X (the band) appreciation post

[vi5]

God, I loved this band. To this day listening to them makes me want to pack a bag, grab my wife and have the two of us just drive out west. The interplay between John Doe and Exene's voices never fails to move me. Even the album everyone always dismisses (Ain't Love Grand) has some of their best work on it.

Any other fans out there in DU land?

[jonnyblitz]

1. yup

particulary their first, los angeles. johnny hit and run pauline, soul kitchen (doors cover), etc. etc. etc

[GOPisEvil]

2. I saw them live about 18 months ago.

That was one rockin' show! :thumbsup:

[mac56]

3. Love 'em.

"See How We Are", reputedly not one of their strongest albums, was a mainstay for me for quite a long time.

[NashVegas]

4. Best Rock and Roll Band in America

IMNSHO

[Brotherjohn]

5. X was one of the best.

Ditto about Doe and Exene's vocal interplay.

Also about "See How We Are". Saw them live in about 1990, around the time of that album. One of my favorites, too, despite that it was their "slick" MTV album.

"I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" is one of the most musically powerful, and socially relevant, punk songs ever. "More Fun in the New World" is another one of their many great albums.

[NashVegas]

6. See How We Are

I remember seeing them open for Warren Zevon on that tour. Exene was heavy with (Viggo Mortensen's?) child. They were brilliant like diamonds and I felt sorry for Zevon, to have to go on after them.

[Bridget Burke]

7. I really tried to like "X"

Hip credentials, etc. But the John Doe/Exene vocal harmonies always reminded me of "It's a Beautiful Day"--one of my least favorite from hippy days. Just a personal thing--they were an important band & I've enjoyed many of their side projects.

And what's this about Exene suing Viggo for more child support?

[Brotherjohn]

8. Thanks for the musical education. Went online & found "It's a Beautiful..

... Day". Any band from the late 60s that might be compared to X was worth a listen.

I see how you could hear a similarity in both the male and female vocals, and in their interplay. Exene's voice was similar to the IABD girl, and John Doe's is a similar deep voice to the IABD guy.

Of course, IABD sounded much more "of the time", much much more "hippy"... ethereal, kind of pretentious sounding at first listen. To me, the overall sound of X is very different: much more energetic, guitar-based, well... "punk".

You had IABD already programmed in your head, so that was the frame of reference to which X got stuck (sorry for them). I had never heard IABD, but was listening to the Minutemen / Black Flag and such, and then discover X, and that's the frame of reference I put them in.

I never realized until I met my wife (who liked much of the exact same obscure punk & indie music as me 15 years before we met) how two people can listen to the same music and hear something completely different. That phenomenon really opened my eyes about perception and appreciating different opinions... particularly about music, but also about everything.

(THREAD HIJACK OVER)

[catzies]

17. Yeah she is. Saw that in a gossip column.

I didn't think they were one of those bickering ex-families but you never know.

She brought Henry to the Tower Records on Sunset for the CD signing of the Beyond & Back Anthology a few years ago. He looks just like his mom.

I've always harbored a longing to be loved, just once, the way John loved Exene. Man, you could just feel it when you were near them.

Been to many an X show, in as many different California towns as I could. I've seen them more often than I've seen any other band.

[electricmonk]

9. Big fan

Los Angeles was the first punk record I ever bought back in 1980. My life hasn't been the same since. 39 years old now and punk rock still rules my life.

[geniph]

10. Saw 'em twice back in the 80's

they kicked ass. Blue Spark is still one of my favorite tunes.

[commander bunnypants]

11. yep

never saw em live though

DDQM

[commander bunnypants]

12. yep

never saw em live though

DDQM

[tigereye]

13. one of my favorite shows from the 80s

and probably the loudest show!

They were and are? a great band. I love Exene. So does X still tour? I did see John Doe solo once and was not as impressed.

[SnohoDem]

14. Loved 'em

Still do. Just ripped the live album the other day so I can listen to it in my office without having to go find the CD.

[Beaverhausen]

15. Hey Baby...it's the fourth of July! n/t

[flamingyouth]

16. I love X

"Los Angeles" is one of my all-time favorite albums. I saw them back at the old Music Hall in Seattle - with the Dickies opening for them! It was a great show!

Exene had a pretty cool shop on Sunset for a while. I was called You've Got Bad Taste, and it was perhaps a self-fulfilling prophecy, as it did not last, sadly.:hi: