x - los angeles
"rhino/wea", 1980
Though not as ferocious or hard-hitting as the hardcore punk movement that would follow a year or two later, X's Los Angeles features something that maybe some punk bands do not recall: great songwriting. John Doe and Exene Cervenka make quite the songwriting team, with each other's voice and instruments coalescing in songs. The album has an immaculate flow and makes for a smooth late night listen to one of the darkest punk records there is. My favourite cut of this masterpiece is "Johnny Hit & Run Paulene" which tells the story of date rapist. Very creepy stuff.
It's a shame that this band only have a somewhat small cult following as this is definitely in the upper ranks of the often shit-infested genre of 'punk'. Though to call this album merely a punk record would be an insult.