At the time this was released, in the fall of 1983, X was closing hard on only-band-that-matters status. They had hardcore cred and a wonderful set of perfect loopy elements going for them: Main guy singer/songwriter John Doe, with movie star good looks, a burgeoning talent for country singing, and a drinking problem, and wife main chick singer/songwriter Exene Cervenka, Lydia Lunch soul sister and all but outright goth poet, also with a drinking problem (both with a failing marriage on their hands). One of the best rock 'n' roll traditionalist guitar players that punk-rock ever produced in Billy Zoom. And a drummer, DJ Bonebrake, who made it a point to live up to his nom de plume on a very consistent basis. But this was the last stop before a lifetime of dithering, and if that didn't come without its pleasures—the Knitters' first album is well worth seeking out, though not exactly for the same reasons as any of the first four X albums—it nonetheless amounted to an endless moiling confusion of wrong-headed careerist moves. But listen, forget that Jake and enjoy what you get here: infinitely loosened up and playful, the band goofs on whatever enters its head. John Doe takes his country turn in "Poor Girl." Billy Zoom works out all the kinks in the sloppy Jerry Lee Lewis cover "Breathless." John and Exene put their heads together like they really mean it for "Painting the Town Blue," then turn around and tell all in the soaring "Drunk in My Past" (and then in "I See Red"). And collectively they stroke their long chins and play the thoughtful agonized role of only-band-that-matters in "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts," which derides the neo British Invasion of the time (and why not?) even as it name-checks some of their most worthy peers: Minutemen, Flesh Eaters, DOA, Big Boys, Black Flag.
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