Search - X-Ray Spex :: Anthology

The Greatest British Punk Album Ever.

Mark A. Carter | New York | 09/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Believe it. The best Brit. Punk Album ever. Better than the Sex Pistols 'Never Mind the Bollocks' & better than the Clash's '1st'. It also boasts my favorite punk song ever 'Germ Free Adolescence' which just beats out 'Identity' & 'Day the World Turned Day-Glo' - This album has it all & was the main reason for me getting interested in the punk scene back in the 70's when I was still a school kid. The best Brit. Punk Album in the best Punk Album Sleeve ever with the best selection of Punk Tracks & the best female Punk Vocalist anywhere. Forget 'Siouxsie', 'Pauline Murray' or any of the others. No-one came close to the urban-decay/Concrete jungle screech of 'Poly Styrene' (Maybe the best Punk Moniker ever!) I know I like saying punk a lot in this review but this album really captured the punk era for me. Quick catchy songs with great guitar riffs complimenting the audio assault of Miss Styrene's completely unique voice. I'm sorry I don't know her real name but she'll always be Miss Styrene to me. I actually get very nostalgic listening to this - the good old school days when punk seemed to offer so much but was actually as hollow as the rest of the music industry. Still, anyone with an interest in British Punk or Classic Punk in general must have this album. And what a great value. You get a 2nd Disc of Alternate's/Demo's etc. (Which are more for completists than anything else) but makes for good value for money. By the way did I mention that this was/is the best British Punk album ever. Well believe it. Grab it today"

A Saving Grace of the Late 70's

Nicholas Watters | Chicago, IL United States | 04/25/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"We all know that punk and new wave were supposed to be the antidote to the hoary rock dinosaurs of the time (e.g. the Who sinking to the level of crap like "who are you.") But few bands captured both the energy and a coherent delivery. Lydia Lunch had wit, but lacked power. Many bands had energy, but were indecipherable in the noise. The Spex had both angst fueled drive and sophomoric alienation, adolescence in a jar, the essence of Rock 'n Roll. Not a note is wasted, not a string is twanged in vain.

My personal favorites are "Warrior in Woolworth's" ("His roots are in today--doesnt know no history, he's thrown the past away") and "I can't do anything," cries of desperately bored nihilism such as I imagine self-mutilators feel. Ululated at a volume that would give Patti Smith a hernia, but every word distinct, the "r's" elaborately trilled. And that saxophone could tear a hole in a cyclone fence.

Not every song is a gem, but the album is a prime example of New Wave at its best.

"

Oh bondage, up yours! Oh bondage, no more!

Megzi | 01/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this album. I am so glad I found out about this rare and unique band. The album is a melting pot of punk, pop, and even a little bit of ska sometimes. Marion Elliot's (aka: Poly Styrene) lyrics attack the materialistic world, and have this rare sort of desperateness in them that I can relate to so well. There's also boredom and a sort of 'I don't care anymore' attitude (I am a Poseur, I Can't Do Anything). The theme of hopelessness and 'I can't do anything to stop this' attitude run throughout the entire album. And in a strange way, it's almost comforting. 'Oh Bondage, Up Yours!' is an excellent feminist anthem that eagerly steamrolls over the idea of objectifying women by being sarcastic. I highly recommend this album, it's more true today than it was in 1977."