X (5) – Wild Gift

My copy arrived today and just gave it a spin. Its flat, quiet, looks gorgeous, and sounds just as great and punchy as 2019's Fat Possum release on black vinyl. Did not expect that it would be gold translucent - thought it would be a more solid gold vinyl.

I hear a lot of distortion on some of the higher and louder vocals. Anyone else hear anything like this? I had never heard the album before so I can’t tell if it’s the recording or my copy. Could need to swap my cart but I don’t hear it on other records.

This reissue sounds great, and it really opened my eyes as to how good of a producer Ray Manzarek of Doors-fame was for the band X. Everything is dry but clear, Exene's voice couldn't have been recorded any better, and he doesn't try to "fix" anything. This is X at their best, in my opinion...Be warned, the lyric insert does not come with this reissue, and lyrics are kinda important with X...

Seems like such a MASSIVE oversight that Fat Possum did not include the lyrics sheet in their reissue of this album! (Or at least mine didn't come with it and it was sealed...!) The lyric sheets are a HUGE part of X LP's - very disappointed about this. Sonically it sounds fantastic, but such a let down to have no lyric sheet.

how does this reissue sound? anyone have it? As good as the 2010 porterhouse?

Mine is exactly the same except for 'SH4' in the runout groove on side A instead of 'SH3'.

Echoing both reviews below, the Porterhouse reissues of X's first four albums are incredible! The remastering is sonically spot on, giving all of the instruments and John and Exene's voices plenty of room to breathe. The vinyl is dead quiet and flat, as was already mentioned, but the music jumps right of out of my speakers and brings the band to life in the room. Having owned original US pressings of a few of these albums over the years, these reissues have an edge to them that serves to reinvigorate the songs making them the way to go for anyone wanting to add one of the finest American punk rock bands to their collection or just wanting to replace their 36-year-old played to death originals.

Awesome job Porterhouse Records! Incredible mastering, super clean sound. Vinyl is flat and plays perfect!

This isn't the original cassette - it's a later Warner Bros distributed reissue - the original cassette is SRC-107
The album cover is at the top of the inner with a white bottom

Excellent pressing of this LA punk classic. Great mastering, quiet vinyl, flat as a pancake.