Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Likes it
Honestly, this was also not my thing, but I REALLY do not like Iggy Pop. Regardless of his influence he just pmo, I'd rather listen to Bowie.
It is one of Rock’s great paradoxes: an album can be historically "perfect" and ticking all your favourite boxes, yet still fail to truly "click." This friction is what I feel listening to "Raw Power". It is a record that should, by all logic, be right up my Strasse, yet it remains an object of curiosity rather than obsession. For many, "Raw Power" is the Big Bang of punk rock, and I can hear that to some extent. Despite the band's legendary status, there is a certain something about Iggy and the Stooges that doesn't always translate into an immediate desire to listen to their discography. That said, "Raw Power" is a very good album, but not one I am going to reach for on many occasions beyond this exercise. There are two mixes of the album: 1. The 1973 David Bowie Mix: Brash, thin, and dominated by treble. 2. The 1997 Iggy Pop Mix: A bit easier on the ear and fuller in the low end, but arguably less impactful because it loses some of that original, jagged edge. Ultimately, neither mix provides the "magic key" to unlock the album for me. The Bowie mix is the punkier of the two! I have to mention the cover art - Mick Rock’s stunning photograph is so definitive that the absence of a band name or an album title only adds to its impact. I respect "Raw Power" and consider it a very good album, but I don't quite love it. I recognize its importance, individual tracks like "Search and Destroy" are undeniably influential, and I enjoy the listen, yet the tracks don't hit home enough to make it an essential part of my regular listening or even my collection. For me, it remains a four-star record that I admire from a distance. Side one 1 "Search and Destroy" (4/5) 2 "Gimme Danger" (4/5) 3 "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell" (3/5) 4 "Penetration" (4/5) Side two 5 "Raw Power" (4/5) 6 "I Need Somebody" (4/5) 7 "Shake Appeal" (3/5) 8 "Death Trip" (3/5) Total - 29 Average - 3.63 195/1001 109/195 albums reviewed were new to me.
Legendary stooges album Great vocal performance Punk asf
This is a classic
In the heyday of Prog Rock and the height of Rock & Roll excess, The Stooges managed to be ahead of their time by going the opposite direction - creating a raw, low-brow masterpiece that would generate more garage bands than any Yes album ever could. It's both more raw and more powerful than their earlier records and couldn't have been named anything else. The point-of-no-return in the creation of Punk Rock.
reasonable
Not really my vibe. Early punk. Neat to hear where the sound evolved from.
Oh, so that's where Search & Destroy is from!
I'm absolutely buzzing from thelis album. Raw power describes it perfectly.
I find punk a bit too slapdash and raw for my taste, but this is excellent: it's got the energy and attitude of punk together with some really great guitar licks and rhythms. I forget sometimes that the US garage rock that inspired punk is musically much more accomplished.
Great guitar solos sprinkled throughout and music which is fun to revisit.
Strange album of bad singing and not great otherwise.
Nice snot rock 'n' all. There was one tough groove. That was it.
Will be listening to both mixes and going with the highest rating between the two. BOWIE MIX: Boy, this is a great album. NOW I see why people like The Stooges. Heavy, angry, and musical. I do think it fades a bit in the end, and I can understand people's issues with the Bowie mix -- it certainly makes Raw Power less raw. IGGY MIX: Okay so, turns out there isn't as much of a difference as I thought. I see the arguments for both sides: one is more musical, one is more visceral; one is less exciting, the other is less listen-able. I think they're both good. I probably prefer this version of "Search and Destroy." Fave tracks: - Search and Destroy - Gimme Danger - Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell - Penetration - I Need Somebody
I love that this followed Fats Domino, because rock started there and somehow ended up here in just about 15 years and thank goodness it did. I'll never understand why people bothered with the Sex Pistols when the Stooges had already done it so much better. RIP Ron Asheton
154/1089 i liked Search & Destroy… after that it felt like it plateaued and became a bit more generic glam rock. it was decent, Iggy has the presence for it, just musically not my fave. 59/100
Excellent album. Superb energy throughout as exemplified by the bristling opening track ‘Search and Destroy.’ Also liked the few slower tracks such as the brooding ‘Gimme Danger.’ Love that it was produced by Bowie. I can understand why it wasn’t more of an immediately massive commercial hit, given when it was released, and also why it became such a template for the punk movement a few years down the line.
Already rated this, see my previous review.
Good old fashioned punk! It’s always welcome.
I have a soft spot for Iggy. Always loved it.
Interesting to listen to in terms of it being a pre cursor to punk and and lots of other modern music, but it can feel a little unfinished at times. I Need Somebody is a cool song, but not much else memorable on the album. 2.5 rounded up because Iggy Pop is a mutant.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I loved it. Any time I've previously listened to Iggy and the Stooges, I've wanted to like it and come away wondering what the big deal is, but this time around something clicked. The songs are stronger and better produced (thank you David Bowie, though I think thats owed more to Iggy reissuing it because I read that the original suffered from specifically poor fidelity, which perversely may be part of its appeal) than the first two Stooges albums. It sort of feels like the bridge between the Doors and the Stones and the Ramones, Blondie, etc. Great energy for rock and roll, and has more melody and catchiness than I expected, while still being aggressively in your face. This album makes you want to grab a guitar and go to your friends garage and thrash around, I can see how it influenced everyone from Kurt Cobain to Morrissey to RHCP.
The initial listening experience has a wow effect, but as the album progresses, it turns out to be mostly an attitude and roughness overlayed basic rhythms and basic chord progressions. A lot of cover, but rudimentary substance. Still, a good cover has its place. Individually the songs are interesting, it's only in a single, continuous listen that haflway through they lose their individuality and blend together, as the riffs, rhythms and singing all basically tell a single story. As a punk afficionado I can appreciate the spark that started a flame. But like most albums of historical importance, the importance itself won't put this back on my playlist on a regular basis.
I have never been interested in this group or Iggy Pop. I know of him, having seen interviews and a couple of his acting roles (Tank Girl, Cry-Baby). I was happy living in my limited knowledge. I can now say that I listened to Raw Power and that's about it. I could not connect with any of the songs or melodies. He presents an angst that is unfamiliar and I cannot find common ground. He's good at what he does despite my understanding. Rock on Iggy.
patiko bet visos dainos zr panasios 3.5
plain damn good album! the influence that this album - and the stooges in general - had on so many bands is clear to see.
This is a very raw, punky album. For everything it lacks in polish, it has in spirit and energy. Nothing here is too technical, but it's enjoyable enough. I can see how this influenced punk and all it's related genres with its primal snarl. It has the tunes and hooks to support its loud sloppiness, resulting in an excellent and genre-defining album.
Dirty, raw, gritty and brilliant. The first true punk album. I wasn’t around when the album was released but I imagine it would have been a mind blowing thing to hear for the first time. Might be Iggys crowning glory. 35 minutes of pure brilliance. Can hear the influence it had on Marilyn Mason on I Need Somebody.
This was a new one for me. I appreciate the music for the time Period. 4/5.
Michelle Trachtenberg had a crazy, cool TV dad
Did not listen all the way through but enjoyed what I heard; might not come back to it though
Raw open youthful rebellion put to music. I love it.
NICE
A hugely influential proto-punk album that still sounds incredibly fresh. The immediate punch of "Search and Destroy" is the album's best track and sets the energetic pace of the entire record. This album helped prepare the ground for the punk movement and would be a major influence on The Sex Pistols, The Smith, and Nirvana among many others. Whether you prefer the Bowie mix or not, the mere fair that Bowie saw the magic of this album before anyone else tells you much about what you need to know. This generator doesn't always hit the mark, but this album really is essential listening for any rock fans.
GOING IN: Quite hopeful LISTENED WHILE: Saturday morning, pottering about FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Might come back to it DISCOVERY CURVE: Still waiting VERDICT: Bit disappointing BODY'S VERDICT: Sitting nicely / Motionless appreciation FAVOURITE TRACK: none My Rating: 2
Not really my thing.
One of the most visceral and louder punk records ever if you listen to the Iggy Pop mix. The Bowie mix isn't anything to sneeze at either, just softer, though I prefer it loud. Classic tunes all through this. Listened to multiple times before.
Rad. I wish it was a little rawer and more powerful, but I can’t blame them, it was a little early for that. What I like best about this album is the hooks laden all over these songs. Nearly every tune is memorable in some way. It’s a classic. One point subtracted for being just a little scattered. Still, must-listen #264.
"...A load of trashy old noise..." But what a wild load it is. Iggy took what Jim Morrison did and turned it up to 11. The music is heavy, lo-fi, and raw. I was familiar with the typical Stooges songs that everyone knows, "No Fun", "I Wanna Be Your Dog", and "Search and Destroy" - the rest of this album shows off the same kind of jams. I haven't had a chance to listen to the earlier two stooges records yet, but this one is definitely an experience worth the 1001 records you must hear.
Not my favorite Stooges album. Fun House is where it's all happening for me. That's where Iggy and the boys really hit their psycho-primitive stride. James Williamson's guitar-playing is probably better than Ron Ashton's, technically, but overall sound is more generically "rock" than on the two previous albums. Also, the lyrics don't have the debauched deadpan irony of the later ones Iggy wrote with Bowie. Still...it's the Stooges! It's like a hamburger; you have to really work to screw it up.
This album really doesn't do anything special for me. A new guitarist at the time and has a few good riffs and solos. Can see how this album could be influential to those in the punk scene. The music just doesn't speak to me.
Search and Destroy rules. I haven’t really listened to the stooges much. But the sound is pretty good, gritty. Everything else on the album kind of sounds like a worse version of Search and Destroy. Some songs are fun and I know this sound is pretty formative for bands that came after, but It’s not blowing me away.
Title of the album says it all. Penetration stood out, but liked it all. 4/5
this album goes so hard for 19fucking73, jesus
Search and Destroy is a masterpiece from the best opening lines in a song ever, to the falling bomb shriek of the guitar. But as an album I can't rate it higher than Fun House
Raw in your face dirty rock n roll it’s a fun trip
Not for me
It was fine; I am not a huge of this typically brit rock area
Great guitar playing. I don't always like Iggy's singing. Fav: I need somebody
i don't really like his voice
I mean, whatever.
A classic album which paved the way for punk.
This just sounds so ... thin? I'm aware there's a different mix by Iggy which is supposedly louder, but I was suitably unimpressed by the original version I have no interest in trying it again (at least at the moment).
I mean the name kinda says it all, it’s raw vibe power throwing shit in a concrete basement but with some actually nice guitar playing
This is a very appropriately named album. Another one of Bowie's pet projects that has a lot of talent and raw emotion, but lacks real resonance for me. I love a good raw, rocking, jam, but try as I might, I couldn't get into it. I do not understand the fascination with Iggy Pop. I get all of the raw punk vibes, but his protégées seem to producer much better material. I am sure that there is more here than I am getting, but I am moving on.
This was pretty good , not my favorite but not the worst
I like search and destroy.
Bowie mix? Iggy mix? The latest remaster? It's wild how much debate surrounds how this record should sound, but the real testament to its greatness is that no matter which version you put on, it still completely fucking rocks. (For the record, I went with the remastered Iggy mix.)
Too raw?
Iconic, although it loses a point for sounding a bit too thin and reedy as a studio album
This is cool, definitely foundational
Not a punk fan, but I liked it
Did not like it. The group sounded talented and the instruments were great, but I did not love the music and the sound was not for me. "Search and Destroy" - Enjoyed the sound for the first two minutes but then got tired of the song. "Gimme Danger" - Liked the beginning bit but then I did not enjoy the style of singing past the beginning. "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell" - The guitar player and instrumental is good but truly I feel as though I am being screeched at. "Penetration" - I really did not enjoy this, the way he is growling penetration is not for me. "Raw Power" - I enjoy the upbeat nature of this with the rough voice, I think it pairs very well but was done before the end. "I Need Somebody" - I honestly really liked the interesting sound in this and felt the song came together very well but was not into it by the end. "Shake Appeal" - I really dislike this. "Death Trip" - Did not really enjoy.
"Search and Destroy" - i liked the instrumentation a lot but after about 2:30 mins i was ready for it to be over "Gimme Danger" - i really liked the beginning until about 3 mins and i started to get really annoyed "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell" - once again i really like the instrumental but not the voice omg please stop i had to skip partway through "Penetration" - this is weird "Raw Power" - kinda dig it but felt really repetitive, was ready for it to be over around 2:30 "I Need Somebody" - reallyyy like the beginning, the rest was ok, the end i didn't much like "Shake Appeal" - haaated the very beginning, grew on me a little, wentt back to not liking it "Death Trip" - i'm over the whole album by now but i didn't hate this but please stop screaming at me tl;dr - wasn't for me, i generally enjoyed the instruments in almost all these songs but i'm not a fan of his voice. i see how it's instrumental to music, especially since it's true punk rock before punk rock took off in the 90s, but still not really my style.
Quick and rough, a lot of fun
Strong 4
Fire
wow this album isn't making a big impact on me at all. i need somebody and shake appeal and gimme danger have made the biggest impacts but that could just be where my focus is when they play. im trying to do this while working on the take home assignment for phiture and it sure is boring . wish i could be some big rock and rolllllerrr.. ill listen closely. wait i do kinda like penetration it has that fun dunudundunnnananau sound like a fairytale. overall i can't give this 2 stars because that's rude but it truly made like no impact on me.....
didn’t enjoy one minute of this. had to skip some songs halfway bc i knew they would just make my morning worse and worse the longer i listened to them
Gimme Danger and I Need Somebody are really good, the other ones are really mid
Loved the guitar work in this album
Cool
Classic punk rock.
This album surprised me. I expected screaming punk and got a variety of sounds and moods. I especially liked the song Penetration for the light riff counterpoint. rounded out and balanced otherwise aggressive and sleazy moodds. I listened to the album twice. There might be some songs I'd star to add to my favorites, but that's probably enough Stooges for me. Glad I gave it a close listen.
I enjoyed this. I think to really appreciate this album, you have to be young and drunk and reckless, but nonetheless it's still enjoyable from here in my suburban bedroom.
I feel like Funhouse gets all the attention, but I like Raw Power so much more. The title track, "Search and Destroy," and "Gimme Danger" are all great. This is what I hear in my head when I think of the Stooges. And goddamn right.
Never listened to a lot of Iggy besides this one and the previous album, but can say that he rocks. Lot of the songs for me meshed together, not in a bad way, but just more of a is this the same song as before kind of way. Doesn't get a 5 for not enough diversity but really great overall.
Wait... I really liked this. Iggy is one of those names I've always heard but never really checked out. My favorite parts of this album remind me of my favorite parts from Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Gimme Danger also really captivated me and stuck out as a clear contemporary influence on Patti Smith. The growly vocal thing he does in songs like Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell is interesting I guess but I don't really like how it sounds. Another favorite was I Need Somebody
Not my jam
Too raw. 3/5
Classic!
Precursor to punk - very influential at the time it was released. Not great to listen to. Pitchfork: 8.3 (2010 rerelease) Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #128 (2023)
This is insanely good. The only thing that really bothers me, are the several various mixes and versions that all sound kinda bad. Some mixes on YouTube fix this issue though. 9/10
1973. Mostly yelling and rocking which was pretty decent.
I like it, but feels like it doesn't hold steam the whole way through, no songs after Search and Destroy reach that level of excitement.
The title says it - it's pretty raw, but you can feel the power. Reminds me of The Velvet Underground, but probably a bit harder and rougher.
If I'm in the mood for a little angst, this probably fits the bill. I know that it will be very rare that I reach for it, but I enjoyed it more than most early punk that has come up on the list. You can tell the influence this had on modern bands. If someone else was into it and wanted it on, I can let it ride.
Detroit rock and roll at it's finest. Raw Power is the perfect name for this. This site directed me to the Iggy mix for this album and that seems to be the right choice. Also, this album is only 34 minutes which is perfection. Get you in, get you out.
Is veel ouder dan het klinkt, echt z'n tijd vooruit. En bizarre stem heeft Iggy. De Bowie mixes zijn wel chiller dan de Iggy mixes - behalve Search And Destroy. Grote historische waarde, maar niet echt mijn ding. Faves: Gimme Danger, Raw Power, I Need Somebody.
This wasn't bad, quite a mix of genre influences, quite punky in places, long before punk. This is for me a 3.5 rating, need to listen to it again.
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Tolles Album!
That is raw power all right. Not very controlled or musically brilliant. It would make a great concert, but not so much listening at home, for me.
I don't really hold The Stooges in high regard or anything. It sounded dangerous at the time, I'm sure, but kinda quaint now. Shake Appeal is cool and some of the other tracks.
Iggy Pop’s voice will always be the detractor for The Stooges to me. The songs are great, but held back just a bit
A favorite of mine. This one never grows old for me. Hands down, the best Iggy album!
Did what it said on the tin. Solid.
Has stood the test of time. Raw Power is what it is. The Iggy mix is better
Classic proto punk. Menacing, raw and powerful.
The selling point of Raw Power is just how huge and intense sounding it is at a point in which nothing like that really existed. Based on the 2023 masters I much prefer the Iggy Mix. Because of the way it’s recorded you can hear the Bowie mix wrestling the dynamics into a conventional shape which takes away from the RAW POWER and turns it into a pop rock album that has to stand toe to toe with pop rock records which have been more proficiently recorded. The Velvet Underground’s White Light White Heat is the only major label album I’ve heard that’s recorded “worse” from a traditional technical accomplishment perspective. It’s impossible really to know what it sounded like at the time based on what’s on streaming services. There have been so many remasters of both versions. This is where physical media is handy, as access to any particular version of any record can be withdrawn at any time. Though I suspect Iggy ‘23 version is king.
I was listening to an inferior version of this Iggy record for sure, this album is fierce and raw and the mix I had was not Has upped it to a low 4 for me with the first two tracks standing out
Not bad.
Es gibt bessere alte Musik.
Raw Power indeed. Few records have such a fitting name. Search land Destroy is the absolute highlight. The intro riff, the first verses, the energy. That song is up to no good and you should beware.
Iggy är verkligen otrolig frontman som lyfter helheten.
Nämen detta var ganska trevlig genomlyssning. Ett par toppar, resten ok - och ganska kort vilket hjälpte det hela.
Gillar man inte Iggy Pop så gillar man inte musik.
The invention of garage rock. Everything thinks they can play it. This record proves it’s harder than it sounds.
Nice punk sound but nothing particularly notable in my opinion
Great album, really enjoyed this one.
Album is great to run to, energetic with a not too fast beat. I like the edginess, but the songs can be too similar.
I thought I would like this more than I did. The first track is good, the rest never grabbed me, but I was also very tired so it didn't get a fair shake.
Good not great
I have Fun House. I think it's better. But clearly in the scheme of musical history and influence a very important record.
Orientierungslos Hardrock/Punk Album, was vom Namen her mehr verspricht, als es hält. Leider wirkte keines der Stücke in irgendeiner Form inspirierend oder reiztz zum wiederhören. Schade.
I like some of their songs. But none of these.
Search and Destroy - 5/5 Gimme Danger - 5/5 Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell - 5/5 Penetration - 4/5 Raw Power - 4/5 I Need Somebody - 5/5 Shake Appeal - 4/5 Death Trip - 5/5 Average score: 4.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ never heard this before today, and i was stumped by there being two separate mixes. i listened to one song from each, and while i could appreciate how raw the Bowie mix is (no pun intended), it sounded like they used a tin can to record it. i personally like the bass-heavy sound from the Iggy mix better
Interesting. Nothing bad to say but nothing much to say at all. It was good, would listen again. This is a strong case for why records should only be 35 minutes. It was an hour. I think this review would be very different. Raw Power is a good title for this record. 3.2 outta 5
Love the progression into punk rock from both pop riffs and harder soloing, though it was weird hearing stuff about penetration around y’all’s sister. Bonus star for how sexy he looks on the cover though.
Sounded a little old to me
“I’m a street walkin’ cheetah with a hand full of napalm.” one of the coolest lines in punk rock. i remember growing up, Marx had a poster of this album cover in our conjoined basement room. My friends would always comment the typical shit a stupid podunk farm kids always say. Derogatory, filthy, hateful shit. I always resented them for it because they didn’t know SHIT about Iggy Pop. They didn’t know how cool of a mf he really was. Thank god i got different friends. 5/5.
Pretty great songs, absolutely awful recording/mixes. Both Bowie and Iggy’s mixes are atrocious. But a great relationship was birthed between the two and they went on to make like 5 albums together in Berlin in a very short amount of time. I’d give this 4.6, in all truth.
I love concept albums. These songs were great at teasing
3.5
1 billion times better than the Iggy Pop solo album that came up earlier on the list, but still not that great.
Not on my list of good music
I like this, production isn’t great. But the songs are. Definitely ‘raw’ - listened to walking to Liverpool street station after Lucia left on the Sunday
Aw yeah, early punk rock! Even if they went more rocker on the one, I just love the ‘tude, the energy, the rebelliousness. A tight 30 minutes of fun
No es un mal album, no m'ha encnatat. Average.
Enjoyed it a lot, evocative of great days past. Some really good tracks and guitar.
Pretty good. It feels like a transition from the 60s hard rock to pure raw punk. Enjoyed it but it's not quite a 5 for me.
Pretty good and I can hear how much it influenced a lot of the indie punk bands to come out of the 90s and early 2000s.
Reminds me of going to shows in dive bars.
Kinda felt more like hard rock or metal than rock. Not my thing.
The Wikipedia article gives some much needed context on this. I figured there had to be some drama about the mix since there are so many versions to choose from. After listening to both, it seems clear they didn’t have much to work with. The Bowie cuts are ice-picky and shrill. The Pop cuts are muddy and lack definition. Nonetheless, not a bad record, there are some good riffs in here, particularly Penetration. The slow label-enforced ballads are predictably a slog. Historically and culturally significant I’m sure, but probably won’t return to this because it just doesn’t sound very good.
Great opener, classic and a great vibe. Really dig it at first, the energy carries the album. I got a bit bored by the back end but I can see how important and influential this was. Will listen again.
I liked this fine and can see how influential it was. Nothing I will probably ever choose to listen to again, but better than most I've gotten on this site.
Search and Destroy 4.4 Gimme Danger 4.6 Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell 4 Penetration 4.3 Raw Power 4.1 I Need Somebody 4.3 Shake Appeal 4 Death Trip 3.5 Score: 4.15
One day I'll fully get it
I thought I was going to enjoy this but it failed to impress me.
Pure raw power. This moved something in me, involuntary, it pushed, it growled, it's so ahead and so different. Give me this over all the rock drivel that came out around the same time. This kicks ass, man.
2/5
Gar nix. Nur wegen Bowie
That this album came out when it did and influence a major genre , one I’ve grown to enjoy a bunch during this project , is no small feat … however , the songs do seem dated and kinda blend into one for me
This is some grungy, stripped-down rock. It's almost too basic. That said, I can see how it informed later acts tremendously. Not my favorite offering by Iggy, but highly worth the listen.
Pure punk! The Stooges are some of the originals and deserve to be on the list. Not great lyrics, but that’s not what punk is about. The energy makes this album! 5⭐️
Good
"Search and Destroy" as the album opener... whoa! Coming out hot! Short album with only 8 songs & 34 min run time. Honestly, first thing I noticed was how young and un-wrinkly Iggy Pop looks on the album cover. Great sound and apparently influenced a ton of bands. Not quite the generational bangers to get huge rating but good album.
Oh boy... people really like this one, huh? Am I brave enough to say I didn't like an Iggy Pop album? Well it's true, and this is anonymous so sure, why not? I get that this album is a big deal and everything, but I just can't vibe with it at all. Not for me. Iggy Pop looks like a Stand user on the cover. That is all.
The guitar work is great, but Iggy’s performance feels overtly theatrical, which was clearly the point. It captures the chaos of its time, though it hasn’t aged gracefully to modern ears used to the “authenticity” era. The record carries a distinct vibe of its era, both shaped by it and probably helping to shape it in future. Second half of the album felt little bit more refined in some way and the references sounds more clear. I am not sure if that was intentional or not. 4 (mostly for the era defining qualities and uncompromised style) 3 (personally and without context)
This album is really good. I enjoyed it a lot, and it has many great songs with many different sounds. Everything works here perfectly. I don't know what else to say about an album I liked that much, I can't find any flaws.
2.5
Listened to the Iggy Mix on Spotify, enjoyed it
Again, another band I've only listened to around the edges. I know the influence the Stooges had on punk music but actually listening to a full album I can really see their influence. This is some great music and well ahead of it's time. There is a real sleaziness to this album and it's so heavy that it was probably mind-blowing when it came out. I immediatley went and listened to their 1969 debut album after this so I would call this a good find for me.
Very fundamental to the sound that would become punk rock, very concise and doesn’t overstay its welcome too much except for the last song which did not need to be as long as it was whilst being a punk song. Some riffs also were quite heavy and I can see how it may influenced some of the metal riffs after this. Solid album but not one where I would seek out to listen again
Better than Iggy by himself, but still not great.
Meh
In terms of enjoyment this was a 3. However, due to its influence, on punk especially, imma give it a 4. I love the guitar sound they got going on in this. Iggy's voice and performance at large is, once again, not really doing anything for me but that's the way it goes. I really don't think this album is that special if you listen to it in a vacuum but of course we don't live in one so I feel it's unfair to rate one as such. Count your blessings Iggy.
second Iggy album in three days. joy.
Can I give the album cover 10 stars? ::swoon:: Some great jams on here. The Stooges are legendary.
It was okay
I listened to the Bowie mix. Cool proto-punk. I like the songs fine. Feels enough like having an early Bowie record on, and i'd rather have an early Bowie record on.
Awesome album full of energy. Much prefer the Iggy mix to the Bowie mix; it's much more in your face and powerful and the bass sounds fantastic. Favourites: Search and Destroy Gimme Danger Raw Power
There is apparently no escaping David Bowie on this list. If he isn't one of the 9 albums, then he's producing it. Luckily, he's a pretty good producer even if I don't really like Bowies own music. Iggy & The Stooges come in hot with Search and Destroy, and then album is hit and miss from there. It's alright, but not great. Adding that first track to the playlist.
Better than I was expecting. I know Gimme Danger from Monster Magnet's cover of it - great song, either version.
I have this, I do remember being underwhelming by the Stooges. So time for a re-listen. Don't love the muddy mix but still packs a punch. 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: No: 28/105 (26%) Will I get? Maybe a better version
Odd I don't like this as it's def my type of music. Generic power chords and awful voice, not as good as Fun House.
Fun House was better.
Classic rock. Fine…reminds me of a band but can’t quite put my finger on it.
Not a stooges fan. Nothing horrible but nothing great.
Fire album. Listened to the "Iggy Mix" and "Bowie Mix". Sorry, Iggy, I prefer the Bowie Mix.
I don't like punk. It is what it is in it's place in history.
Amazing punk album with kick-ass guitars. Pre-Berlin Iggy rocks like an angry teen with no future, but can also turn into a Tom Waits-like crooner with tracks like "I Need Somebody". Not a perfect album, but I had a ton of fun listening. Great music to get drunk and piss on your asshole neighbor's car. 7/10
Clearly not my favourite Stooges. Yet still the embryos of Punk.
I can hear that it could be good music, but it's clearly not what I like.
Awesome, barely a flaw on this album. Super garage vibes! I just learned the current version was remixed in the 90s because Bowie apparently did a messy job at first, which probably made the album even rawer. On the commute, it makes me wanna smash everything and hate every bit of pop, a very similar feeling than with hardcore punk. So urban and trashy!
Good old school rock
Wel prima muziek, niet mijn muziek
Raw Power” (1973) lands as old-school, noisy rock—harsh and not particularly surprising; I wouldn’t replay it.
Top 20 album for sure.
brains melting on the edge of chaos rock machines banging metal pipes on concrete walls will we find hopes for beauty
Really liked the instrumentation but it was difficult for me to get past the clipping.
The guitars are great, but I don't find myself drawn to the rest of the music (lyrics, beats, etc).
The album looks good.
It’s not bad music. Not really enjoyable either.
10 Gotta be another 10!!!!! One of the best ever at the very peak of his powers all bangers wikid wikid album
Without making the actual pun I really enjoyed the genuine rawness of the vocals and how you can diferente each instrument. After I was done listening to it, I was thinking how it kinda reminded me of some songs of David Bowie; and when I was researching the album I found out that Bowie actually helped to produce the album, which made everything more exciting ( I really like David Bowie). Now I’m more excited to listen to more of The Stooges!
3.4
Day 78 Great album, holds up remarkably well for an album released over half a century ago 7/10 Highlights Search & Destroy Penetration Raw Power
Raw Power, and a bunch of songs that sound like Raw Power.
One of my all-time favorites. No notes. There is not a single thing about this album that I don't love.
I didn't know that Moe, Larry and Curly were in a band! Was Shemp their roadie? ★★★★
Ok
Hugely influential and important for a record that sounds like 💩 I love Iggy Pop from this era, even though I prefer "Fun House", this album kicks balls and slaps titties. I love the history behind this type of album, and the controversy around the "remixed" version that Iggy Pop oversaw himself. Luckily, both versions are available on streaming services, and I recommend listening to both.
Take i need somebody and head east
oh his fagger tea
search and destroy!
Definitely some top tier bangers on here. Some kind of meh stuff too. Probably tied for 2nd to me for Stooges lps. Favs Search and Destroy, Shake Appeal and Gimme Danger. I really hate the piano in the song Raw Power.
Basically the definition of punk.
Come for the high octane, stay for the weird stufff
Yeeeees
Raw, rock and/or roll, upbeat, didn't connect
DNF. I trudged through half an hour of Iggy Pop mumble-screaming while his guitarist played over him before deciding I respect myself too much to suffer through another two hours of this, and I don't respect myself very much. I don't understand how this album is on a list of "albums you must hear before you die" except as a cautionary tale.
A bit disappointed. Lots of energy and ground breaking for 1972 but a bit of a drag to listen to the whole album. I need somebody is a standout though.
Raw Power is goated. Arguably the moment Punk was born, especially in the production booth. As for the production on the album....................best to stick to a modern mastering of it, albeit the album title pretty much is the warning that it's gonna sound, well, raw.
Not totally my style but enjoyed the Bowie mix and the Iggy mix.
Liked it
High energy album! Haven't heard of The Stooges previously and haven't listened to much with Iggy Pop.
Gutta har beeedre albuuum
Whilst Iggy’s vocals work wonderfully on songs like Lust for Life and The Passenger, I’m not a fan of it in general. The Stooges backing is highly enjoyable which makes the jarring vocals even more disappointing. This is especially true on Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, which i found borderline unlistenable thanks to the vocals. Things dont improve much with Penetration. I Need Somebody provides something slightly different, both musically and through Pop’s more stylised vocal delivery. I quite liked it and the following Shake Appeal, but not enough to make this something i would ever choose to listen to
It was as bad as I thought it would be.
I really, really like a lot of the instrumentation on this album, but the Iggy Pop delivery of lyrics is *a lot* on a number of these songs. I always knew before embarking on this project that the singer's voice was hugely important to my enjoyment of any album, but it really is make or break. I could see this getting a much better rating with a different singer, although it felt like the last track was never going to end, so it was never going to get full marks even with a vocalist I liked. Probably more a 2.5, but I'm going to give a generous 3 because I really liked Search and Destroy. 3/5
Personal favorite is "Gimme Danger," although I swear they 'borrowed' aspects from the Stones' own 1969 "Gimme Shelter."
I actually thought I wasn't going to like this one but actually really enjoy it. 4 stars.
Iggy mix for the win. Hadn't realized What's the Story is basically a rip off of this album. Really doing the history of punk with The Sonics and then this album. Bonus star for the trend-setting influence of this album.
• 3/5 • Fun photo-garage / photo-punk sound. Sesrch & Destroy is a quality single, but I didn’t love the rest. • The production is noticeably awful
#155/1001. Again during this project was a phase that albums to be reviewed queue got a bit longer, and for some reason I picked them out leaving a better moment for this. Well that better moment never came, unless you set your mind in to thinking every moment is a potential raw power moment. I think I first heard about Iggy in the 80s when metal was the thing and my cousin talked about this funny song in which the singer wanted to kive on dog food. How did she get exposed to it - I don’t know if she hanged out with the wrong people or was it just because she was Swedish. Later on in the 90s I saw Iggy, opening for the Ramones. I remember thinking that “man, that old dude can rock”. And that is over 40 years ago? I guess he is still doing shows? Hail the new Ozzy. Iggy / stooges has never been in my album collection or turntable, perhaps after 40 years or so when my kids drag me in to old peoples’ home I can blast this out, twist and jerk around semi-naked around in my leather pants, showing nurses born in 2040s how to rock.
Search and Destroy is a song that kept with me since the first time I heard it when I was a little kid. Just raw power
Pretty good. The album title perfectly describes the energy of The Stooges. Standout songs: Raw Power, Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell. Love the bluesy sound of I Need Somebody. Down and dirty rock 'n' roll.
Super cool. Truly had no idea this existed. Some of the sounds feels cliche, but I realize looking at the release date, this is only because so many later bands copied them. Listened to both the Iggy Mix and the Bowie Mix, and I might go back and listen to the 50th anniversary legacy edition too.
2 out of 5 Some of the Stooge's songs are iconic. Some are painful to my ears.
I like rock but this is too grunge for my liking. It’s giving teen’s motor garage
i was never a big fan of iggy's vocals, thats why it was even hard for me to play this album in the first place. but i did! and i found the guitars very appealing, i love the raw/dirty sound of them, thats what i dig. buuuuut... i think that's it. i can't relax while listening, can't headbang, the album is lacking some HIT powerful moments imo. "raw power" has potential, its beginning nicely, hardly, but then still... nothing more is happening. the same with "i need somebody", sounds so nice at the beginning, but then... what? not even one good solo. VERY BORING ALBUM IN GENERAL.
Had to give it two listens, takes some getting used to. BUT i really enjoyed it 4 stars
these days iggy pop on 6music has great musical taste these days , shame i don’t like this album . 2
3.5
fav: - gimme danger - I need somebody
My poor Spotify algorithm. Based on recent albums I’m now getting recommendations for “Dive Bar Anthems” and “Indie Sleaze” playlists. I want my hippie music back. I don’t understand angry, jarring music with singers who scream more than sing. I’m a peace and love kind of girl. Plus, I’m old and it hurts my ears. But it was better than yesterday’s….so that’s something.
The punk train has returned to the station but this time it’s on the less chaotic side of the tracks. Punk rock has never been in my top 17 genres of music, but I can honestly say I didn’t mind listening to this. I wouldn’t go looking for The Stooges, but I was able to tolerate the entire album without wanting to jump off a cliff.
This is what a real rock album actually sounds like. The first time I heard Search and Destroy, some 35 years ago now, I was hooked. These songs are a controlled demolition, visceral and implosive. Iggy scared me then and he damn sure still scares me now. This music is dangerous and I get to live vicariously through it every time I turn it up and roll down the windows. It doesn’t matter that I’m driving an eco-friendly car and obeying the posted speed limit, I’m still the world’s forgotten boy in that moment and the rush hour traffic better be ready, because I’m about to penetrate it! I think some music is great because it doesn’t sound like anything else. When I listen to Iggy and the Stooges, and especially here on the more ‘mainstream’ stylings of Raw Power, I hear most of my favorite rock bands for the next 50 years lurking in the background. Without this, what happens to punk and its ‘mainstreamed’ derivatives, to grunge, to garage rock, to alternative and modern rock? Hard to Imagine what it sounds like without influences like this …a historically important album that is actually still a great listen.
Listening to this album feels like being a fly on the wall as the Stooges piece together Punk Rock. Heavy metal had been introduced to the world by bands like iron butterfly and black sabbath, the Stooges brought us punk rock. Decent album, can definitely see how they influenced future bands, but this was just okay for me.
Soft 4. Not entirely my vibe for a typical day, but definitely see this as a core part of punk history that is pretty fun to listen to.
Legends of old school but never really did it for me.
eh not really for me
This was such a fun album to listen to, it went by in a breeze. What surprised me was the guitar playing. There were some very simplistic, but genius parts. It's a 4/5, I've definitely heard better, as far as this style of music goes, but it's a great album nontheless.
"Raw Power" didn’t do much for me. Much of it felt like just noise, and I struggled to get into it. It’s not bad, but it just didn’t click with my taste.
Man what a great record is this. Raw Power is an apt title for sure. I hate to be one of those 'back in my day...' types (this was considerably before my day anyway), but I wish there were more bands making music like this still. Just go in with guitars, bass, drums, vocals and crank out a badass record. Sadly that doesn't happen much anymore. This album is one of those special ones that made countless kids want to pick up an instrument or start a band and we're so much better for it. You can hear all of the punk from the later 70s on coming from this record. This is a record you should listen to twice back to back - first listen to the Iggy version then the Bowie version. Really interesting to hear different takes each of them had with the same raw tapes. There are some things I like about the Bowie version better but if I had to choose one it would be the Iggy version. It's just less polished and harsher sounding and I think it fits the music better. The harsher production becomes an instrument in itself. You can't really say enough good stuff about this record. Or you could go on forever about it. 5/5
Wasn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t seek it out to listen to again, mostly because there just wasn’t enough going on for me- just sounded very generic but a bit dry.
Raw power indeed
Found this similar to their debut, dropped in some bangers but lost interest in parts. Finished strong
First two songs off the album are great, diminishing returns from there for me. Like the instrumentals for the most part but struggle with too much of this variety of American rock. Fav tracks: Search and Destroy, Gimmie Danger. Saved a song: Y RYM: Y (#270)
Must have lacerated the ears of people thinking even Led Zeppelin was too loud and obnoxious. I mean this as a compliment.
Not really my jam anymore, but undeniable in it's importance. I'm giving an extra star for Search & Destroy & Gimme Danger.
It was ok! Some good guitar licks but otherwise faded into the background for me.
I didn't know Iggy had a nice voice on some tracks
Not bad
This is cool. Heavy, dirty, raw. Love it.
Iggy Pop vocals ruin what could otherwise be an album of impressive guitar rock.
Did my headphones break or something? Wtf is this Their music sounds like they don't give a shit but I bet if their house caught on fire they'd stop playing and go put it out
('_'?)
Man… Raw Power is like, if your brain got punched by lightning in leather pants. Iggy just screams at your soul, and the guitars sound like they're melting the air. It's chaos, but like... beautiful chaos, ya know? Kinda makes you wanna knock over a lamp and then hug it. Wild, messy, perfect for freaking out on the couch.
Great album, super early punk rock and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Iggy is usually great and this is a great example of why.
There's a few versions of this album. I didn't want to listen to the whole two hour 50th anniversary edition so I listened to the 2023 remaster of the Iggy mix. And there's also a Bowie mix!? Crazy. This is definitely an influential album. And it should be something I'd enjoy. But something about it hasn't quite hit.
Music without an apparent POV places more importance on how it functions to make the listener feel. Moody and reflective, yet lacking the interesting hooks of Caribou, the communal celebratory vibes of Moby/ Fatboy or the toke-inspiring doominess of Tangerine Dream; this is EDM that follows some middle path and for me misses way more than it hits.
Lives up to the title for damn sure. The guitar work here is as bedrock to subsequent punk/alternative bands as Robert Johnson was to the classic rock bands. The first two tracks are perfection, the rest is good though I do feel they get a tad lazy with the songcraft later on and sound at times like they’re caving to the mistaken impression a lot of people had they were a freak or novelty act. The best moments of this album show this band was in fact as serious as a Heart Fulla Napalm.
I wasn't prepared to like this album as much as i did. I know that Iggy Pop and this bad are considered the originators of punk, but I thought there were influences of all different types of music in here. you heard some classic punk rock guitar riffs, but then some guitar sounds that felt like they were from the 50s. at one point the vocals called to mind Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. just a fun listen
Has any album every been as perfectly encapsulated in the title as this one is? It's certainly raw, very powerful, and just overall a fun listen. Pivotal in the development of punk rock and really like very few other things that existed in 1973. Some slower Doors-esque moments that are still good, but when this goes it goes hard, and it takes off right from the outset. Iggy was a front man that broke the mold and I think this somehow captures almost a live energy in the studio. A monumental and influential rock record and I loved it.
Liked it more than anticipated!
Raw power has lots of aggression and charisma, serving as a deeper cut yet standout gem in Iggy Pop and the stooges discography
I enjoyed this more than I expected.
no destaco ninguna cancion, me parecio medio repetitivo y aburrido :/ --- dsp de escucharlo de nuevo me gusto mas, le subo 1 estrella x I need somebody jeje ---
Top track: I Need Somebody
Sellasta blues - rock - oliko jotain metallintynkääkin alkukantaista. Ei soitossa ole vikaa mutta laulajan joko äänentuotannossa tai muussa on vaan jotain ajoittain ärsyttävää feikkisyyttä.
u srednjoj sam znao slušat tek njihov prvi album koji mi je bio dost dobar, al ovo mi nije bilo vanredno, tek solidno dobro
Some good guitar work, but a lot of it sounds the same. It’s fine, but no better than fine.
I really liked this. I understand the hives now
Listened to this album recently as part of my 2025 resolution to listen to at least one new album per week. Wrote the following note for it on my spreadsheet: "I think this might be my favorite Stooges album!" Previously listened to 3 songs (Search and Destroy; Gimme Danger; Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell) Favorite Song: I Need Somebody
i shouldn’t have tried to listen to this in the morning probably but did not enjoy
Not bad at all but maybe just wasn’t the vibe for updating my gradebook. Had no issues with it per se.
Iggy is an acquired taste but this is some pretty good proto punk. I listened to the original Bowie mix
Not my thing
<3
Raw and powerful 🤣
nice, but too raw, 1979, not really the best recording equipment, so not really my kinda vibe
Pretty fun album, especially considering the era.
Guitar goes so hard. 1, 2, 3, 4 out of 5 🌟
Täykky räimerock! 5/5
Rokkiklassikko tämäkin! Hyvää jyrinää.
Don't get it. Listened to the 2023 remaster and it sounds pretty mediocre
Why tf you grunt so much. Seriously though, it was alright. Decent rock music to jam to, and clearly an inspiration for the first wave of Punk rock. It wasn't anything amazing, but I enjoyed it well enough. Would probably be more fun to listen to on big speakers.
Didn't enjoy this that much tbh. Tried. Even went back to some songs again. Just found it a bit creepy and the songs didn't stick.
Chugger chugger yellow howl proto-punk/driving garage that I feel has its place but not so much in my life these days. I Need Somebody stood out as being a bit of a change in vibe. I think there are times in my life I would have enjoyed the excitement in this more, and I can defo hear its influence on some bands I liked in my youth (elements of Primal Scream in particular) but tbh it feels like fairly pointless messy swagger. There's better Stooges available too.
I quite enjoyed it. Not amazing but would probably listen to again
Energy is a hell of a drug. This album isn’t really deep. It can get repetitive and the production is a little grimy. But this is a case where I can say “who gives a fuck?”. This shit’s hard for 1973 and it’s easy to see how this was an influence for so many other acts to come. It’s raw power indeed. Favorite track: Search and Destroy Other hits: Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, Penetration, I Need Somebody, Death Trip
Found this one quite dull, the streak is over 2
Favorite tracks: Gimme Danger, Shake Appeal
Hardt å jobbe seg gjennom. Bare surr og rop og tynn gitar, på mange måter. Blir ingen 2. gjennomhøring...
Messy, chaotic, and pretty fun the whole way through. Definitely rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. I actually liked this a lot.
Great album by a great band.
This is pretty fine! I elected to check out both mixes (Bowie after Iggy Pop for me), but the Bowie mix didn't really add enough for me to rate it higher. I enjoyed parts of it, just nothing too consistent.
Nahh this cooks. This is exactly as disgusting and sloppy as any proto-punk rager of an album ought to be - raw, barely-produced, and nothing but shouts of rage and instrumentals seething with malice. I'm excited to check out the Iggy mix as well.
One of the reviews on this very website said that this was a top 10 album *of all time* Whatever that guy was smoking, I would like a sample. Some rocking guitar throughout the album but the overall production value was so low that even the guitar was not pleasing to the ears. The melodies themselves didn’t make me interested enough to go look up the Bowie version either. I’m sure this is a fine album for someone who has only heard like 5 other albums in their life
There's just so much going on at once, it's like every instrument is trying to overpower (lol) each other. As for Iggy Pop, I don't know what's worse, his howling or his mixing. I found the Bowie mix to bring some much needed clarity here, though even that doesn't do much to salvage the record. In truth this wasn't as offensive as other 1 stars, but as I sit and write this I can't think of a single element I enjoyed about this album. To the banished realm it goes. 🥀
Definitely listening to this in the wrong decade at the wrong age. I understand the influence, and it's really cool that there are two versions that sound completely different, but I don't like The Stooges and I would never listen to this again.
I liked the first two songs. The rest was boring and not very memorable.
Meh, it's ok. Not sure it is a must listen album.
1. Search and Destroy - 7 Decent track. Vocals aren't the best but it's still very enjoyable. Riffs in the opening lose themselves a bit, it's almost like a pitch change ten to twenty seconds in after an excellent opening. Brilliant guitar in the bridge/outro concludes the track. 2. Gimmie Danger - 7 Great sound with awesome vocals it actually takes a while to build until you get the absolutely stellar bridge with some unbelievable riffs in it. Solid track. Worth a replay just for that bridge alone. 3. Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell - 4 Good riffs and sound but vocally it's pretty poor. Can't even make out the lyrics and even when you do it's just gibberish. 4. Penetration - 4 Lyrically it's absolutely dreadful. The guitars in the background sound excellent but they're overlaid by some horrible vocals. Not an enjoyable track. 5. Raw Power - 1 Just really bad cookie cutter rock that bridges into some white noise before you get the guitar solo. By that point, you're done with the track and ready to move on. 6. I Need Somebody - 7 Solid sounding track with great lyrics. The guitar in the choruses between the lines is superb. The pace is exquisite as well. All of this takes place before another brilliant burst of a guitar solo in the bridge. Very enjoyable track. 7. Shake Appeal - 6 Decent track. Lyrically it's a bit repetitive but overall it's still a fun track especially with the great riff underpinning the whole track. 8. Death Trip - 6 Another decent track with an overall great sound. I have about the same critique for this track that I have for Shake Appeal, it's just slightly less repetitive. Overall a solid ending to the album. Average Rating: 5.25 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.63 Rounded Up: 3 Stars
Not at all what I expected.
Koliko su oni utjecajni bili a niko nikad o tome ne priča. Hvala im što su pogurali mnoge neuporedivno kvalitetnije izvođače. Mada, da neko drugi pjeva i ovo bi mi sve bilo ok.
A punk classic. Everything else (from this era, at least) pales in comparison. The actual blueprint for punk rock.