Search - X :: Unclogged

Definitely worth searching for!!!

C. Koch | Philadelphia, PA, USA | 06/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"So much more than just another entry in the seemingly never-ending stream of "unplugged" releases of the 90s, UNCLOGGED wasn't the L.A.-based postpunk band's first visit to what vocalist John Doe calls "the acoustic county fair;" a 1985 side project as "The Knitters" took care of that.



But where the Knitters' set of folk and country classics sometimes wavered between loving tribute and near-parody, the X-sters invested this 1995 live set with an impressive maturity, reflecting nearly all phases of their career up to that point.



Not content with merely scaling down the full-throttle sonic assault of their studio albums, X revamped many of the arrangements from the ground up. Drummer D.J. Bonebrake even switched to *vibes* on a few tracks, while guitarist Tony Gilkyson continued to prove himself as something more than the guy who replaced once-and-future guitar hero Billy Zoom in 1986. The result is a setting that somehow flatters both Doe's warm neo-country croon and Exene Cervenka's idiosyncratic yowl.



But even with this smoother sound, X's songs have lost none of their poetic fury; indeed, the ability to actually *hear* the words to shoulda-been classics like "See How We Are" and "The Have-Nots" only heightens their impact."

When acoustic sorta punk goes completely right.

Chris bct | San Diego, CA USA | 01/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not that X was a raw, pure punk, or, certainly hardcore punk rock band. They were/are like the JAM and ELVIS COSTELLO and the MINUTEMEN in that they came up in the time of punk and were playing shows with other punk bands but taken out of that context, or, rather, listening strictly to their music, one sees each of these four bands created their own sound that fit in the general category of punk but really is something fresh and unique and, turns out, stands the test of time very well.



We just got lucky here that X decided to do some acoustic work. Their drummer, Mr. Bonebrake, is on the xylephone for this show and it really changes their sound magnificiently. I'm personally a big fan of that instrument and he really has it mastered.



I think what makes any band great is, at heart, the song writing and acoustic versions reveal the heart of a song. That's a fine thing when the songs are as well written as White Girl, Burning House of Love and The World's a Mess It's In My Kiss. Meanwhile, we get lucky here specifically because they perform two of their finest compositions ever: I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts and See How We Are. Both are lyrically intelligent, thought provoking and moving and musically emotional.



For a punk band to do an acoustic album is quite rare. Really what X is is an American band as American as the JAM is British, as American sourced and sounding as Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their alter ego band, the KNITTERS, reveals their more down home, American roots inclinations, something similar in spirit to LOS LOBOS.



Musically I came from the late 60's, early 70's with classic rock, CREAM, BEATLES, JIMI, the DOORS. Then punk rock hit me in the face in 1978 and I haven't let go. What has happened though is the hardcore I embraced back then is too steamin' for me to generally handle now that I'm old (51). And now these punk associated bands like the four I mentioned have taken a stronger place in my musical appreciation these recent years. And this acoustic set is a joy to have. Not every song is perfection. The five songs I mentioned stand up best. Still, overall, the album is as great an acoustic album as NEIL YOUNG'S unplugged album. Both bands jump into the opportunity to do acoustic music and we get to hear a stripped down version of their songs which turn out to have power and passion even without the electricity, literally. chrisbct@hotmail.com"