Similar Albums:
- Artist: X
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1982 07
- Total Time: 33:45
- Genre: Rock
Review
X's first album issued on a major label, 1982's Under the Big Black Sun, is arguably their finest record. All 11 songs are exceptional, from both a performance and compositional point of view. Ray Manzarek's production is more akin to hard rock bands than their earlier punk works, but the songs still pack quite a punch. Before the recording of the album, singer Exene Cervenka's sister was killed by a drunk driver, and the band decided to work out their grief in the music, as evidenced by two of the album's best tracks: the melodic "Riding With Mary" and the vintage '50s sound of "Come Back to Me." The highlights don't stop there, however; also included are the Led Zeppelin-esque "The Hungry Wolf" (an early video favorite of MTV), the accelerating "Motel Room in My Bed," the rocker "Blue Spark," the spacious title track, and the album closer "The Have Nots." Again, Cervenka and John Doe supply some great vocal harmonies (perhaps the only punk band to ever do so), while Billy Zoom shows off great rockabilly chops throughout. Under the Big Black Sun is one of the quintessential rock records from the '80s. ~ Greg Prato, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| The Hungry Wolf | John Doe, Exene Cervenka | X | (3:45) |
| Motel Room in My Bed | John Doe, Exene Cervenka | X | (2:32) |
| Riding With Mary | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (3:40) |
| Come Back to Me | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (3:43) |
| Under the Big Black Sun | John Doe, Exene Cervenka | X | (3:23) |
| Because I Do | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (2:21) |
| Blue Spark | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (2:06) |
| Dancing With Tears in My Eyes (Lyrics) | Al Dubin, Joe Burke | X | (2:20) |
| Real Child of Hell | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (2:59) |
| How I (Learned My Lesson) | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (2:12) |
| The Have Nots | Exene Cervenka, John Doe | X | (4:44) |
