Raw Power

This will always be a great listen it hits u right in the dick

Great Album. I think the Iggy Pop mix is superior to the David Bowie mix. It's much more raw and dirty.

Me and my friends couldn't find jobs one summer and so instead we'd get together each day and drink Miller High Life. We'd usually start the day around noon seeking sustenance, either cooking a big batch a scrambled eggs, or going to Burger King because they had a special on Whoppers: two for $2.22. Most nights we'd get to the point where we'd throw Iggy's mix of this album on a boombox and beat the shit out of each other Fight Club style. "Search and Destroy" was a particular favorite. This is rock and roll in its most potent form. For all it's snarling menace and brutality, it doesn't lack subtlety though, which is probably due to Bowie's careful production. He was able to refine their energy without overcooking it. Raw Power indeed.

Really, really fucking good! Dirty, scuzzy, filthy rock n roll! Love it! Short, sharp and at times brutal! Like being given a high five. But in the face. And with a brick. Iggy’s vocals are brilliant, the riffs are great! What’s not to like! TURN IT UP!!!!

Quite simply, one the best things ever committed to tape. I don't care that the production supposedly fucked how this sounded, I think it's cool and adds to the grime and aggro. This is one of the most evil sounding albums, and makes much of everything that preceded - and followed - it sound limp and fey. How chunky do those guitars sound! And the drums sound like a pile of bricks falling down a staircase. Incredible.

Contains some of the worst lyrics commited to vinyl and is in desperate need of a re-mastering but I do not give af. This is a thrilling, exciting masterpiece. Raw Power indeed

My first real exposure to Iggy Pop & the Stooges was circa 2007, when a cover of Search and Destroy appeared on Guitar Hero 2. I really liked that song, but I never looked more into the band. I first listened to this record about 5-6 years ago when I rented it from a library on CD and listened to it in my car. I didn’t care for it back then. Listening to it today was a much improved experience. It’s a little hard to believe that this album was produced in 1972. We look back at many albums from that time and call them proto-this or proto-that, but several of the songs on this album just sound like full blown punk rock to me. Bowie produced this album, but I am not not familiar enough with either his music or his production credits to be able to perceive any of his fingerprints on the record. My only quibble actually has to do with the song with which I am most familiar: Search and Destroy. That song is so high energy, and I will never understand why Iggy chose to sing the verses and pre- choruses in such a meek voice. He spends so much of the record, including parts of that same song, with much more aggressive vocals, so I don’t know why he used the soft ones there, where it feels like it really clashes with the music and takes some of the energy out of it. Since I was given Tom Waits and Iggy Pop so close together on this list, I am including a bonus link of a wonderfully awkward movie scene between the two of them. My personal enjoyment: 3.5/5 Did it belong on this list: 5/5

In my opinion one of the top 10 albums of all times. With Ron and Scott destroying the rhythm section. James Williamson playing leads that have yet to be defined, and Iggy meaning every lyric he sings. Who cares about the mix, the concept comes through loud and clear on every cut.

Pure raw punk

I wonder what all those stuffed shirts with their panties in a bunch over Elvis’ hip gyrations would think of this sleazy, visceral, menacing record. Proudly deformed, crude, violent, or should I say raw? More musically sophisticated than their previous efforts, but no less forceful as a result. Play it fucking loud. Standout Tracks: Search and Destroy, Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, Raw Power

This album is so much more focused than some of the Stooges previous work largely thanks to David Bowie's production. Iggy Pop's vocals are acidic and pointed, and the guitar work is much more interesting, punchy, and tight while still retaining that messy garage/proto-punk feel that define the Stooges. This album is dark, raw, and it can be easily seen why it is considered one of the most influential albums in rock.

Half proto-punk and half Jamie Vardy, by which I mean straggly, keyed up, a little dirty, a little naughty, and ugly as hell. Bowie mixing it into brittle thinness is a virtue. The full and bassy Iggy mix feels wrong. But like many Bowie albums, it's fun for the ideas most of the time and the execution only half the time. Better Iggy/Stooges albums exist.

So good. I loved every rough-voiced note of the thing. Iggy's just so much fun. Most fun for me, an admitted audio nerd, is that there are two mixes available for this album: one mixed by Iggy and one by Bowie. What a fun experience to listen to the two back-to-back!

Gosh, I've had my first genuine "dad" reaction to one of these 1001 albums: You call this music? You can't seriously want to listen to this rubbish! Play something with a tune! And stop hanging out with those long haired louts you call friends, wasting your time when you could be doing something constructive with your life! I'm warning you, if you don't shape up pretty smartly I'm marching you down to the army recruiting office. They'll make a man of you! The Stooges: pissing off the older generation for 50 years.

C’est vra8ment du raw power. J’adore ca. 5

Got this one! Iggy is the king of New York punk! He also has a show on BBC 6 Music.

Raw and dirty, like pissing in an open wound.

I really like this album in theory – I love so many things about the Stooges, and it's a cool, progressive sound. However, I just don't enjoy listening to it so much. Maybe it will change overtime

This has never been the Stooges record I’ve reached for, so fierce is my love for the debut and Funhouse, yet all of these tunes present themselves in my deep memory. I’ve underrated this, a sublime version of an Aerosmith album.

I loved this one. Hard to describe, but felt both familiar and unique at the same time.

I like how this thing makes me listen to albums I love but have taken for granted for a while.

Holy shit what an absolutely beast of an album. Cult success proto punk rock album, genre defining, and musical norm defying. Iggy Pop absolutely smashed the vocal performance on this album and the music is just so groovy and HEAVY. I wanna put on record that I listened to the whole 4 disc legacy edition instead of the standard 1973 release, thats how dedicated I am to the fanfare of this powerhouse.

One of my favorite rock albums, period. This is why Iggy is called the Godfather of Punk.

Absolutely legendary album. Crazy to think this came out in 1973. Iggy’s growling vocals and James Williamson’s hard rock riffs come together like a punch in the face!!

One of my all-time favorites. The Stooges and Raw Power are incredible.

In the rock n roll history there is very few album that carry a name that repsrent so perfetcly what the album is. Raw Power is what the Stooges are, sound like and look like, with this 3rd and final album (they are all in the 1001 albums list) they struke even harder than the previous. This magnetic piece of rock and dirt was produced by no other than David Bowie, a very good friend of Stooge's frontman Iggy Pop. Bowie save Iggy's life as he was in a downfall due to his crippling heroin addiction, by 1972 he was nearly homeless. After FunHouse (wich is more experimental and brutal) they fired their bass player (ironicly) because of his alcool consumtion (he will die because of it coupple years later). The rest of the band (exept Ron the guitarist) have troubles with substances and the band more or less disbanded in 1971. Its thank to Bowie that they regroupe with the addition of James Williamson to take the guitar part and Ron will be in charge of the bass (wich was kind of a downgrade). So that's the context chaos, drugs and Bowie, now what the album look like. The cover is a shirtless Iggy pop (classic), with some makeup and a glimmy underware. The album is definitly proto-punk, probably the first real 100% punk album before it was called punk, jsut the brutal riffs, the raw lyrics, the on stage antics and the global nihilistic attidute. The album is also way more hard rock oriented that the previous wich were more garage rock like. The album, especially with the look of of the banmd at that point, the guitar playing of Williamson and the fact that it was procuded by Bowie himself make it sound a bit Glam Rock. For me the album have 3 very songs they are: The tittle track Raw Power, an goo choice for the album name because it represent so much what the Stooges and this album is. The song have a persitent, loud and roaring riff, a cow bell that remind uis of I wanna be your dog, and direct lyrics. This song is the definition of proto-punk so doubt. Search and destroy, this one is probably the most interesting, a wonderfull riff suposed to sound a bit like a machine gun, and this time more inspireing about the vietnam war with illusion and images of violence. This song is a masterpiece proably of the best 70's song wich was cover and have inspired many many artists and real anthem of protestation. Gimme Danger, an accoustic song, also of the best in their carrer, with a slower and more backgroung electric riff, with brutal lyrics. Shake Appeal, with a more hard rock kinda sound and more simple lyrics this look like a glam rock version of their first album, i very like this song. The rest of the album is composed of: Your pretty face is going to hell, i like the riff on this one and Iggy hoarse voice and the tittle is cool and dirty lyrics that we are used to by now. Penetration have probably the simplest lyrics in the album, the song have a simple piano patern that strangely remind me of like Riders on the storms by the Doors or a text messasge alarm but with agressive riff and straight foward lyrics I need Somebody also contain accousitc guitar and Iggy's magnetic voice is really amplified by this. the song is pretty simple but still good Death Trip is the final song on the album nothing so particular about this one, straight forward lyrics, agressive riff its good but not as impactfull as other songs. Songs from this album have been coverd so many time my favorite are: Raw Power by Guns N'Roses and Search and destroy by RHCP. And countelss other artist have been inspired by this album, like Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), Johnny Marr (Smiths), RHCP, Kurt Cobain, Nikki Sixx, Def Leppard, Dead Boys, the New York Dolls, the Ramones ect ect. Is safe to say that without the Stooges and this particular album, punk rock would be as great and rock n roll would have never been the same, for its huge influence and incredible tracks this album earn better than a lot of other reccord its place here.

Still holds up. A nasty-sounding punk album with plenty of bite. Damn near perfect.

Great

Never heard anything by The Stooges before, but this album rocks.

Absolute banger of an album and really showed me some of the origins of bands I’ve liked throughout the years. The influence of the stooges is wider than I had thought. It also helped I listened to this album while driving around Southern California in a truck with the windows down. Felt like I was in Lords of Dogtown :))))

this is one of the greatest albums of all time. top 20

"Raw Power" is the third studio album from American rock band The Stooges. The album was a change from their two previous albums going into more hard rock with new guitarist James Williamson who co-wrote the songs with vocalist Iggy Pop. The Stooges had previously disbanded due to lack of commercial success and drug and alcohol issues. Iggy wentbto London to record a solo album with Williamson, they added former Stooges Ron and Scott Asheton as the rhythm section and reformed as Iggy and The Stooges. There's a lot on the mixing and remastering of this album with Iggy mixing the first and later versions and David Bowie mixing the second version. I listened to the remastered Iggy mix. This album was very influential and is known as a fore-runner for punk rock. "I'm a street walkin' cheetah with a heart full of napalm" and we rocket off with "Search and Destroy." It's fast. It's got a 60's guitar sound played with a controlled chaos. The title taken from articles written on the Vietnam War. "Gimme Danger" is more melodic with an acoustic guitar. Actually evil sounding. Iggy screaming. He wants a dangerous girl. "Penetration" has classic heavy metal guitar. Hello Black Sabbath. It's got a groove. It's pyschedelic; you can hear Iggy playing the celesta. No need to go deeper into the meaning...OK, didn't need to say it that way. The Stooges didn't forget their garage rock roots in "Raw Power." A piano added. Iggy doing his thing. The album ends with an appropriate loud song in "Death Trip." This is essentially a song-long searing guitar solo with the underlying rhythm guitar and rhythm section. Iggy is howling. "Baby, come along on my death trip." This album is dirty and bad-ass. I'm being totally cliche here but Iggy and the band sound like they were unleashed from a cage. Relentless at time. Williamson 's guitar is absolutely fantastic. A sound that you would here over the next few decades. This album influences are far and wide: Sex Pistols, Johnny Marr, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Black Flag and many more. An album everyone needs to listen to.

I have a soft spot for artists from my home state of Michigan (not including Kid Rock or Ted Nugent haha), and especially those from Ann Arbor, which I've called home for the last 30 years. I also have a soft spot for early punk/proto-punk innovators, so how could I not love James Osterberg, aka Iggy Pop? As the title says, this album is raw and powerful. If I were to just base my rating on my enjoyment of this album I would probably give it 4 stars - I love it but I'm a bigger fan of acts like The Replacements, who were able to duplicate the raw/rough-around-the-edges approach but also added some more hooks and more insightful lyrics. However, when I also consider how influential the Stooges and this album were on all the great punk/alternative music that followed I have to go with 5 stars.

Search and Destroy is one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s a perfect composition of genius lyrics (I’m a street walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm!), manic paced punk rock with some actual guitar chops, and the greatest Iggy delivery ever recorded - all growl and howl. Also, there are the other songs which are good.

I don't even really need to relisten to this one, But I've done it because it's fucking worth listening to. Man I love this album. And they linked to the Iggy pop version. Which I like the most, they fucked the recording of this shit up. They recorded everything at one time so it's so hard to balance. So on one end you have the David Bowie mix, which he tries to make something pretty decent without but it really does lose that gross raw and gritty sound that Iggy pops. Which Iggy just slid everything to the top and called it a day. Which is why I think this albums needs to be listened to loud. So for the big speakers it's always the Iggy pop, if I'm using some nice headphones then the Bowie mix. Albums good, The stooges slap. It's always worth the time. Highly recommend.

This album is a full-on assault on the listener. Those who have seen Iggy live can confirm that the energy in his concerts is even higher than this assault. I guess giving 100%+ at all times is the only way you can be confident that someone will break your fall when you leap off the stage. I quite like the guitar. It sounds like the same guitar Keith Richards played then. When "I Need Somebody" started I laughed my head off. I couldn't believe these guys would have a ballad in their repertoire. I guess Iggy needs one or two ballads to get let his heart rate recover to 170  during his live shows. Yeah it's noise, yeah it's loud, yeah I have no clue what the lyrics are and yeah I love it!

Best tracks: Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell, Shake Appeal, Raw Power

Lots of loud instrumentals and vocals in a good way! This immediately reminded me of my husband, who would probably think I'm pretty cool for listening to this album. Liking it a lot and I find Iggy's androgynous style very sexy. I love the subtle use of keyboard and xylophone type instruments.

Testosterone is a hell of a drug. This is a bad boy manifesto: sweaty, shirtless, wild, inebriated, dangerous. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. “Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do.” The music matches the brash, dirty, explosive energy of the braggadocios lyrics. The production is unrefined, uncontained, and immediate. Prowling, howling, growling. Raw and powerful. I never listened much to The Stooges, but it's immediately clear that many other artists did; their influence is obvious and wide. Some LOL’s: The title “Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell” …It just makes me laugh. In the official lyrics listed for “Penetration”: “[gibberish]” Was that a burp opening the titular “Raw Power”? Kind of sums up the vibe.

Was surprised never listened to iggy before. Very good for the time. Great lyrics

It’s incredible that this album was released over 50 years ago because it still holds up as classic example of the early punk sound.

I preferred the Iggy mix version of the ones available

I think it's easy to take Iggy and The Stooges at face value, but that would be a mistake. This is a band that deserves the praise and near reverence it receives. Iggy Pop really understands what it means to use his voice in service of a song and his vocal versitility isn't so much in his range as it is in his impeccable ability to change his sound to fit the story of the song. Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and James Williamson are in equal turns dynamic and grounded on an album that, while not a perfect album, still feels vital at 50.

I feel like this album might be the best example of how rock music moved from the psychedelic to punk eras. Search and Destroy” is a furious and thrilling opening track and “I need somebody” had jammy and spacey guitar parts, but these don’t seem to be in conflict with each other. Not sure how much I would truly want to re-listen, which is keeping this from being a 5 for me.

Energy and ability. Definitely the spirit of punk.

This is the birth of punk

Iggys mix is the definitive way to hear it. Made me realize how inspired music has been by the stooges. Good fucken album.

This is kind of a weird album because people are highly split on what the definitive version of the album is. It's a real testament to the genius of this album that it could be so influential and fully deserving of its place on this list despite the fact that it...doesn't sound very good. I listened to the 1997 Iggy remix of this album, since the original version of the album sounds too thin for me. The Iggy version also has its problems, but I feel like it's closer to what they were going for than the original. It's also a great reminder of why you probably shouldn't put a spiraling heroine addict in charge of recording your album. Regardless, this is a titanic album in the history of rock. The Stooges represent this incredibly clear bridge between 70s rock and punk rock as well as having an influence on heavy metal. I prefer the two earlier Stooges albums to this one, but this album had an incalculable influence on so many pioneering rock musicians from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that it needed to be on this list. The podcast No Dogs in Space has a 5 part series on The Stooges that I would highly recommend if you find this album interesting 4/5

- First time listening to a Stooges album - Thought I would like it, lived up to expectations - Massively influential album - Fav songs: Gimme Danger, Raw Power, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell

Raw Power is an apt name for this. Great stuff. The guitarist has some fantastic licks. It's unfortunate he never really did anything else on guitar.

There's some good here, and there's some bad here. Iggy's vocals aren't always the best and can get a bit annoying but there are some pretty fun different melodies and rhythms. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)

Does exactly what it says on the tin

In the context of the time period this album and sound transformed music.

Nr. 113/1001 Search And Destroy 4/5 Gimme Danger 4/5 Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell 3/5 Penetration 3/5 Raw Power 3/5 I Need Somebody 4/5 Shake Appeal 3/5 Death Trip 3/5 Average: 3,38 Good, straightforward rock album.

Pre-punk punk for sure. Good stuff, but didn't connect a ton.

First 2 songs were my favourites. The rest of the album is alright, got through it without wanting to turn it up or turn it off... solid 5/10

Wasn't super familiar with the Stooges beforehand but holy crap it was like listening to the forerunner of so many 90s and 00s successful alt / indie rock albums. Tracks felt so modern despite being 50 years old. Pretty good stuff.

Listening with the proper historical context, it’s easy to understand why this record deserves attention. I’m sure it was one of the heaviest, ball-busting albums of its era. To these millennial ears, however, it sounds like the proto-punk record it is — big on sound and energy, less so on songs.

I liked this more than I was expecting to.

Listen to the Bowie Mix - got halfway through the Iggy Mix and stopped because I was getting a headache lol. Not a terrible album, but definitely not one I’d ever come back too.

The sound is like decomposing Chuck Berry. It's raw Punk. And a song like I Need Somebody is a compost heap version of the blues. It's cigarette butts in skunky beer. It's fine, but not for me.

Music is ass, sound quality is worse. This is dreadful. Nick right as always. If I was disenfranchised and pushed to the outer rim of society this would go HARD. I don't blame 'em I'm just sayin' :speak: Iggy Pop more like Iggy Stop!!!

Aggressively obnoxious, loud, and annoying. 2/10

I didn’t do enough cocaine in my past to enjoy this album. It’s too frantic

4.5

I had this record on vinyl (since lost to the fire). All the streaming services had two remasters-the Bowie mix and the Iggy mix. The Bowie mix felt closer to my memory of the album, which is a solid album, no skips. I really hope the Iggy mix doesn’t represent what Iggy wanted out of the album, because it’s really not great. This album is a 5 star album for me, but the mix can really change that (it loses at least one star for the Iggy mix, if not more).

I cannot understate how much more I enjoyed this album compared to the other two Stooges album. These feel more structured, more like actual punk, and each song is really quite strong here. It's dirty, raw, and full of character. Iggy really crushes this album and so does the band, mostly the guitar work. Gimmie Danger is such a good song, but so is Search and Destroy and Death Trip. The super dissonant droning is mostly gone here and what's left is an album I definitely would revisit.

Raw Power is a top tier garage rock album. What makes this release so special is how effortless the songs seem to come together. There’s a messiness to them and what really makes it work is how cool Iggy is, the attitude, the snottiness it doesn’t work if the lead singer isn’t legitimately cool. In the case of Iggy and the Stooges, Iggy IS that cool. Fucking great, 5 stars

One of the greatest rock albums ever made, full of blistering energy and intensity: raw power indeed. 10/10 Best Tracks: "Search and Destroy" "Gimme Danger" "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell" "Penetration" "Raw Power" "I Need Somebody" "Shake Appeal" "Death Trip"

Yes

Most accurate album name ever? 9/10 Stooges never miss

Love it

Save some cool for the rest of us damn

Raw power will surely come Running to you...

Genius as always Iggy and the boys rip it up

I'm a streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm Fuck Yeah

Amazing album. Lots of grit and swagger and down n dirty guitar. Play this one loud as you can!

Unforgiving hard rock. Harder and dirtier than their first two records (The Stooges, and Fun House). Bowie helped produce this one, and I think he also helped reign in Iggy a bit too. Favorite songs: Shake Appeal, Raw Power, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, Search and Destroy, Death Trip, I Need Somebody, Gimme Danger Least favorite songs: Penetration 5/5

I listened to the first track of the Bowie version and found the constant fading in and out super distracting. Then I listened to the Iggy Mix, and understood why this album is called RAW POWER.

I know this album well and I thought about giving it another listen to see how it lines up with the rest of these albums. Search and Destroy hits and I know it still holds up as a five out of five.

Старичок Игги никогда не разочаровывает. Это отличный релиз чтобы кататься на скейте, драться в баре или весело ходить. Тупо грязный олдскульный панк-рок и больше ничего. Кайф

När jag upptäckte Stooges så upptäckte jag också den perfekta rockmusiken. Jag har inte hört något lika kaxigt och intensivt rockplatta varken förr eller efter Raw Power. Jag fick gåshud på vägen till jobbet.

A classic … the cover art alone is worth 5 stars 😍

Siehe vorherige Radiohead Bewertung

Crazy Iggy and The Stooges. A good album, but more importantly, the vehicle to a movement. Father’s of Punk? Perhaps…

its funny that all things being equal, the original run of the stooges went out on what is probably their simplest and least ambitious record, and in doing so leaps the furthest into the future to foretell the shape of rock music to come. my association with this is always that its a good record that is never quite as facemelting as search and destroy ever again and tbh maybe those tempered expectations just get me caught off guard because regardless of relative facemeltitude, it never rly stops. its prob extremely stupid to try to put words to this record at all lol but it is continually a delight in exactly the same way it is every time u listen to it. few records are sweatier!!!

Oh yeah. Pure rock n roll. Everything nice and loud. Acoustic guitars and glockenspiels (?) give the sound depth and texture. The attitude is bad-ass throughout. Great cover art.

### In-Depth Review of *Raw Power* by The Stooges Released in 1973, *Raw Power* by The Stooges is a landmark album that bridged the gap between garage rock, proto-punk, and the burgeoning punk movement. With Iggy Pop's visceral vocals, James Williamson's ferocious guitar work, and a raw, chaotic production style, the album has become an enduring symbol of rebellion and raw energy. Below is an in-depth exploration of its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and its merits and flaws. --- ## **Lyrics** The lyrics of *Raw Power* are unapologetically nihilistic, embodying themes of destruction, alienation, and hedonism. Iggy Pop’s songwriting is visceral and confrontational, often reflecting the chaos of the early 1970s. - **"Search and Destroy"** opens with the iconic line: "I'm a street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm," setting the tone for the album's explosive energy. The song critiques American imperialism during the Vietnam War while channeling personal alienation[1][4]. - **"Gimme Danger"** adopts a darker tone with masochistic and self-loathing lyrics. It’s a plea for danger and chaos in an otherwise bleak existence[1][5]. - The title track **"Raw Power"** encapsulates the ethos of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll," portraying raw power as both a destructive force and a source of liberation[3][4]. - Tracks like **"Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell"** and **"Death Trip"** delve into themes of decadence and existential dread, reinforcing the album's nihilistic undertones[4][5]. The lyrics are not polished or poetic in a traditional sense but embody the primal spirit of punk rock. They are direct, provocative, and perfectly aligned with the album’s unrefined aesthetic. --- ## **Music** Musically, *Raw Power* is a ferocious blend of hard rock, proto-punk, and garage rock. James Williamson’s guitar work is central to the album’s sound—aggressive, sharp, and chaotic. - **Guitar Work**: Williamson’s riffs are raw yet intricate. His solos on tracks like "Search and Destroy" are blistering displays of controlled chaos[2][4]. His playing marked a departure from Ron Asheton’s simpler garage-rock style on earlier Stooges albums. - **Rhythm Section**: Ron Asheton (moved to bass) and Scott Asheton (drums) provide a heavy yet flexible foundation. Tracks like "Penetration" showcase their ability to create slinky grooves amidst the chaos[2][4]. - **Vocals**: Iggy Pop’s delivery is unhinged yet deliberate. His raspy screams on "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell" contrast with his more subdued menace on "Gimme Danger"[4][5]. - **Diversity**: While most tracks are loud and aggressive ("Shake Appeal"), others like "I Need Somebody" incorporate bluesy elements reminiscent of The Doors[4]. The music is relentless in its energy but also demonstrates surprising complexity beneath its raw exterior. --- ## **Production** The production of *Raw Power* is one of its most controversial aspects. Initially mixed by Iggy Pop himself with limited technical expertise, the result was chaotic and uneven. David Bowie was later brought in to remix it for release. - **Original Mix**: Iggy's mix emphasized rawness at the expense of clarity. Instruments often bleed into one another, creating a sense of overwhelming chaos[2][3]. - **Bowie’s Remix**: Bowie attempted to salvage the album by adding some structure but retained much of its raw edge. However, some critics argue that his mix diluted the band’s intended sound[2][6]. - **Legacy Edition**: In 1997, Iggy remixed the album again for reissue. This version amplified its rawness even further but polarized listeners who preferred Bowie’s balance[5]. While some see the flawed production as part of *Raw Power*’s charm, others find it detracts from the musicianship. --- ## **Themes** Thematically, *Raw Power* explores destruction, addiction, alienation, and rebellion: 1. **Destruction**: Songs like "Search and Destroy" revel in imagery of violence and chaos as metaphors for personal and societal collapse[1][4]. 2. **Addiction**: Tracks such as "Raw Power" reflect Iggy Pop’s struggles with heroin addiction—a recurring motif throughout the album[3][4]. 3. **Alienation**: Lyrics across multiple tracks express feelings of being outcast or disconnected from society. 4. **Hedonism**: The album celebrates excess while acknowledging its destructive consequences. These themes resonate deeply within punk rock’s ethos and have influenced countless artists since. --- ## **Influence** *Raw Power* is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums in rock history: - It laid the groundwork for punk rock by embracing rawness over polish. - Bands like The Sex Pistols and The Ramones drew heavily from its sound and attitude[3][6]. - Its influence extended into grunge (e.g., Nirvana) and alternative rock movements decades later[1][4]. Kurt Cobain famously listed *Raw Power* as one of his favorite albums, highlighting its lasting impact on generations of musicians. --- ## **Pros** 1. **Innovative Sound**: The album was ahead of its time in combining hard rock with proto-punk aggression. 2. **Unfiltered Energy**: Few records capture raw emotion as effectively as *Raw Power*[4][6]. 3. **Influential Legacy**: Its impact on punk rock cannot be overstated. 4. **Standout Tracks**: Songs like "Search and Destroy," "Gimme Danger," and "Raw Power" remain iconic. --- ## **Cons** 1. **Production Issues**: Both Iggy Pop’s original mix and Bowie’s remix have been criticized for their flaws. 2. **Inconsistency**: Some tracks feel less cohesive or fully realized compared to others. 3. **Limited Appeal**: Its abrasive sound may alienate listeners accustomed to more polished music. 4. **Lyrical Simplicity**: While effective in context, some lyrics may feel repetitive or underdeveloped. --- ## Conclusion *Raw Power* is not just an album—it’s an experience. It captures a moment in time when rock music was at its most volatile and rebellious. While its flaws are evident—particularly in production—it is these very imperfections that contribute to its enduring mystique. For fans of punk rock or anyone seeking unfiltered musical expression, *Raw Power* remains essential listening.

raw

Classic. One of my all time favorite albums. It immediately struck me when I first heard it as a teenager and it has been in solid rotation ever since. 10/10 album for me. The rawness, the power, I guess that’s why it’s called Raw Power. Another one that was waaaaay ahead of its time.

This album is insanely fun. It feels like one of the first steps past the line between rock and punk, and it nails just about everything in the process. This was my first time listening to the Iggy mix, rather than the Bowie version, and I think I enjoyed it even more. This isn't my favorite Stooges record, but it's such an incredibly fun, balls-to-the-wall experience, that I can't help but love it. My only complaint is the same as every other time I've listened to Raw Power - I can do without Penetration. That song is just fine, but gets outshined by the other 7 tracks around it. 9.5/10

Brilliant the energy of this one was electrifying made me wanna run around naked

Classic proton-punk. Great songs and cool vibes from such an old album.

Probably the best of the OG trilogy. Lives up to the name.

Day 35: Raw Power - Iggy and The Stooges. Iggy Pop Album 2/3. Stooges Album 1/3. Raw Power is an ambitious and revolutionary album. It's often described as a proto-punk album. It was a major influence on a lot of punk albums that came after it. It is quite a recognizable album. If the instrumentation were slightly tweaked, it probably would have been a metal album. I've listened to both the Iggy mix, and the Bowie mix. Personally, I prefer the Iggy mix. In both of the albums, the production is rather an acquired taste. It's quite abrasive, which is a large contrast from some of the squeaky-clean productions of today's music. I'm not the biggest fan of punk rock (or proto-punk rock), but I really like this album. I love its energy. I love how heavy it is. Despite the rather confusing production, it does provide some charm to it. As the album title accurately suggests, this album is very raw, and it has a lot of power. Personal Enjoyment: 4/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 5/5.

Brilliant.

RAD!!!

Fleur says she feels cooler every time she listens to The Stooges. As a review, as an idea, as a fact – it’s tough to improve on.

the clue is in the title raw and powerful garage/punk

Sensational.