The Weirdness by The Stooges does not just reunite Iggy Pop with his original band mates, brothers Ron and Scott Ashton.
More significantly, it is a nearly complete return to The Stooges’ original pre-punk garage rock form. On the opener, “Trollin’,” Pop admits, “My dick’s turnin’ into a tree.” See, he’s even acting like the horny dude he once was. Or perhaps that’s the juvenile man he’s always been. After all, who’s to say he’s ever fully grown up?
Iggy has always been a round peg in a square slot. Even now, when he’s trying to fit in with the rock & roll elite of his peer group, he finds trouble. On “Greedy Awful People” he both complains and lusts at the same time: “I’m sad and lonely, baby/Because I can’t live among my class/I’m thinking only, baby/About scoring your piece of ass.” Mr. Pop is at his best whenever his witty delinquent side shows through. After his baby leaves him for a Hispanic man on “Mexican Guy,” he wonders: “Maybe I should swallow a little pill/Maybe I should listen to Dr. Phil.” This whole cartoon dilemma is put to a winning Bo Diddley beat.
Money is a constant Pop worry, too. One song is bluntly called “ATM,” whereas on “She Took My All My Money” he whines, “She used all my money, she didn’t say thank you/Damn!” Then again, there’s the rant, “Greedy Awful People.” Money changes everything, and it is changing everyone around Pop.
Musically, guitarist Ron Ashton shines throughout. He’s no fancy fret man, but he knows how to match Pop’s vocal passion note for note instrumentally. Mike Watt, of the late great Minutemen, fills in on bass for the late Dave Alexander. Pop sings these new songs with a snarl most of the time, although he switches to a Bowie-esque croon for both “Passing Cloud” and “The Weirdness.” This is straight forward rock & roll, with few additives. Nevertheless, Steve Mackay’s saxophone enters and exits the mix now and again.
You might assume it would be nearly impossible for Iggy Pop to return again to his primitive roots. But he does so with The Weirdness, and in convincing fashion. The Stooges worked originally because they never tried to feed us frilly pop music or pseudo-brainy rock. Instead, they gave us the straight truth, whether we liked it/wanted it or not. And once again, here in 2007, The Stooges are offering us gut-level honesty. Musical styles may come and go with the whims of fashion, but art that gets straight to the point without any unsightly distractions is always welcome.
More significantly, it is a nearly complete return to The Stooges’ original pre-punk garage rock form. On the opener, “Trollin’,” Pop admits, “My dick’s turnin’ into a tree.” See, he’s even acting like the horny dude he once was. Or perhaps that’s the juvenile man he’s always been. After all, who’s to say he’s ever fully grown up?
