New release: John and Exene Singing and Playing

Imagine two of the world’s most famous punks, weathered by time and experience but still full of acerbic wit, climbing into a car and driving from Memphis to Tennessee, scorching the earth as they go. The sound of this apocalyptic roundtrip is John Doe and Exene Cervenka’s Singing and Playing, a musically ‘country’ album that has undeniably punk rock roots.

For the old-school X fan, who hasn’t kept up on the duo’s development over the last three decades, the opening chords of It Just Dawned on Me, may feel disorienting with its banjo licks and big twang sound, but as the album evolves through tracks The Sound of Coming Down, Never Enough, Lonesome War, and finally the radio-friendly See How We Are, the essence of X is still very much present via tongue in cheek barbs and biting social commentary. Decidedly different from the glory days of Nausea, and probably not for the fan that’s looking to revisit the mosh pit, John and Exene Singing and Playing is an older, wiser and yes more mellowed offering but definitely worth checking out.

Originally recorded with Dave Way and only available at John and Exene shows during the summer of 2010, Singing and Playing is scheduled to drop on Orange Country indie outlet Moonlight Graham Records, April 10. In honor of that release John Doe and Exene Cervenka will play a free show at the Haight Street location of Amoeba Records at 6PM that day. For more info on the show visit Moonlight Graham Records online.