If I was to buy one X album, which should it be??

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Los Angeles??
Under the big black sun ??

― yaeger, Friday, 24 October 2003 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

First two albums now reside on the same cd. Get that.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Aspirations, definitely

― Sasha (sgh), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, the first two are no longer available as one cd, since their albums were remastered a couple years ago. I used to prefer the first two albums, but for the past year or so, I mostly just listen to Under the Big Black Sun. I think it's their one album that never sounds dated.

― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

The LA/Wild Gift combo CD hasn't been in print for a long time. Rhino reissued LA, Wild Gift and Under the Big Black Sun last year, much better than the old CDs.

I'd rank them:
Wild Gift (Adult Books, The Once Over Twice, We're Desperate, In This House That I Call Home, White Girl, Beyond and Back - really just classic all the way through)
neck and neck with
Los Angeles (Sex and Dying in High Society, Your Phone's Off The Hook But You're Not, Nausea, Los Angeles, The Unheard Music, The World's A Mess, It's In My Kiss)
then
Under the Big Black Sun
then, way below that,
everything else
But, looking at that now, I can't imagine having Wild Gift or Los Angeles without having the other. Spring for the extra $14, you won't regret it.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Fine, get the LA/Wild Gift one at an used store near you.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:46 (twenty-two years ago)

You really can't go wrong picking Wild Gift, Los Angeles or Under the Big Black Sun. If you get one, you'll probably end up getting them all.

But I would advise getting the Rhino versions. They just sound better. I traded back my Wild Gift/Los Angeles combo as soon as I heard the Rhine Versions.

― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Los Angeles remaster with GREAT extraaas!

― adaml (adaml), Friday, 24 October 2003 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Aspirations seconded.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Friday, 24 October 2003 01:18 (twenty-two years ago)

typical aussies

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 24 October 2003 03:10 (twenty-two years ago)

It must be said that the Australian X shits all over the U.S. one.

― Sasha (sgh), Friday, 24 October 2003 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

true

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 24 October 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Lies.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 24 October 2003 05:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard the Australian X, but the US X was indeed a very fine and unique band with real personalities singing and playing (does that make sense?) Once one of my very favorite bands, now seldom-played but always cherished. Like most great bands, they were truly more than the sum of their parts. All the members were worthy individuals, but as a band were (dare I say) magic. Under the Big Black Sun is the greatest for me, but Los Angeles is a very close runner-up. All the records have something to recommend them. Yeah pretentious poetry, out of tune vocals, rockabilly retread guitar licks... I don't even know what else or yes I do but why bother making a list... they're great, truly great. Please do buy Under the Big Black Sun.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 24 October 2003 07:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually I meant to say Wild Gift is my second fave but it's almost a toss-up.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 24 October 2003 07:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, babe - the Aussie X was great. "I Don't Wanna go Out" = one of the classic punk tunes. I've got an original of Aspirations which has the Lennon cover which I don't think made it to the AmRep reish for some reason. Anyway, those guys ruled. At Home With You was prolly the best.

the LA X, well.. - unbelievably classic. I haven't heard the reissues, but I've had the Los Angeles / Wild Gift two-fer for years and I've never been much of an audiophile. I can't really justify re-buying the two CD's.....

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 24 October 2003 07:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I'd go with At Home With you.

― mentalist (mentalist), Friday, 24 October 2003 07:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Saw and X reunion show in Boston a few years back, not expecting much at all. They blew me away, and I had forgotten how many of their songs I loved.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Friday, 24 October 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

will no one stand up
for more fun in the new world?
ludicr(o)usly great

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Wild Gift would be my pick as well (need to get that Rhino remaster - I have the LA/WG double CD still).

xpost - I was surprised that people aren't rating More Fun in the New World higher too. It's a pretty decent album - and "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" is pretty darned essential.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

All of the first four X albums Los Angeles through More Fun In The New World are essential.

And why isn't The Unheard Music on DVD?

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

1st 3 albums

― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 25 October 2003 23:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I have Wild Gift and LA... it's close but I prefer Wild Gift, it has 'Adult Books' on it!

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 26 October 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

fuckin' a, I really can't decide which X album I'd vote for. I have the first 3 and why I like all of them there's none that I really flat-out love. Wild Gift is arguably the most consistent but LA has more anthems that matter to me, and Under The Big Black Sun just SOUNDS cooler to me a bit. I'd probably say Los Angeles though. Might as well start with the first.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 26 October 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

seven years pass...

It's the 30th anniversary of Los Angeles so they're doing a couple of "we're playing the complete album" shows this week.

Next to the Spacemen 3 axis, I've seen X more than any other band and even now I can't wait to see them again.

― Stockhausen's Ekranoplan Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Thursday, 16 December 2010 20:59 (fifteen years ago)

Wild Gift is the Great Album, but Under the Black Sun is so much fun -- sin and death!

― Gus Van Sotosyn (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 December 2010 21:00 (fifteen years ago)

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