Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who ??...., July 26, 2002
We thank the stars, cosmos, planets, moon tides...whatever it was that pushed these four weird people together at that time, and made them produce such crystal-clear genius. If I had to list my 10 fave albums of all time, this would be one of them. It still makes me shake my head in wonder that their collaboration created these songs, this sound, each member true to the sounds in their head, all blended together to make magic happen. They are all incredible musicians, and Exene's poetic lyrics are unique unto themselves. Standing there, in her farmer lady's dress and June Cleaver apron, screaming out her lyrics, sometimes making sounds that make Janis Joplin sound like Laura Nyro. They certainly are not for everyone, just for those lucky enough to "get it." They go from hard-core driving beat,("Because I Do", "Real Child Of Hell") to rockabilly gone haywire, to Mexicali ("Dancing With Tears In My Eyes"), to gut wrenching letters from lonely souls (Come Back To Me"), to drunken anthems ("The Have Nots")...and other songs, that can't be put under any category...all having un-equaled potency. Every time I play "The Hungry Wolf", I am eXhilerated, and left spent, and in awe. John Doe's and Exene's eerie harmonies, her poetry, Billy Zoom's relentless and skillfull guitar, D.J. Bonebreaks innovative, to -the -front pounding drums, they all came together at that little moment in time to create a perfect result. I am not necessarily recommending this to the same people that I'd recommend Judy Garland or Billie Holliday to,(both of whom I also love) you may HATE this band, and have a heart attack in the process. That's o.k. I, and many others, still consider them simply one of the best bands ever, you can list all their ingredients and analyze them to death...they remain an enigma. But, what pleasure they bring. I don't mind growing old, as long as I can still hear their songs.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Punk rock that will make you cry, June 24, 2003
I bought a copy of X's first two albums and absolutely could not figure out what all the hype was about. The lyrics were pretentious, Doe and Cervenka's dual vocals were annoying, and worst of all, for a punk band, X's songs simply lacked the impact of artists like Sex Pistols and Avengers. On Under the Big Black Sun, however, it all came together. A stack of ace tunes, Billy Zoom's rocket-fueled guitar playing, and an emotional urgency (clearly influenced by the death of Exene's sister) left unheard before. This is the sound of the "live fast die young" kids facing adulthood head on and finding out they ain't so tough afterall. X's best record.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply put, a rock'n'roll classic!, May 3, 2004
I recently bought this on CD after having not listened to the LP for a long, long time. I had forgotten what a wonderful record it is--the lyrics, the songs, instrumental prowess, production it's ALL here. Heartbreakingly beautiful (especially the songs that allude to the death of Exene's sister), yet raw, the album achieves a perfect balance. Whenever you have trouble remembering just what exactly the difference is between pop and rock'n'roll, just put this one on. It's rock'n'roll, the real deal. Great remastering, and cool bonus tracks--especially the fierce live rendition of "How I Learned My Lesson"--mercy!!
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John Doe shares his favorite music with Amazon customers. See all artists' picks on our Music You Should Hear page.
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