Under the Big Black Sun

One of the best albums of the 1980s, in my view, and I think the vinyl still sits in a closet in Memphis, TN. I hadn't thought about it in years until a few months back, and now I don't seem to be able to get it out of my mind. Fortunately, it's available as a playlist, for the edification and enjoyment of those who don't know it, and as a blast from the distant past for those who do. I have yet to meet anyone in the UK who has heard of X, though I see they are making their way over in November.

Blue Spark

I was sitting in the corner grumbling the other day while my daughters watched some execrable Disney sitcom starring Selena Gomez, when I saw, much to my horror, the great John Doe appear in a cameo role. Painful as this was, it started me thinking again about X, a band I loved back in the day, particularly this album, and particularly this song. The structure is odd, but infectious, and the filmic lyrics show why this band possessed much more sophistication and substance than many of its contemporaries. And these eerie harmonies remain pretty much unmatched.