X - The Best: Make The Music Go Bang! '2004

Tracks list

 There are generally two schools of thought on assembling a career-spanning
anthology of a musician of consequence -- you can compile a fan-oriented set
that loads up all manner of rare and unreleased tracks alongside the acts
better-known material, or go for an album designed for newcomers and dabblers
that presents an efficient one-stop overview of their best work. Since X,
arguably the best band to emerge from L.A.s punk scene (no small statement given
how good many of their contemporaries were), have already spawned a truly
inspired fan-friendly double-disc compilation, Beyond & Back: The X Anthology,
The Best: Make the Music Go Bang reasonably goes in the opposite direction.
Boasting no unreleased material (though a few cuts are hard to come by these
days), this two-disc package instead offers a healthy representation of Xs seven
studio albums and their 1988 live set (though oddly, the 1995 semi-acoustic disc
Unclogged doesnt make the cut). Compiled by bassist, vocalist, and songwriter
John Doe, The Best: Make the Music Go Bang just skims the high points from Xs
catalog, but oh what high points they are -- disc one culls the gems from the
bands first four albums (Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, and
More Fun in the New World), and its a stunning reminder of why this band was so
important, with Billy Zooms roots-thrash guitar lines, John Doe and D.J.
Bonebrakes precise but furious rhythms, and the hot and sour harmonies of Doe
and Exene Cervenka sounding as potent today as they did in 1980. Disc two covers
the more underappreciated Aint Love Grand, See How We Are, and Hey Zeus!, as
well as the live set Live at the Whisky a Go-Go on the Fabulous Sunset Strip and
the sole album from Doe, Cervenka, and Bonebrakes country-leaning side project,
the Knitters. While its not hard to understand why these albums have never been
as popular with the groups fans, the selections here make a good case for the
continued strength of the bands work, especially on the post-Zoom See How We
Are, and if youre willing to listen past the obnoxious over-production of the
Aint Love Grand cuts, youll discover that the songs are great and Doe and
Cervenka are in excellent voice. At over two and a half hours, The Best: Make
the Music Go Bang is an intensive introduction to this band whose bulk might
scare off casual observers, and loyal fans will already have nearly everything
here (beyond some rare single sides). But if you want a thorough tutorial in a
truly remarkable band and a solid dose of quality listening, this more than
fills the order, and anyone who hasnt heard X is advised to give this a spin as
soon (and as loud) as possible.
:: TRACKLIST ::

Disc 1
1. X – Adult Books (Single Version)
2. X – Were Desperate (Single Version)
3. X – Los Angeles
4. X – Your Phones Off The Hokk. But Youre Not
5. X – Johnny Hit And Run Paulene
6. X – Soul Kitchen
7. X – The Worlds A Mess: Its In My Kiss
8. X – The Unheard Music
9. X – White Girl (Single Mix)
10. X – The Once Over Twice
11. X – Universal Corner
12. X – Some Other Time
13. X – In This House That I Call Home
14. X – Beyond And Back (Live 1980)
15. X – Riding With Mary (Single Version)
16. X – The Hungry Wolf
17. X – Motel Room In My Bed
18. X – Blue Spark
19. X – The Have Knots
20. X – Under The Big Black Sun
21. X – The New World
22. X – Breathless
23. X – Were Having Much More Fun
24. X – True Love
25. X – I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts

Disc 2
1. X – Wild Thing (7 Single Edit)
2. X – Poor Girl
3. The Knitters – The Call Of The Wreckin Ball
4. The Knitters – Someone Like You
5. X – Whats Wrong With Me...
6. X – Burning House Of Love
7. X – My Goodness
8. X – 4th Of July
9. X – You
10. X – When It Rains...
11. X – Surprise Surprise
12. X – Im Lost
13. X – See How We Are
14. X – Skin Deep Town (Live 1987)
15. X – Around My Heart (Live 1987)
16. X – Just Another Perfect Day (1987)
17. X – Devil Doll (1987)
18. X – Big Blue House
19. X – Clean Like Tomorrow
20. X – Country At War
21. X – New Life

Remastering: Dan Hersch at Digiprep

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