X are finally getting some respect. Their first album, Los Angeles, released in 1980 on the independent Slash label, sold some 80,000 copies, not bad for an independent release. Their second album, Wild Gift, also on Slash, has done almost as well sales-wise, but with the critics it’s been an unqualified smash. Wild Gift was voted the best LP of 1981 by the music critics of the New York Times, the L.A. Times, and by the Village Voice’s national poll of rock critics. In hometown L.A. they are local stars, able to sell out any venue they choose to play. Around the rest of the country they pull large crowds wherever they go. All this finally made the music industry sit up and take notice, and X has just signed a deal with Elektra Records. Not bad for a punk rock band.

A punk rock band? X don’t really like to think of themselves that way.