This is the best kind of second-echelon punk record. While nothing else here is up to the standard of the first Generation X single ("Your Generation," a nasty mock of Pete Townshend's ancient anthem), the whole album is far too much fun to have been accomplished for the sake of mere posturing. Generation X is as skillful as any punk-rock band at appropriating resources from other genres and idioms: "Your Generation" works only because of its reference point, as does John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth," which is more than twice as convincing in this rowdy version. And "Ready Steady Go," the homage to the British pop TV show, is witty, if not terribly purposeful.

Mostly, Generation X's sound is bash and shout, which becomes somewhat problematical on "Promises Promises" and "Kiss Me Deadly," two songs that stray closer to conventional hard rock. Drummer Mark Laff, who plays better than most punks, is a lot more interesting than either vocalist Billy Idol, whose Roger Daltrey mannerisms can become as wearing as the real thing, or guitarist Bob Andrews, who has a tendency to indulge in precisely the kind of flashy instrumental heroics I thought punk was trying to obliterate. Indeed, the success of the band lies with Laff (the only New Wave drummer, with the exception of the Sex Pistols' Paul Cook, with a sure sense of propulsion) and the steady throb of bassist Tony James. Even when things get fancy on top, Laff and James always rock steady so that the pound and grind can continue. (RS 267)

DAVE MARSH