Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Decent late punk. I thought the first half was stronger.
Liked this one. Had the major characteristics of a punk album -- short (13 songs in 32 minutes), fast and simple with some snarling vocals. However it lacked the punk ethos: anger, a political pov, social issues, etc.. The Clash are the gold standard of the genre and it isn't close to that, but still not bad.
Fine punk. Not for me. I like that it had multiple singers though.
I will always love fusion rock bands fronted by women!!!! This album was so fun to listen to, ‘Universal Corner”, ‘I’m coming Over’ and ‘Back 2 Base’ For ‘Beyond and Back’ the opening lines were quite interesting “I'll go somewhere else, I'll move to the couch, It's darker in the dark, it's darker in the day, I forgot you were a liar” The folksy and alt rock tone and vocals from Doe and Cervenka were sublime!! 3.5/5- Another great rock album -GEMV (26-7.02.2026)
Wow, très correct, yééé🎉
I don't think this showcases X's talents nearly as much as Los Angeles does, but this is definitely still an enjoyable listen. I'd love to see the justification as to why this was selected over LA - it's certainly the inferior album and way way way lighter in tone and subject matter.
This was fine as an early pop-punk album, but I’m not a fan of the country influenced songs. I can recognize why people would be fans, but it’s not for me.
Heard Before? Yup, but I remembered it all wrong. Notes: - two of the cheat codes to convince me a good band is actually great are multiple vocalists and 2 minute songs. this has both. - clever lyrics rescue the sometimes overly-simple songs. - so many fun basslines. - raw, bare-bones production keeps everything up front and exciting, but also casts a pall of sameness. Verdict: Too much of the time, "punk" still means "knucklehead hardcore" or "pop rock posers". X is here to remind us that punk has many ways and means. Listen Again? Right now? Yes! Later? Probably!
Лос-анджелесский панк-альбом, который звучит как ссора влюблённых в три часа ночи — громко, честно и с кровью. X к 1981-му уже знали, что делают. Exene Cervenka и Джон Дос — пара в жизни и на сцене — пишут тексты вдвоём, и это слышно: в песнях есть та интимная жестокость, которая бывает только между людьми, которые друг друга слишком хорошо знают. Билли Брэгг называл этот альбом лучшим американским панк-альбомом вообще. Rolling Stone включил в список величайших. Но главное — он не устарел ни на секунду, потому что сделан не на трендах, а на нервах. Продюсер Рэй Манзарек из The Doors добавил клавиши туда, где их никто не ждал — и это не смягчило звук, а сделало его ещё более угрожающим. Ритм-секция молотит как отбойный молоток, гитары режут, а два голоса — намеренно диссонирующие — создают ощущение, что ты подслушиваешь чужой скандал.
Maybe not all of the LA hardcore punk scene was great.
This was pretty good. Punk but worth some variety.
Punky but lyrical
Unremarkable post-punk punk - nothing to get particularly excited about.
Solid punk album released the year I was born, with influences of rockabilly and blues. I like the songs by the woman vocalist the most, but also appreciate the variety of duel vocalists. This album is creative and catchy. Definitely deserves to be on the list!
This is one of those albums I'm sure has cultural significance that I'm not aware of. Catchy punk rawk, with some fun additions and divergences. What's not to like?
vocals were rough, but I get it. Good album, not a 4 but some 4 worthy songs on there.
Above average instrumental, below average vocals. No wonder this album is averaged right around 3. The definition of mid, which I think is good for punk rock standards.
This felt very middle of the road. It starts off with a very Ramonesesque riff but doesn't really go anywhere from there. It didn't make me feel much at all, either positive or negative.
Good but nothing too special. Enjoyable but fairly forgettable. No overly strong opinions one way or the other.
Bueno
An album I generally enjoyed and don’t have much to say about.
Pretty alright.
A surprisingly enjoyable punk album with competent and creative musicians. They came late to the party - this kind of sound was already a bit dated in 1981 - but the addition of a rockabilly / country twist works pretty well. There's also no bad song in the whole album, something rare enough to be noticed. I had a great time blasting this with my morning coffee, and even listened the album again in the evening. Good vibes and good energy ! 6/10
Not very wild?
The country/punk rock fusion is interesting but ultimately not my thing. Favourite track: Universal Corner
Influential punk album with decent musical variety that I probably won't return to. "White Girl" is the major standout here. It has an interesting structure with an anxious guitar riff and enigmatic lyrics (I don't love the chorus though). "Universal Corner" is also pretty good. "In This House That I Call Home" is a real low point for me, with its call-and-response structure between the unappealing vocals and annoying guitar riff. A fairly middling and unmemorable listen for me.
it was cute and enjoyable.
Fun listen! Punkish the doors ;p No but fr i thought i heard jim in some songs.
Great songs, middling production that does not translate the potential energy of a killer band. Many of these songs are found on the album "Live at the Whiskey A-gogo on the Fabulous Sunst Strip, where they come alive.
I liked the album. It has character and style. I'm not really a lover of the new wave/post punk era, but I'd suggest it to everyone who is.
Ik word door het internet al snel gewaarschuwd voor een punk geluid. En tja, die zang mag dat labeltje wel dragen. En de muziek heeft wel weinig pretenties. Tegelijk heb ik wel het idee dat ze er iets leuks van willen maken. Deze punk huppelt vooral vrij gelaten door het muzieklandschap.
Zo, dit klinkt even vooral niet 80s. Het lijkt alsof ze daar goed terug in de tijd zijn gegaan. Het is redelijk snel, eigenlijk veel te simpel. En het zangeresje heeft net als die van de B-52s een vrij schelle stem. Neerlands trots Venus komt ook in me op. Maar dit had net zo goed in de 50s of 60s kunnen zijn, of dus in de punkperiode. Als Roy Orbison dan nog voorbijkomt, dan ben je echt te laat geboren. Alles is al eerder en beter gedaan door anderen ben ik bang. Al klinkt een track als "Universal Corner" wel lekker. Naarmate het album vordert, begin ik er wel wat lekkerder in te komen. De zangeres schuurt nog steeds, niet alles is even goed. Maar er zitten wel een aantal fijne nummers tussen. Ik twijfel tussen de 2 en de 3, maar die paar fijne nummers laten het doorslaan naar een krappe voldoende.
The same sound carries the album all the way through. It’s fine
There are much cooler punk albums that came before this
Good listen. 3/5
Dosta podnošljiviji primjer žanra koji zaista ne volim.
Enjoyed this album
Not good, not bad. Good to hear a female voice in this genre.
are these guys embarrassed by their name these days? pretty easy listen
Genuinely never heard of this before today, and it turned out to be a fun 33 mins, and I picked up that RHCP had sampled a bit of 'White Girl' on 'Mothers Milk'. I guess X have a bit of a cult following. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ Decent★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 208 Already owned : 46 Purchased : 10 To buy list : 4 Nope : 148
I like it!
3/5
Fagmannlega flutt, oftast hresst, skemmtilegt að heyrast söngvarana skiptast á. Fínt pönk, þrátt fyrir rokkabillýskotin.
Favorite Track: White Girl
Unfortunately couldn't think of anything insightful to say about this one - I think I feel so indifferent that my brain can't be bothered to waste any more time thinking about it. Sometimes I don't need to justify myself.
This sound kinda reminds me of Blondie with the drums and guitar creating a quick beat. These guys do it better though. Quite unmemorable but its not very punky on the punk scale so it can have a 3
Vocally this was a drag, but I ended up really liking the blues and rockabilly influences. Possibly 4 stars with more appealing vocals but they grated me a bit.
makes me go apeshit
It was over well before I realized it. I'm sure there's some significance here, but it just blended in with most early-80s punk rock sounds. Not bad by any means, just not sure why it makes the list.
I can easily see the influence this band had on the punk scene. It feels much more late '90s/ early 2000s, then an early '80s album. I'm sure some of my favorite bands wouldn't exist without them, but the sound has also been perfected beyond what X delivered.
wiedermol eis woni nöd check wiso dases do isch. wer versteckt sich hinder de band? ähm ok s isch no nice aber was macht das do? check nöd würkli. d gitarre cha würkli öppis.
hass chli s albumcover hmm wenigstens isches chli speziell aber die apathisch stimm passtmer grad nödso we're desperate het en geile groove OHH ok sdult books findi echt na funny jz findi di monotone stimme fast scho hypnotisierend falls das sinn macht? hmm also d lieder sind scho immer chli andersch aber trz verschwümmet d lieder für mich scho schnell hmm jaa einigi lieder hani scho no cool gfunde, aber für es 4i langets nöd. die meistens monotone stimme sind eig easy gsi aber nöd de börner und musikalisch hanis eig easy villsiitig gfunde, obwohls immer "simpel" blibe isch
I run kind of hot and cold on X. There are small moments where I really get into it but other times I find so frustrating like there was a missed opportunity. I think maybe it's small doses are better because of Exene's fall-down-a-well caterwauling gets kind of grating when it's every song in succession. I also think Los Angeles is probably the one I would put on this list and I'm going to guess it's on here at some point.
I mean, it wasn't long, right?
Decent, just not for me
Pretty solid, my favorite is Some Other Time, actually a fuckin banger. Good music to ride into the end of the world to, get hyped to make a bad decision, or use for a montage of getting absolutely inebriated. Honestly i only remember Some Other Time so maybe the rest of the album is mid. Didnt hate it though.
Didn’t hate this
alright
A decent punk album, but one where it feels like they didn't quite have enough ideas
More or less the definition of a 3-star record. Decent 80s style punk (actually it sounds even more dated than 80s tbh), but there's nothing all that interesting going on here. Favourite track: Universal Corner
This was fine. Wouldn’t revisit.
I love punk, and I love X, but this is probably not the X album I would choose in terms of importance or influence; that would be Los Angeles. Wild Gift is still good, but it doesn't stand out quite as much as the previous album. If you enjoy punk tinged with rock'n'roll and country, you'll love X!
It mostly felt like just another punk rock album, barely interesting, decent for what it is, apparently critics adore it like it's one of their children but I'm just a consumer and the product is competent and bland
Luv her voice
Always a good listen with John & Exene! Not their greatest record but a fun one to crank up!
Classic 80s punk \m/ I personally prefer the DC flavor of punk from this period (Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Fugazi) but this is a fun album nonetheless
Pretty cool. Classic punk with rockabilly and blues inputs. Solid
A solid fun album.
One of those bands I've always meant to check out but never got around to. Pretty fun.
Pretty not bad. 3.5/4
X falls into that group of punk that I never truly got hooked on (seemed to happen a lot with the West Coast). Still really solid stuff overall but nothing super memorable. 6/10
Truly never heard of this. I actually thought this was going to be electronic or synth pop. This is cool.
Nifty early 80's American punk mixed with some other interesting styles. Doesn't have the annoying aspects of pop punk and west coast punk I am not a fan of, but is decentish.
Some cool punk rock. Another album, though, that I liked less the further I got through the album. If this was a tightly curated EP, it would be great.
it’s one of those that i feel in the middle about. i didn’t dislike it but im not sure that the genre is for me. or maybe i just have to be in a specific mood good it idk. but not one track stood out to me unfortunately. still, it was a nice listening experience.
Wieder mal etwas punkiges.
I wasnt expecting to like it judging by the cover, but it was actually pretty good
Interesting sound
Really fun Album tbh. won't go back to it a ton bit has some bangers
very clean and pleasant sound for punk, in a good way
Another surprise, never heard this one in 1981, and I was well into the Ramones, Dolls, Heartbreakers etc - good to hear some post punk
Decent frenetic punky rock. It’s all on one level and that’s pretty high tempo and controlled aggression. I can’t imagine feeling a strong desire to listen again but it was entirely serviceable. If I were listening as as a contemporary I probably would have found it a more compelling listen beyond it being “decent”.
A raw and simplistic punk-rock album that is only notable because of its early release date. I enjoyed it all the way through, but I never felt like it was particularly ground-breaking. Then again, it is very early and from the USA, which I guess makes it stand out amongst it's contemporaries. To be honest, it sounds like a lot of Punk-rock bands from the UK, so perhaps my British ears are not hearing anything outside the norm. They sound like a touring band you'd hear at gig in a local venue. You'd leave thinking they were great fun, you'd see them again but probably wouldn't buy the CD.
Listened Before? N PUNK ROCK! Rock on! Loved this one. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: I'm Coming Over
would give it a 2.5, but bc it’s from 81 and sounds like that, i’ll round up instead of down
A solid follow-up to (my preferred) Los Angeles, the legendary X has always been something of a stress test for me. EXene Cervenka's notes carry confidently across the music, and with John Doe often following suit, it can be too much vocal for my ear. There is a bleat-to-drone quality that just edges on grating. And yet, and yet, the music is tight, the lyrics cut cleverly across the underbelly of the culture, and occasionally the vocals are eXactly what's needed. So who am I to say that on occasion I wish they had pulled back on the delivery? No one — might as well X me out and appreciate this Wild Gift.
80s punk. Felt like an influence of the White Stripes. This list leans heavily to punk bands and I dont often hear the distinction between different punk groups. This one was good. 3/5
This one just wasn't for me. Maybe they made it for you?
Full fart. Lutar mot en 4a.
Quite nice punk but not really more than "quite"
6/10… Punk / *1981
I love when a punk record pops up on this thing, and I'm excited that X popped up because I haven't heard a whole lot of their work. Wild Gift is ok. The guitar work is interesting and fun and a bit more robust than simply hamfisting powerchords. The songs are somewhat catchy. The vocals are maybe not what I would have expected, but I don't mind them (the lady's voice can grate on me a little bit, but not enough to really complain about). It sounds really good, especially compared to what a lot of what was coming out in 1981 (although the remastered version I'm listening to might be doing a lot of heavy lifting here, I'm really not sure). But, I'm still not sure that I'll ever circle back and listen to it again (although I'm not going to be sad if and when another X record pops up). The songs aren't terribly compelling for me, even though I appreciate the talent and the effort. This record probably would have connected with me more had I heard it in '81, but alas, I'm hearing it in 2025 when I've probably been more influenced by the bands who were likely influenced by X themselves. Still, a solid record. 3.6/5
Definitely more exciting but not my favorite
One of their best, pretty decent, mostly for the time for me.
You give this to me when they're on their farewell tour!?!
The whole half-spoken, half-yelled indy attitude becomes so much less effective the more listening I do, but have to admit there is a bunch of bangers on here
Favourite songs: Universal Corner & In This House That I Call Home. Masterful guitar-playing throughout the whole album.
Alright. Fills in a missing link between punk and new wave. 3.4
Early punk is starting to wear me out
Punk that reminds at times of Ramones, Talking Heads even. I’m not sure there’s something special here to be honest, but it’s not bad either. Most tracks are less than 2.5 minutes - many are under 2. Notable tracks include The Once Over Twice, Universal Corner, In This House That I Call Home.
The Once Over Twice: cool sound, it's like blues punk *Desperate: dig it. they're desperate and I'm getting used to it. Adult Books: I love in old songs when they just start dropping random first names. not a huge fan of this track though *Universal Corner: the male/female dual vocals remind me of Dehd, especially her voice with the raspiness. this one's decent *I'm Coming Over: so they've been making punk songs that barely clear sixty seconds forever, huh? good energy It's Who You Know: just okay *In This House That I Call Home: the chorus riiiiiips. the vocals and the mix sound nice on this one too. favorite track so far Some Other Time: it's fine White Girl: it's fine. this album has a lot of mid tracks Beyond and Back: it's fine. Back 2 the Base: egg-punk-esque. "Presley sucks on doggy dicks" is a heater of line *When Our Love Passed Out On The Couch: this is a good one, I love their voices together on the chorus. when their sound works it really works * Year 1: decent closer I put down like zero thoughts on the track by track but like...it's a punk album. what you see is what you get. the record as a whole kind of sounds like shit, sometimes it works in the charming punk way but sometimes it misses hard. nothing groundbreaking but it was a fun listen __ SCORE: 6/10 ADDED TO PLAYLIST: We're Desperate, Universal Corner, I'm Coming Over, In This House That I Call Home, When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch, Year 1
Ik ben gewoon niet echt een punk man, dit klonk prima maar het is niet mijn ding
This was pretty good!
This was indeed a wild gift. Punk rock with rockabilly sensibility. I got the vibe that if Courtney Love started a punk band with a mediocre Elvis impersonator in the 80s, it would be this band. I'm struggling between a 3 & 4 on the rating because the songs start to blend together. So I'll split the difference & say 3.5
It’s pretty cool although I could live without the rockabilly type songs
Pretty neat
Decent, like the style and feel. Doesn’t move me past mid rating though.
I liked how raw and unpolished this was. Tough to pull off and still sound good. 3.25
Nice surprise and going on the list of bands I need to give more time in the rotation. Dig the mixture of musical styles like rockabilly into their punk sensibilities. 2.75/5
This was ok, but not really sure why on the list. Though shockingly not British.
Had its ups and downs
Perfectly fine pop punk, with some genre experimentation. Overall though, just not really speaking to me.
Solid punk album. Wild Gift captures that raw, early 80s energy perfectly and fits 13 tracks into a tight 34-minute runtime, which I’ll always give credit for. The songs hit quick and hard without overstaying their welcome. It kind of reminds me of something The Stooges would have done—gritty, stripped-down, and right on that line between late 70s punk and the post-punk sound that came just before hardcore took over. There’s a looseness to it that feels authentic and fun, even if nothing completely blew me away. Overall, Wild Gift is a solid listen. It’s fast, sharp, and captures a moment in punk’s evolution that still feels alive today.
sounds like an messy dive bar in LA. a bit of romantic grime. Let’s call it sweaty punk.
Love X. Definitely a bigger fan of their less punky stuff but so unique and Billy zoom is an absolute axe slinger on guitar
It’s hard to be impressed at this point. 2.5 stars.
Braced myself for typical punk, so was pleasantly surprised to hear something more pleasing to my ears. At points reminded me of the Vaselines a bit.
Like the Pixies if every song sounded the same
Not a bad listen. Nothing wowed me, though.
Good early 80s punk
I feel like in another life I would have appreciated it more. The dingy bar back room punk gig vibe is a sound I'm peripherally familiar with but never been massively drawn to. That said there's a couple of very replayable chewns on here. The basslines do tickle the guitar hero in me.
B-52’s plus the runaways I feel like I should like this more than I do. Don’t envision myself returning.
This was a fun album. Like a deranged, feral B-52’s. It’s not fully punk as I hear like rockabilly and other elements but it comes across as in your face. They must’ve had some fun live shows. Very cool.
They sound like the Violent Femmes with slightly less catchy guitar hooks but an actual female vocalist. So it’s either those reasons or a coin toss that I have heard of one, but not the other.
Likes it much more than most punk. Fun and a bit more talented than your average punk band. 3.5*
Well another punk album. I can tell the diversity of ideas in this one, but still... it's not my cup of tea. How many punk rock albuns are there in the list? 3/5
This seems like a band I would enjoy much more live.
Great guitar playing. Now I know where Ron Gallo got his influence
I felt like I should like this more than I did, but ultimately it kind of all sounded the same. Still, it wasn’t bad.
Its aight. The energy was good at the start but just became ok after. Favourite Song: Universal Corner
its good. kinda weird at times but i enjoyed it
Fun listen, although the vocals did get annoying at times and some of the songs sounded the same.
I thought this was fine. I still don't really get X, this was a little too low-energy for me, though I did like the vocals and the punky rockabilly energy. It just didn't really click with me, but it definitely wasn't bad.
This album is pretty solid, it’s so close to getting a four, but I don’t think I can quite get it there. It’s pretty enjoyable, I like some of it, but it doesn’t quite stand with me like some of the other punk classic albums have.
I'm not a punk fan, but I do think this is the best punk album on this list so far. It feels like proper punk rock. Both vocalists have great voices that blend well and they create some really interesting harmonies. I particularly like Exene's voice and the tracks she sings. The songs I enjoyed the most were The Once Over Twice, Some Other Time, and When Our Love Passed out on the Couch. 7/10.
I like the bluesy rock meets punk. But I can’t stand her voice.
Another banger alert by X, much better than the xx. Super polished punk music that actually sounds like music, and all the songs are catchy.
Good energy, but I'm finding many of the tracks sound similar and their simplicity makes them blend together
Very cool album. The vocals made it hard for me to fully get into the album
3 - ok but i prefer Punk to be a little more hardcore
6/10
I’ll take band names that wouldn’t work today due to search engines please! Despite the name and the quite horrible album cover the music was ok. Felt like pretty generic pop punk in the style of the Ramones. It was a nice short listen but not much grabbed me. The mixing was sometimes not the best but other than that it didn’t really leave a lasting impression.
Never heard of this before listening to it. What have we got here? First impressions are some female-led punk, with country overtones. After listening on full, this is overall some nice punky stuff. I'm most strongly reminded of the Ramones. Enjoyed this.
Brought me back. Fun album.
My first time hearing of X. The album was pretty good- definitely punk with some rough elements but still catchy and melodic enough for me to enjoy. Overall- good album
An interesting US take on punk. The twin male/female vocals are a nice touch, as is the slightly bluegrass type influence. This could easily fit alongside the cramps or dead Kennedys. It lacked a standout single - no God Save The Queen or California Uber Alles - but was a decent listen. A strong 3.
Dull
definitely a bit punky but i especially like the more rockabilly moments on here. i just wish i liked the middle part of the album more. sometimes the album does feel a bit samey, but i don't think it's valid to complain about repetitiveness when an album is a half hour long. it does never get boring. but i do wish i liked it more. it feels like it has all the parts of an album i would love, but i just wasn't thrilled with a lot of the songs. i could see it as an album that would grow on me though
X is such an interesting band. Rockabilly, punk, great harmonies and vocals? Sign me up. I'm getting more and more confused as I get deeper into the list why the author chose certain albums over others. "Los Angeles" should have been here instead. Weird. Good album, but nowhere close to as good as "Los Angeles", do yourself a favor and listen to THAT. 3.19/5 stars.
Blind album and artist. Kinda boring lackluster punk album but still sounded decent i guess?
I know Eddie Vedder loves this band, but it all sounds the same to me.
Lite punkrock fast lite åt rockabilly-hållet typ. Ganska bra, men inte så spännande
3.0 Middle of the road initial wave of punk/alternative. No strong feelings either way. There have been a lot of other worse similar acts on here is the one redeeming feature. Not something I'd want to hear again though to be honest.
Not bad at all. I enjoyed listening to the album
This was in interesting one. Definitely sounds later than its time. I'm not sure if it warrants a 5, but it's a solid 3-4. I'll sleep on it before I rate.
Fun to listen to, with a different kind of punk vibe. Still, it didn’t feel particularly memorable for me.
3.5
This is a fun album. Really catchy. I don't know how much of these guys I need but it would be worth a check later I think. I like We're Desperate and Adult Books. 3/5 stars.
It’s probably great if you like this sub genre of punk
Incorporating different elements helped keep my interest, rather than being a straightforward punk album. I liked the female vocals too, they add something different. The male vocals work well when harmonising but were a bit bland on their own, fine but unremarkable This is good but it didn't stick with me that much after a couple of listens. 3.5 Highlights: In This House That I Call Come, We're Desperate
Very interesting record, but one that I enjoyed. Elements of surf rock, punk, alternative. It has a good vibe throughout and is easy to listen to and keep on in the background. The music is enjoyable and I would listen to this again.
Very cool but not enough to get truly truly excited
Good Sharp fast straight to the point
Liked it... rockabilly / punk with a hint of Donnie and Marie.
I wouldn’t return it but I probably wouldn’t use it either.
Fun listen.
3.4 - It didnt wow me, but i did like it
Kind of a punkier Blondie with a mediocre female vocalist. Fun listen but nothing really stood out.
New to me, which is surprising since I like the style. Will be adding them to the rotation when the mood hits.
++: The Once Over Twice, I'm Coming Over, In This House I Call Home, Some Other Time, White Girl, Year 1 +: We're Desperate, It's Who You Know, Back 2 the Base +-: Adult Books, Universal Corner, Beyond and Back, When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch 7,6/10
Fun, highly competent, very unserious punk. The stuff that doesn't work doesn't last very long, but neither does the stuff that does work. More of a 3.5!
Good instrumentation, sloppy vocals making up moderately impressive Punk Rock.
I don't think I've heard of them before. Interesting sound very late 70's garage sound. Not bad so far. They are definitely influenced by the Ramones. I swear I've heard some lyrics before. I'll bet someone covered them. It's a pretty good album for its time. Got some really fun US punk in there. I have a feeling I'll be adding it to my rotation. I want to listen again and see how it holds up to repeat listens.
Great album from an early punk band I never knew of. Glad I heard this.
Kunnon mölinää punk meiningeissä
Cool!
Good Punkrock Album. Already knew the song We're desperate but as the Pennywise Version (with the same female singer as here)
I can see the influence it has had for sure
Didn’t know this band but I liked it will listen to more.
nunca julgue um livro pela capa mais uma vez fui seco achando que ia ser uma bosta e foi bem ok
Just meh
I only knew X from Los Angeles' title track. This is very much in the same vein. Considering this came out in the early 80s and was so heavily aped, I can see how this would be a landmark recording. The punk blues parts are brilliant, I'm less sure of my enjoyment of the lyrical content. Those harmonies are best described as hypnotic, again I'm not sure if that's good or bad! I've playlisted a few tracks - so it gets a positive score.
So maybe I don't like punk music as much as I thought I might. This album is entertaining enough. Reminds of Violent Femmes in spots; Talking Heads (David Byrne) in others. I listened 5-6 times so it's not like I didn't try. Several songs are catchy enough - The Once Over Twice, Adult Books, Beyond and Back - but ultimately not enough to go into regular rotation. 3/5
I sadly don’t have a shred of the punk gene in me. It bores and frustrates my brain. The rockabilly parts? Music is symmetry in here, but the loops are not closing, lyrics are not rhyming even though you’d really like them to, and it might be the point but it’s all so..unsatisfactory? Unfulfilled? Annoying! I’m annoyed! 😒 I want to rewrite every single song so it makes more musical sense. Ugh.😤
X was always a little outside my rotation. They have some terrific songs, but I never made them a regular listen. Maybe it’s the production, maybe it’s because Exene and John can’t really sing. But they’re punks who really broke out of the men-only club. The songs I like aren’t on this album. Anyway, I give cookie jars about a B.
Ekki gefið þeim mikinn gaum. Þetta steinliggur ekki en hrátt og skemmtilegir gítartónar. Meira, endilega hreint. 3,5.
Better than Coldplay
Listened to this album recently as part of my 2025 resolution to listen to at least one new album per week. Wrote the following note for it on my spreadsheet: "Not as good as the other two albums of theirs I've heard, but love their sound and hate that I missed them live." Previously listened to 2 songs (Adult Books; White Girl) Favorite Song: Adult Books
Harmless
More interesting than I expected
This is far from my favorite X album. Hopefully this isn't the only X album on the list...
The rockabilly-meets-punk thing starts out very fresh and fun, but after about 7 tracks of it, you start to realise it's not quite *that* fun after all.
This was fine
Short and absolutely fine.
Short and good album, pretty unique punk rock with rockabilly and other influences. My issue with the album was that the production sounded too stripped down and basic to me, I read that it was produced by Ray Manzarek, which was a surprise.
Fun, dusty garage-punk - though not all that memorable
Energinen ja hyvä! Oon kuullut näiltä aikaisemmin vaan debyytin. Hyvää punkkia ei kai siinä muuta 3/5
I have never heard of them and that is unfortunate because this was fun and surprisingly deep for a punk album.
Not as good as Los Angeles but sure this is enjoyable
Pretty good old-school rock. Good singing and you get a good feel for the time it was made. Not an everyday listen for me though.
Really not for me, a mixture of the B52s, blondie and the sex pistols.
Cool surprise! 3.4.
It's quite good, but it's not wowing me. You can hear plenty of influence on later bands. It's got a good amount of energy, but the mix is just a bit murky. At time of writing this album sits on a perfect 3/5 and I'm not going to rock that boat.
Not bas but I found it much more less exciting than Los Angeles. Where’s the punk?
At times, interesting. At times.
È un po' rock. Mi piace la commistura delle due voci. Però non totalmente il mio mood.
3/5
Well, the album went like this. I'd never heard of the band or the album before. I don't think I missed anything either. The global rating of the reviews seems appropriate to me. 3/5
They remind me of a Pixies/Blondie mashup, but a little more rock focused and messier. Definitely a departure from most vibes that come out of the 80s so they feel pretty unique for that era. I like when they change their sound up a bit in Adult Books and Beyond and Back. Overall cool sounds, but the lo-fi vocals and general lack of catchy hooks gets a little tiresome by the end.
Fine. Nothing wrong with this, apart from how under-produced it is. I don't dislike it, but I won't return.
Ok
Good
I find that a lot of X’s songs sound the same. I’ve listened to Under the Big Black Sun and Los Angeles and I liked Los Angeles the best because it was a bit more raw. This just isn’t memorable to me.
It was aight
Wild Gift is very poppy. It’s energetic and overall very good. Despite its poppiness, it still fucking rips. 7.7/10
The gritty, post punk, attitude rock has the elements I enjoy, however I find myself a little bored.
This seems wildly overrated in an Emperor's Clothes type way. That being said it nicely weaves post-punk Talking Heads new-wave, with rock-n-roll and rockabilly riffs. The result is part surf-rock, part new-wave part-punk. Alongside numerous punk bands, it also reminds me of The Cramps, with their psychobilly style. After a few listens I did warm to it quite a bit. It pulls together various alternative rock threads into something deceptively simple. But then - it is literally quite simple, and I'm falling into the Emperor's New Clothes trap. Notwithstanding - an enjoyable album with growth potential; high three.
Actually cool for '81 but nothing crazy
Enjoyed it well enough, even if I found it a little generic.
Tämä on hauska, soittajien ilo ja taito kuuluu läpi ja kokonaisuus pidetään silti tarpeeksi yksinkertaisena. Tyylipuhdas, ei yhtään ärsyttävä tai hetkeäkään räimettä vaikka on punkihkoa. Hieno kansi.
Exenen harmonioiden vuoksi tämä kuulostaa aina jossain määrin kokeilulta: soundin vinksahtaneisuus ei ole huonoa asia, mutta haastava kylläkin. Materiaali on enimmäkseen vahvaa, vaikka se vähän hupeneekin loppua kohti. Erityisesti We're Desperate ja When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch ovat biisejä, joita on tullut soitettua. 3+
la voz femenina en el punk es superior en todas sus formas
En stram og flink pønk gruppe, med noen velkomne nyveiv og (bittelitt) rockabilly elementer. Det at de veksler mellom kvinnelig og mannlig vokalist gir fin variasjon. Jeg koste meg men syns de mistet driv mot slutten.
Did not know them and I was pleasantly surprised 7/10 Fave: the once over twice
enjoyed this album a fair bit
This is definitely punk.
I’ve heard of X, but I’ve never heard of this album before. I’m familiar with the cover of X’s album Los Angeles, and I’ve been meaning to listen to it, but I’ve never gotten around to it. I think I always assumed that X was hardcore punk (I blame the burning X on the cover of Los Angeles), but now that I know they’re not, I really don’t know what to expect from this album. I guess it’s time to open this Wild Gift! If I were rating this album based on just one listen, it would probably be a one-star rating. I was completely unimpressed and bored by my first listen to this album. I thought the songs all sounded the same, and while I appreciated the new wave influence in their sound, it just wasn’t enough to keep me interested. On a second listen, I found myself much more able to appreciate the uniqueness of the guitar playing; it was cool to notice that “Beyond and Back” had some rockabilly influences, and “Adult Books” had some reggae influence, and “White Girl” sounded like Sonic Youth. I still wasn’t in love with this album, but my second listen was much more enjoyable, mostly because I realized that it wasn’t as one-dimensional as I originally thought. I’m not in love with this album by any means, but now I’m not as opposed to the idea of checking out Los Angeles. I think this album is influential and important, but it’s just not really my cup of tea.
High energy enjoyable album Standout songs: The Once over Twice Universal Corner In this House that I call Home
Adult books is a bop! Like punkier Blondie at first but really all over the place..might improve on many relistens but first impressions are solid
A happier little jaunt thru punk.
It was fine. It was punk, but not great punk.
Das Album präsentiert einen unverwechselbaren Punkrock-Stil der Band, der Roots-Rock, Country, Blues, R&B und Rockabilly vereint. Es sind energiegeladene Songs mit unverkennbarer Note. Insgesamt ganz ok aber insgesamt ohne spektakulären Song.
An interesting collection of songs. I had not heard of X and when the first song started I expected a straightforward punk album, but it’s anything but that. Certainly didn’t expect to hear rockabilly. Some of the songs remind me of early Kings of Leon from two decades later, which is interesting (listen to In This House That I Call Home). Pretty good.
Gritty but also has rockabilly/bluesy vibes
Not a bad listen.
An interesting album. I liked it but didn't love it. Mashup of influences in a post-punk package with high energy.
I liked this album more than I loved it. Don't get me wrong, this is the first time I've heard anything from this band. I understand that it might be a question of influences, but the album sounded very similar to other bands I've heard before. The fact that it has two vocalists earns some points, but not being able to feel the essence of the band loses me a little.
okay sound, seemed like generic punk with not super great production. Probably will not go back to it.
6.5/10 Highlights: We're Desperate Adult Books
Little dated and simple for me. Still okay though.
Kedvenc/Favourite: Universal Corner Egy-két számban lehetett volna kicsit több energia meg változatosság, de alapvetően tetszett. Jó lüktetése volt. Kellett volna hozzá még egy kis erő, kicsit punkosabban jobban tetszett volna. One or two songs could have had a bit more energy and variety, but I liked it in general. It had a good beat. It could have used a bit more force, I would have liked it a bit punkier.
I liked this. It had some subtle Doors vibes at times with a little rockabilly mixed in - but, still pure punk. You can also hear how this may have inspired the Grunge scene that would come later in the 80s. I liked the mix of male/female vocalists. It made the whole thing a little more interesting. Definitely worth the listen.
This is a pretty good punk album, maybe didn't click with me in the same way as a lot of these 5* reviews. Solid 3*
Pretty good, liked the rockabilly influence. Can't say it stood out for me
An interesting sound, kinda pop punk B-52’s sounding to me. The once over twice was prob the best track. I’m surprised this group wasn’t more well known.
Decent album
I would put this in the category of tolerable punk, along the lines of the Clash. Not my favorite but I didn’t hate it. 3/5
I've only ever listened to "Los Angeles" by X and I'm kinda surprised this album is on the list instead of that one. I much prefer that album but this one is still pretty decent. It's not quite as punk as its predecessor. It has some nice tunes but nothing too crazy. I didn't mind this one :) Favorite track: Adult Books
It still sounds “fresh” and is inspiring and worth listening to. The lead singer's voice is also extremely pleasant. Wikipedia writes: „The Hot Chili Peppers song's lyrics mentioned X's John Doe specifically, "whose voice is made of gold".“
I like the songs with Exene at the forefront.
It's...fine? I definitely didn't NEED to listen to this.
I enjoyed it overall. Universal Cover is the clear banger out of the whole album.
As a fan of X, I'm not really sure why this album made it onto this list. It's really not great
I don't hate it, but it certainly comes off as generic garage rock/punk adjacent music. Some songs stood out, but overall pretty flat. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
Obviously, it's due to where I was born and raised, but I always find American Punk a bit tinny and less impressive than British Punk. This album is okay. It was funny to hear the little bit that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers took for Mother's Milk in there. It didn't grab me especially but I might revisit it.
Interested to read that bloke from The Doors produced them, didn’t grab me greatly but might revisit….
I wouldn't listen to it but it's good.
Solid punk album but kinda boring
Not Bad. Punk/Rock/80s vibe. Exactly as expected.
its fine, short, limited songs, cool chords punk things. favorite songs: some other time, second and third last ones overall around: 6/10
The lead singer is from Decatur! I feel I should misquote The Blues Brothers about Illinois Nazis/punk but in truth I neither love nor hate it…
没啥想法……？
Rating: 7/10 Very good and fun punk album. Enjoyed the interesting song structures, riffs, and male/female vocals.
An excellent example of early 80s LA punk with a hint of new wavyness.
Fun bops, good energy, and clear talent...but it still doesn't excite me for some reason 🤷♀️
this album is all over the place, but in a good way. punk, rock, and rockabilly all swirled together in a fantastic mix. some songs with the female singer reminded me a lot of blondie, actually. fun album.
This was alright,
The Once Over Twice 3.3 We're Desperate 3 Adult Books 3.2 Universal Corner 3.6 I'm Coming Over 3 It's Who You Know 3.3 In This House That I Call Home 3.2 Some Other Time 3.1 White Girl 3.7 Beyond and Back 3.1 Back 2 the Base 3.3 When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch 3.3 Year 1 3 Score: 3.238461538
Average album
400 albums. Wow. I'm running out of things to say about these milestones. Anyways, here's an album! I wasn't super excited for this, but I still kept an open mind. Fortunately, that payed off! I like this album. I don't love it, but I like it. I'll start with my biggest complaint about the band... the name. X? Seriously? Who named your band, Elon fucking Musk? I jest, of course. X is a punk band. These guys would hate Elon Musk (and rightfully so). While the writing on this album isn't overtly political, you can still feel the punk spirit at the core of this album. This isn't another Undertones situation we're dealing with here. I definitely wouldn't call this hardcore punk, but not everything has to be hardcore punk. There's definitely a slight ska influence, which seems to be a lot more common in punk than I once thought it was. The singing is fun. I like it. The sound is pretty good. I like the sound of other punk bands more, but that's just a personal preference. The tone of this album is very consistent, but because of the varied subject matter and the short album length, I wouldn't call this album repetitive. Overall, this is a solid punk album that I respect. It probably doesn't need to be here, but it also doesn't need to be removed. I'm okay with it being here. High 3/5.
en stark trea, gött punkigt men känns inte direkt som att jag måste höra det här innan jag dör.
Nothing bad about this. Some good ol' fashion rock and roll. like a dive bar band. a little rockabilly. Good garage punkness.
Fun stuff, but not exactly groundbreaking.
The kind of punk album I could've sworn I've already heard on this list.
Album 577 of 1001 X - Wild Gift (1981) Rating : 3 / 5 Nice album. Nice punk...maybe a bit of poppy punk....a little rockabilly thrown in here and there. A good find thanks to the list.
Decent album.
It certainly was
Not outstanding to me
This was a fun album that reminded me a lot of the White Stripes, with the exception of being nearly 30 years prior. It still had that post-punk edge mixed with New Wave flare. Universal Corner and Beyond & Back were key tracks.
I like this one more than I thought I would. It was way more pop and melodic tha. I expected. Punk always makes me think it will be noise but this was good. I’ve heard about X for so many years but never actually bothered to listen. I’m glad I did. This will not be in regular rotation but I’m glad I listened to it and would definitely listen again.
Punk legal!
It was ok.
There was a fantastic punk band in Sydney called X. I knew there was a US band with the same name, but have never listened to them. Now I have. Pretty good.
I can't see myself returning to this album any time soon, if ever again. But as unmemorable as it was, it was perfectly fine to listen to.
Punk for people who don't like punk?
Not as interesting musically as it is lyrically. Plain psychobilly that waits until the very last song to really engage you.
I wanted to like this so much more. Not bad, just not my thing. But hey, that's why I'm making my way through this list - to learn about music I wouldn't seek out on my own. For that, it's great!
I dig the unique sound of X. Every so often one of their songs surfaces in my consciousness and out comes their disk I own. I don't play them often, but never regret when I do.
Some great bass lines on this. Overall I liked this.
interessante, mas não parece nada demais, acho que foi mais por parecer The Distillers, então meio que veio primeiro mas sei lá o mesmo tempo
Thought I was gonna hate this at the start but actually got into it as it progressed
Good beats. Lazy singing but, it's fun to listen to this record.
After a while, this project can get a little flat. Great writing throughout, but never expanded upon. Vocals, instrumentation, and production are all fine. Mostly unimpressed, but definitely entertained. 3/5
Mid. Uninspiring
Meh. It's ok
3.5
High energy, very parquet courts
Tuneful enough at times, not enough for a return listen
Interesting alternative rock. I liked the tone of this album, it was fast and fun.
Not bad. Should it be on this list? Probably not