punk this week: x, poison ruïn, exo + 7 more

It’s Friday, August 2, and this is Punk This Week. It’s see/saw’s rundown of the new punk and rock’n’roll records that are worth a listen. The final X album is here, plus new ones from Poison Ruïn, EXO, Cammy Cautious and the Wrestlers, La Llama, Jacket Burner, Electric Prawns 2, Kitchen People, Easers, G.O.O.N., and more.

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X: Smoke & Fiction [Fat Possum]

There’s this segment in John Mulaney’s Los Angeles-themed talk show for Netflix where Fred Armisen hangs out with old L.A. punks. The way it’s edited is pretty disappointing. All these heroes are relegated to set pieces for reverent applause at best, elderly punk punchlines otherwise. You’ve got Mike Watt and Exene Cervenka and Kid Congo Powers barely saying a word. In the piece’s effort to pay homage, everyone gets shortchanged. Time would’ve been better spent profiling, say, this final X album. 

All respect to the greats: Smoke & Fiction is a good album. The vocal interplay between Exene Cervenka and John Doe remains a crucial reason to tap in, these comforting harmonies worth nestling into. Billy Zoom fuckin’ rips on “Sweet ’Til the Bitter End,” while “Ruby Church” and the title track rule. It’s not the most consistent record; “Struggle”’s verse is merely fine while the chorus feels pretty iconic. The highs are high, though, for the band’s final showing. Salute to X for the surf riffs in “Winding Up the Time,” for the exceptional vocal runs all the way through the record, for revving up this last time.