Smoke & Fiction

by X

supported by

marc_ian As the music on Alphabetland was a welcome buoy through the pandemic, this shall hopefully be a raft through these following years. Favorite track: The Way It Is.

cj67 Their best record since wild gift and in my opinion even better. You know those box sets that omitted the last three records they did? Well, now they have to be six box record sets! Favorite track: Sweet Til The Bitter End.

mohaski It's like a hug. Bless X for everything. Favorite track: Sweet Til The Bitter End.

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	Ruby Church 00:00 / 02:07

Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD placed in a digipak

Includes unlimited streaming of Smoke & Fiction via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

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Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

$10 USD or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Standard pressing of Smoke & Fiction, the final album from X. Pressed on black vinyl and placed in a diecut X outer jacket.

Includes unlimited streaming of Smoke & Fiction via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

ships out within 2 days

Purchasable with gift card

$30 USD or more
Full Digital Discography

11

releases

Get all 11 X releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Smoke & Fiction, The Knitters - Poor Little Critter on the Road, Xtras, ALPHABETLAND, Delta 88 Nightmare / Cyrano Deberger's Back, More Fun In The New World, Under The Big Black Sun, Wild Gift, and 3 more.

Purchasable with gift card

$60 USD or more (25% OFF)
Limited Edition Green Vinyl
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Very limited pressing of Smoke & Fiction, the final album from X. Pressed on Green vinyl with a green innersleeve in a diecut X outer jacket.

Includes unlimited streaming of Smoke & Fiction via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

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1.	Ruby Church 02:07	lyrics	buy track
You stood in the center of a ruby church A sunbeam glittered on your back Three women in red turned to see You laughing uncontrollably You turned around in A lonely state of grace You stood your ground A smile upon you face You turned around in A lonely state of grace You stood your ground A smile upon you face Your raised your chin to the sky Laughter sparkled from your eyes The smell of spring on a blossom breeze You said, I'll be here. I'll be free. You turned around in A lonely state of grace You stood your ground A smile upon you face
2.	Sweet Til The Bitter End 02:31	lyrics	buy track
Only renting, Only subletting Fences mending, Just pretending Reality bending, Signal sending Patent pending, Just inventing Let's go round the bend Get in trouble again Make a commotion Drink a love potion And then then then Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Season ending, End over ending Always defending, Always pretending Another beginning, Forever spinning Ain't no winning, But we ain't sinning Let's go round the bend Get in trouble again Make a commotion Drink a love potion And then then then Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end Sweet 'til the bitter end
3.	The Way It Is 03:29	lyrics	buy track
I know you gotta go But that don't make it easier You know I'm gonna leave but That still makes it hard The devil & the deep blue sea Stole you away from me Now the moon has fallen down and You are not around That's just the way it is Like moon & stars & sea That's just the way it is We have to set you free That's just the way it is The way it's gonna be So why you gotta go So soon & so slow The moon has got to set but That don't mean I like it We were never just kids but We were pretty young We did what we did just to get along That's just the way it was We fell down on the street We did what we did To set each other free That's just the way it was The way it's gotta be The way it's gotta be That's just the way it was We fell down on the street We did what we did To set each other free That's just the way it is The way it's gotta be The way it's gotta be
4.	Flipside 03:00	lyrics	buy track
On the flipside of you Spare change & thin ice is true No dough & no dice The runaround & bad advice I got kicked out of paradise Halfhearted sweeping up the Last of the questions marks the Questions are always hard the Dark is so dark w/out your spark Your spark On the flipside of you Everything's blurry I'm in no hurry Loaded & railroaded Empty & exploded It's always my turn to pay Halfhearted sweeping up the Last of the questions marks the Questions are always hard the Dark is so dark w/out your spark Your spark There is no upside Only your flipside That's where the dark side resides On the flipside of you On the flipside of you On the flipside of you On the flipside of you
5.	Big Black X 03:34	lyrics	buy track
Memories are gettin' late Not erased like tape Not replaced with fake Drivin' state to altered state Holdin' foldin ' maps On another pay phone break A big black X on a white marquee A naked Christmas tree on fire In a Cherokee alley Silent movie genuflecting dream Hangin' off bumpers and Scrapin' off tar and leather L.A. Riverbed drag strip on acid And somethin' about a basement. Stay awake and don't get taken We knew the gutter Also the Future Stay awake and don't get taken Hollywood letters fallin' down Errol Flynn's abandoned mansion Scary Hillside guy Angel dust low-ridin' by We swam into the Pacific and Windward intersection Viet Nan vet I met and cannot forget Bikers on the 101 and 77 Sunset Strip Old cars and new scars 78's on cassette tape After hours blues escape. AM radio dedications Madison, Lincoln, any old city A tiny little x on a white marquee. Stay awake and don't get taken We knew the gutter Also the Future Stay awake and don't get taken Stay awake and don't get taken We knew the gutter Also the Future Stay awake and don't get taken
6.	Smoke & Fiction 03:04	lyrics	buy track
Through the smoke & fiction Books & pages burning Killed with contradiction All the heads are turning I still talk a little bit But there's no words for this I still talk a little bit But there's no words for this Wrapped up tight in twilight In a bed I am borrowing My face turns to sorrowing When I'm dreaming about tomorrowing I still hurt a little bit But there's no cure for this I still hurt a little bit But there's no cure for this With a midnight prescription For the star I am swallowing Heaven I am following If they will just allow me in I still wish a little bit But there's no star for this My soul still goes out walking Over bridges that are burning A lesson I keep learning All the leaves are burning I still pray a little bit But there's no saint for this I still pray a little bit But there's no words for this
7.	Surreal 02:19	lyrics	buy track
A E I O U You, you, you & you When are you coming back I try to face the facts We promise not to feel & then we do A B C D E F G Me & me, me & me All of those love notes You said you sent & said you wrote Are locked inside of me I try to sing them free but I don't have the key The struggle is so real The struggle is surreal Just a dream from the other side Keep your hands inside the ride The struggle is surreal W X Y Z You & me, you & me Uphill cries & heavy sighs Wine stained lips Tear stained eyes The minus times & short goodbyes The struggle is so real The struggle is surreal Just a dream from the other side Keep your hands inside the ride The struggle is surreal
8.	Winding Up The Time 02:52	lyrics	buy track
Is it raining Is it dark Is it easy was it hard Is it fever Is it fine Is it real Was it mine Winding up the time Turning up the loud Tearing up the road Lost in the lost & found Am I silver Am I stone Am I half Or am I whole Was I never Was I strong Is it final Is it gone Winding up the time Turning up the loud Tearing up the road Lost in the lost & found Sleeping on the blink, stars around my head Lightning on my tongue Sparking hit & run Is it fever Is it fine Is it real Or is it mine Was it siren Was it song Is it never Or is it gone Winding up the time Turning up the loud Tearing up the road Lost in the lost & found Sleeping on the blink, stars around my head Lightning on my tongue Sparking hit & run Ripping up the sky Staring at the stars Howling at the sun Sawing through the bars
9.	Face In The Moon 03:04	lyrics	buy track
Flying down from San Francisco Greasy plane unfriendly skies Sunrise as our eyes are failing Peeling back your thin disguise Floating down the Hollywood Freeway Gripping steering wheel so tight Arms so long and head so distant Streaming through the blackest light I see your ghost in face of the moon Waxing and waning so confused I see the shadow of your face at my door You stole the face in the moon From the freeway to the skies You get your way w/ a thousand lies An ugly life that looks so pretty Stealing through this tin can city I see your ghost in face of the moon Waxing and waning so confused I see the shadow of your face at my door You stole the face in the moon You stole the face in the moon
10.	Baby & All 02:31	lyrics	buy track
High in a tree It's just you & me We whisper secret words We say that we believe And watch fireballs Like stars as they fall Stars melting down Making not a sound They will never weep As we try to sleep They are crashing down All over town Someone tells a lie Another says it twice A third tells it too and The lie comes a truth It makes fireballs Rain on us all The stars out at night Never burn so bright From our perch above We send all our love As we start to fall Baby & all Baby & all

credits

released August 2, 2024

Exene Cervenka - Vocals
John Doe - Vocals, Bass
Billy Zoom - Guitars, Bass Guitar
DJ Bonebrake - Drums, Percussion
Produced by Rob Schnapf
Engineered by Matt Schuessler
Recorded @ Sunset Sound Hollywood Ca & MANT Studios Eagle Rock CA
Mastered by Mark Chalecki @ Little Red Book Mastering Los Angeles CA
Management Mike Rouse Orange CA

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about

X Los Angeles, California

Formed in 1977, X quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in the first wave of LA's flourishing punk scene; becoming legendary leaders of a punk generation. In 2020 - they released their first new album in 35 years, ALPHABETLAND

shows

Apr 11

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom

Portland, OR
May 9

Norwegian Cruise Line

Miami, FL

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