Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop: Skull RingSkull Ring (2003)
EMI Group

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: maverickScott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 4th 2003Iggy Pop used to be the one guy I always thought was the definition of "punk rock" - before the Ramones, Iggy had the Stooges. Before GG Allin cut himself up on stage, Iggy had already stopped doing that, realizing just how fucking stupid it was. When there was the watered-down "punk explosion" in.

Iggy Pop used to be the one guy I always thought was the definition of "punk rock" - before the Ramones, Iggy had the Stooges. Before GG Allin cut himself up on stage, Iggy had already stopped doing that, realizing just how fucking stupid it was. When there was the watered-down "punk explosion" in the mid-nineties, Iggy went the opposite direction entirely, ending up on the highly punk rock Adventures of Pete and Pete. Basically, the guy's been around for ages [and somehow still isn't dead], he's seen and done it all and then some. So how does he plan out his comeback?

Like a punk rock Santana, it seems.

If you don't know yet, collaborations between Iggy and others abound on this album. 6 songs feature Iggy's normal touring band, the Trolls, providing the backbeat. While none of these songs are amazing, they help the album come around and get focused after the many side-tracking collaborations.

But the real fun [or pain] starts when the "stars" contribute to the disc. Iggy and the Stooges reunite for 4 songs here, and they have no bite whatsoever. The songs are sloppy, too lo-fi for their own good, and just sound like bad seventies hard rock [complete with wanky guitar noises].

Modern punks Green Day [and their bastard children Sum 41] each work with Iggy on the disc. "Private Hell" is classic Green Day, Nimrod era [sounding eeriely akin to "Hitchin' A Ride"]. Green Day's second contribution, "Supermarket," totally rips. Iggy's vocals work really well with Mike Dirnt's solid bassline and Billie Joe's killer hook. Sum 41's "Little Know It All" is the single, and as much as critics like to hate on Sum 41 for whatever reason, I have no problems admitting that I enjoy this song - as a Sum 41 song, that is. It just seems downright silly to have Iggy singing lead to skatepunk as simple as this. Even he sounds bored.

Amazingly, Pop's best work on the disc is "Rock Show," a collaboration with electroclasher Peaches. As they bellow in tandem "Rock show / you came to fear it / you came to sear it / you came to do it all," one must notice the fire present in Iggy's voice, a fire that has been missing for the majority of the album. The last time I heard this guy sing this angrily was when he caterwauled "Manuscript REPLLLLLLICAAAA!" for At The Drive-In three years ago.

There isn't much bite here; there barely is any bark. Iggy tries to upgrade his image via others' coattails, and it just doesn't work on here. It's too artsy to be pop, and it's too pop to be taken seriously. Better luck next time, Iggy.

AUDIO
Little Electric Chair [w/the Stooges] Windows Media Real Audio
Little Know It All [w/Sum 41] Windows Media Real Audio

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

discharge (December 27, 2004)

iggy, no matter how strung out, or wrinkled, they man knows how to make music. when teenage girl still adorn after you, you're doing something right.

perry67 (September 9, 2004)

Iggy is cool, but this album is weak. Talk about fading away...

Anonymous (December 16, 2003)

you know, I actually like the songs he does with the stooges on here: I like them a hell of a lot more than the song with Suck 41
then again, I was one of about six or seven people who actually knew who the stooges were and appreciated their set when they played at Voodoo a couple of months ago

theycallmejesus (November 9, 2003)

"Sum41 should never, ever be put in the same sentence as Social D."

no one should put sum41 in the same sentence as iggy pop, either. unfortunately, iggy pop did.

all i can say is it's still punk because he was probably on heroin when he made that decision.

Anonymous (November 8, 2003)

I asked you to go to the Green Day concert. You said you never heard of them. How cool is that??

Anonymous (November 7, 2003)

This just in.....Henry Rollins has auditioned for a part in the upcoming alien vs predator movie.

Anonymous (November 7, 2003)

saw iggy and sum 41 last night on letterman and it was a good perfomance. iggy was getting in paul schaffer's and letterman's face. good stuff.

Anonymous (November 7, 2003)

raw power makes me wish that james williamson made more music.

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

Sum41 should never, ever be put in the same sentence as Social D.

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

Yeah, but let's be honest here. If this was some guy you never heard of, you'd hate it. Iggy hasn't done anything good since Lust For Life, which is great.

-BSD

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

wow. it's social distortion, buddy.

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

Am I the only one who thinks the Sum 41 track sounds like Social Distorsion ?

Prepare for the bashing !

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

I also like the Sum 41 song, meh, I never really despised them, and in comparison to all this whiny Long Island emo bullshit, and the costume show known as Good Charlotte; bands like Sum 41 and Blink 182 are becoming more and more acceptable in my eyes.

-sickboi

notfeelingcreative (November 6, 2003)

Rise Against, Avail and Strike anywhere all sound "EXACTLY the same"? What albums are you listening to? Sure, there are musical similarities, but EXACLTY the same?

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

Its a shame...Beat'em Up was such an excellent album.....it was up there with his best. But, as usual, great albums are often financial failures. So I guess Iggy, who can't be making all that much money, decided he need to get some hip kids behind him to cash in a bit. There a great songs on this CD....but the Sum 41 shit ruins it for me.

eyeball_kid (November 6, 2003)

Haven't heard this yet, but to be fair Iggy sounded angry and spat a lot of venom on his last album (Beat em up). I just hope the Stooges and Mike Watt come to England. But no more naked crowdsurfing please Iggy.

Anonymous (November 6, 2003)

I actually like the Iggy Sum 41 song... Oops...

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

pitchfork would equal an unfunny buddyhead if they stopped producing content, but as it stands, they review about eighty, give or take, albums a month.

and, i'm not really surprised that this album is bad. i was hoping that it wasn't, but it looks like it is

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

the new against me! record sucks, don't waste your time. i like the guy down below that was appalled by the presence of an iggy pop review on a punk website. nitwit.

anyway...

iggy should have given it up after lust for life. i love the guy, but man, this shit's bad.

the birthday party is a great band, i'd recommend getting junkyard first.

-waste

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

i'm sorry but i don't see what the big deal is with against me.....
p.s- how come rise against, avail, and strike anywhere all sound the exact same?

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Who else cant wait for the next rollins band album? I heard some demos and its fucking killer!!

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Fuck it...it's Iggy Pop....i wouldnt care if he was with the backstreet boys...its fucking IGGY^!!!

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Pitchfork = unfunny Buddyhead.

-sickboi

maverick (November 5, 2003)

To the person three comments down:

Both Pitchfork and Punknews work with reviews similarly, in that we both try to run reviews of new releases on the day they come out.

Of course, Pitchfork only does this like for one album a month, as they're super-elitist and such. But we tend to do it every week, in case you haven't noticed.

-Scott

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

To random people knocking Iggy.....Iggy is the creator of hardcore punk rock as we know it.....go listen to LA Blues or TV Eye or I Got A Right.....that is punk rock at its hardest and finest. The constantly mentioned "Against M!" are a good band....but they dont even hold a candle to Iggy's greatness...they arent even shadows.

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

To the guy two below....Release The Bats

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

There seems to be a growing trend: Pitchfork will review an album, and then Punknews reviews the same damn album that day or next.

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

off subject but i thought this was the best chance to get my question answered. i really want to get into the birthday party ive heard nothing but good things about them and the couple songs i heard i liked. Anybody have a suggestion as to which album i should buy any suggestions would be welcomed cause i have no idea and i don't want to buy one that would give me a bad impression of the band. thanks.

Anonymous (November 5, 2003)

Iggy hasn't realeased a good record in
20 years! The fact that Sum 41 are on this one tells you how easily swayed Mr. Pop is by his record comapny...

notfeelingcreative (November 5, 2003)

To the people arguing about against me!: They are a great band, at least they make a better effort than 90 percent of the shit out there, but to that other dude: don't ever disrespect Iggy AGAIN!!!! RAW POWER MOTHERFUCKER!

CallingLondon (November 4, 2003)

except for the whole starting thing. yeah...