Wild Gift

Wow. Impressed. Heard of X, I think, but never listened before. It’s catchy, pared down, good variety, not too one note. I hear ramones, pixies, misfits, Jefferson airplane, sonic youth, iggy and the stooges, that says it all. Saved the album to my library.

Had never heard this before - awesome - right up there on the list with the Clash, the Femmes, and other angry punk/post-punk bands of the era.

Maybe it’s the pop-punk loving side of me, but I really enjoyed this album, especially the first and last tracks sung by the female vocalist. I liked the blend of 50s rock with the driving pace of punk. This is the more palatable version of what The Cramps were trying to achieve. I waffled between 3 and 4 stars and ended at 4 because I want to look up more music by X.

If the Ramones hopped into a Cadillac, put Johnny B Goode on the 8 track, and drove straight into the B-52's love shack, it might sound like this. Thanks, X, for pushing punk in new directions. The rockabilly stuff is not my cuppa tea, but the rest was solid. I have a feeling their lyrics deserve more attention. Perfect soundtrack to Tony Hawk Pro Skater II. B+

Punk, but the band has skill.

1981! Really? Wow. Straight into the favourite albums list.

I loved this. It was my first time hearing of this band. What a find!

I prefer Los Angeles, but this a great album too.

Pleasantly surprised to see this here. Very underrated.

I really enjoyed this album - it feels like a perfect segue between rock from the previous two decades and the two to come. You can hear rockabilly sounds like Elvis (who they likely were inspired by) and post-punk / alternative sounds like Sonic Youth too (who they likely inspired) plus some of their contemporaries like the Sex Pistols. Lots of different sounds really; this is not one-dimensional punk. Highlights were the Once over Twice (more brooding Ramones), We're Desperate (like frenetic Talking Heads), Adult Books (my favorite - Elvis meets the Velvet Underground meets Marty Robbins), Universal Corner (can't put my finger on it, but feels ahead of it's time), It's Who You Know (Motorhead with more depth), White Girl (Sonic Youth meets the Velvet Underground), and Beyond and Back (Dead Kennedys meet Elvis Costello).

well, this is another one that was over too soon. i knew about X, of course, being a punkity-rock kid back in the day - but they were a little before my time, and i didn't really come to them until later. i love the aggressive attack on the guitar, the almost brutal uncaring in exene's voice...just great punk rock.

What's not to love about X?

Bloody brilliant... Surprised me totally. Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library.

Great band. Great album. Fringe, outspoken leadership may soon change band name to Twitter.

I like X but this kinda fades into early 80s american punk white noise in my brain. Los Angeles I think has the more memorable tracks.

alright but a bit boring. Superb bass playing though, and bonus points for being short and sharp

It's not even Punk as it's far too clean around the edges and perhaps 5-6 years too late. There are bands that did this far better in New York, London and Manchester so I fail to see what makes this so special. It's not horrible to listen to, just bland and uninspiring.

Wild Gift is a pretty complex thing for a punk album. Rather than shriek about violence or people who think they're better than you, we get these emotional open wounds. Really raw and seemingly personal, Wild Gift fits the genre by just confronting the ugliness that can happen in relationships. Yet X go far, far beyond genre expectations. They beautify it with their harmonies: frightening, wistful, sad, vulnerable; they decorate it with their musical chops: heavy, dynamic, rootsy. It's so much more than the sum of its parts and there really is nothing else like it. DJ Bonebrake, Billy Zoom, John Doe and Exena have no peers in their genre. MAN I hope the 1001 albums doesn't ignore the better and more influential X debut album.

Punk music doesn’t do it for me

"Wild Gift" is the second studio album by American rock band X. Punk is the genre...yeah, but so much more. The album was produced by the Doors' Ray Manzarek who also played keyboard and produced their first album, "Los Angeles." X is John Doe (vocals, bass), Exene (vocals), Bill Zoom (guitar) and DJ Bonebrake (best name for a drummer ever). The album was critically very well-received with critics calling it a great love and punk album. Commercially, it made it up to #165 on the the US Billboard 200. A fast reverbing guitar and thumping bass introduce us to the "The Once Over Twice." Exene on lead vocals as she describes a guy who ditched her and made her feel hopeless. A searing Bill Zoom guitar solo (and not the last one). They crank up the speed even more on "We're Desperate." A start-stop motion to the music. John Doe and Exene on lead vocals as they state that their life is a mess. A relentless hard driving guitar riff and beat begins "Universal Corner." John Doe and Exene again on lead vocals. Zoom's guitar just crushes on this. Punk rock doesn't get much better than this as they describe a transvestite trying to get help and, well, there's not a good ending for her. The second side begins with "In the House that I Call Home." A melodic bass and more of a rockabilly guitar from Zoom. John Doe describing his chaotic lifestyle. A eerie, creepy and dark guitar starts "White Girl." John Doe and incredibly Exene too on lead vocals as they tell about Doe's relationship with Germ's bassist Loma Doom while Doe was still with Exene. "She's a white girl but I'm living with a white girl." A stone-cold punk classic. Doe and Exene sing that they hate and don't trust each other in "When Our Love Passed out on the Couch." More driving guitar and rhythm section. It's no accident that this song is near the end of the album. And, no, Doe and Exene's romantic relationship did not last. God, is this a great album. 13 short, hard and drving songs in 32 minutes. The music matches the compelling and personal lyrics and vocals as Doe and Exene tell abou their chaotic lifestyle and doomed romantic relationship. Another highlight is Billy Zoom's guitar work - punk, hard rock and with a flair of rockabilly at times. X has a few really good albums but this is the one. Time has not diminished the intensity and quality of these songs.

Wow, that was very unexpected! I have heard of X but never listened to their music. This was obviously a mistake because this is awesome!

A true creative and innovative unpredictable punk album. Loved it. Better songs are with female singer, lots of influences love the country rock fussion. It was refreshing and its early 80s so very experimental for the time

Very rock n roll

Never heard of this. Wow, these have just released a new album this year, and it sounds great! I really like it. Melodic early 80s US punk. Hints of early REM and The Replacements etc. It's bass driven as well. Therefore I'm gonna love it. One of the better new discoveries on this trip.

yes

Amazing. Another underrated band.

Hell yeah

I love X. That is all.

I love this album — been a staple since high school, and this isn't even my favorite X album (More Fun In The New World!). Call this punk if you gotta, but there's a lot of musicality going on, and intelligent commentary too. They shoot for an aesthetic and hit it — between the bizarre harmonies (there was one album where Exene thanked her vocal coach in the liner notes and I just found that hilarious), rockabilly shuffle, excellent guitar playing, and great tunes... turn it up.

4-5

Excellent! The blend of male and female vox works really well.

Wild Gift by X is a visceral and intense punk rock album that captures the raw energy of the band's live performances. From the opening track to the last, the album delivers a relentless barrage of powerful riffs and impassioned vocals. The songwriting on Wild Gift is sharp and incisive, tackling themes of love, politics, and rebellion with a fierce authenticity. Tracks like We're Desperate and White Girl showcase the band's ability to blend punk aggression with melodic hooks, creating memorable anthems that stick with you long after the album ends. The production on Wild Gift is gritty and unpolished, perfectly complementing the band's DIY ethos and punk aesthetic. Each track on the album feels urgent and vital, making Wild Gift a timeless classic in the punk genre. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 9 STAND OUT TRACK - Year 1

This album really hits a spot in my mind. Punk music with a bit of riot girls is everything I want when I wake up and open this site.

rockabilly punk rock.. You can't go wrong.

Nobody has sounded like X before or since. Punk? Rockabilly? Yes and yes! We’re Desperate is pure punk rock but they can follow that with Adult Books which is… what? It’s another great track is what it is and don’t put X in too small a box. And Billy Zoom is a killer guitarist.

Great band, Great album. I've listened to this before and will again. I'd have a hard time picking between this and Los Angeles.

I'm much less familiar with this as I was Los Angeles. And I still think L.A. is better, but this is still excellent and I will listen to it a lot.

WHITE GIIIIIIIIIRL

Yep. Dear to my punk loving heart.

Wild Gift A short, fun and entertaining punky album that nimbly sidesteps 3 chord thrash, bringing in some very enjoyable surf, powerpop, rockabilly and bluesy influences as well as some nice guitar licks and riffs. It’s full of some great little moments across some very good songs, I love that little bass riff in The Once Over Twice, the almost reggae lope of Adult Books, the chorus of Universal Corner, the riff of It’s Who You Know, the licks and bass of In This House I Call Home, the groove of White Girl, the rockabilly scratchiness of Beyond and Back, the catchiness of When Our Love Passed out on the Couch, the Beach Boys, hanclappy, Chuck Berry powerpop of Year 1. It’s right on the cusp of 3 and 4. It’s definitely a superior version of this type of album, and I can hear its echoes in lots of contemporaneous bands like the Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers and The Clash, as well as lots of bands that came later, particularly The Strokes. I think I’ll tip to a 4 - I’ll definitely come back to it if I’m in the mood for 30 minutes of very enjoyable and influential punk adjacent fun. ❌❌❌❌ Playlist submission: Year 1

Pretty generic 80s punk

Wild Gift isn't for me, it's another one where every song sounds mostly the same, several shades of a palette that's too similar, and I've never really liked the lo-fi punk sound anyway. Shouldn't be on the list, 2.

One word review Crap

The first time I heard a song by X was while playing GTA V a couple of years ago. The song "Los Angeles" is part of the game's soundtrack. And both this song, the album of the same name, and "Wild Gift" have something in common. They are a fierce and fast quickie. The best 4 seconds of a rooster's life. The last dance of a male rabbit. But really, really good! Top-notch punk rock, and that means cheap production, simple chords and played in a quick and dirty way. Damn, this is good...

was niiice

I'm delightfully surprised by Wild Gift! I hadn't listened to X before and had some pretty low expectations coming into it. Given that it's an early American punk record, it's surprisingly musical, i.e. it's more than screaming and loud barre chords. There's some elements of 50s rock n roll and flecks of other genres and influences as well. The songwriting is shockingly varied as well. This rocks.

5 out of 5. Aside from the country sounds (this is a minor complaint) this was a solid album.

Havent heard before, but it was a very nice acquaintance. Exactly why I wanted to do this.

nekem ez marhára bejött, szerintem kellően változatos volt de clearly van egy stílus. meglepett, hogy '81-es album. bomba.

Great punk rock album!

Great discovery! Really enjoyed listening!

Brilliant, and one I would probably never have heard otherwise! Sounds like an influence on loads of bands I love, especially suede and the Manics, but also on pretty much every punk band since. I didn't know "West Coast punk" was a thing, and it kind of wasn't really - except these guys - but I'm glad to know someone was trying to make it happen.

A band I've never heard of, a genre that I'd generally avoid, and I loved it. Just loved it! What a happy discovery!

I had a roommate in college who liked X and wanted us to go hear them when they played in the gym on campus. But none of the rest of us knew them and wouldn't buy tickets so we compromised and eavesdropped on the show from outside, on the grassy mound known as The Hump. That's not that interesting a story but it's a nice memory. Anyhow, I didn't take the opportunity to become an X fan --- they were a little too "alternative" for my tastes at the time. That's ok because they fit into my tastes just perfectly now. This album is great!

This was a fun rock album - really good punk rock that was a lot of fun to listen to. Catchy songs that kept me in it for the duration.

How have I never heard these guys before?! This is very much my jam and exactly what I wanted from this silly project. Songs added to Spotify: 5

X had a great run of must-hear albums in the early-mid 80's with music that was smart, intelligent punk combining styles of rockabilly, country, blues, R & B and roots rock and put on energetic live shows. The first album, Los Angeles was groundbreaking and added California to the punk rock map. Their second album, Wild Gift was just as good, it was rawer and less over-produced than the first and the songs were a continuation in style and intensity of Los Angeles. In some ways, I prefer Wild Gift, it was maybe a bit overlooked and underrated in the overall X catalog, but it was an important record and lasting punk masterpiece, before the band signed to the Majors and smoothed out (and quieted) their sound. Solid and essential, if you can find it!

Such a fun album with a unique sound! Yes, it’s punk, but there’s actually some really interesting rockabilly in there too. The hooks are catchy, the lyrics are enigmatic, the guitar riffs are rocking. It’s a punk rock collection of love songs. But it’s the vague harmonizing and shout-sung vocals from Exene Cervenka and John Doe that really makes the album sparkle. I’ll definitely be coming back to this album—one of my favorite discoveries from this project!

Great punk with a bit of blues or country or folk to some of it. Not too heavy and not too repetitive.

Sooo good. Straightforward and tight with great musicianship and melodies. Those baselines! And the rockabilly vibes! It’s also super accessible but so varied in styles, which I can’t imagine is an easy feat. Such an awesome discovery! Tucked away safely for future listens.

I like the X - Lost Angeles album and have listened to it a lot over the years. This album I was less familiar with but still really enjoyed it.

The female vocalist (Exene) really makes this album for me. Her singing is terrible, but that’s exactly what this kind of music needs. John Doe can sing, and the combination of the two voices is just perfect. The lyrics are wonderfully clever/stupid. Great fun.

So fierce

9/10 super wild, super fun really love this one

Between 1981 and 1984, X released 4 albums - an album a year. My favorite is their 4th one, "More Fun In The New World." (This is probably due to me seeing them for the first time...and three times on that album). In total, I've probably seen them about 10 time and they are still pretty great live...albeit older. It was great to listen to this one again and remind myself why I fell in love with the band. When we had a wild night, a friend used to say, "Last night everything broke." - A line from "We're Desperate" the best song here. (Not to be confused with the Australian bad of the same name, who formed about the same time or the Japanese band, who were force to change their name to X Japan).

Fuck if I don't love music like this. Never knew about X before but now I need more!

Growing up in LA & its 80-90s punk/alternative scene, this is a foundational band for me… they have an edge, an urgency, (“We’re Desperate, get used to it!” Amirite?!) to them, unlike some of the middling bands on the list that sold way more records (Steely Dan, Coldplay, Boston), the sort of edge Rock ‘n’ roll always was supposed to have going back to Chuck Berry (who’s obviously an influence on Billy Zoom) & Little Richard (influenced Exene & to a lesser degree John Doe)… plus as Anthony Kiedis once said John Doe’s “voice is made of gold…” Whenever I listen to X I think about “Decline of Western Civilization”’s performances by the band, or where they’re drunk & Exene gives herself a homemade tattoo… those other bands above would never do those things… nor would they make music like this.

This is one of the greatest punk albums of all time. X takes the raw edge of punk and much like the Clash, brings in more thoughtful arrangements to create a form of punk that is more musically literate despite its destructive and deconstructive elements. This album is clearly influenced by hard rock, 50s rock, and emergent post-punk. The hallmarks of where punk inspired music was headed are all still here, increased musicality, acrobatic bass, incorporation of different genres etc.

they're awsome

This is amazing! Had never heard it before, but instant fan. It's so believable, it's so straight ahead in some ways but with a punk soul and elements of many other genres. Sounds so fresh and original.

Best American rock band from the first half of the 80s when they made five 5* albums. Probably their LA album is even a bit better but it is always a hard choice. Wild Gift contains songs like Adult Books and Universal Corner etc.

very cool

I'd never heard of this band before... I wish I had! I loved this. Short and catchy which satisfies that craving I have. Will be exploring the rest of their discography based on this.

white girl and tals

This album is tight. It's full of ramshackle, energetic rockers from one of the most unique bands in music. X's punk bona fides are on full display, sweetened with a rockabilly undertone and a hint of a twang, which would become more pronounced on future albums. Billy Zoom's guitars burn brilliantly. D.J. Bonebrake's drums set an urgent pace that propels everything forward without distracting from the true stars of this show, John and Exene. The chaotic harmonies of John Doe and Exene Cervenka are imperfectly perfect. They're languid and messy and totally endearing. Their lyrics are incredibly poetic, blurring the gritty with the romantic. They sing about the dysfunctional side of life and of love, and you can feel it. Fave Songs: The Once Over Twice, Adult Books, In This House That I Call Home, I'm Coming Over

Awesome!

Solid punk album. Good sound, songs are happily 3 minutes. Songs are happily 75 seconds. Good melodies, fun listen.

favorite songs: The Once Over Twice, Universal Corner, In This House That I Call Home, When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch. a really good album, only a couple songs that I thought were meh

Distracted listen because I was on a plane holding a baby, but fuck it — 4 stars.

This was a fun listen. I’d never heard them before but reckon I’ve heard hundreds of bands that were influenced by them.

Really enjoyable. Can't recall any standout tracks but strong all the way through. Very Tony Hawk

настоящий панк очень крутые чуваки ДИНАМИЧНО И ПАНКОВО с удовольствием бы на их концерте попрыгала

A new discovery for me - started well with Ramones like punk vibes - then got a bit rockabilly and a bit new wavy... enjoyed it. Was going to go for a 3 - but I think it sneaks a low 4.

(Post-)punk with a more traditional rock song structure. It’s quite good and it’s influence is apparent in many more contemporary bands.

Me mola mucho, es como proto-punk mezclado con rock de surferos. Es un poquitín rayante por la voces sin emoción, pero las canciones son cortitas así que no es para tanto.

good punk shit. that’s all i rlly gotta say

Kul att lära känna detta. Stabil punk/rock som jag kan tänka mig återkomma till

A killer punk record. A worthy follow up to their debut

Solid rock and roll with some surf punk energy

Punk energy and pop smarts - a winning combination.

4.5

Sehr cooles Punk Album

8/10 X is amazing. Los Angeles should have been here instead but I'm just glad one of their albums made it. 2-4-2025

Punk

out of the many punk albums I've had to listen to thus far, this is the first one I've heard that is sung by a woman

Not necessarily my cup of tea but definitely pioneering.

Diet The Pretenders. More like somewhere in between The Pretenders and Pixies. Good, fleeting songs. Short and sweet. Standouts: The Once over Twice, Adult Books, It’s Who You Know, Back 2 the Base, and Year 1.

Never realized just how much Courtney Love was imitating Exene Cervenka. Speaking of which, fun fact: Exene was married to Viggo Mortenson. Anyway, this is actually really rad. Enjoyed this a good bit.

Liked this more than I thought I would

Its rare i come to an album with zero prior knowledge and when this came up i didnt have a clue what to expect. Turns out if the clash and the b52's had a love child it would sound like that. It slid around the spectrum between these two poles and did it well. Some quite dry punky stuff with a talking heads-esq vocal and some pop punk that bounced along nicely. A real treat