X-Ray Spex is notable for a number of reasons. Chiefly, it was one of the very few bands UK punk bands with female members. One of the group's distinguishing characteristics is their decidedly un-punk use of saxophones. Most importantly, though, X-Ray Spex's first effort is actually a good record!
Fronted by Marion Elliot, who called herself Poly Styrene in those days, Spex managed to capture something that many punk rock bands missed. They always sounded like they were having a really great time. Many of the lyrics deal with appearance and perception ("Identity," "I Can't Do Anything," "I A ClichT"), and most are quite funny, sung in Elliot's proudly unschooled, nasal voice. The music is based on standard-issue buzzing punk guitar and propulsive drumming but also features Rudi Thompson's clever, aggressive sax. Though the CD mysteriously re-sequences the track listing of the original vinyl, it more than compensates by adding four bonus songs-including both sides of the band's brilliant debut single, "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" This album defines one glorious moment in a musical revolution and is required listening for anyone with an interest in punk.
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
MLP 6-Channel - 96 kHz - 24 bit
Liner Note Author: Kieron Tyler.
DVD Features:
X-Ray Spex: Poly-Styrene (vocals); Jak Airport (guitar); Rudi Thomson (saxophone); Paul Dean (bass); BP Hurding (drums).
X-Ray Spex: Poly Styrene (vocals); Jak Airport (guitar); Rudi Thomson (saxophone); Paul Dean (bass guitar); BP Hurding (drums).
Region 0
Audio:
Rolling Stone (10/31/02, p.140) - Ranked # 46 in Rolling Stone's "Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums" - "...Exciting..." Spin (5/01, p.108) - Ranked #5 in Spin's "50 Most Essential Punk Records" - "...No '77ers had more fun thrashing through pop culture's candy shop of horrors than these brace-faced, sax-strangling supergeeks..." Spin (p.108) - "[I]t's the roots of Sleater-Kinney, Le Tigre, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and an up-and-coming art-punk garage crew near you." Q (5/02 SE, p.144) - 3 stars out of 5 - Included in Q's "100 Best Punk Albums" - "...Inventive, humorous, fiesty and filler-free." Uncut (p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[T]he heat and intensity of this debut has never been repeated. Nearly 30 years after it was recorded, GERMFREE ADOLESCENTS is as timely as ever." Q (Magazine) (p.139) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t still comes up trumps, packed with such witty, no-nonsense rants as 'Warrior In Woolworths,' 'Identity' and 'The Day The World Turned Day-Glo'..." Mojo (Publisher) (3/03, p.76) - Ranked #19 in Mojo's "Top 50 Punk Albums" - "...Poly Styrene steered X-Ray Spex from market-stall chic to Top of the Pops with an audacious run of hits..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.131) - 4 stars out of 5 - "The band's entire studio output in just over an hour..." Record Collector (magazine) (p.96) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Punk credentials assured, the group relished messing with the genre's narrow musical template by adding atonal saxophone breaks from the delightfully-named 'Lora Logic' and the distorted guitar figures of 'Jak Airport.'"
Definitive Edition Expanded edition of the classic album featuring the original 12 tracks in the correct order (previous order was due to the limitations of the vinyl format when the album was first released), 4 bonus tracks, and 7 Peel session cuts, encompassing the band's entire recorded output up until Concious Consumer in 1996. Contains excellent remastered sound. This is the definitive edition of Germ Free Adolescents.
There are, however, some minor spelling issues with some of the song titles listed on the back insert. The content verifier at Sanctuary Records must have taken the day off when this album was produced, e.g. ("I Am Cliche," "Oh! Bondage Up Yours!," and "Warrior In Woolworth"). Minor issues to be sure, but annoying considering that this is the definitive edition of this album. In addition, I feel I must note that contrary to popular belief and the liner notes to this album, Poly Styrene's real name is Marianne Elliott-Said ("Said" being her married name), not Marion Elliot. She was born on July 3, 1957 in Bromley, a suburb of London, England.
Submitted by Jessica (The Woodlands, TX, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
THE Quintessential Punk Album Love the Ramones, X, Pistols, Iggy, NY Dolls, and Clash. But this one trumps them all! Every song is a gem, and they somehow blend the raw energy of punk with amazingly catchy tunes & sax riffs. This is one case where the total was far greater than the sum of its parts. EVERYBODY who is a fan of punk and/or rock & roll should really have this album! Submitted by Jason (New York, NY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
PUNK AT ITS ORIGINAL BEST Poly was a true Punk icon.This is still one of the best punk albums of all time. OH BONDAGE UP YOURS!!!!!!!!!!! Submitted by blackrockdublin (DUBLIN IRELAND) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
poly styrene ruled! great full-blooded vocals, great instrumentation, great songs...what more could anybody want? This from a 52 yr old posthumous fan
Marian Elliot where are you now? Submitted by ken (st. paul, MN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
x ray this is just pure heaven punk at its best NO SELF RESPECTING PUNK should be without it . Submitted by punky_paul2004 (colne lancashire england) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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