X-rated musical excellence

X - The Unheard Music (musical out takes) - wideo
Musical outtakes from the movie

I stumbled across another gem on Netflix: "X: The Unheard Music," a 1985 documentary about the legendary LA country punkers. I listened to X quite a bit in my college days and the decade after -- and thankfully saw the original band live -- but their work had sadly fallen off my playlist. So, it was a thrill to go back in time with this documentary, which mixes live performances and music videos with interviews and other background on the band. Even a quarter century later, X's sound remains fresh and unique. 

It's a travesty X isn't in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame because their first four albums rival any in rock history (that's Elvis Costello territory). Exene and John Doe weren't the greatest of singers but their syncopated interplay and intense lyrics were magical, grounded by blistering riffs from stylin' guitarist Billy Zoom and tom-heavy beatwork from D.J. Bonebrake. 

In addition to documentary's fine live performances, there are some great scenes with Zoom showing his chops on a clarinet and Bonebrake laying down some Lionel Hampton breaks on the vibraphone. X were fresh faced back in 1985 but very skilled for punkers of the day. 

Note for Bakersfield readers: X bassist/vocalist John Doe (known only to a few as John Nommensen Duchac) lives in Lockwood Valley, just south of Frazier Park. And if any of the songs in the attached video pique your interest, the band will be invading Buck Owen's Crystal Palace on Dec. 27. 

Update on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 10:29 AM by Logan Molen

Found out today -- reading a story from The Californian's Matt Munoz -- that John Doe has moved to Oildale.

Very unexpected but cool. Imagine running into him on the streets?