Page "X (American band)" Paragraph 13

Despite the overwhelmingly positive critical reception for their first 4 albums, the band was frustrated by its lack of wider mainstream success.

Billy Zoom had also stated that he would leave the band unless its next album was more successful.

The band decided to change producers in search of a more accessible sound.

Their 5th record, Ain't Love Grand !, was produced by pop-metal producer Michael Wagener.

It featured a drastic change in sound, especially in the polished and layered production, while the band's punk roots were little in evidence, replaced by a countrified version of hard rock.

The change in production was hoped to bring the band more chart success, but although it got somewhat more mainstream radio play than their earlier releases, it did not represent a commercial breakthrough.

Zoom left the group shortly thereafter in 1986, the same year in which the feature-length documentary film, X: The Unheard Music was released.