Hobson's Choice #1: The Weirdness vs Ready To Die

[Moleskin]

The 2007 Asheton-led reunion album, for which Iggy admits he was phoning it in, or the 2013 Williamson-led reunion, for which Iggy also admits he was phoning it in. In each instance because the chief collaborator didn't want the album to end up as an 'Iggy Pop' album.

The highlight of the two albums for me is 'The Departed'.

I'll be voting once I've listened to them both again.

[Moleskin]

[naughty boy]

The Weirdness easily. 'ATM', 'My Idea Of Fun' and 'Free and Freaky' are very good. They're not as furious as anything they put out on those exhilarating early albums, but they're fuckin' fired up enough for me.

There's only 'Job' that I like from the other one. It's a pretty lame affair.

[Moleskin]

The Weirdness easily. 'ATM', 'My Idea Of Fun' and 'Free and Freaky' are very good.

Those are good. I think they front-loaded The Weirdness with its worst song. I also like Steve Mackay's squawking on the title track.

[naughty boy]

Yeah, me too. But it's an odd one.

Have you seen this? I've posted it a couple of times before here. I really think it's great. It almost became a cliche, but they're playing better than bands half their ages. Thrilling.

[Moleskin]

I haven't. It's very good.

I suppose in some respects the album was partly an excuse for touring.

[naughty boy]

Yeah, I suppose so.

His voice is half-arsed tho' isn't it? I've just noticed that. And it does matter, I think.

[Charlie O.]

Live is one thing, but I don't think Iggy's done anything album-wise since Lust For Life that I ever want to hear again.

I didn't enjoy saying that, but I had to say it.

[naughty boy]

Not keen on New Values, Charlie?

[bobzilla77]

Live is one thing, but I don't think Iggy's done anything album-wise since Lust For Life that I ever want to hear again.

I didn't enjoy saying that, but I had to say it.

I would go as far forward as New Values and then, same for me.

I saw them live when they were doing some of those songs, and they were inoffensive, sorta not bad, kind of in the style of the other songs. But then they'd break into TV Eye and the whole affair got taken up a notch. I've never listened to either album in full though.

You know what had the chance to be good but wasn't really? That James Williamson album of all the unreleased Stooges songs with guest singers. I saw them do it live and it was a great show. Besides Jello Biafra the best were the female singers - Lisa Kekaula, Allison Mosshart & Carolyn Wonderland. And Williamson was playing as loud & powerful as ever.

I was excited to hear the album after that, but it sounded surprisingly wimpy. I wish I had a soundboard tape of that show, I would listen regularly.

[Charlie O.]

Not keen on New Values, Charlie?

I kept periodically trying for years, but... nah.

[Moleskin]

Solo he's made a bunch of records I like more or less. I'm currently revisiting for a project.

[Moleskin]

I have this theory that "Iggy Pop" records are better when Jim Osterberg is fully involved. When Iggy has too much control lazy cliches, musical and lyrical abound. Sometimes record companies have encouraged Iggy to sideline Jim. Beat 'Em Up is a case in point.

[Count Machuki]

Live is one thing, but I don't think Iggy's done anything album-wise since Lust For Life that I ever want to hear again.

I didn't enjoy saying that, but I had to say it.

I'm glad somebody said it.

In my experience it all checks out, too.

[TG]

I've never really heard the Williamson led comeback album. The parts I heard didn't really inspire. But The Weirdness is pretty weak too. In Japan they put out a 2 LP version of The Weirdness with 4 extra tracks. I could make the argument that those 4 tracks are better than anything on the official release.









None are great but they should have made the LP.

I'd also go along with Lust For Life being the last good album. New Values has 2 or 3 or 4 really good songs but there's too much filler. In later years you can find the occasional good tune - Pussy Walk, Mask, Candy - there are a few. But none are truly great and all are a pale shadow of the real stuff.