Los Angeles (Expanded & Remastered)

John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake were critical and popular heroes on the bristling LA club scene of the late '70s to early '80s. With X, the four took a hardcore approach that combined traditional blues, folk, country, rockabilly, and punk rock with a dark lyrical sensibility that reflected the cynical times. X came up from the LA underground and built a dedicated West Coast following. Among the band's biggest early fans was ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who produced X's acclaimed first album, Los Angeles, for the fledgling local label Slash. After 1981's equally praised Wild Gift, X signed a major-label deal with Elektra, which would release 1982's Under The Big Black Sun and their next four albums - each a raging slab of musical invention that would help sow the seeds of the "alternative" revolution. Produced by The Doors' Ray Manzarek, Los Angeles, X's groundbreaking debut, was all about capturing the spirit of the band's explosive live show. It's among the most influential punk albums of all time - now expanded with five bonus tracks, including unreleased demos and alternate versions. Deluxe booklet includes liner notes, band commentary, photos, memorabilia, and lyrics. Steeped in poetry and class issues, X was the first L.A. punk band to fully incorporate a dark West Coast sensibility. Singer/lyricists/spouses John Doe and Exene Cervenka forged a stray-cat approach to vocal harmonies while spieling reports on crash-pad sex and drugs, casual hatred, and the occasional spotting of the "idle rich." Full-powered and intelligent, X's sound also spotlighted Billy Zoom, a pompadoured guitarist schooled by Gene Vincent, and flexible drummer D.J. Bonebrake. Los Angeles, the first of four productions by ex-Door Ray Manzarek, made an excellent case for the group, though its ambitions were to be quickly outstripped by the evolving personal takes of Doe and Cervenka. For the most part, the album is fast, hard, and fleet, like the motorcycles Zoom loved: "Your Phone's Off the Hook," "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline," the title track, and a Ramones-style cover of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen" are touchstones that reach beyond their era. Only "The Unheard Music," a turgid bit of suburbia-bashing, mars the original LP, which is augmented on this reissue by five bonus tracks that bring the running time close to 40 minutes. --Rickey Wright

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