IFLTS: 'My Goodness,' X

'My Goodness,' X
From 1985's 'Ain't Love Grand'

X was one of the leaders of the late '70s/early '80s L.A. punk scene that rose to prominence when I was in high school in Southern California. 'Ain't Love Grand' was the band's big label debut and the album was marked by the strain of John Doe and Exene Cervenka's divorce. The gem on this LP, however, is 'My Goodness.' Exene sings of being torn between her love for her husband (Doe) and the physical needs addressed by her "handsome stranger." The insistent but restrained guitar from Billy Zoom shows a maturity not typically associated with punk music. 'Ain't Love Grand' was an uneven album, but 'My Goodness' shows clearly what X was capable of if they had kept the band intact.

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