#320 X, 'Los Angeles' (1980)

Previously #287

I remember this one from last time for two reasons: 1. I had never heard of X before but loved the album and 2. The day I listened to it last time, the band actually happened to be playing at SXSW X at the very moment of that deadly, intentional car crash in 2014. This album is just outright punky fun from start to finish. It found an unlikely producer in the late Ray Manzarek, from The Doors, whose organ playing also features on the tracks ‘Nausea,’ ‘The Unheard Music’ and ‘The World’s A Mess; It’s In My Kiss.’

Though they achieved limited mainstream success, the band is considered one of the most influential punk groups of all time. But their sound transgresses punk. For example, if you told me that ‘The Unheard Music’ was, in fact, unheard music from Queens Of The Stone Age, I would absolutely believe you. ‘Johnny Hit and Run Paulene’ is reminiscent of Chuck Berry and its not the only one. There’s also an incredibly interesting cover of The Doors’ ‘Soul Kitchen’ on the album, especially considering the album was produced by one of its original members and songwriters. I hadn’t listened to this album again since March 2014, when I last listened to it, and I regret that, because I enjoyed it so much.

#rs500albums