| The Modern Sounds of the Knitters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 12, 2005 | |||
| Studio | Winslow Ct. Studio | |||
| Genre | Alt country [1] | |||
| Length | 39:27 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Zoë | |||
| The Knitters chronology | ||||
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The Modern Sounds of the Knitters is the second album by The Knitters, released in 2005. It has received mixed critical reviews.
The Knitters were founded in the mid-1980s by members of X and standup bassist Johnny Ray Bartel. The released Poor Little Critter on the Road in 1985 but went into hiatus after that album. The band included covers of existing Americana and folk with punk rock songs based purely on whatever sounded good to the musicians; Exene Cervenka's son requested the inclusion of "Born to Be Wild". [2] The band reformed to tour in support of the album [3] and continued to make sporadic appearances for years after. [4]
The editorial staff of AllMusic Guide gave the release four out of five stars, with reviewer Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., singling out Cervenka and Doe's vocals, Alvin's guitar work, and the unique blending of musical genres on the album. [5] Stephen Haag of PopMatters gave a negative review, writing that the humor falls flat on the album and while some tracks are worthwhile, it ultimately "sound[s] both like an album that took too long to release and one that was released too hastily". [1] In The Guardian , Sylvie Simmons gave the work four out of five stars with special attention given to Cervenka and Doe's vocals. [6]
The Knitters
Additional personnel
X is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles. The original members are vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist-bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D. J. Bonebrake. The band released seven studio albums from 1980 to 1993. After a period of inactivity during the mid-to-late 1990s, X reunited in the early 2000s, and currently tours, as of 2022.
Exene Cervenka is an American singer, artist, and poet. She is best known for her work as a singer in the California punk rock band X.
John Nommensen Duchac, known professionally as John Doe, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, poet, guitarist and bass player. Doe co-founded LA punk band X, of which he is still an active member. His musical performances and compositions span rock, punk, country and folk music genres. As an actor, he has dozens of television appearances and several movies to his credit, including the role of Jeff Parker in the television series Roswell.
The Knitters are a Los Angeles-based band who play country, rockabilly and folk music. The Knitters' name is a play on the name of the folk group The Weavers.
Under the Big Black Sun is the third studio album by American rock band X, and their major-label debut. It was released on Elektra Records in July 1982 and reissued on Rhino Records in 2001 with bonus tracks. It was re-released in its original format by Fat Possum Records in 2018.
More Fun in the New World is the fourth studio album by American rock band X, released in September 1983 by Elektra Records. It was reissued with four bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2002. It was the last X album produced by Ray Manzarek.
Ain't Love Grand is the fifth studio album by American rock band X, released in July 1985 by Elektra Records. The album was their first not produced by Ray Manzarek. It was reissued with four bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2002. The album included the minor radio hit "Burning House of Love", which the band performed on American Bandstand in September 1985, their largest television exposure to date. The album also includes a cover of the Small Faces song "All or Nothing". Lead guitarist Billy Zoom left the band after this album; he later returned to the group in 1998 during a tour and the original line-up released their next full-length studio album in 2020 with Alphabetland.
See How We Are is the sixth studio album by American rock band X, released in 1987 by Elektra Records. It was their first album without founding guitarist Billy Zoom, who was replaced by ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin for the album's recording sessions and some live shows. Alvin left X on good terms and was replaced by Tony Gilkyson.
Live at the Whisky a Go-Go on the Fabulous Sunset Strip is the seventh album and first live album by American rock band X, released April 29, 1988 by Elektra Records. The album was recorded on December 13, 15 and 16 in 1987 at the Whisky a Go Go nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States.
The Flesh Eaters are an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1977. They are the most prominent of the bands which have showcased the compositions and singing of their founder, punk poet Chris Desjardins, best known as Chris D. While Desjardins is the group's only continual member, the Flesh Eaters' lineup has drawn from some of the most famous bands of the L.A. punk scene, such as the Plugz, X, the Blasters, and Los Lobos.
Donald J. Bonebrake is an American musician who first emerged as the drummer of the punk rock band the Eyes. He is best known as an original member of and drummer for punk band X, of which he is still an active member.
Hey Zeus! is the seventh studio album by American rock band X. The tracks "Country at War" and "New Life" peaked at No. 15 and No. 26, respectively, on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The Best: Make the Music Go Bang! is a compilation album by American rock band X, released July 27, 2004, by Elektra Records/Rhino Entertainment. The album included liner notes by Tony Alva, K. K. Barrett, Tito Larriva, Ray Manzarek, Paul Reubens and Henry Rollins, among others.
Unclogged is a live album by the American rock band X, released in 1995 by Infidelity Records. Recorded in 1994 at the Noe Valley Ministries Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, California over two nights of performances, it presented acoustic arrangements of past X material, along with two new songs: "Lying in the Road" and "The Stage." The album's title was a play on the title of the MTV Unplugged television show and album series, which featured bands playing acoustic arrangements of their most popular songs.
Beyond and Back: The X Anthology is a two-disc compilation album by American rock band X, released October 28, 1997 by Elektra Records. The anthology's tracks are split between already-released songs and demos, single versions, outtakes and live recordings.
X: The Unheard Music is a 1986 rockumentary film directed by W.T. Morgan about the Los Angeles punk band X. The film stars John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake.
X – Live in Los Angeles is a live album by American rock band X released May 10, 2005, by Shout! Factory on compact disc and DVD. The concert was recorded on Thanksgiving 2004 as a tribute to the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Los Angeles. DVD bonus features included acoustic duets by Exene Cervenka and John Doe on "See How We Are" and "True Love" and a photo gallery from Billy Zoom.
Poor Little Critter on the Road is the debut album from X side project The Knitters, Poor Little Critter on the Road contains original compositions and covers of songs by X as well as established Country music performers.
Alphabetland is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band X. Released digitally in April 2020, it is their first studio release in 27 years and the first with their original line-up in the past 35 years. X released the album with no prior announcement to coincide with the 40th anniversary of their debut album Los Angeles and credited songwriting to all four members for the first time in their career. The release has received positive reviews from critics.
"Destroying Angels" is a 2018 stand-alone single released by alternative rock band Garbage with John Doe and Exene Cervenka of the American punk rock band X. The song was written and recorded for 2018's Black Friday Record Store Day event in North America, with a digital release worldwide the following year.