X: Unclogged : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

X's decision to go "unplugged" should not be seen as another jump on board that overcrowded bandwagon. The core of X played that way a decade ago as the Knitters, and the acoustic setting has always favored John Doe's rich vocals. But co-founder Exene Cervenka sounds more and more shrill with the passage of time, and the band's playing has become more laid-back than this subdued format necessitates. Most frustrating of all is the squandering of drummer D.J. Bonebrake's talent on vibraphones and brushes. Bonebrake powered X in their heyday, and his tasteful restraint is emblematic of Unclogged's sad lack of urgency. X used to be punks; they had something to say, and they meant it. Now they're just hoping you'll notice how well they were saying it.

Unclogged offers an impressive sampling of the band's work plus two strong new numbers. And these acoustic performances reveal much of X's best work in a favorable light. The palpable lack of passion, however, hurts. It's nice that X are back together, able to acknowledge a formidable past. Too bad the low energy level of Unclogged makes it tough to care.

Almost simultaneously, John Doe releases his second solo outing. Unfortunately, Kissingsohard is even more calculating than Doe's disappointing solo debut. Cliché-ridden and overproduced, this album might have been better suited to the acoustic format. Songs like "Willamette" and "Going Down Fast" reveal Doe's stark and striking vocals, but the music tends to sound as bloated and histrionic as beer-commercial rock. Doe strains to keep pace with the proceedings, and an agile drummer like Bonebrake would have helped minimize the album's leaden, bombastic arrangements. Then again, nothing could have prevented the soupy strings on "Field of Dirt" from turning Doe's heartfelt story mawkish.

It's worth noting a recent release by Exene Cervenka, Surface to Air Serpents, on Henry Rollins' spoken-word label, 2.13.61. Ironically, this is the most musically adventurous of the lot. While Doe tries unsuccessfully to give the people what they want, and X no longer make the music go bang, Cervenka's spoken words are accompanied by some surprisingly engaging instrumental noodling in the background. Alone and together, the members of X continue to flash glimpses of their talents. While the sum of those talents remains considerable, theoretically, it sure has been a while since they've come together.