California X: California X [Album Review]

california-x-cover California X
California X
Don Giovanni Records [2013]
ratings3_5



Fire Note Says: California X’s debut brings a garage rock meets post punk sound that gets better with every spin.

Album Review: California X makes their debut with this eponymous LP. The punk trio from Amherst, MA consists of Lemmy Gurtowsky (guitar and vocals), Dan Jones (bass), and Cole “Cool” Lanier (drums). California X has eight tracks and has a garage punk sound to it that instantly reminded me of Japandroids’ Celebration Rock. That album was one of my favorites of last year and comparing the two put California X at a disadvantage. However, I had the chance to dive deep into California X and with repeated listens (about 10 at this point) the album strengthens with each spin.

The self-titled album kicks off with “Sucker.” A six-minute track that perhaps lasts too long it at least sets the tone for the rest of the LP. With time I appreciated the statement that the trio was making with this opus – they’re not going to come in and out quickly, but loudly and forcefully make their presence felt. That requires a degree of confidence that makes the rest of the album stronger. My favorite track “Curse of the Nightmare” immediately followed – if my hair were long enough it would have been swirling around my head. Gurtowsky repeats “It’s my life/It’s okay” throughout and the urgency of youth is felt in all of the song’s three minutes. It doesn’t let up until the final reverb.

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Other standouts include “Pond Rot” and “Lemmy’s World.” “Pond Rot” has a grungey sound that reminded me of Nirvana – the track’s title matches the tone it sets perfectly. We’ve all wanted a “pond to rot in” at some point in time for whatever reason and Gurtowsky conveys that self-loathing swagger with ease. “Lemmy’s World” is a bit more upbeat but deals with loss (of a “phone,” of a “feeling in my ears,” of “my way”). This does not seem all too significant, but any loss is pressing when played in such a way. Many of these same themes were ever-present in Celebration Rock and they were executed better. It seems there is potential here with California X to have the same sophomore success that Japandroids had. At least I have a new album that I can run to from start to finish.

Key Tracks: “Curse of the Nightmare”, “Pond Rot”, “Lemmy’s World”

Artists With Similar Fire: Dinosaur Jr. / Japandroids / The White Stripes

California X Website
California X Facebook
Don Giovanni Records

-Reviewed by Matthew Heiner

Matthew Heiner
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