Raw Power [Remastered] - Iggy & The Stooges > Reviews > Pop Not Pap

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Seminal
Disadvantages:	See text below

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Probably best known for his appearance on the Trainspotting soundtrack to non-fans of punk/glam/rock ‘n’ roll/whatever he is, Iggy Pop is my ideal pissed uncle. Rather than the hairy blob that is my real life “unc”, just imagine Xmas with Mr Pop round, spitting in the pretzels, wearing cellophane trousers and spilling vodka-laced urine into your grandmother’s mouth. It’s be a blast – not for granny, but WHO CARES? Punk/glam/rock ‘n’ roll/whatever this is was BUILT to annoy, and to entertain.

Raw Power is widely considered to be Iggy’s seminal release, along with his band The Stooges. This is actually their comeback (in 1973, date fans!) record, their first two releases selling worse than Ebola flavoured cola. Still, the not-really-anticipated record was beset by a further problem – the mix was awful. SO VERY AWFUL. No-one actually knows why (they probable don’t remember, knowing the Stooges history of drugs drink and drugs. Did I mention drink? And drugs?), but this remixed version sets out to redress the balance, with mixed results.

The new packaging is in fold-out booklet format, with some very cool photography by Mick Rock, and an 8 page booklet with liner notes by Mr Pop and more photos. Iggy explains his decision to come in and re-jig the tracks- basically Sony said to him – “we’re going to do it anyway”. Not wanting anyone to rub his rhubarb for him, in stepped the weirdmeister! And now, for your reading pleasure, the tracks!

***THE TRACKS***

Track #1 - Search And Destroy
Superfuzzy guitars come right in, as if the band couldn’t be bothered to record an intro – which then kicks in! Confusing. I’m disappointed by this track, mainly the vocals. Still, the first time I heard this it was a cover version by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Say what you like about how important Iggy and the Stooges were, but Anthony Kedis is a far stronger vocalist. The music batters Iggy, he doesn’t show much of his later aggression and this is A Bad Thing. If you’re looking for a classic track, however, this comes damn near close. When the guitars layer and get twice as loud near the end of the track, it comes into its own faster than a redneck orgy. Ideal time for listening – before skipping to Track 3.

Track #2 – Gimme Danger
A quiet acoustic led track with persistent percussion from a tambourine. Quite a Doors feel to this, with sing/talking from Mr Pop and kicking into a more electric mood in the mid section. The lead guitar starts to go all freestyle as the song winds down, and then builds back up slightly for a more powerful close. Ideal time for listening – ON THE SHORES OF THE RIVER STYX WHERE IT GETS BURNED INTO YOUR HEAD AS THE ONLY SONG YOU CAN RECALL FOR ALL ETERNITY. Rubbish!

Track #3 – Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell (originally titled “Hard To Beat”)
Apart from a superb title, this is a very strong track. “All right! Wooh! Pretty face and a dirty look” growls Iggy as it all comes together – this is what you’ve been waiting for! Screaming in high pitched tones at the ends of verses, with a very live sounding backing from the band. The guitars are superb, messy but melodic and some cool riffs. You can say what you like about rock, but someone screaming “WOOH!” and meaning it makes my face split grin-wise. Iggy’s vocals sound like he’s been drinking gravel with a gasoline chaser, my favourite track! Ideal time for listening – before a night out, or to cheer yourself up after hearing track 2 by mistake.

Track #4 – Penetration
Another quiet track, but more electric guitar driven, with an odd xylophone riff in the background. Iggy’s on the growl again, far better than Gimme Danger, and certainly more menace in his words (when you can make them out – and when he’s not making cat noises) – “Come and take me…I’m alive…Penetration…”). Doesn’t sound scary on paper (or screen), but just listen to him QUICK before the guitars drown out his vocals with about 1 minute left to go, and the backing singers come in to doo-ba-doo-doo him out of there. Ideal time for listening – before your partner lashes you to the radiator then goes to the shops for 3 hours.

Track #5 – Raw Power
Freaky piano and guitar riff, which sounds like someone has found out that pressing the keys on the piano make a noise, and so press the same one in a football terrace chant stylee. Iggy’s vocals go down a key, but the 1950’s rock ‘n’ roll vibe of this song makes me feel like pogoing round my living room – until the woman downstairs threatens me with a police warning again. Damn. The piano would be better if it was a guitar, but imagine strapping that to yourself… you’d crick your neck quicker than a giraffe in a dumb waiter. The guitars, thankfully, do their old trick of coming in near the end and drowning everything out - hurrah! Even so, this goes on a bit too long. Ideal time for listening – three minutes before the police come around with a big axe to smash your stereo up.

Track #6 – I Need Somebody
Slow, bluesy riff with a few Iggy squeals leads you into a whispers-in-the-background low key affair, with Iggy in “Passengers” mode. That means, kids, radio microphone (muted and artificial sounding vocals) and cool hip-swinging finger-snapping refrains. Definitely the stronger of the slower tunes, and my second favourite track. This is one I had to ban from my Walkman selection in case I started walking down the road like I was in a musical, or doing the “chicken-neck”. Oh, and yes, the guitars come in at the end over the top of everything. SPOTTING A THEME YET? Excellent. Ideal time for listening – on your own, so you can really practice that Elvis impression in front of the bathroom mirror.

Track #7 – Shake Appeal
Not a song about a fundraiser for needy milk-based drinks, as I once thought. No, with a “1,2,3,4” the handclaps invade and this catchy number is upon you like Divine Brown at a Hugh Grant lookalike contest. Just over 3 minutes, so perfect for true punk status, it seems to lose direction vocally now and then, and the guitar riff does lose its appeal (ha ha) after a spell, but nowhere near as awful as track 2. Ideal time for listening – whilst doing something else.

Track #8 – Death Trip
The loudest vocals on the track come in – if only he was SAYING something! The guitars kick in to a very cool riff, with some nonsense lyrics from the Iggster, something about taking a girl out… or probably drugs, knowing him. Iggy takes a back seat to the music, but keeps his foot firmly on the pedal where it counts. The longest track at just over 8 minutes, but it goes by quickly enough, with some Pop hysterics in the mid section, which sound suspiciously like “now I wanna be your dog…” Hmm. He howls like a dog too! My third bestest track – never mind the length, feel the quality! *BING!* Oh, sorry, that’s my cliché alarm going off.

* * * * *

No-one does bonkers quite like Iggy. This is a pretty ragged bunch of songs, but worth seeking out at mid-price, just skip past Track 2 and you’re laughing – not that I’m against that song or anything. 34 minutes is JUST FINE for a punk / rock ‘n’ roll CD in my book. The trick is to try and avoid the non-remixed version, and hunt this bad boy down. You’ll thank me later.

RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF: Ramones, The Damned, Marilyn Manson.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF: Crown green bowling, listening to the gentle mating call of the blue whale, my grandma singing “My Ding-A-Ling” with her teeth out.

Thanx for reading!

© P$ 2002

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Iggy-links:

sonymusic.com/artists/IggyPop – more background info on this CD.

www.rawiguana.com - unofficial site with lots to see and do.

www.iggypop-virginrecords.com - bizarre site, very yellow, with a F**KIN’ FLASH INTRO and poor content.

www.iggypop.org - another unofficial site, frequently updated with cool content.

www.marilynmanson.net - go and take a look. If it weren’t for Iggy, Brian and his cronies wouldn’t be p*ssing off Middle America right now.