Los Angeles/Wild Gift

X

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2002)
• Original Release Date: September 20, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner/Reprise/Maverick
• ASIN: B00000E9OT
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #159,399 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Your Phone's off the Hook, But You're Not

2. Johny Hit and Run Pauline

3. Soul Kitchen

4. Nausea

5. Sugarlight

6. Los Angeles

7. Sex and Dying in High Society

8. Unheard Music

9. World's a Mess, It's in My Kiss

10. Once Over Twice

11. We're Desperate

12. Adult Books

13. Universal Corner

14. I'm Coming Over

15. It's Who You Know

16. In This House That I Call Home

17. Some Other Time

18. White Girl

19. Beyond and Back

20. Back 2 the Base

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As much as any group, X established punk as a coast-to-coast movement, and these two albums staked out the sunny West Coast as territory for the slash-and-burn set. Originally released as separate records in 1980 (Los Angeles) and '81 (Wild Gift), the first albums by X were distinctive statements that perfectly captured a time, a place, and an outsider perspective. Singers and songwriters John Doe and Exene Cervenka (then a married couple), flash guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer D.J. Bonebrake adapted the aggression and speed of Brit and East Coast punks to suit their own purposes. The likes of "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene," "The World's a Mess, It's in My Kiss" from the quartet's debut, and "White Girl" from the sophomore release captured the desperate ("get used to it!") mindset of pasty-white punks who inhabited the dark side of Hollywood. Literate, frenetic, and brutally honest, Los Angeles and Wild Gift stand as cornerstones in the history of punk, and, indeed, California rock & roll. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2 of the best albums of the century, January 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Los Angeles/Wild Gift (Audio CD)

It's hard to understand the greatness of X if you've only heard a little bit of their music. At the first few spins of this album, you fing it to be a simple garage rock band. But, that's part of what made them so famous. Their Chuck Berry licks, the working class poetry, it's almost folk music. But no, it's rock at it's best. The kind of music that fills you with passion because it was made with passion. Required music for any punk, poet, rock n roll fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An All-Time Classic, June 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Los Angeles/Wild Gift (Audio CD)

There is not a weak song on "Los Angeles," the high-energy, highly entertaining breakthrough album from X. The band tears through the songs like their life depended on it, infusing the music with a vigor and honesty that rocketed them to the top of the L.A. scene. This one will go down as a classic, alongside "Never Mind the Bullocks..." and "London Calling." "Wild Gift" is also quite good, although not as consistent as "Los Angeles." The 2-for-1 deal is unbeatable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1 of greatest Punk bands of all time / Energy music, April 1, 2004

By	N. Damiano "[e-mail]" (NH , CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Los Angeles/Wild Gift (Audio CD)

X is 1 of greatest punk bands ever god what raw energy they had. This album Los Angeles is so loud and fast it's amazing. Exene's voice resonates thru you she is such an influence on women singers today like Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Shirly Manson, Juliana Hatfield list goes on. John Doe's guitar riffs kick on this whole album. Stand out tracks are Los Angeles, Sex and Dying in High Society which is my fave on CD, Johny hit & run Paulene. But the whole CD rocks hard. The lyrics tell a tale of seedy LA in the 80's and punk music coming up in the clubs. Essential album to own if truly love real punk music.