Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Disappointed with this.
2/10 - terrible noise
An amazing album of songs hindered by a rushed recording session. Still a classic. When I hear these songs it makes me wonder just how amazing seeing this live at the time must have been.
Very short album, but great rock
Another mid rock album that blends together, running out of things to say for these ones too
Now this is an album to hear before you die. Every song feels like it could be in a movie cut scene/montage. Aside from that, listening to this album connected the dots for a lot of music I listen to now
I found it instructive to listen to this right after yesterday’s Deep Purple album. Doing that made it feel like I was watching proto-metal and proto-punk evolving out of rock right before my eyes. It goes without saying that I like this a lot better; it’s more chaotic, less predictable. It feels honest and a little out of control, which contrasts nicely with the smoother stuff that was happening at that time in the early 70s. You of course can’t replicate Iggy Pop’s singing, which sounds dangerous and exciting, and the guitar is raw and forceful. It’s a great great record that feels like a live performance.
Good
8/10 Best songs: Search and Destroy, Gimme Danger, Raw Power I wasn't expecting much considering I'd never heard of this group before getting this album today, but I was pleasantly surprised when the first song began to play. The music is very much of its time, a sort of hard rock/punk sound that verges on heavy metal at times. I will say that the album doesn't stay as strong as the first few tracks the whole way through, but it is quite enjoyable regardless.
Yeah this was a banger
Enjoyment: 6/10 Replayability: 5/10 Cohesion: 7/10 Flow/Pacing: 5/10 Artistic Merit: 6/10 Weighted Average: 5.8/10 Review: I listened to the 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition and I consistently preferred the Iggy mixes over Bowie's. They were a little softer around the edges, but didn't lose the integrity of the hardcore guitar riffs. That being said, the songs were very same-samey but this was still a good album to listen to. Liked Song(s): Search and Destroy, Penetration, Raw Power, Shake Appeal, Death Trip Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No
Lysanade inte riktigt
listened to the anniversary CD. I loved the Bowie Mix more than the others. The live recordings had loads of energy. They’re from a time before punk even existed. Now, after all the punk madness, they’re better to listen to than other punk bands. I can only play it when I’m home on my own, otherwise my wife walks out straight away. The Stooges had long since disappeared from my radar. It’s lovely to revisit this. Some of the songs are simply beautiful.
I listened to the Iggy Mix for this one, not the Bowie Mix. Listened to a few versions from Bowie's version and it seems like the production is a lot cleaner on that one; the Iggy mix is really muddy sounding. As much as I love this kind of scuzzy rock sound, with that crunchy distorted guitar and gritty drumming, the execution here is just okay. The Stooges deliver on their album name's promise, as this is a raw and edgy album sound-wise, and the conveyance of rage is well communicated. This is a perfectly listenable album, and something I'd probably come back to every once in a while, but I don't see any real intrinsic value in this album past its foundational status as a punk rock album. It's something I could see Ferris Bueller's parents being pissed off at if that makes sense. Does it belong on the list? Yeah. Did I personally enjoy it that much? Kind of. Textbook 5/10 album. Favorites: - Search And Destroy - Raw Power - I Need Somebody
The pioneers of punk rock put together a decent album. ‘Twas fun reading about the influence this album had on both punk and grunge. However the bands that built on their work are so much better. The production on this album is not great and the bands raw talent just isn’t as good as other rock bands of the time. We’ve had quite a few rock albums already on this project and this one would be mid to low tier. Favorite songs: - Search and Destroy - Raw Power Rating: 5/10
now this is punk rock I can get behind. 4/5.
Classic
This album was recorded in a couple of weeks and then Iggy was just given a day to mix it on a primitive desk and by his own admission made a bit of a bodge of it. The record company hated it. He called in his pal David Bowie who did his best to salvage something and eventually produced a master that was released. There have been various attempts to revisit this over the years, trying to capture the spirit of the original, including one 1997 attempt by Iggy which is famously the loudest record ever released with everything turned up to 11 and oodles of compression and distortion. The 2023 remasters hit the spot for me though. Whichever mix you listen to, this is an album that does exactly what it says on the tin. The literal raw power of Iggy Pop’s vocals and guitarist James Williamson’s blistering riffs bleed through your speakers and make your hair stand on end. I think this is as good a point as any to declare this as being year zero for punk, defining the sound for generations to come.
Okay - just 70s glam rock
Power pop or proto punk, call it what you will, but whatever the label it’s just good basic hardcore rock and roll. It must have sounded really different in 1973 when it was first released. Great stuff! 4
The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool.
A very raw and abrasive rock album for the early 70’s that while doesn’t have my favorite vocals ever is still very high energy and a fun listen
I prefer the other two albums but this is still great. Gimme Danger seems like a foreshadowing of some of Iggy's later work. Essential
For a pioneering punk album this was really clean. Like, remarkably clean. Approachable even for the people that don't like punk. It's not one I'd come back to, but it works. The guitar work is snarly, the vocals clear. The melodies, while not rich, are decent. My Rating: 3/5
could also be a 2 on a different day but for now this is not anything engaging or pleasant.
The Stooges are one of my Rosetta Stones, a band that unlocked my taste in a significant way and opened up a whole world of music that I had mostly ignored or shrugged off. I'm probably going to rate all of their albums five stars, and most of Iggy's solo work is going to be in that ballpark too. I can't think about them very rationally. That said, they were clearly nearing the end. Even for them, this one was extra shaggy. It's only 8 tracks, and at least 3 of them are skippable. But also, "Gimme Danger" is on it. "Gimme Danger" is just one of my 5 or 10 all-time songs. And there are another 3-4 stone-cold classics to boot. I'm stumped on how to rate this. It's the worst of their three albums as a band, but if I had to save one in a fire, it'd be this one. So I guess it's five stars? But that's an extremely personal rating. If I were being more objective, I'd knock it down a star, or maybe even two.
It was raw, it was rough, it is not something I'd listen to again. I can feel the punk vibes and I can see why it failed commercially but gained a cult following in later years. Honestly, I think I'd like the Bowie mix better.
Kind of mind-boggling this came out in 1973. Sounds totally fresh in its high-octane energy. Blistering and sexy. Fav Tracks: "Gimmie Danger", "Penetration" and "Shake Appeal".
Feeling this today, but could be grating if I were in a different mood.
I think The Stooges peaked here, this is them at their most wild, chaotic and unpredictable. So many bangers on this, this is punk before punk existed. Not only musically, but it has this rebellious attitude to it too. The whole album is super explosive and fire, it has so much bite and I love it. Iggy Pop sounds pretty wild too with some of his vocal inflections.
7/10
Rått, og av til litt for rått for meg. Iggy sin stemme er ikonisk.
Never heard in full, although some of the songs were very familiar. One of those albums where I would have liked to have given it 3 and a half (or 7/10). The best tracks are the most well known....Search and Destroy, Gimme Danger and Raw Power are absolute classics that have more than stood the test of time. And if that was the standard throughout we'd be going 4...maybe even 5...stars. But the rest of the tracks don't really have the same quality. Don't get me wrong they weren't terrible, but there was nothing that would make me want to hear it again. Favourite track. Search and Destroy and Gimme Danger
Neat
4.33
The Iggy mix is much better, and I just learned where the whole classic metal comes from. Great album!
Not bad at all. OK.
Still awesome to this day.
Solid album! Dips a little on tracks 5 and 6, but finished strong
Top 2 proto-punk album, and number 1 is also the Stooges. 4.5/5
Bowie mix sounds bad ;( Iggy mix is better Was gonna be 1 star 2 star since Iggy mix is cool but the music still kinda sucks
guter rock, verstehe, weshalb sich generationen danach an diesem album orientieren.
Ja, das ist mal coole Musik!
raw power is right. proto-punk from the motor city. iggy pop is cool.
Arguably the birth of punk
good background noise
Dont like
The first half of this album fucking rocks - prefer Iggys mix to Bowies
What a coincidence that I happen to be reviewing this record today. I have the 2023 edition (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition). It includes Bowie’s mix and the 1997 mix by Iggy Pop, plus a magnificent live recording and a disc of outtakes. One thing is certain: Bowie’s 1973 mix is clearer and more incisive than Iggy’s later version. The latter is darker and rawer—a proto-punk manifesto. *Raw Power*—the third studio album by the groundbreaking American band The Stooges (billed as Iggy and the Stooges)—is a cornerstone of the hard rock and punk pantheon and an enduring presence in rock music and culture, embodied in eight songs written by Iggy Pop and the then-new Stooges guitarist James Williamson. The album features classics such as "Search and Destroy," "Gimme Danger," and the title track. It also marked the band's final album of their classic era before they reunited in the 21st century to release two more records. Without this album, the genre of punk might never have existed; nor would hard rock or later heavy metal exist in the forms we know today. An incredible number of bands and musicians have been influenced by The Stooges—and Iggy in particular. Even grunge drew inspiration from Stooges songs. Long live Iggy Pop; incidentally, he turns 80 next year.
i really liked this. fun classic rock and roll! very energizing, good for commute to/from work.
Good harder album from The Stooges. Never heard more hard rock from The Stooges, used to more of their glam rock style songs; which I tend to like more. Though this album is still good, just not what I was expecting.
Iconic
Rare album that is actively irritating to listen to. I have to imagine this is for someone but it is strangely repulsive to me. Just sounds like shouting and noise, and I usually like queer people making shouting-and-noise music! Wish I liked this one more.
Bowie Mix
No estuvo tan mal
2.3/5 Enjoyed this more than I thought I would but still didn't blow me away
This is not normally my favorite genre, and I don’t love this. However, I do like Search and Destroy and this wasn’t a bad listen for me by any means.
Not my thing. Goes hard but simultaneously sluggish. Not uninteresting but don’t know when I’d listen to that. Some twists on common rock tunes.
Undeniably legendary
Pre punk.
Эх щас бы сырой пиздятинки
Aptly named!
This has been one of the more interesting listening experiences I’ve had from the project. First of all, I managed to completely overlooked this album because of the name change from the Stooges to Iggy & the Stooges. I guess I shouldn't have assumed that all of their music was in one place on streaming services. Anyways, I started with Iggy’s mix because, in general, I always prefer to hear what the artist actually wants to be heard. Unsurprisingly, I loved the album because I am a sucker for proto-punk and I love the Stooges. However, I had to follow it up with the Bowie mix to see how different it was and, wow, is it ever different! They’re basically two different albums and I genuinely wasn’t sure which one I preferred, so I ended up doing a final track-by-track comparison of both mixes. Apparently I’m split right down the middle on this one, and I feel like this will change the next time I listen to this album, but my preferences as of right now: - Search and Destroy - Iggy mix - Gimme Danger - Bowie mix - Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell - Bowie mix - Penetration - Iggy mix - Raw Power - Bowie mix - I Need Somebody - Bowie mix - Shake Appeal - Iggy mix - Death Trip - Iggy mix I feel like Iggy’s mix was a bit more cohesive, but also ended up being a bit muddy at times. Nothing really stood out and some of the instrumentation kind of faded into the background. Bowie’s mix on the other hand provides a lot more clarity and separation, but it doesn’t always feel as cohesive and sometimes feels a bit thin. Reading up on the recording and mixing process and it doesn’t seem like it was an ideal situation for anyone involved. I haven’t studied music production or engineering (although I have strongly considered it), but this album should probably have at least a lesson or two dedicated to it.
For me there is something about the Stooges that other Punk bands, except the Sex Pistols maybe, just can't match. 4 stars or B+.
Passable but not doing much for me
good but not my style
Fantastic guitar work, but to be blunt, I can’t stand Iggy, for a number of reasons.
Yeah I enjoyed this and added one song not my current vibe exactly but appreciated the suggestion
I have this album and listen to it a lot. It does have an over produced sound but I still love it. “Shake Appeal” is my current fave on the album. The “Iggy Mix” is better than the album I own.
Excellent album.
dude hellOOOOWWWWW........ this has been hidden from me for wAY too long! the vocals... the guitar... everything is just gold after gold. had a blast listening, some of the songs did sound kind of repetitive in this album, but pretty good either way!
Wasn’t keen on this
There is nothing that really sticks out from this album for me. I like the chaotic and I partly like Iggy's vocals. Although Iggy screams are nice sometimes, I partly dislike them
I like this, can see the classic rock sound move into the more grungy sound of the 90s 4/5
I guess this is a precursor to punk music?
Fun, albeit a bit yell-y sometimes, but not amazing
Listened a day late because of big cycle to Gourock outdoor pool yesterday! Tried both versions, can't really say I had strong feelings about either.
Since this is so obviously a five star record, let's dive into the mixes. Bowie: sounds like punk, tinny, recorded in the garage, ear shredding. Iggy: bassy, full, sounds like how it would sound at a gig, a little muddy, but loud, with vocals more up front. I think I prefer the Bowie mix, it just has that sense of we didn't know what we were doing but we ripped this shit out anyway that influenced so much of later punk. But both are good. Just like this record!
(Listened to the Iggy Pop version, as that's where the link took me). This is the second Stooges album I've gotten, and while I recognize and respect the roots of this album and the way it's influenced alt rock and punk rock to this day, I did find the vocals somewhat grating. Guitar riffs were great, and the sound was very decisive, but overall it's a 3 due to my personal musical preferences.
This was not the vibe! I did not like it at all. I don’t want to hear anymore of it either 😭.
Solid
Well now I know who iggy pop is
Okay
Not a bad album at all but not anything special to me.
Proto-punk
Dangerous, badass rock 'n' roll recorded in a wet paper sack
Dia 02 de 1001 albums Se que existen varias versiones de este album, con Iggy y con Bowie, y a pesar de ser las mismas canciones son completamente diferentes. Bowie tiene un estilo sonoro más cuidado y detallado, con Iggy se percibe la suciedad, el punk, los garitos y el sudor. No sé que era exactamente lo que buscaba la banda transmitir, pero ambos albumes son igual de válidos. Siento eso si que el de Iggy es mucho más divertido... Concretamente las canciones Death Trip y Search and Destroy me han gustado un montón. Un album que podrías poner perfectamente en la playlist de la guerra de Vietnam.
#225/1001 🇺🇸 A very good record, but personally prefer the 2 earlier Stooges albums. Best Tracks: Search and Destroy, Pentration, Raw Power,
The energy produced from this record reminds me a lot of the early days of rock and roll when it was still in the hands of country artists. Iggy pops vocals remind me of Jerry Lee Lewis and the instrumentation although way harsher. I feel like if I heard these songs in a live environment I would like them more but sometimes it feels like all energy with not too much substance. Fav tracks: search and destroy, gimmie danger, penetration, and death grip
Iggy Pop & Co. have just never been really appealing to listen to for me, personally. Always kind of felt very noisy and … gimmicky?
Can see why it's influential. It drips attitude, swagger and feel. But no song really lands for me. So yeah it's interesting but for the feel rather than anything I remembered after it finished, 3 Star
well its really 70s but i feel like it the music lacks the sort of something. you can just do the 70s better. i wouldnt say it revolutionary or sth.
À approfondir
Raw rock - not unlike The Doors. I quite enjoyed this listen.
proto-punk. fun listen
Had a feeling Iggy Pop would make an appearance on here somewhere. This is the band that invented punk in my opinion.
I've been thinking what my criteria for 1 star would be and I've decided on the question "Do I want it to stop?". If yes, then it's a 1 one star. While a 2 star album is only boring, the thing that makes this album a 1 star is that I simply cannot bother to listen to song after song which make my skin crawl.
Iggy pop donc du hard rock quoi
Je sais pas
Assez sympa aussi j'ai bien aimé
4.5
Meh
Na primeira vez que comecei a ouvir, não gostei. Na segunda, no entanto, me agradou muito mais. 3.5/5
Not a huge fan of the music, lyrics, vocals, etc. Some fun guitar intros but they're pretty brief. Also the mixing is as bad as is claimed Highlights: "Gimme Danger", "I Need Somebody"
It’s not that long an album but it felt like it
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background
8 songs Fun and energetic, just something short and sweet to get you pumped up.
Hmmm nope
Interesting! I like it but it went on a bit too long. 3.3
Phenomenal, Iggy’s best
It seemed like they didn’t care whether I liked the music or not, and that only made me like it more
I enjoyed this more than I probably should have. Novelty hard rock. Definitely worth a listen.
An album that I should love, but doesn’t ever really get there. Some great jams, but they don’t round it out entirely.
Didn’t love this
I think I've heard this album before, but I wouldn't be able to tell you when the last time was. Yup, classic foundational punk. I listened to the Iggy Mix, and you can hear the fizziness of the fuzz pedals.
Surprisingly good but Raw Power lacks the raw power to compel me to listen more than once. The second track was pretty skilful, whatever it was...
Three Stooges albums. Once again, feel like we're filling a quota rather than considering critically every album that deserves a listen. Probably my favourite of the three as it seems to be the most fully-formed and cohesive. Some of the guitar licks are really good but the production feels really muddy at times and loses the nuance. It's just about done enough for a 4 but I don't see myself coming back to it urgently.
Whatever mix you prefer, this is still a damn good album, and an important one in the history of punk. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I generally liked this one. I primarily listened to Iggy Pop’s mix instead of David Bowie’s, save for a few tracks that felt slightly emptier just to see if David’s was better, but I think Iggy’s is done well. I should listen to the Bowie mix in full someday, to be fair, but I’m running a bit low on time for this one. Of the ones I sampled from Bowie’s mix, I think I prefer “Raw Power” over Iggy’s version; something about the additional depth in the backing bass really fills out the soundscape & adds a bit more of an explosion to the guitar lift at the end. That energy is what makes or breaks the album, and I’d say for 7 of the 8 tracks here, the energy is present throughout. The only one that misses the mark is “Penetration”, which just feels a bit too same-y in both mixes. That energy, while present, isn’t always at full blast & occasionally stagnates after going a bit too long; that’s the main reason I’m at a 4.5 here. Even with a mostly breezy 34 minute runtime, with headphones in, you can feel this album stretching its tracks slightly past an expiration date. It somehow feels a little long as a result, but it’s one of those things you’d only feel near the ends of each track; the core to each track here is too rocking to really care whilst in the moment. Overall, it’s one you just gotta feel out. The lyrics matter, to a point, but in the larger scheme of things, they’re just means to an instrumental end. I do hear the grunge/punk influence this must’ve had throughout, and I think I can partially hear why Kurt Cobain wrote this at the very top of his 50 favorite albums list. Iggy Pop’s voice is full of energy, and the instrumentation generally meets it. If you can let the brain rock out instead of thinking too critically, you’ll probably enjoy it. I think it’s good; maybe not THAT good as far as “one of the very best albums of the ‘70s” goes, but a pretty enjoyable one nonetheless. Hence, a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5.
It was an alright album. Not my favorite go to type of Rock, but there were some good songs. 2/5
Not nearly as good as Bowie collab Lust for Life
Iggy mix>Bowie mix
I have a lot of nostalgia about this one!
Wow, just wow. The Stooges have always been a bit of a musical blindspot for me, and after one runaround with this I'm lamenting not having taken the plunge sooner. This feels like exactly the type of album deserving a place on the list – one that surely laid the groundwork for punk's aggression and uncompromising style with its relentlessness and pure adrenaline from start to finish. The lead playing on here is frantic and oozing with attitude, and it has an early metallic edge to it, whilst Iggy Pop sounds like a man possessed on the mic with his charisma expertly entwining with the chaos unfolding around him. I listened to the 2023 "Iggy Mix" which supposedly fixes some glaring production faults observable on earlier versions, so for extra credit I think I will investigate further later on, such was my enjoyment of this record. Although I recognise how it could feel slightly thin or wearing to others, I kind of like how the entire thing sounds like a complete house on fire with its somewhat undercooked sound. It's 30 relentless minutes of having your eardrums bashed in. A big "hell yeah" from me, it's gone straight onto the purchase list and fuck it, I'm awarding full marks.
Favourite Songs: Search And Destroy Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell Penetration Death Trip
not my fav but ok i guess
MUITO BOM!!!! Não conhecia o artista, mas me surpreendeu muito, é bem estilo anos 70 mesmo, que diga-se de passagem é um estilo musical que gosto muito. Recomendo demais
Trve pvnk
perfectly listenable and elevated by the occasionally more unusual vocal performance from pop. vocals are mixed too high, guitar is undeniable and overall effect is not much to me.
I understand why some might like this, but I just don’t. All the songs sound the same to me.
Better riffin' and better songwriting than previous albums. An early hard rockin' classic, even though the production is dreadful. 3/5.
Certainly deserves a place on the list. 3/5.
A very cool and conceptual album. It features an unusual deaf-garage sound with many cool guitar riffs. I wasn't familiar with The Stooges but now they definitely have one more listener. Iggy Pop's vocals combined with this harsh sound create an energetic and brutal atmosphere.
Probably one of the most appropriately named albums of all time.
I had never listened to this before
4/10 First off, I hate how this album is structured, it feels like a mess. Besides that I didn't hate it but I know this isn't something I'll revisit
I would rather die younger if I have to listen to this.
Raw power indeed
A 3 because you really have to be in the form for it. A 4 on a good day though
Great
Class punk album, top tier
What an ending to an album
6.6 Good songwriting, bad sound/mixes, couple duds
Kjennskap: 5% Gøy i én sang eller to. Slitsomt i lengden.
a pretty powerful and all-around good record, i can definitely hear the influence this band had on one of my personal favorite albums, jeff buckley's grace. sometimes iggy's vocals are a bit out there, but overall this is a greatly enjoyable listen. (listened to the iggy mix)
4/10
BEFORE: More Iggy! My first repeat artist - already reviewed and loved Fun House. This is also familiar so I'm looking forward to getting into it again. AFTER: The production is dogshit and it just doesn't matter. The music is primal, raw, heavy and yet somehow still really catchy. I imagine that people who prefer clean, shiny production will struggle with this. If you like lo-fi, punk, garage rock etc. then this is as good as it gets. Iggy Pop's vocals are relentless and James Williamson is an immense guitarist. HIGHLIGHTS: I really love Search and Destroy, Penetration, Shake Appeal and the title track but there really are no bad tracks here. LOWLIGHTS: I mentioned the production, but that doesn't really detract from the music. VERDICT: 5 stars, baby.
The songs are good but nothing memorable. Classic rock album. No songs that I would save or anything Review - 6/10
Good album but bad mix and mastering it sounds way to compressed there's clipping and distortion right through the album, at times it's just way too fatiguing, a pity really because it's good raw Rock , I listened to the Iggy mix I hear the Bowie mix is a lot less fatiguing so I'm going to check that out
Briefly reminds me of The rolling stones. Liked the first track. Low 4 but that’s still generous
After putting up with "My Beautiful Dark Twisted P.O.S. musical Fantasy" b.s., we get some real Power...raw! But the recording sucks. I listened to the Bowie mix (Iggy's re-done mix is equally abysmal, losing more bass if that's possible). It sounds like the bass and drums were in the adjacent studio and we're only hearing them like a neighbor hearing some loud l.p. from an adjacent piss-poor stereo system. Sucks. But the intent was all there. 5 "at least we get the feel of Iggy's vocals loud and clear" stars. One of the best proto-punk albums ever produced. Powerful.
Great riffs and solos all over this record paired with the unmatched mic presence of the legendary Iggy Pop. The intro track “Search and Destroy”, “Gimme Danger”, and “Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell” all stand out for me as highlights on the record, but I wouldn’t say any song on here was less than good. Also the 34 minute runtime makes the album a quick and easy listen.
I don't really understand why there was so many different mixes of this album. I've just picked one at went with it , hopefully it matches what I imagine the original sounds like. That being said, I don't love the mixing. I don't know if that's necessarily my fault for picking the mix that I listened to but everything felt very muddy and very loud as well. I'm not huge on the leads voice at points, I do like the base though , and I think the guitar elements do work nicely. I don't hate this, but it's not super notable I feel , and it's also not really my vibe. Fav Track: Raw Power
Well done!
good ride. i think iggy isn't my fave but i get it
Each track felt slightly worse to me than the one before. And I didn't love it to start with either. Only reason it's not getting 1 star is because there's far more diabolical albums that I've already been subjected to, and this was nowhere near those.
I liked it even though it normally not my type of music. Very unique.
Not me vibe
he just straight up starts gnawing on shit during penetration (wild sentence to write out). type music ur dad says "they just dont make it like they used to" about when he listens to chappell roan
Raw and powerful, gritty punk rock.
Album #155: The Stooges – Raw Power ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the greatest and most important bands of all time, and a band that drifts in and out of the top spot as my favourite band ever. I can never tire of listening to The Stooges. There are only a handful of bands that genuinely changed my life, and The Stooges are definitely one of them. While this is probably their most famous album, with some of their most famous songs on it, I also think it's by far the weakest of their original three albums. Let's get the two big negatives out of the way first. The production is a total disaster. Famously so. The version on the generator is the Iggy Pop mix, and while I do think that's the better way to hear the album, it is, frankly, a complete amateur's mix. Everything is just pushed into the red as loud as possible. It's one huge block of noise with very little definition. That said, the energy comes across well, and that's a huge part of what listening to The Stooges is all about. So despite all its flaws, I do think it's the preferred version. The Bowie mix, on the other hand, has more definition, but it's incredibly thin. There's virtually no bass on it at all. It's an interesting comparison between the two versions, but there isn't really a Goldilocks mix that gets everything right. If there is another mix that I've somehow missed, somebody please let me know, because both of the well-known versions leave a lot to be desired. So this is easily the worst-sounding Stooges album. That's a major flaw, but somehow the sheer force of the performances still punches through. I honestly don't understand how it ended up sounding this bad. I'm going to blame the cocaine and heroin that pretty much everyone involved seemed to be living on at the time. The second problem is a more personal one. Reading about the history of the album, it doesn't really feel like this was intended to be a Stooges record. It was meant to be a Iggy Pop and James Williamson album. That makes sense historically, but it's still released under The Stooges' name, so I judge it as a Stooges album. And because of that, it's an absolute travesty that Ron Asheton, the band's original guitarist, doesn't play guitar here and is instead moved to bass. James Williamson is class. He brings a different, almost glam-influenced punk sound, and he's hugely influential in his own right. Credit where it's due, his playing throughout the album is fantastic. (Bit of odd music trivia, but the acoustic guitar riff of Gimme Danger was hugely influential for Johnny Marr and his playing with The Smiths.) But Ron Asheton is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time. Not because of technical ability, but because of his sound. When Ron Asheton stamps on that wah pedal and that filthy distorted guitar tone comes roaring out of the speakers, that sound genuinely changed my life. It moves something deep inside me. It wakes something up. It just makes me come alive. And there's none of that here. There isn't a huge wah-drenched guitar solo over a Bo Diddley-style beat, which, to me, is the defining sound of The Stooges. Because of that, this is The Stooges album that sounds the least like The Stooges. That said, it still contains some absolutely spectacular songs. Search and Destroy is an undeniable classic. Shake Appeal is completely unhinged and probably the most "Stooges" song on the album. Penetration is gross in a wonderful way. Iggy is phenomenal throughout. And then there's Gimme Danger. It might actually be the greatest song ever released under The Stooges' name. It's sinister, dangerous, and moving. When James Williamson's electric guitar comes in, mirroring the acoustic introduction, it is one of the heaviest moments in rock music. It's absolutely incredible. And I genuinely think Iggy Pop delivers the vocal performance of his career on that song. In it's own right, it's an amazing record. But of the original three Stooges albums, it's comfortably my least favourite. Fun House, which I'll eventually get to on this list, absolutely mops the floor with this album. I will spew ridiculous, hyperbolic claims when it comes time to review it. And if Raw Power is the only Stooges album you've ever heard, do yourself a favour and listen to Fun House and their self-titled debut as well. You need to hear Ron Asheton's guitar. One of THE great guitar sounds.
Not my favorite
Неплохой альбом, есть несколько интересных песен. Крепкая троечка
I really love their debut. That's a easy 5 stars for me. But this one? Nope. Really don't feel it. Not a single that where I think "This is a fenomenal song". Not a single "wow" song. This album is just an average album like so many albums. 3/5 (Only because it has 2 mixes)
Hot take (maybe) "Search and Destroy" is one of the best opening tracks of all time. The rest of this album is packed full of raw, weird punk energy that only someone like Iggy Pop can deliver. While not every track hits the same for me, not a huge fan of "Penatration," its an unbelievably solid and enjoyable album from start to finish. 4/5
probably a low 4, but I did enjoy it (also did the Bowie mix, strange there wasn't a plain one)
I chose the Bowie mix
Punk bands from this era will always get a low score from me
Fantastic proto-punk majesty. Damn near five stars honestly.
Raw Power indeed!
An intense thing. I think I learned to like it a bit more when I stopped expecting the band to be a traditional punk or protopunk or post punk band and just allowed iggy to be an eclectic songwriter like Tom Waits or Lou Reed or Bowie. It's quite rangey. The more punk stuff struggles just slightly for me with the thin drum sound.
I like this one better than the other album of theirs I listened to, but unfortunately half star ratings don't exist here.
dff
cuteeee
There's not a ton a variation to what The Stooges do but if it's not broke, don't fix it. A solid early punk record.
This album was ass. Instruments are going out of time, such as the guitar, which is rushing here and there. Both mixes sound like shit. I either don't get or don't like early punk.
With it's aggressive energy, Iggy's vocals, and James's ferocious guitar playing, it's easy to believe this album is one of the most influential records in the history of rock, punk, and grunge.
Raw
Thats was some raw power... amplty named album.
I don’t remember the three stooges ever being shirtless or singing, but maybe that’s just me.
I didn’t like this as much as Lust for Life but still a solid album from Iggy and Bowie.
Perfection. Iggy’s mix is the best version.
2.5.
Fun/10
vibeddd
Really not a fan, only liked Passenger
Great garage rock/proto-punk album. I like how rough Iggy's vocals can be and that the album is pretty short. Deservedly a classic
Listening to Raw Power makes me feel like the scum of the earth. Like, I'm on day 4 hair with no dry shampoo, my A/C went out so I'm sticking to the car seat, and I just spent my rent money on scratch-offs and Miller High Life. It sounds like doing dishes with freshly peeled cuticles. More, please and thank you.
High energy. Would be really fun to see live but not my favorite to casually listen to. Instruments were a highlight for me but can't stand the vocals. Liked: Search and Destroy Rating: 4.6/10
OK, but I feel without really strong hit songs
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feeling nostalgic. Reads like a cliche garage punk rock album, but of course it does, because it was probably one of the first albums to establish the genre. I enjoyed listening, and told myself I'm going to give out less 3's, so this one gets a 4.
I think I've listened to this before years ago. I'm not the biggest punk fan, I'm very picky what punk I'll listen to because it's too samey. This was not that. I don't see myself going back to it but a few songs were pretty good. I wish we had more than 5 stars to work with because again this is a 3.5 on star basis but on a 1-10 rank it's a 6 or 7. I hate lumping so many albums on here into the 3s but that's where we're at.
War okay
Würde ich mir nicht nochmal anhören. Beschwere mich aber auch nicht wenns angemacht wird
Highlight: death Trip War cool 😎😎
This was pretty fun.
Going into this album I didn’t know what to fully expect. Of course I know of Iggy Pop and his work, but I had never heard anything off of this album. I was quite suprised when I really did enjoy it. The music was well put together and espically the guitar was enjoyable to listen too. I would listen to this album more for sure!
maybe the david bowie mix is better. Lyrics make no sense, mixing is horrible, and Iggy's vocals are like nails on a chalkboard
the iggy mix is superior this that shit rock and roll thought it was before this dropped
Kicks the door in with the immortal “Search and Destroy” and never lets up from there
Background noise tbh Is that the sound of a cat meowing ? And the song is called penetration. Wow
Just hooting and hollering Lyrics mean absolutely nothing Great band though
3.5
Between 2.5 and 3 so giving 3
I like the punk, and can see the influence. But maybe not my cup of tea.
For Stooges, I liked it more than the rest I've heard. Listened to the Bowie mix which probably helped. Felt a little more polished and less punk while still having some thrashy riffs and general punkness. Liked a couple songs. Low 3.
Love some songs and some I could never listen to again. Favorite tracks: Raw Power, Search and Destroy
Yeah! The Stooges album I know well and have long regarded as fully classic. (It's the Bowie mix I'm used to and prefer.) The guitar tones/riffs and rhythm section impact generally are the most notable aspects for me, the sound is incredible for 1973, album must have been super-influential to sound so ahead of its time - it's hard rock, with so much energy maintained in simple riffs, together with a happy leavening of punk insouciance. Iggy's vocals floating above the rhythm section, very clear (in a way that live mix front of house surely wasn't), are highly affected but also effective, win me over every time. (So many vocalists have since wanted to do/be Iggy, but he was right there and made it up :-) The tracks are kinda long, but they don't get tiresome. (Not remotely easy to keep such simple riffs so energetic through so many repeats!) My favourite tracks: Search and Destroy (love the guitar riff, the vocals are kinda funny but they work), Your Pretty Face (rhythm section thundering), Raw Power (riff almost too simple but it works), Shake Appeal (v danceable, hand claps and all), Death Trip (interplay of guitars). Overall - it's definitely 5 stars, but just how wonderful is it? It's got some range of moods and dynamics, not huge - I'm more negative about lack of variety when the core offering doesn't connect. It doesn't address the whole of the human condition. It's excellent at what it is, not an album for all seasons, but quite replayable. I'm trying not to boost my rating just because I think it's kinda cool to know and love this album. Looking at my other 10s vs my 9s, noting that this is roughly as great as (but I think not greater than) The Idiot, I think I'll say this is Pretty Wonderful (9/10).
Pretty good solid rock. Some of the songs were a bit much, but honestly I was waiting for another trash album. And this wasn't trash
Another belter.
Better that Coldplay
3.75
Heard before?:✔️ Will listen again?:✔️
Full of energy with some good riffs and strong performances all round. Will revisit.
Didn’t recognise any of the songs but it didn’t matter much. Some interesting variety on here, with many of the vocal performances being very different to what I was expecting from an album featuring Iggy Pop. Catchy riffs, that seemed to do a lot with what was otherwise sparse instrumentation at times. Certainly one of the better new/no wave/punk albums on the list so far.
would be lying if i said hearing some lame news while listening to this didn't affect the rating a little however it reminded me of the band Television so i listened to them which lifted my mood n i fixed the rating. thank you televsion
lowkey blended in with the other glam rock stuff. I like bowie better sorry im an opp for this album
Der Zeit weit voraus. Wrscheinlich große Inspiration für die punk bands der späten 70er und 80er. Das mixing war scheiße es hat sich auch kein lied irgendwie eingebrannt und die lyrics waren teilweise sehr merkwürdig 3/5
I liked this more than I thought I would - it has a fun proto punk energy. But will I ever listen to it again? Doubtful.
Ok, so it's punk, so my baseline starts at 3. The curse of being pioneers is that I hear so much that i dig in the descendents (no pun intended) of The Stooges, yet I don't find any of their songs really grab me. So no 5. A 4? I hate to admit it, but this may remain at a 3. Where do I have to mail my punk card?
Probably won't listen to again. Penetration was the only song that stood out
Say what you want about Iggy Pop the fact is this isn't a terrible record. Overall, I think it's a decent album not really my vibe but it's a decent album. One of things I think is happening is that this list is kind of a weird mix between legendary albums, and albums that you may have skipped over because they are inferior to the artist best work. Like for example this is not Iggy Pops nor The Stooges best.. the problem is is that I don't know if the list includes their best compared to... we shall see
On the Rock and Roll continuum, this is on one end, and I think it must be Aja on the other.
Dirty dirty dirty. Just the way you want it.
Something that I just don't understand. It's raw and full of truth just not enjoyable to me.
Much better than I was expecting, but my expectations were pretty low so that's not a huge endorsement.
This sure is a rock album. Not much to hate about it, but also not a lot to like I suppose. I see how this was influential. It felt a little repetitive to me though. Will this be my first 2 star review? It feels like another 3 star, but I really could not currently tell you one song that stood out. Thank you!
I think my biggest problem with this group is Iggy Pop, which I "get" is the reason why they did so well. He just comes off as a bad cover band sounding singer. I've heard better singers and covers at my local bar on Monday nights. The music is solid for the most part, and there's a lot of proto-punk, glam, metal feels that I'm sure have influenced a ton of bands. So musically, I like The Stooges, I just don't like Iggy Pop. There we go. 2.38 / 5 stars
Raw for sure. Ok but not good to great. Definitely some of the earliest punk rock s d super influential on later acts like the Ramones.
The production is ROUGH on most of the songs but I still enjoyed enough of it for a 3.
Oh, this guy again. Ok, this is more like it. I expected an education on why Pop is considered the godfather of punk and "The Idiot" did not deliver. This does. I kinda' like it.
Great record and the Iggy mix production helps a lot. Very influential in the years afterwards. Strong 3
i got Fun House a while ago and gave it 1 star. i'm about 300 albums in and i've only given seven or eight 1 star reviews, so that's an indication of how much i HATED Fun House. i don't care guys, it sucked ok. so when i got this today my heart sank and when i learned there are two mixes and it's not clear which mix is the definitive one my heart sank even further because i thought it's only fair to give both a go................ anyway this is better than Fun House. i didn't want to rip my own ears off my head. there's a xylophone or something in Penetration (lmao what a sentence). that was my favourite part of the album. by the end of it though i was Stooged Out and i decided not to listen to the Bowie mix because i remembered i have free will and life is too short. ok bye.
raw fucking power
The title says it all.
I always get so confused when I hear Iggy Pop. This is a guy who auditioned to be the new singer of the doors when Jim Morrison died. I just always wonder how that would have went. Well, anyways, my only big gripe with this album is the sound quality. The vocals are too high. It makes the speaker sound blown. I get it, it’s punk and it’s raw. But man I could have used a crisper sound. If only they re-recorded the album like Taylor Swift did with hers. Not that hers sounded any different because the original and the new aren’t that many years apart. You get the point right? This album goes down with the other Stooges albums I have heard. Meaning, they are good and I am left wondering why I don’t listen to more. Choice cut: Search and Destroy
Zpr benger
is this guy ok? fun guitar and weird vocals. favourite song: shake appeal
You know for whT it is its pretty good… but jjst not my jam
Best prima. Leuker dan gedacht
The instrumentals are great, lyrics are fine, nothing revolutionary, but I despise the main vocalist's voice. The album is definitely innovative for its time I just can't get over the strange vocal style. Not a pleasure to listen to.
Raw Power lasts because it sounds like a blueprint for punk and hard rock written in acid and broken glass.
my 2nd favourite stooges album, I enjoy the loudness of it. solid 8/10. First listen tracklist ranking: 1. Search and Destroy 2. Raw Power 3. Gimme Danger 4. Shake Appeal 5. Penetration 6. Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell 7. I Need Somebody
Great album. No time to write.
Not bad although the songs did merge together after a few songs. I couldn't find the original version of this album so I decided to listen to disc 1 and then skimmed through disk 2 as I didn't need to hear the songs again (albeit as different mixes).
What else can I say other than that this album shaped me as a human. Prefer the Iggy mix but the Bowie is till good
Raw. Power. Awesome.
yeah this is pretty solid. the sound is a fair bit harder than i expected for an early 70s release? i enjoy the raw sound on show in tracks like "search and destroy" and "your pretty face is going to hell", and i'm into the real fucked sounding guitar shredding, with "death trip" maybe being the best example. my favourite track is probably "penetration", which has all of the above as well as what sounds like iggy pop painfully transforming into a cat 2/3 of the way through, rounding it out with lyrics that could either be about shooting up or pegging. being who i am, i'm choosing to believe it's the latter :O3 it's short, but i can respect an album that shoots its shot then fucks off, yknow? it's a pretty good way to spend 34 minutes, even if it's not the best.
I get why this is so beloved but something about it just doesn't quite click for me
I accept how important Raw Power has been in the development and progression of popular music. But it's not one that I listen to. A step on the way rather than a fully realised and finished article, in my view.
Album 244. Raw Power (https://open.spotify.com/album/6mxbG8KrOTZIxlP4gzaliM?si=sa4ZoHQPSCmkleqR-D7i4w) (Iggy Mix) — The Stooges (1973) Short, raw, good rock album. There's an original Bowie Mix version (https://open.spotify.com/album/6wLn5qXBJgZfAbM0bt5vov?si=vhi5tliLRYq1dPT2gjwDaw) and it's great too. It's the Iggy Mix version and the most noticeable thing is it's louder. I can't choose which one is better. 3/5 Liked: — Gimme Danger — I Need Somebody
Encore une fois, la gang à Bowie, Iggy Pop, c'est pas mon préféré, mais j'ai préféré lui à Funhouse. J'ai aimé l'énergie punk et le son un peu 'the doors'
Iggy <3 Toujours aussi energetique et Raw (ahah). Mais je pense avoir plus aimé fun house et ses albums solo. Mon moins pref mais 5 etoiles quand même
Raw power Raw punk Not great technically but very very real punk from the begining. Great album
Good
Absolute classic
Simplemente NO
Simplemente NO
Super lame
I was in the mood for some fast, hard hitting punk this morning, and this fit the bill. This is probably my favorite Stooges album and Search And Destroy is one of my favorite tracks. Raw Power and Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell are also pretty killer.
- opening is FIREE my typa album - your pretty face is going to hell gave me the ick.. - the sound effects on penetration also gave me the ick.. - i do appreciate the instrumentals (but not anything super special) - ehh i didn't like it that much, felt like a lot of other 70s rock albums
saved: - Gimme Danger - I Need Somebody
Iggy Pop! Another one that I hadn't really heard before, it's brilliant hearing more if these albums and Iggy didn't disappoint.
Literally does what it says on the tin.
was temporarily convinced that "I Need Somebody" was the perfect stripper song because I misheard somebody as some money. Still good though
Mangler revidering
I've spent a long time underestimating and dismissing the Stooges, but apparently I was mistaken. Iggy, Asheton brothers and James, I salute you all.
Kinda noisy, but liked the vibe. Got halfway thru and songs started sounding kinda similar but would finish. Like the detroit rock vibe
Now Iggy Pop is a legend. However I can't see it on the back of this record. Pretty unremarkable to me and according to Wikipedia this influenced the development of Punk. I guess you had to be there. I like the energy and rawness but lyrically and musically not so much. No 3's so 2 from me.
Look it's just fine rock and roll Fave track: Search and Destroy
Scuzzy. 2.5/5
3.7/5
3 5 Enjoyed it, but not sure it really stood out to me. Might be one where it clicks more on a relisten After registering I think the first half is really good but second let's it down a bit.
Punk, rock n roll, diversão e sujeira. GK Kunten.
The ultimate shit-hot rock and roll album. Nothing before or sense was this nasty, and ¨Search and Destroy¨ is the song that proves it.
Listen out of order since Spotify licensing shenanigans
Undoubtedly influential to so much of the punk music that I do enjoy, however Iggy Pop's vocals have just never appealed to me. Points for influence but I'll likely never return.
I guess you had to be there. I was a bit disappointed to be honest, Iggy is a great performer with some great songs but I just didn’t enjoy this that much.
Could not get into it...read how they only had 12 hours to mix it and I genuinely feel like that's my stumbling block...the mixing. I say this as someone who has never mixed music before lol. It does sound a tiny bit muddled but I'm sure it'll age like wine in my library.
This was really good. Not much to say other than that lol
It's in the album title. Just 38 minutes of Raw Power. Not a bad word to say about it.
Getting into this with "Search and Destroy" I found myself really disappointed when Iggy started singing like that, I couldn't bear that delivery and i honestly think this is one of the worst Stooges songs. Nevertheless the record picked up its pace really quickly with the really well sung "Gimme Danger", this was the Iggy Pop I knew all along, we then proceed with the guitar-heavy "Your Pretty Face...": Almost an introduction to what will be the mood of the rest of the album. Overall a super solid record, I guess I was disappointed by the first track since it was the most streamed on the album, also expected a more "Iggy Pop solo-album" vibe but got something rather more chaotic and (obviously) raw.
stop aruing about the mix you fucking nerds grandpa punk is on
Punk was never as furious, dirty, fun, raging, and powerful as on this album. Raw power indeed.
Love Iggy as radio presenter but his music doesn't do much for me
Classic.
This rocks. Ashamed to say I haven't heard it before. This is what I'm here for
The sound quality was awful
Not my favourite Stooges LP but still good. Roll on when Fun House gets generated!
Not for me at all. Totally subjective rating here. Didn’t like any of it
The wiki entry states this is a cult classic, and it's easy to see why. Man, this is a cool album. Stylistically, sounds, lyrics, composition, are all unique. It's not every day listening but it's a damn good time it you're in the mood for it.
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would! Familiar with Iggy Pop (and The Stooges) by name and for their influence and collaboration with other artists I admire (Bowie again), I welcomed this opportunity to explore more.
Ass
I really like the, well, rawness. I could def see myself getting more into this
I see the ground being broken but it's not for me. Decent! Strong 6
Honestly really interesting, bit repetitive and the recording isn’t the best of course. Probably need to listen to it more.
The Stooges hit with a sound out of time, a tuneful messy punk that could have slotted right in with 1981’s The Decline of Western Civilisation. Search and Destroy has to be one of the all time great album openers
Raw and powerful
Another stepping stone on the way to punk, although less compelling than the earlier The Stooges album.