Growing old gracefully? Not this 75-year-old, who after mult-genre collaborations including spoken word poetry (2019’s Free), explodes back with a full-on heavy rock and punk LP - lewd, loud, crude, satirical, sweary and angry. Joined by a supertight supergroup band (“the Losers”, including Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, some final recordings by the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, and particularly pianist, guitarist and super-producer Andrew Watt. What’s stirred up in that cauldron are sounds that range from Stooges and punk, 80s metal, hardcore and more, but it’s Iggy’s visceral, high-octane vocals that are as enraged and energised as ever, including opener Frenzy, with lyrics that are impressively absurd and satirical of the rockstar profile (I’ve got a dick and two balls, that’s more than you all … My mind is on fire - when I should retire.” Modern Day Rip Off pastiches the Raw Power-era Stooges sound and is decorated with lines such as “I ran out of blow a long time ago / I can’t smoke a J, all my ducks fly away”. Neo Punk, another full-octane number includes the line “My hair is blue, and my prescription, too”. The fury and particularly the filth goes to absurdity in All The Way Down (“I’m gonna blow up a turd”), but other standouts include the softer and rather beautiful sound of Morning Show, about an ageing radio presenter (Iggy of course does a regular BBC 6 Music Show), the more pop-rock Strung Out Johnny, the climate change-related All the Way Down, the piano-led Miami-tribute New Atlantis (“a beautiful whore of a city … sinking into the sea”), The Regency, and the fun 1-minute interim parodies My Animus and The News for Andy. Velvet voiced and screaming, angry and humorous in equal measure, Iggy’s certain is not going gentle into that good night. Out on Gold Tooth Records / Atlantic Records.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new songs and albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: