Album of the Day

Released 35 years ago this month, AIN'T LOVE GRAND is as sarcastic a title as you're likely to find in the X discography - released just after singer-songwriters Exene and John Doe got divorced, the Elektra collection is filled with emotional turmoil. The set proved transitional in other ways, too, being the final album with original guitarist Billy Zoom until the group's 1998 reunion. And after four albums produced by Ray Manzarek, the quartet brought '80s metal specialist Michael Wagener behind the boards for these sessions. For all the changes, the songwriting remains as brilliant as ever, with highlights including “What's Wrong with Me,” “My Goodness” and minor hit “Burning House of Love” (which earned the group an appearance on TV's American Bandstand). Love may not conquer all, but AIN'T LOVE GRAND is another strong effort by one of L.A.'s greatest bands.