Alphabetland, the first album from X in 27 years is a full throttle return for the the seminal L.A punk band. It’s 27 minutes in length(!) with only one song topping in over three minutes (and that’s 3:04). The title song opens the album and from the opening welcome from Exene you know you’re in for a joy ride.
Where did X leave off? That would be 1993’s Hey Zeus, an album I forgot all about until researching this post. At that time they had come off a layoff of six years since 1987’s See How We Are. Billy Zoom left the band after 1985’s Ain’t Love Grand and did not play on the two latest albums. He is back for Alphabetland along with the others from the classic 80s lineup, Exene Cervenka (vocals), John Doe (bass), and D.J. Bonebrake (drums). The new album harks back to the early 80s and the band’s defining off-balance, poetic harmonies. The guitar and drums are back in full force, as well. Billy and D.J are prominent and explosive throughout.
Song #2 (“Free”) launches with John Doe soon joined by Exene hollering, “let me go free, don’t tell me I can’t.” Billy Zoom on fire again. Play this album loud. The drums and guitar shine again on “Water and Wine” as the words call out “who gets water and who gets wine” as an allusion to heaven and hell. “Strange Life” is a rock and roll song that could be on their outstanding second album, Wild Gift. The next two songs really do go back to that time period. “I Gotta Fever” is a re-visit of 1981’s “Heater” and “Delta 88 Nightmare” is a punk storm which dates back to a demo in 1978. It’s a fast song! “Cyrano DeBerger’s Back” is a re-make of the See How We Are version of 1987 with Billy Zoom on sax in 2020. “Goodbye Year, Goodbye” is another blistering track that at this point has you thinking what a great rockin’ album by these guys after so long. No fluff. And then comes the last song…
“All the Time in the World” is a strange last song on an album of such energy. A solo acoustic number would be one thing, but this is spoken words from Exene. It slightly taints what would otherwise be a flawless return. I suppose there are a couple of things worth noting about it, however. First, Robbie Krieger is listed as guest guitar, but he doesn’t do much, since the song in basically piano and Exene’s words. (This continues a longstanding connection with The Doors – Ray Manzarek produced their classic first album Los Angeles which includes a X-ified cover of “Soul Kitchen.”) Also, Exene’s words are rather poignant given the fact that this album’s release was in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Los Angeles: “still writing songs hoping someone will hear” and “all the time in the world turns out not to be that much.” It’s awesome that a band whose ages are 65, 65, 68, and 73 can make an album that ignites like this.
D² Rating ◼◼◼◼☐
Trivia ? – In what line of work did John Doe establish a longtime second career?
Answer: John Doe is also an actor appearing in such films as Road House, Great Balls of Fire!, Boogie Nights, I’m Not There, as well a being a regular on the Roswell TV show.
My concert experience with X: From left to right – New Year’s Eve 2007 Ventura Theater (yes, John Doe counted the new year down for us), September 26, 1983 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Main Gym, and the two-sided ticket stub for December 27, 1980 at the Whisky A Go Go!
