The Daily Deep Cut

The editors at JamsBio like to think of ourselves as music fans first, not critics, and that’s the sensibility we strive for at JamsBio and that we seek in other sites as well. That’s why we’re so jazzed about Damn Fine Day, a site that each day profiles a deep album cut that’s been overlooked, but deserves a place in everybody’s collection. In the name of spreading the gospel about great music, we present “The Daily Deep Cut,” where we add our two cents about the songs featured on Damn Fine Day. Once you read our unique take, we’ll send you over to Damn Fine Day so you can stream the full track and download it if you like. Sometimes we might even suggest another deep track from the same album or present some other novel twist on what their hawking.

Along with the Clash, X was one of the first “punk” bands that I took a shine to. Who could resist the glorious harmonies and dual vocal duties of Exene Cervenka and John Doe? It is perhaps the best boy-girl singing combo since Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood. Coming off a triumvirate of three almost perfect records, X’s fourth release, More Fun in the New World, finds the band toning down the punk energy and amping up the ’50’s rockabilly that made their brand of rock and roll so refreshing. They even took a foray into funked-up dance pop with the irresistible “True Love, Pt. 2,” a track that enjoys a permanent place on my party music playlist. Other highlights include the anthemic, politically-charged opener, “The New World,” the punk fueled rave-up, “Breathless,” and the sublime “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts,” a beautiful ballad that provides a sharp summation of the feelings of living in the Reagan ’80s. More Fun in the New World was X’s last great record and it deserves a place on the shelf of any discerning music lover, right alongside the band’s first three masterpieces, Los Angeles, Wild Gift and Under the Big Black Sun.

Before heading over to Damn Fine Day to listen to “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts,” take in X’s grooviest joint, “True Love, Pt. 2″ below.

“True Love, Pt. 2″ by X (from More Fun in the New World, 1983)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

No Comments »