I love X. I just had to get that out there so you know where I’m coming from as you read this. They never really “hit” big time, but they were such an integral part of the L.A. punk scene of the late 70s/early 80s that despite the fact that they only have a handful of studio albums (three of them classics in their own right), X made such an impression on a diverse group of musicians that it will probably be just a matter of time before they regroup, record, and embark on a world tour so aging X’ers (that’s Gen X’ers) can slam dance like it was 1980 all over again.
Like I said before, their first three albums are classics. Los Angeles, Wild Gift, and Under the Big Black Sun should be on your “Must Have” list when fattening out your punk/post-punk collection. In some ways, X were a little too melodic to be considered punk. But their attitude, semi-political jabs and furious playing certainly reflected the punk vibe of the ’70s which X carried over into the ’80s.
“Los Angeles” is a disturbing song about intolerance and feeling like the entire city and all of its inhabitants are just shit and you can’t control any of the changes going on around you. It can be easy to infer that the members of X are an intolerant lot with lyrics like this:
She, had to leave
Los Angeles
All her toys wore out in black and her boys had too
She started to hate every Nigger and Jew
Every Mexican that gave her lotta shit
Every homosexual and the idle rich
Idle rich
She had to get out, get out
Get out, get out
Get out, get outShe gets confused
Flying over the dateline her hands turn red
Cause the days change at night
Change in an instant
The days change at night
Change in an instant
If this is the only song you hear from the band, you’ll probably write them off as white pride racist assholes. Many times the ugliness of epithets can make it hard to see other meanings in the lyrics, but because I’ve listened to far more X than this song, my reading of it is more about the last vestiges of intolerant L.A. who had come to hate all the demographic changes in the city.
I know, you’re probably saying to yourself, “That’s way too much analysis for a punk song.” Maybe. But the songwriting team of Exene Cervenka, and John Doe were no slouches when it came to penning compact, yet potent songs about the human condition:
Sadly, X’s energy and anger at the world had a short life span. By the time they recorded More Fun in the New World, they were able to get off a few zingers at the Reagan administration in “The New World.”
But what they lacked in political punch, they made up for in some powerful music, like “Devil Doll.”
… and a song whose main riff sounds like “Long Train Runnin'” by the Doobie Brothers in “True Love, Part 2:
Things started to slide downhill after 1985 when they tried to cross over from their cow punk roots to a more mainstream sound. Ain’t Love Grand (1985) and See How We Are (1987) were very uneven and somewhat boring records that gave off a big stench of “Sell out.” Guitarist Billy Zoom couldn’t take the odor and left the band in 1986. And things really started to go south when X’s cover of “Wild Thing” was featured in the film and soundtrack to Major League.
By the time the group reformed in the early ’90s to record Hey Zeus, the fire was kinda-sorta there for songs like “Arms for Hostages” and “Country at War”
But to truly hear the fire and fury of what made X a great American band, go forth and buy the first three (or four) CDs and you’ll hear the magic!
17 thoughts on “Then and Now(ish): X”
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X was a super band. “hey baby, it’s the 4th of July.” Oh, does that crank in the summertime. Thanks
I haven’t listened to them, till now, that is:)
One of the good things about singing along with X is that it doesn’t matter if you’re out of tune because Exene often is.
I was lucky enough to see X in concert here, and man, did they rock! They are another band that is much, much better live than on an album. I started liking them a lot after that performance.
Did you know Exene used to be married to the guy on Lord of the Rings? For some reason, I can’t remember his name, but the one who gets to be King in the end.
Cannot say I ever heard of this group, but thanks for the informational tour of this group.I can always count on you to introduce various talents I haven’t heard of so they are new to me. I wanted to say New talents, but had to explain the new part first.
I haven’t heard of these guys before. I’ll give it a listen though! 🙂
I also saw X, way back when…they opened for David Bowie. They were pretty good, but I was impatient to see Bowie, and didn’t know their music, so I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have.
re: Gina
Yes, Exene was married to Viggo Mortensen. Their son, Henry, was a major supporter of Viggo playing Aragorn and encouraged him to play the part. Henry even has a brief cameo in The Two Towers.
X is incredible. “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts” and “White Girl” are some of my favorites.
X have been reunited for a while and toured the US last summer with their original line-up. I don’t think they have any upcoming dates scheduled, but I’d guess they’ll be back this summer either as X or as the Knitters. X only does songs from the first four albums, while the Knitters released new material about a year and half ago (including some X covers). Los Angeles was written about Exene’s roommate who really did leave Los Angeles and hated “every nigger and Jew” etc.
PT: Thanks for the X update. I didn’t know about Exene’s roomate being intolerant one, but I think you can easily extend those feelings to a larger level among many people who become ugly beasts in their hatred for others.
It’s nice to see some love for one of my all-time favorite bands on here. I have to add a few points, however:
1) I actually like Ain’t Love Grand. Because of the production, it’s nowhere near the record of the 1st 4, but compositionally and lyrically it’s really great as it directly addresses John and Exene’s divorce on record much like their previous records (esp. Wild Gift and Under the Big Black Sun) addressed their marriage. I’m with you on See How You Are, though. It has a few great songs like the title track, “4th of July” and a few others, but overall it’s a real mixed bag and an uneven listen.
2) I’ve also seen the reunited X (who have been playing live since 1999) several times in the last few years and they’re absolutely incredible live. They play mostly on the West Coast and not that often, but if you ever get a chance to see them, go! If you click on the link to my blog, you’ll see that I reviewed both of the shows that I attended.
3) Exene also plays in a band called Exene Cervenka & The Original Sinners with her husband Jason Edge. I saw them here in Philadelphia a few months ago and they were great as well. Their most recent album Sev7en is a real corker, too, and very reminscent of the early X albums.
4) Fay Hart is the name of Exene’s then roommate (i.e. the person who “Los Angeles” is about). She was known as Farrah Fawcett Minor in the LA punk scene and was also dating (or perhaps married to) Steve Nieve, the keyboardist for Elvis Costello and the Attractions. I believe she was also in the car accident chronicled in the X song “Riding with Mary” (which is about the death of Exene’s sister in said accident) along with Nieve.
I actually picked up on X right around “See How We Are” and loved 4th of July and See How We Are, then went backwards from there.
I can’t think about “Los Angeles” without thinking of the incendiary (literally!) album cover. If that doesn’t give you an idea of what you’re in store for…
Thanks for the post!
Great idea for an entry! X was great. “Burning House of Love” is one of my all-time favorite songs. Exene is still out in Los Angeles. Last time I saw her name in the news, she was debuting a show of her work at a local art gallery.
Matt: Thanks for the info! The story behind the song “Los Angeles” has some serious punk gossip behind it. I kept wondering who “she” was in the lyrics. I took it to be less of a personal thing and more of a large-scale slam. I see that I was wrong.
Steve: It’s interesting that you started with their weakest CD. But “4th of July” is a great song, so I can see how you got hooked.
Elaine: I like “Burning House of Love,” too. However, the rest of the CD was hit and miss for me. “What’s Wrong With Me” sounds like X of the earlier albums, but many of the other songs lacked that “punch” I had come to expect from the group.
Just for a point of reference, The version of “4th of July” was written by a gent named Dave Alvin from a band from the same era and scene The Blasters. Worth checking out as well.
Actually Exene and Jason now live in Iowa, at least according to Exene’s IMDB bio. Regardless, I saw the same show you mention at another gallery in New York that also produced it. This was in December 2005 or January 2006 if I remember correctly.