Generation X's self-titled debut record from 1977 is a bright and shiny artifact of the punk rock era that lacks any fat, slack moments or serious politics. It's basically bubblegum punk, and that's why it's often written off as being too lightweight or too pop. Being bubblegum punk ain't all bad though. Especially when the songs are as sharp, the performances as lively, and the sound as wiry and tough as it is here. It was the group's second crack at recording an album. The initial sessions helmed by actual bubblegum producer
Phil Wainman were deemed too slick, and
Generation X went back with
Martin Rushent to try and capture more of their live sound. The album definitely does have a live, exciting sound. The rhythm section is loud and pummeling,
Tony James' guitar is thrillingly raw, and
Billy Idol's sneering vocals ride on top of the noise like a cocky cowboy.
Idol and
James collaborated on the songs and they knocked out (mostly) fast and hooky punk-pop gems that had huge choruses and fist-in-the-air sentiments. None of the words are particularly deep, but they are delivered in breathless fashion by
Idol. "One Hundred Punks" is a choppy, invigorating call to arms, "Ready Steady Go" is practically an amped-up '60s beat group tune, and "The Invisible Man" sounds like a
Kinks' album track turned up to ten. Along with the flat-out rockers, they stretch out some on "Promises Promises" and "Youth Youth Youth," a couple of songs that blow past the five-minute mark. The latter is a dramatic
New York Dolls-inspired epic that has plenty of room for
James to show off his frantic guitar soloing. They also turned in one of the first great punk ballads with "Kiss Me Deadly," which features some great guitar parts, nice dynamic shifts, and an almost sensitive vocal from
Idol. Add it all up, and it may not be the classic punk rock album of the age, but it is a whole lot of rip-roaring fun and it did prove extremely influential to anyone who likes their punk delivered with a wink instead of a shove.
[After years of reissues and different editions of the album being released, Chrysalis issued a definitive version in 2019. The first disc is a remastered version of the original U.K. release of the album, disc two collects the singles that came out before the album ("Your Generation"/"Day by Day" and "Wild Youth"/"Wild Dub") plus three B-sides and the single version of "Promises Promises." It also has outtakes ("Rock on Dub" and a fiery take on
John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth") and two of the original recordings made with
Phil Wainman -- which do indeed feel a little tame compared to the re-recordings -- as well as a batch of rough mixes made by engineer
Alan Winstanley that are punchier and cleaner than the final mixes. This reissue is a fine package that presents the full picture of how the album came together and is essential for fans of the band.] ~ Tim Sendra