Wild Gift - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

In a review published in his "Consumer Guide" column, Robert Christgau gave Wild Gift a rare A+ rating, writing that "hippies couldn't understand jealousy because they believed in universal love; punks can't understand it because they believe sex is a doomed reflex of existentially discrete monads. As X-Catholics obsessed with a guilt they can't accept and committed to a subculture that gives them no peace, Exene and John Doe are prey to both misconceptions, and their struggle with them is thrilling and edifying...Who knows whether the insightful ministrations of their guitarist will prove as therapeutic for them as for you and me, but I say trust a bohemian bearing gifts. How often do we get a great love album and a great punk album in the same package?" Christgau later ranked the album third on his 'Personal Best' list for the 80's, the highest placing of any rock album.

When The Village Voice held their Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for 1981, Wild Gift was ranked at #2, behind Sandinista! by the Clash. It was listed at #334 in Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums list in 2003.