Customer Reviews

Wild Gift

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although otherwise sophisticated and astoundingly knowledgeable on matters of music, most people I know in this corner of Europe have never even heard of X, to say nothing of being familiar with any of their albums or songs (many were also surprised by the fact that ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek acted as producer for a punk band). So I was only too happy to shell out the shipping costs to order this CD (all my cassettes long since lost or permanently `borrowed') to enlighten friends, acquaintances and other music lovers. "Wild Gift" is probably the most standard X album, and the bonus tracks on this edition are a really good supplement to the original tracks. Although not as hardcore as other U.S. punk legends like the Ramones or Dead Kennedys, X's early works from the late `70s and early `80s still sound fresh and relevant.

This is my favorite X album. Every song is perfect, or very near close to being perfect! Great lyrics, great music! This has many of the best songs X ever wrote, including "The Once Over Twice", "White Girl", "In This House That I Call Home", ect. I notice some of the x-tra songs have already been included on the X anthology. X were the best American punk band, ever. A punk band that managed to pull off being romantic and poetic. But never cheesy.

If the chaotic howl of LOS ANGELES was up your alley then you're sure to get some more kicks from WILD GIFT. Again, the legendary L.A. punks plod along like wild stallions with their patented formula of dissonant harmony, hit and run rockabilly guitar-slinging, and a rockbed of unbridled rhythm. The approach remains much the same with the exception of a few new tricks such as the cha-cha-ish "Adult Books," which remains an X classic. Other standouts include the riotous "We're Desperate," the sexy chug of "Universal Corner," and the lightning strike that is "Beyond and Back." This re-packaged edition comes complete with some incendiary live performances and some exciting, though decidedly rough, demo takes. A notable bonus is the album booklet with an insightful essay, track analysis, and nifty photos. While WILD GIFT does not have quite the impact of the seminal LOS ANGELES, it still delivers a ferocious punch and proves to be equally unbridled and nearly as essential.

Another ace 2001 reissue from long-lost El Lay lovers John Doe and Exene Cervenka, who catalog the travails of sex and dying in high society with wit, wisdom and a tragic desperation that mixes up the Doors, rockabilly riffs and locomotive-breath rhythmic propulsion to make their music eminently go bang, as well as squish, groan and scream. When it comes to raunchy romantic relationships, "The Once Over Twice," "White Girl," "Adult Books" and "When Our Love Passed Out On The Couch" are as seminal as they (er) come.

X is one of the great underappreciated bands of all time. Seeing as this is their best album, means that Wild Gift is one of the most underappreciated albums of all time. I discovered X in 1985, 4 years after this album came out. In the past 16 years this album has comforted me through break ups, unrequited love, hardtimes, and hangovers. Exene's film noir gone bad persona, John Doe's everyman charisma, and Billy Zoom just being one of the coolest dudes alive gave X the best front line in the business. Every track is excellent, but pay extra attention to "In This House That I Call Home," "Were Desperate," "White Girl," "When our Love Passed out on the Couch," and "Year 1." The remastered tracks are excellent, they are heads above the "Los Angeles/Wild Gift" CD that Slash put out years ago. A rock legend like Ray Manzerek believed in X years ago, any lover of rock music/poetry/American lives would be wise to do the same.

Emerging out of the early 80's punk scene X was much more talented then their punk brethren. Poet Exene Cervenka and John Doe's slightly off key harmonies somehow add the missing ingredient into the mixture of pop punk and pure rock and roll. Similarities to Beefheart and the Ramones cannot go unnoticed, but with lyrics like "I'll replace your drunk old man" (White Girl) it's suffice to say they have lyrically matured from the first album. "When Our Love Passed Out On The Couch" exemplifies what everyone has felt when a relationship goes sour. Get out your Docs and skank around the couch as the neighbors downstairs call the cops.

One of the biggest impressions I got from this album on first hearing is that it's much sadder than their debut. One quick comparison of the dangerhouse/rough mix of Adult Books on LA and the album release on Wild Gift will bear this out. However, John Doe's bouncy bass lines (In This House That I Call Home) nicely balance out some of the more down songs. and Exene and John's harmonies are too die for. is there any band better than X at mixing rockabilly, punk and country? I don't think so.

The rallying cry for early 80s youth who started the decade with new music, new clothes, new ideas and much hope, only to be quickly silenced by Reagan's America. It's still a breath of fresh air 20 years later and without fail draws a "Wow - Who IS this?", form all the wee punks and punkettes of today.

Viva La Revolucion!

THIS was the Years "BEST" by Time Magazine! TRULY a great American Music milestone. The "USA version of London Calling".
These kids were ORIGINAL as hell. Never matched and still refreshing to hear. 5 stars. White Girl, Adult Books are standouts.

I bought this on vinyl back in the early 80's when I was a restless teenager growing up in the burbs of B'ham, AL. Being a skateboarder and reading about the goings on with regards to the LA punk scene in Skateboarder magazine I was curious enough to seek this album out. Fortunately we had a great record shop (Charlemagne Record Exchange) to find such gems. This was an instant hit with me and some of my friends, and to this day something I still listen to on occasion.

The great thing about this album is that it really defies labels. Sure, there are some flat out punk songs on the album, but in the end it's an album of just great, original rock and roll. While the previous album Los Angeles had some great material, this album really began to show the depth of the band's talents, and the great combination of voices between John Doe and Exene. Billy Zoom is still one of the greatest guitarists I've ever seen play live and he shines on this album throughout. Better yet, for a kid growing up in Birmingham, the lyrical storytelling really gave the feeling of being there, of what it was like living in the seemy underbelly of the LA punk scene. Great stuff. Get it.