Iggy Pop - New Values

From his Motor City days with the band first known as the Psychedelic Stooges, or glamming it up with Reed and Bowie, or the occasional binge of onstage self-mutilation, Iggy Pop has always done what he damn well pleases. Fortunately, in today's street parlance: "It's all good." Here is a razor-sharp, wiry classic from the Ig's mighty Arista period, recorded at the height of the punk/new wave era. Aided by the likes of ex-Stooges Scott Thurston and James Williamson, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Patti Smith group alum Ivan Kral, Iggy shows all the pretenders how it's done on this cutting-edge platter -- on primal-scream hi-definition vinyl. Album Description

The End of the Seventies

The first of a three album deal with Arista Records, Iggy Pop is collaborating with producer/guitarist James Williamson for a strong collection of songs that was released in September 1979.

Williamson's production is not cluttered and allows the cool performance art of Pop to take the spotlight in Tell Me a Story, I'm Bored, Five Foot One and Angel. The title track is drenched in a satirical look on society, while Billy is a Runaway has as much sonic power lyrically as musically.

And it is a true band that is in the studio, as Scott Thurston (b, key), Klaus Kruger (d) and Jackie Clark (b) give the numbers a "live" feel. Two bonus tracks - Chains, Pretty Flamingo - are included.

By this time, punk rock was reeling from top bands imploding and a pop culture cool that made style over substance the biggest selling point. But the "Godfather of Punk" was not ready to take to the surf of the new wave.

September 5, 2008

New Values

Iggy Pop-New Values *****

New Values found Iggy Pop working apart from David Bowie for the first time since The Stooges Funhouse, and back in touch with former one time partner James Williamson. With Bowie out of the picture and Williamson back in the fold Iggy released an album much rawer than that of his solo debut The Idiot, or his landmark, Lust For Life, the album that New Values is the follow up to. For me personally this has always been my favorite Iggy solo album. It is the most raw, stripped, and real feeling of all his work. While it might not have the hit singles of Lust or the atmospheric sound of The Idiot, and not as popular as his later albums it is his best.

The guitar sound for one is amazing, as is the playing from Williamson. Iggy's vocals and lyrics are some of his best as well. 'Tell Me A Story' which opens the album couldn't have been placed better. 'The Endless Sea' is a Iggy classic and a fan favorite live. 'Angel' is nice at times but others can be much. 'African Man' is incredible but it is 'Five Foot One' that is the real gem on the album. The autobiographical track is typical Iggy. With 'little mans disease' Iggy is short but thinks he can take on the world, more so then than now but still. Iggy's performance can be summed up with the lyrics to the track as well.

New Values was a return to form for Iggy. A return to the sound and attitude that landed him the title of godfather of punk. May 2, 2008

Excellent

This album is fcking brilliant. I would recommend it to anyone, but I would especially recommend it to fans of Lou Reed or any VU stuff. This is a must have. March 18, 2006

At least 6 all time classic IGGY songs. He almost never plays 'em live either?

Yeah, if you've ever seen various live shows he has officially for sale and there's at least 6 such shows from over the years listed here on amazon.com, he typically doesn't cover any of these classic songs from this album except, on occasion, Five Foot One.
I've also always loved Soldier album by him and it's the same for that. He just plays Dog Food from there, granted, one of the finest songs, lyrically, of all time. Still, it's quite odd to me that of all his non STOOGES albums he'd do so few of his great genuine hits from these two albums.
Here's the songs I think continue to stand the test of time:
2. New Values 3. Girls 4. I'm Bored 7. Five Foot One 11. African Man and 12. Billy Is A Runaway. He is in great voice for this album. (I love) Girls and I'm Bored are, to me, two of the great songs, by anybody. Both lyrically and in the powerful way he delivers a full bodied pop song. The other four songs are also great with topics one rarely hears addressed in music as well as well crafted songs musically.

Tell Me A Story 8. How Do Ya Fix A Broken Heart 9. Angel 5. Don't Look Back Down 6. The Endless Sea 10. Curiosity
These are good songs. I enjoy them but don't consider them Iggy classics.
I'll admit, I don't own this CD as I have not heard these two bonus trax. 13. Chains 14. Pretty Flamingo.
However, I've owned the album since the late 70's and truely consider it to be a keeper, still. I think Iggy has one of the great voices along with (don't judge me, this is strictly vocal quality): FRANK SINATRA, BARBARA STRIESAND and HR (of BAD BRAINS). Yup. And IGGY's one of the four great ones. No question. Course, most of Striesand's music is hokey, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have an amazing voice. Iggy, on the other hand, combines an astoundingly strong voice with adventursome music that only occasionally disappoints, certainly on these two albums. If yer only going to own two Iggy records from his non STOOGES work, these are definitely the two to own, if you ask me. chrisbct@hotmail.com March 12, 2006

enjoyable pop

I think this is one of iggy pop's best records,also this record has some nice synth work on it as well. February 20, 2006

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