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More Fun in the New World

{{mdy|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox album

| name = More Fun in the New World

| type = Studio album

| artist = X

| cover = XMoreFunInTheNewWorld.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1983

| recorded = 1983

| venue =

| studio = Cherokee (Hollywood)

| genre = Punk rock

| length = 41:11

| label = Elektra

| producer = Ray Manzarek

| prev_title = Under the Big Black Sun

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = Ain't Love Grand!

| next_year = 1985

| misc = {{Singles

| name = More Fun in the New World

| type = studio

| single1 = The New World

| single1date = 1983

| single2 = True Love Pt. #2

| single2date = 1983

}}

}}

More Fun in the New World is the fourth studio album by American rock band X, released in 1983 by Elektra Records.{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Ken |title=X Rates More Than a Punk Label |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=11 Nov 1983 |page=G22}}{{cite news |last1=Toombs |first1=Mikel |title=X leaves new, exciting mark on local rock fans |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=February 13, 1984 |page=B8}} It was reissued with four bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2002 and was the final X album produced by Ray Manzarek. The band supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Lioce |first1=Tony |title=Acclaimed X brings brand of musical fury to Brown |work=The Providence Journal |date=November 11, 1983 |page=W8}}

The single "The New World" appeared on the soundtrack to the 1986 movie Something Wild. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Supersuckers covered "Devil Doll" and "Poor Girl" for the Free the West Memphis 3 project in 2000, but only "Poor Girl" made it on the release; Pearl Jam also covered "The New World" and "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" with Tim Robbins live during the 2004 Vote for Change tour. In 2023, "Poor Girl" was featured on the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Production

X somewhat moved away from songs drawn from personal experience to lyrics that explored social themes and current events.{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title=The Pop Life |work=The New York Times |date=21 Sep 1983 |page=C22}} "Breathless" is a cover of the song made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis; it played during the end credits of Breathless.{{cite news |last1=Gillis |first1=Justin |title=X: That's the Name of a Band You Can Be Sure Will Mark a Spot in Rock-History |work=Miami Herald |date=December 9, 1983 |page=1E}}

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |publisher=AllMusic |url={{AllMusic|class=album|tab=review|id=r22340|pure_url=yes}} |title=More Fun in the New World – X |first=Greg |last=Prato |accessdate=2005-09-11}}

| rev2 = Robert Christgau

| rev2Score = {{Rating-Christgau|A-}}{{Cite news |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=November 29, 1983 |first=Robert |last=Christgau |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: X: More Fun in the New World |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-83.php |accessdate=2012-04-12}} Also posted at {{Cite web |publisher=Robert Christgau |title=X: More Fun in the New World > Consumer Guide Album |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4218 |accessdate=2006-04-04 }}

| rev3 = Rolling Stone

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite news |newspaper=Rolling Stone |issue=407 |date=October 27, 1983 |first=Christopher |last=Connelly |author-link=Chris Connelly (journalist) |title=X More Fun in the New World > Album Review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/x/albums/album/92821/review/6067355/more_fun_in_the_new_world |accessdate=2006-06-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002101055/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/x/albums/album/92821/review/6067355/more_fun_in_the_new_world |archivedate=2007-10-02}}

|rev4 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev4score = 9/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |page=438}}

}}

The Philadelphia Daily News noted that, "with help from a vocal coach, Exene is starting to sound like a genuine singer instead of a mere squawker, and the whole group seems to be benefitting musically from its association with producer Ray Manzarek."{{cite news |last1=Takiff |first1=Jonathan |title=X Marks the Spot |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=11 Nov 1983 |department=Features |page=51}}

Track listing

All tracks written by John Doe and Exene Cervenka except as indicated.

=Side A=

  1. "The New World" – 3:25
  2. "We're Having Much More Fun" – 3:05
  3. "True Love" – 2:15
  4. "Poor Girl" – 2:50
  5. "Make the Music Go Bang" – 3:00
  6. "Breathless" (Otis Blackwell) – 2:15
  7. "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" – 4:10

=Side B=

  1. "Devil Doll" – 3:05
  2. "Painting the Town Blue" – 3:20
  3. "Hot House" – 2:55
  4. "Drunk in My Past" – 2:51
  5. "I See Red" – 3:00
  6. "True Love Pt. #2" – 5:00

=Bonus tracks (2002 reissue)=

  1. "Poor Girl" (Demo/Remix) – 2:58
  2. "True Love Pt. #2" (Demo/Remix) – 4:56
  3. "Devil Doll" (Demo/Remix) – 3:12
  4. "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" (Demo/Remix) – 5:45

Personnel

;X

Charts

class="wikitable"

|+Sales chart performance for More Fun in the New World

!scope="col"|Chart

!scope="col"|Peak

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Duration

scope="row"|The Billboard 200{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/x/chart-history |title=X |accessdate=April 30, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}

|86

|October 28, 1983

|23 weeks

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdMYZa3dA4 X performing Breathless on David Letterman]

{{X (U.S. band)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:X (American band) albums

Category:1983 albums

Category:Elektra Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Ray Manzarek