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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

RAW POWER; the title says it all. If you don't have this record (along with Funhouse) you simply haven't heard some of the best rock'n'roll of all time sung by the undisputed king of rock. This was the Stooges' last and most wildly energetic record (while Funhouse is often regarded as their masterpiece, which it is), and the ultimate soundtrack to a fucking riot. Turn on "Raw Power," "Search & Destroy," or "Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell" and you'd better have an outlet for the beast you're gonna let loose. I've literally put my fist through a wall and knocked over my TV listening to this record. Shit man, it makes you wanna break everything in sight and fuck your girlfriend. Okay, on to the record...

It's groovy, funky, intense, violent, and loud as hell. The Stooges were definitely far ahead of their time. Although there is a hint of classic hard rock to their sound, it is amped up to such a degree that it is barely recognizeable. I can't imagine what it must have been like hearing this stuff for the first time in the late 60's and early 70's; people must have thought this guy was a lunatic. The title track is the anthem to destroy all other anthems; "Raw power got a healin' hand, raw power can destroy a man, raw power is more than soul." All I gotta say is FUCK YEAH!!

It's all great, including "Death Trip," "Penetration," "Gimme Danger," and "I Need Somebody." Without this record (and 'Funhouse', wanna hammer that point home) there would be NO punk rock, NO metal, NO alternative, NO grind....whatever, anything loud and raw owes something to this record and forever will. So, if haven't got the point yet, go buy 4 copies of this and give them to anyone who hasn't heard it. Turn it up loud and feel the freak.



People who liked this also liked:
Descendents - Milo Goes To CollegeAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitRamones - RamonesThe Stooges - Fun HouseThe Germs - M.I.A.: The Complete AnthologyJawbreaker - Dear YouAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyThe Lawrence Arms - Apathy and ExhaustionBouncing Souls - Maniacal Laughter



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    Posted by TommyPickles on 2008-04-17 23:52:10
    My Score:

    Raw Power is an amazing album but their self titled is absoultely astonishing.

    Posted by totalstranga on 2006-07-26 04:32:57
    My Score:

    hell yes! the man and the band from my hometown!

    Raw Power indeed!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 21, 2006 at 10:16 PM (EDT)

    The importance of The Psychedelic Stooges in relation to Punk is unknown to me. I can't name the major players of Punk. I don't think Stooges music was pre-punk, punk, or influencial in the creation of punk. Stooge music was unique and Jim was offensive. I stood many hours leaning on the stages of Stooges' performances in the 60's and 70's, listening to their guitars moan and loving those drums! Jim was the first lead singer I ever saw stage dive into the audience, cut himself with a wine bottle, and pick a fight with a concert goer (he did that in the 60s). I was a keyboard player in a warm-up band for The Stooges, The MC5, and Ted Nugent of the Amboy Dukes. Throw a few Steve Miller performances in there also. Iggy was an idiotic lunatic. an absolute genius, and an entertaining performer. There was no entertainer in any industry that I respected more than Jim Osterberg. Jim was a business man and an artist. He planned his moves for success and financial profit. He wasn't successful by chance. He wasn't stupid. Just like Ted Nugent, "Iggy" was business first. It's all about accumulating wealth, as it should be.

    Posted by rkl on 2005-09-22 16:42:36
    My Score:

    Iggy & the Stooges - Raw Power
    Posted by Anonymous on 2005-09-19 12:45:59

    you're 23 and posting on a punknews site? holy shit, read "no life".

    i nominate this as the dumbest comment ever.

    im also 23, i post on punknews.org, and have been, in one way or another, since i was 18. i wasnt aware that i had to stop using the interweb once i hit 20.
    see kids, when you get older, you generally have more free time because you set up your own schedule.

    score's for the album.

    Posted by rkl on 2005-09-22 16:35:27
    My Score:

    Iggy & the Stooges - Raw Power
    Posted by Anonymous on 2005-09-19 12:45:59

    you're 23 and posting on a punknews site? holy shit, read "no life".

    i nominate this as the dumbest comment ever.

    im also 23, i post on punknews.org, and have been, in one way or another, since i was 18. i wasnt aware that i had to stop using the interweb once i hit 20.
    see kids, when you get older, you generally have more free time because you set up your own schedule.

    score's for the album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 22, 2005 at 10:05 AM (EDT)

    See, again I respect how you've seemed to change in your opinion. Before, you used to argue that squatters had every right to the buildings and blah blah blah, but now, you acknowledge it as a social problem from a humanitarian point of view. I applaud you.

    -sickboi

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 4:20 PM (EDT)

    How? I know lots of people who live on their own and don't have a problem with squatters.

    I seem to remember you generalizing squatters as "punk rockers" or whatever, which I think is untrue, but am neither here nor there about. Just because people have to pay for their homes doesn't mean they're bitter about people who don't. This would probably be because squatters have to create their own utilities and live in dirty conditions. And if "gutter punks" or whoever take advantage of that, who cares? They're abandoned buildings that people use to live in. Besides contractors, I don't see why anyone would be opposed. We don't need any more shitty shit lofts and expensive apartment buildings. The homeless do need a place to stay, though, whether they be suburban kids or not.

    -Will

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-09-21 13:47:21

    "I don't "front" as being pissed about anything but crappy music. Which should be the main concern."

    Willy, you seem to forget our discussions on squatting, where you, someone still living at home (which I have no problem with, you're a kid) tried to defend this to someone that pays rent and has respect for property and posession.

    I think you've grown up some since posting on here (hence the conversion from BSD to Will?) but your arguments towards that specific topic were pretty juvenile.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-20 17:40:08

    The point I was trying to make is that I shouldn't have to take shit from some highschool kid for being on a "punk rock" site. I wasn't being "ageist", if it seemed that way then im sorry.....I was more just trying to give the prick a taste of his own medicine. I started liking punk rock when I was 16......and I didn't move out until I was 18, but I must admit that my life is a lot more frustrating now than it was when I was 16.....and bands that didn't speak to me much then really hit me hard now.

    Posted by musicfilter on 2005-09-20 16:21:57
    My Score:

    Iggy Pop & The Stooges are rock and roll. For the poster above saying he wished he could find a real copy of this record...check ebay. I have an original press in mint condition that sounds incredibly rich.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 3:18 PM (EDT)

    The ageism conflict on this web site really tears me up.

    "What do you know about punk rock if you live with mommy and daddy?"

    A lot of awesome punk groups were young, and a lot of artists I bet even you like started off in high school. Eater? Teen Idles? They lived with their parents and I'd wager to say they actually made music when the "punk" lifestyle was relevent.

    Also, I live with my parents (I'm in high school, we can't all super-punk college art kids) and if you look at my reviews or comments, I don't "front" as being pissed about anything but crappy music. Which should be the main concern.

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 12:10 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    personally, i think if i were iggy pop i would be embrassed to see this record on this site.

    Personally, I am Iggy Pop.
    And I'm embarrassed to see you on this site.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 5:40 AM (EDT)

    personally, i think if i were iggy pop i would be embrassed to see this record on this site.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 5:39 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    wow...you can know a simile when you see one, high five!!

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-09-20 04:57:43

    hearing some pimpled face iowa native talk about iggy pop is like a retard trying to explain physics.

    or like you trying to construct a humorous simile.

    jones the idiot bones you need to kill yourself

    and the guy that says he's 23 and thinks he's a badass... what a little bitch


    god, nothing is better than someone getting mad at jones, it's like the punknews.org stupidity test. and apparently you're a moron.

    and i don't think Brandon thinks he's badass, or what even leads you to say that. he thinks he knows everything about old-school punk/hardcore, and thinks he has better taste than everyone here, but i highly doubt he thinks he's badass. i actually respect you Brandon, i like a lot of the stuff you do, just not vice-versa.

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-09-20 04:48:32

    you're 23 and posting on a punknews site? holy shit, read "no life".

    yea man, you're like, what? 16? you're fucking cool dude.

    remember; on the day you turn 21, you'll be instantly mature enough to drink... and no longer post on punknews.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-20 00:03:11

    Yes....I guess just because I was clarifying a point I'm a "badass". Just goes to show how young and stupid many of the children who frequent this site are. Welcome to the real world kiddies, get with it. Anyway, to clarify things further....I'm sure MANY of the people on this site are my age or older (most likely everyone in Staff Reviewing & Management......not to mention many regulars). What the hell does a kid who still lives off mommy & daddy know about punk rock anyway? What the hell do you have to be angry about? The girl at school not liking you? lol Come on!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 11:01 PM (EDT)

    By the way, what's wrong with being 23 and posting about music? Most of the artists are over 23. Jesus fuck, kids. Get ahold of yourselves. That's the equivalent to a Senior in College at the most.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 10:44 PM (EDT)

    jones the idiot bones you need to kill yourself

    and the guy that says he's 23 and thinks he's a badass... what a little bitch

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 10:12 PM (EDT)

    Bowie didn't remix the album. It was Iggy.

    Just a little F.Y.I.
    It ain't Bowie's fault.
    He's only to blame for Iggy's solo career.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 9:10 PM (EDT)

    the juke box at my school has the bowie mixes,and its pretty bad.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 5:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "yeah! fuckin' HIGH FIVE DUDE! see you after school at wrestling practice, Steve!"

    i dont get it

    score is for the album

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 3:30 PM (EDT)

    this guy just wanted to try out his new put down. he probably learned it on friday and couldnt wait to put it on the lead review come saturday - jones the bones

    yeah! fuckin' HIGH FIVE DUDE! see you after school at wrestling practice, Steve!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 1:53 PM (EDT)

    "god damn, wheres the quality control on reviews for this site. out of respect for such a seminal act shouldn't someone with basic english comprehension write a review that isn't just some stupid rant."

    All I gotta say is FUCK YEAH!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 1:29 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    god damn, wheres the quality control on reviews for this site. out of respect for such a seminal act shouldn't someone with basic english comprehension write a review that isn't just some stupid rant.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 12:45 PM (EDT)

    you're 23 and posting on a punknews site? holy shit, read "no life".

    Posted by kenjamin on 2005-09-19 00:56:05

    i thought it was a good review. I like listening to Primal Scream more though. Obviously they take huge cues from the Stooges but they're just a whole lot noisier.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-18 23:56:52

    LOL Um....I'm from California guys....and I'm 23....well out of the "pimpled face" range my friends. Sounds like this guys the only child on the site.

    Posted by secret_superstar on 2005-09-18 21:52:14

    the stooges are from the midwest. true detroit is WAY different than anything in iowa, but don't shit on the midwest.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 9:32 PM (EDT)

    Too bad for you Iowa ranks highrest out of all the nation in test scores.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 9:13 PM (EDT)

    so i guess reviewing old records is cool now, cuz uh..dudes...hearing some pimpled face iowa native talk about iggy pop is like a retard trying to explain physics.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-18 20:48:05

    What can I say? I was listening to the record when I wrote the review.....hence the over-excitement. I just figured the site wasn't complete without a review of this record. It really does make me wanna go insane, and yes the S/T is great as well.....I just think it's alot different than the other 2, not quite as intense, but still great nonetheless.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 8:18 PM (EDT)

    this review was the equivalent to reading a book report from a kid with downs.

    this guy just wanted to try out his new put down. he probably learned it on friday and couldnt wait to put it on the lead review come saturday

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2005-09-18 20:02:21
    My Score:

    I dig Funhouse over this, but then again, I can't really remember a lot of the songs on here, other than "Search and Destroy". The reissues sounds really, really, really, really fantastic.

    Posted by BEgosh on 2005-09-18 19:47:37

    the reissue shows how the record was supposed to sound, and its one of my favorite albums of all time. i have a poster of it in my room biatch

    Posted by audiosuede on 2005-09-18 19:41:57
    My Score:

    i have alot of interest in history and loads of respect for all of the pioneers of (punk) rock, etc. but i don't get into the 'without A there'd be no B' thing within punk rock.

    (that said, without Robert Johnson there'd be no rock.)

    as for Iggy, he bores me. i'm sorry. the Stooges to me, at least, simply represent a point in time during punk rocks incubation, if you will.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 7:06 PM (EDT)

    Undisputed king of rock, is he?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 6:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The Bowie mixes are fucking awful...the 2003 (I think) reissue is fucking great. This album is TEH SEX!

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-09-18 17:45:35

    I found the Bowie mixes and they suck. It's real quiet except for when a guitar lead comes in for ten seconds and blasts in your ears.

    I found a used CD for five bucks and it was worth it for comparison's sake but I've listened to it maybe four times.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 5:27 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Too bad it's impossible to find the real version of this album around anymore.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 2:22 PM (EDT)

    oh man, best review ever

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 12:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Yes everyone knows this is a great fucking album, did we need another review of it though? Not really. Ignore this , which is probably the 10,000th review of this disc, and just go buy it & crank it to 10!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 11:56 AM (EDT)

    I don't think the Stooges layed the template for 3-chord bash-out rock at all. I think they got big enough to influence lots of people, but if you listen to a lot of 60's blues rock and frat rock, it becomes clear that the Stooges were hardly original, they just used more distortion. I think White Light/White Heat came out before the Stooges' debut, and if any record gets called "the definitive punk record," I think it would have to be that one. Even still, the Monks, the Yardbirds, the Creation and the Sonics were playing mean, snotty RnB rock while Iggy was still in the Iguanas.

    I think a better band who sounded close to the same was Hawkwind, Lemmy's band before Motorhead (and after Sam Gopal). They were nerdy as hell, but if you like Funhouse, especially the sax songs, I bet you'll like early Hawkwind.

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 11:49 AM (EDT)

    Aren't we suppose to shine a light on the records that "slipped through the cracks?"

    How is this record under-represented?

    -kliph

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 11:18 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    stooges>avenged sevenfold

    Posted by mjg on 2005-09-18 11:03:53
    My Score:

    this album slays

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 10:42 AM (EDT)

    I don't get why people ignore the 1st slef titles LP, it's just as great as anything else they ever did. Evrything they did was fantastic and that has some classic songs, covered by everyone from Slayer, Sex Pistols, Some Girls......on and fucking on. Great CD.....

    That and the Tossers fucking slayed last night.

    Posted by blade-runner on 2005-09-18 09:14:18
    My Score:

    Cooler Than Cooler than Cool.

    This album Owns You.

    Along with "Lust For Life", "Raw Power" is the best thing Iggy Pop has ever done.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 7:04 AM (EDT)

    Man, whenever I listen to Search & Destroy now I think of Bill Murray just going ape on some Phillippino pirates. And it makes me laugh.

    -skizot

    Posted by fistchode on 2005-09-18 05:28:31

    "Since the beginning of time, through every era of human culture, there's always been the guys who do everything wrong on purpose and confront the mainstream with art. The Stooges are great modern example of this, but definitely not the first."

    I think it actually started with the Dadaists. From what I know about art (which really isn't much) is that only modern art is fucked up enough to think "that's so bad it's good" is a valid statement.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-09-18 04:25:16

    One of the best albums of all time, bar none. If you disagree you're a fool, end of discussion.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 3:52 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I love this album. There's one song on here I find kind of annoying, but the rest is smokin'. I like Fun House just a smidgen more that Raw Power, but Raw power still rocks hard.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-18 03:14:49

    you guys will bitch about anything i swear

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-09-18 03:12:11

    This album still blows me away. In context, Funhouse was a mindfuck for when it came out ('69, '70), especially with the blasting sax on the last three songs, with LA Blues being nothing more than a smash of sound. Then the band split up, then Iggy almost became the singer for the Doors when Jim died. Then they reformed with the brothers Ashton on the rhythm section, Ron moving down a peg from guitar to bass.

    This album is furious, driven, extremely well written. While Funhouse laid the structure for basic 3 chord rock played fast with lots of noise, Raw Power channeled the energy in well crafted songs. I mean, hell, there's a vibraphone on "Gimme Danger," and basically, if you listen to the guitar, there's a lot more straight up rock 'n roll riffs shining through on Raw Power when Funohuse was a lot more power chords.

    I love this album. While some tracks on Funhouse seem to get boring, this album is crafted much better and is a much better listen through.

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2005-09-18 02:44:50
    My Score:

    " I don't like this album as much as everyone says I should."

    I thnk this is a great record, but I wonder how many of us actually love the record because we think it's great music and how many of us just love this record because we think we're supposed to. I'm not even sure which category I would fall into.

    Posted by Cos on 2005-09-18 02:11:49
    My Score:

    If you wanna go into 60's records that influenced punk, i always think of "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks, one of my favorite songs of the era. Joey Ramone name-checked the Trogg's "Wild Thing" as well.

    I don't like this album as much as everyone says I should. It undisputedly starts strong, and then "Gimmie Danger" is a great slower song, but I think the record kinda falls off after that. "Your Pretty Face.." and the title track both are overlong and a little grating. "Shake Appeal" is, for me, the only redeeming moment off the second side.

    In terms of songwriting, experimentation, and dare I say raw power, I far prefer "Fun House". I would direct first time Stooges listeners there or the first LP, which has all the other oft-quoted classics, like "No Fun" (covered by the Pistols) and "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (covered by everyone else)

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 1:40 AM (EDT)

    this review was the equivalent to reading a book report from a kid with downs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 1:13 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is THE Stooges album. Yes, with a newer, flashy guitarist. And David Bowie production.

    "Funhouse" is good, but overrated. James Williamson is not only better on a technical level, but also when it comes to songwriting.

    Is this really the first punk record? Fuck no... If you want to connect the dots, I'd say "Without the Sonics, there'd be NO Stooges", and then "Wihout the Them, there'd be NO Sonics" and you could go back to ragtime influencing the blues.

    Since the beginning of time, through every era of human culture, there's always been the guys who do everything wrong on purpose and confront the mainstream with art. The Stooges are great modern example of this, but definitely not the first.

    I can think of ten albums from the 60's and pre-punk 70's that influenced the movement more than this one, or any Stooges album.

    -Will

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-09-18 00:34:55

    that picture of iggy freaks me out

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 12:31 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I don't.

    -Chinatown

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-09-18 00:31:28
    My Score:

    great album, obviously a classic, but i hate when people say "without 'A' there would be no 'B', 'C', 'D', etc...". if this hadn't come out, someone else would have done something similar, probably around the same time. i highly doubt it would be anywhere near as good, then again, who the fuck knows. thinking that without Iggy Pop we'd still all be listening to Strawberry fucking Alarm Clock is not very realistic.

    Posted by shindo on 2005-09-18 00:13:49
    My Score:

    I love this record.

    -adam