{"id":79617,"date":"2023-01-05T12:51:10","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T11:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=79617"},"modified":"2023-01-06T15:24:41","modified_gmt":"2023-01-06T14:24:41","slug":"funhouse-iggy-pop-stirs-the-spirit-of-the-stooges-on-19th-solo-album-every-loser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2023\/01\/funhouse-iggy-pop-stirs-the-spirit-of-the-stooges-on-19th-solo-album-every-loser\/","title":{"rendered":"FUNHOUSE – IGGY POP STIRS THE SPIRIT OF THE STOOGES ON 19TH SOLO ALBUM ‘EVERY LOSER’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Iggy Pop sets out his stall from the very first lines of new album Every Loser ‘Got a dick and two balls\/That’s more than you all’<\/em>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At the ripe old age of 75, the Dorian Gray of punk rock is back with a provocative, potty-mouthed assault on the eardrums that revives the trailblazing, chest-slashing days of his youth.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Opener Frenzy <\/em><\/strong>as the title suggests is a frenetic, splenetic power chord thrash, Iggy screaming ‘I’m in a frenzy\/you fucking prick\/you goddam dick’.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subtle it ‘aint, but there is a knowing, self-deprecating humour about it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s even a nod to his advancing years; ‘My mind is on fire\/When I oughta retire<\/em>‘.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is raging against the dying of the light writ large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s more fast-paced riffola on Modern Day Rip Off<\/em><\/strong> and elements of hardcore on Neo Punk <\/em><\/strong>–<\/em> on both songs the old master appearing to take a bit of a pop, if you will, at the young pretenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Emotionally I’m a celebrity,<\/em>‘ he spits on Neo Punk<\/em>, ‘I don’t have to sing\/I’ve got publishing<\/em>.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Iggy
‘Every Loser needs a bit of joy’ – album cover art by Raymond Pettibon<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Producer Andrew Watt <\/strong>sprinkles a pop sheen over the proceedings, but there’s an overwhelming sense that this is Iggy in the studio having fun jamming with his mates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those mates are an A-list roster of players including Guns N\u2019 Roses<\/strong> bassist Duff McKagan<\/strong>, Blink 182<\/strong>\u2019s Travis Barker<\/strong>, Pearl Jam<\/strong> guitarist Stone Gossard<\/strong> and Jane\u2019s Addiction<\/strong>\u2019s Dave Navarro<\/strong> and Eric Avery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Hot Chili Peppers<\/strong> are represented by drummer Chad Smith<\/strong> and former guitarist Josh Klinghoffer<\/strong>, while the late Foo Fighters<\/strong>‘ sticksman Taylor Hawkins <\/strong>can be heard on Comments <\/em><\/strong>and the excellent five-minute closing track The Regency<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not all balls out rock’n’ roll, there’s a stylish homage to his adopted hometown on New Atlantis<\/em><\/strong>. Iggy crooning with real affection for this ‘beautiful whore of a city<\/em>‘.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Coming here is the best thing I ever did – Miami I love you.<\/em>‘<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He draws on personal experience for heroin ballad Strung Out Johnny<\/em><\/strong> – his baritone voice, warm and enveloping as though matured over oak barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might be sacrilege, but the lilting Americana of The Morning Show<\/em><\/strong> brings to mind U2<\/strong>‘s One<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An elegiac tale of someone preparing for an interview, it contains some of the record’s loveliest lines: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘A future that is hopeless\/Just makes each day delicious<\/em>‘; ‘Time is like a peel\/It opens and reveals<\/em>‘. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everything works. There are two, minute-long, spoken word curios, which feel underdeveloped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But on the whole this is fine record. Iggy Pop as fierce, immediate and direct as he’s been in decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Loser<\/em><\/strong> may not be as essential, say, as 2016’s Bowie<\/strong> and Berlin <\/strong>drenched Post-Pop Depression<\/a><\/em><\/strong> – but there’s clearly life in the old dog yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A welcome return to the Raw Power of The Stooges<\/strong> and well worth splashing your Christmas cash on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n