X Wild Gift CD

On X's sophomore effort, 1981's WILD GIFT, the quartet made a conscious effort to solidify their songwriting and sound. While some of the jagged edges have been smoothed out, compared to their rough-and-ready debut, LOS ANGELES, there is still plenty of punk rock energy and attitude to go around. Once again, former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek is on board as producer, and the results are just as impressive. The obvious standout is "White Girl," a punk pop ditty that foreshadowed such later bands as the Pixies and Nirvana, and would have been a smash hit in a perfect world. Also included are such subsequent X standards as "We're Desperate," "In This House That I Call Home," and the rockabilly rocker "Beyond and Back" (which would later serve as a title track for a double-disc 1997 anthology of the band). The 2001 Rhino Records reissue contains seven bonus tracks, including a demo take of "Blue Spark" (which would be recut for their third album, UNDER THE BIG BLACK SUN) and a single mix of the aforementioned gem, "White Girl."

Like Rhino's 2001 reissue of the Ramones' Leave Home, which offered more bonus material than the group's debut, the label's 2001 expanded reissue of X's second album, Wild Gift, offers more (and more interesting) bonus tracks than Los Angeles. Of course, Wild Gift isn't the dip in quality that Leave Home was -- it's the equal of Los Angeles, only with a wider stylistic reach -- so it doesn't need the added enticement that Leave Home did, but the addition of single versions of "We're Desperate" and "White Girl," live versions of "Beyond and Back" and "Back 2 the Base," a hot rehearsal version of "Heater," an early demo of "Blue Spark," and the previously unissued single mix of "The Once Over Twice" are all nice extras. These, along with Kristine McKenna's liner notes, enhance an already terrific album in yet another excellent punk-era reissue from Rhino. With the X, Ramones, and Elvis Costello reissues, as well as the Echo & the Bunnymen box, the label has started exploring an area of rock in desperate need of deluxe reissues of this sort, and they're doing their best work in years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Wild Gift gathers the complete original Slash album plus 7 additional recordings, including a previously unreleased demo of 'Blue Spark', 'We're Desperate' (Single Version), 'Heater' (Rehearsal), 'White Girl' (Single Mix) and live versions of 'Beyond And Back' and 'Back 2 The Base' This Rhino Records reissue also includes a deluxe 20-page booklet with brand new liner notes, rare photos and song lyrics.

Available with LOS ANGELES on 1 CD.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Recorded at Clover Recorders, Hollywood, California in March 1981. Originally released on Slash (107). Includes liner notes by Kristine McKenna.

X: John Doe (vocals, bass); Exene Cervenka (vocals); Billy Zoom (guitar); D.J. Bonebrake (drums).

Personnel: John Doe (vocals); Billy Zoom (guitar); D.J. Bonebrake (drums).

Audio Mixer: Patrick Burnette.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Recording information: Clover Recorders, Hollywood, CA (1977-1981); Club 88, Los Angles, CA (1977-1981); Golden Sound Studio, Hollywood, CA (1977-1981); Hound Dog Studios (1977-1981); The Bacchanal, San Diego, CA (1977-1981); X's Garage, Los Angles, CA (1977-1981).Rolling Stone (10/31/02, p.136) - Ranked # 33 in Rolling Stone's "Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums"
Rolling Stone (2/20/03, p.67) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...A blast of L.A. guitar thrash that changed the emotional language of punk rock..."
Entertainment Weekly (9/28/01, p.75) - "...Refines the punkabilly formula, but with sturdier melodies..." - Rating: A
Q (11/01, p.146) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...A sequel to their debut with better songwriting..."
CMJ (1/5/04, p.8) - Ranked #20 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1981"
No Depression (11-12/01, p.108) - "...An embarrassment of aural pleasures and surprises....an essential punk rock touchstone."