x / albums

Like Rhino's 2001 reissue of the Ramones' Leave Home, which offered more bonus material than the group's debut, the label's 2001 expanded reissue of X's second album, Wild Gift, offers more (and more interesting) bonus tracks than Los Angeles. Of course, Wild Gift isn't the dip in quality that Leave Home was -- it's the equal of Los Angeles, only with a wider stylistic reach -- so it doesn't need the added enticement that Leave Home did, but the addition of single versions of "We're Desperate" and "White Girl," live versions of "Beyond and Back" and "Back 2 the Base," a hot rehearsal version of "Heater," an early demo of "Blue Spark," and the previously unissued single mix of "The Once Over Twice" are all nice extras. These, along with Kristine McKenna's liner notes, enhance an already terrific album in yet another excellent punk-era reissue from Rhino. With the X, Ramones, and Elvis Costello reissues, as well as the Echo & the Bunnymen box, the label has started exploring an area of rock in desperate need of deluxe reissues of this sort, and they're doing their best work in years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide