What's New

Artists A-C

Artists D-F

Artists G-I

Artists J-L

Artists M-O

Artists P-R

Artists S-U

Artists V-Z

Various - ...King Funk

Various - Stax of Funk

White Stripes - White Blood Cells

Shannon Wright - Flightsafety

X - Los Angeles

X - Wild Gift

ALBUM REVIEWS

Pick of the Chick: Our Favorite Releases, 1999-Present

X
LOS ANGELES (REISSUE)
RHINO

Originally released in 1980, X's Los Angeles is required listening for enthusiasts of American punk rock.  On tracks like "Your Phone's Off The Hook, But You're Not," the band combines elements of rockabilly with punk to create a totally new sound.  The album's subject matter can be a bit explicit (e.g., "Los Angeles") and even disturbing (e.g., "Johny Hit And Run Paulene," "Nausea"), but these elements give the songs a heavy dose of reality (and credibility).  On a lighter note, the album was produced by Ray Manzarek of the Doors, and X pulls off a great cover of the Door's "Soul Kitchen."  Rhino has reissued the album with several bonus tracks that were not available on previous releases.

PIGEONHOLE: Required listening for enthusiasts of American punk rock.
CAVEATS: Those who own the Slash reissue of this album, which also includes Wild Gift, may not want to shell out the money just to get the new bonus tracks.

Andrew Helminger

listen to samples