale tutaj niektore traki brzmia jak giberisz, dopiero po odpaleniu tekstu da sie cos zrozumiec, moze to ze wzgledu na multikulturowe korzenie wokalistki, mlody wiek rozpoczecia dawania po kablach w hipisowskich sklotach, dopiero teraz zguglowalem sobie pania wokalistke i okazalo sie, ze podczas nagrywania tego materialu miala na zebach potezny aparat, ktory nie tylko robil ja o wiele bardziej feministycznym baboem, ale takze w tak prosty sposob byl wymowka tak okropnych zdolnosci wokalnych, cale szczescie tym razem nie musze wybierac co dodac na plejke, bo dyskografia bandy nie istnieje na spotifaju, poza livowym albumiki z 2k09, wiec material zszabrowany z soulseeka, ale rownie dobrze moglbym posluchac tego na jutubie, jakosc wokalu i tak pewnie by duzo nie stracila, takze od strony technicznej sluchac biede i brak doswiadczenia ze strony producenkiej, takze jeden z pierwszych materialow pana na produkcji, ktory zostal producentem kolejnych albumow zespolu, dawno nie wymeczyl mnie tak bardzo 35 minutowy krazek
Ended up really not liking this album. It was a struggle to get through every song. The singing was too much like yelling, the music had that classic same-y punk feel for me. Presence of the saxophone / other unique bits did not save this album for me.
Not on Spotify but found it on YouTube. Doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Great female fronted punk with a freaking saxophone! So many good melodies - I’m going 5 stars!!
Ja, dit vond ik lekker. Hysterisch maar met de juiste pit
Waarom staat dit in deze lijst en waarom alleen maar schreeuwen als je duidelijk best kunt zingen?