The Idiot

Bowie doesn’t get enough credit for being a kickass piano player!

Great album to top yourself to

Watching Iggy hobble around the stage at age 76 with no shirt, looking like a saddle bag full of live cats (see Wikipedia photo for reference), converting drunk fratboys song by vigorous song, is one of my fondest festival memories. The sleazy sack of wormmeat that is The Idiot only enhances the legend.

The album generator gave me back to back Iggy. I suppose it doesn’t register Raw Power from The Stooges as being from the same artist. However, this was a happy accident, since this didn’t sound like the same artist. And, technically, since Bowie was so heavily involved, one could define The Idiot as being a ‘Biggy’ album… Hmm, looks like that name’s already notorious. Either way, it was great to hear the contrast between The Idiot and Raw Power. They’re miles different. I personally think this is a flawless album, so I rated this one higher. Sorry Iggy? Maybe?

Only WMD dances for me 💣 🧨 🚀 💣🚀💥

(93/100)

10/10 holy shit! Iggy Pop consistently blows me away every time I hear an album of his!

Holy fucking shit this is good. Was not expecting to like this album as much as I did. Fave song: China Girl (oh my god this song in and of itself makes the album a 5 it's so good)

I love this record. And then I hate the racism of China Girl. And then I sing China Girl in the shower and feel terrible. Iggy Pop (and Bowie) is a damn genius.

First pass I was shocked - this is not the Iggy Pop I know! What the hell is this? Why did he start reading Dostoevsky? Second pass I 'got it.' Bowie. Pop. Uhhh, kraftwerk at home? Three great tastes that taste great together. I suppose this came out around the same time as Low, an album I think I underrated, and it shows. Anyway, great album, with a great closer.

Detroit-rocker and art-pop star skip punk and make a jerky, electronic post-punk record that serves intoxicating cabaret, chorus, creepiness and disorientation. Another one I’ve had for a while, but had never really put mind and ears to.

Reviews on the site and in IRL publications indicate that this album is a love it or hate it piece. I loved it. Iggy Pop and Bowie? Yes please.

Damn…

## In-Depth Review of *The Idiot* by Iggy Pop Iggy Pop’s 1977 solo debut *The Idiot* stands as a landmark album, marking a radical departure from the raw proto-punk of The Stooges and ushering in a new era of sophisticated, brooding, and industrially tinged art rock. Crafted in close collaboration with David Bowie, the album is frequently cited as a foundational text for post-punk and new wave. This review examines its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, concluding with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Introspection, Alienation, and Urban Decay** The lyrics of *The Idiot* are a sharp turn from Iggy Pop’s earlier, more primal work with The Stooges. Instead of the visceral, id-driven outbursts, Pop adopts a more cerebral and introspective approach, often reflecting on alienation, decadence, and the ruins of his past[3][5][8]. The album’s title, borrowed from Dostoyevsky, hints at existential themes and the sense of a man out of place in a decaying world[3]. - **Tormented Love and Lust:** Songs like “China Girl,” “Baby,” and “Tiny Girls” explore obsessive, dysfunctional relationships with a sense of longing and emotional detachment. “China Girl” in particular, later made famous by Bowie, is imbued with a dark, almost desperate eroticism[3][5]. - **Autobiographical Exorcisms:** “Dum Dum Boys” is a melancholic tribute to The Stooges, blending nostalgia with resignation. It’s one of the few moments where Pop allows genuine emotion to seep through his otherwise detached delivery[3]. - **Nocturnal and Urban Vignettes:** Tracks like “Nightclubbing” and “Funtime” celebrate Berlin’s nightlife, but with a sense of irony and alienation. The lyrics are circular, repetitive, and reveal a sense of emptiness beneath the surface hedonism: “We see people/Brand new people/They’re something to see”[3][8]. The overall lyrical tone is sardonic, world-weary, and poetic, representing a significant evolution in Pop’s songwriting. There is a sense of self-reflection and a search for meaning amid chaos and decay[3][8]. --- ## Music **Industrial, Electronic, and Minimalist Soundscapes** Musically, *The Idiot* is a dramatic shift from the guitar-driven ferocity of The Stooges. The album is characterized by: - **Heavy Use of Synthesizers:** Early analog synths create a cold, dystopian atmosphere, evoking the industrial landscapes of Detroit and Berlin[2][6][8]. - **Mechanical Rhythms:** Drum machines and repetitive, chugging rhythms dominate, especially on tracks like “Nightclubbing” and “Mass Production.” The influence of German Krautrock bands like Kraftwerk and NEU! is palpable[2][6][9]. - **Sparse, Angular Guitars:** Guitars are used sparingly, often as textural elements rather than the main driving force. The overall sound is minimalist but rich in atmosphere[5][6]. - **Baritone Vocals:** Pop’s delivery is subdued, often sinking into a baritone croon that contrasts sharply with his earlier, more aggressive style[3][5]. The result is a collection of songs that are hypnotic, brooding, and sometimes claustrophobic. The music is less about visceral impact and more about mood, texture, and psychological tension[5][9]. --- ## Production **Bowie’s Sonic Architecture and Visconti’s Polish** The production of *The Idiot* is as significant as the songwriting itself. David Bowie, who co-wrote and produced the album, brought a European sensibility and avant-garde approach to the sessions[2][4][7]. - **Layered, Experimental Arrangements:** The album was built up gradually, often through tape loops, ad-hoc sessions, and extensive studio experimentation. The closing track, “Mass Production,” for example, uses spliced tape sections to create an oppressive, droning backdrop reminiscent of factory machinery[1][7]. - **Urban, Industrial Sound Design:** The production emphasizes the bleakness and beauty of decaying industrial landscapes, with metallic percussion, echoing synths, and a generally “cold and robotic” feel[1][6][8]. - **Tony Visconti’s Mixing:** After initial tracking in France, the album was polished at Hansa Studios in Berlin, with Tony Visconti lending his expertise to the final mixes, ensuring a balance between accessibility and avant-garde experimentation[7]. The album’s sound is often described as “controlled” and “subdued,” with Bowie’s influence sometimes overshadowing Pop’s presence. Some critics have even argued that *The Idiot* feels as much like a Bowie album as a Pop one[3][4][9]. --- ## Themes **Dystopia, Decadence, and Rebirth** Thematically, *The Idiot* is steeped in the atmosphere of late-1970s Berlin—a city divided, haunted by its past, and teetering on the edge of transformation. - **Dystopian Urbanism:** The album conjures images of industrial decay, urban alienation, and the beauty found in ruins. This is most explicit on “Mass Production” and “Nightclubbing,” where the music and lyrics evoke a sense of mechanical repetition and emotional numbness[1][7][8]. - **Personal Redemption:** Beneath the bleakness lies a narrative of survival and rebirth. Pop, emerging from addiction and the collapse of The Stooges, uses the album as a vehicle for self-examination and reinvention[3][7][8]. - **Decadence and Irony:** There is a sardonic humor running through the album, particularly in its depictions of nightlife and excess. The celebration is always tinged with irony, suggesting that joy is fleeting and often hollow[3][8]. --- ## Influence **Inventing Post-Punk and Shaping Alternative Music** *The Idiot* is widely regarded as a blueprint for post-punk and new wave, influencing a generation of artists and bands[1][5][8]. - **Post-Punk Foundations:** The album’s use of synthesizers, mechanical rhythms, and dark, introspective lyrics directly influenced bands like Joy Division, whose singer Ian Curtis was reportedly listening to *The Idiot* on the night of his death[1][8]. - **New Wave and Beyond:** The album’s fusion of rock, electronic, and industrial elements paved the way for acts like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and The Smashing Pumpkins, among others[3][8]. - **Artistic Collaboration:** The symbiotic relationship between Pop and Bowie on this album set a template for future collaborations in alternative music, demonstrating the creative potential of cross-genre partnerships[9]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Bold artistic reinvention for Iggy Pop | Some fans found the new direction alienating | | Groundbreaking fusion of rock, electronic, and industrial elements | Bowie’s influence sometimes overshadows Pop’s own identity | | Lyrically introspective and poetic | Lacks the raw energy of The Stooges | | Innovative production and sound design | Some tracks feel emotionally distant or cold | | Laid the groundwork for post-punk and new wave | Not all songs are equally strong; a few are considered filler | | Atmosphere and mood are immersive and cinematic | Initial reviews noted a lack of “emotion” in Pop’s vocal delivery | | Showcases Pop’s versatility as a songwriter and performer | The album’s bleakness can be off-putting to some listeners | --- ## Conclusion *The Idiot* is a flawed masterpiece—a record that trades the primal scream of punk for the cold embrace of industrial modernity. Its lyrics are introspective and poetic, its music innovative and atmospheric, and its production a testament to the creative partnership between Iggy Pop and David Bowie. While some longtime fans lamented the loss of Pop’s earlier ferocity, the album’s influence on post-punk and alternative music is undeniable. It is a work that rewards repeated listening, revealing new depths of meaning and emotion beneath its austere surface. For those willing to embrace its darkness, *The Idiot* remains one of the most important and visionary albums of the late 20th century.

92/1089 - Fuzzy. This might get me used to Bowie's voice (they're similar and work a lot together), interested to listen to more. A bit similar throughout but overall a cool experience!

I like this one Will I listen to again: 100%

Good alt rock album to make time fly by. Now I understand why dad liked Iggy Pop.

The guitars just rip through your soul on this one

Although my first impression was that this was simply a David Bowie album, as the album progressed I was happily proven wrong. In fact, I was surprised to find that the tracks I'd heard before weren't the high point, and the ones that were new to me were the ones that stood out. The last track in particular, all nine minutes (almost) of it, was so good I had to replay it three times.

dope. the real first album of the berlin trilogy. when i think of this abstractly i think of the single-types - sister midnight, nightclubbing, obvs china girl is amazing. but the whole thing just fucking rips, this must have sounded mental in 1977.

Honestly yeah, 5 stars. This has more imprints of Bowie but the delivery from the legendary Iggy and his take on David’s experimentation is an experience.

One of the first Post Punk records. And still one of the finest.

I adore this record. As much Bowie as Iggy. Synonymous with Berlin in my brain.

Fantastic! I always loved the Lust for Life album but didn’t pay this much mind. And I confess my ignorance I didn’t even know that Iggy recorded China girl first. I only knew the Bowie 1983 version. But this was so good I was happy to play it a couple of times on the trot and then go on a David Bowie digression. Made me happy.

Great album and can clearly head the golden period of Bowie's influence. After a few listens you begin to hear the later bands that this was a big influence on, joy division, Depeche mode etc... no such bad thing. 5 stars all the way!

Wow I really loved it. Iggy has a beautiful voice and he is so talented

Слушал, слушаю и буду слушать. Игги Поп в руках Дэвида Боуи поёт как соловей! Альбом цельный, слушается как симфония.

The Idiot is so damn good it makes me regret giving so many lesser albums five stars. But oh well, I'm true to myself. Sister Midnight is a bop and a groove. I love this era of both Iggy and Bowie, you can really hear eachother's influence on eachother while they were up in Berlin coming down off their heroin in a town that sounds like it was named after heroin. Hey Iggy, we need to get away from the drugs. Ok David, where shall we stay? "Heroinville". Nightclubbing is obvs hella famous to a generation now from Trainspotting. But what a spooky banger. And so tonally discordant. Hey yeah let's go nightclubbing and have a good time! What...what's this music? I'm scared can I go home? Funtime I first heard as an REM cover on the b-side to Orange Crush, which sounded really fun, stripped of the menace absolutely dripping from this performance. Which was really quite jarring at first when I finally heard this, but of course I appreciate it now. Baby continues this mood and doesn't drop the ball. Iggy's China Girl is far superior to Bowie's weirdly anodyne version on Lets Dance. But that makes sense as 5 years later music had settled in far less risky directions than here, at the height of punk and post-punk experimentation. The two songs are like chalk and cheese. Doesn't feel like it gets going until about 2 minutes in but boy when it does... Great record from start to finish.

Hard to argue with how influential this album was for the future of punk and post punk bands. Listen to this album then chase it with Unknown Pleasures. May not be his “best” but is easily one of the most important albums to the genre.

The Idiot breathes an atrabilious, dark, gloomy atmosphere that has to grab you. With Nightclubbing and Mass Production you're being sucked into the pain and struggle with addiction. The album envelops you. I can understand why people despise this album. But I love it.

I'm giving this 5/5 already! I already knew Iggy pop, so I was very happy that one of his underrated albums was here! That is one of my favorite albums with songs like Tiny girl, Baby and Funtime is my all-time favorite songs from him. I really like this album because David bowie was with him and as well David bowie is my all-time favorite so yea. This album has a story for me as well. I was in ripe age of 11 when I found this and it was so perfect (during the pandemic) and I couldn't stop listening to it, it was my start of rock love, and this was my second after the smith so of course this album will always be in my heart! The songs are even great, the beat, the bass, and the lyrics were well made. It's very creative and well made. It also sometime reminds me of the Human league specifically "Don't you want me." The sound is almost near the vocalist of human league. At the end it's amazing and I always recommended it to anybody who loves rock!!

Such an amazing album. Super underrated as well .

This is his best album. Lust For Life has a couple 10/10 songs, but every single track on this one is incredible.

One of the most interesting albums from the 70s. It’s hard, rigid, unpleasant at times, but once it clicks, it’s hypnotic.

I have always loved this album, as a great harmony between Bowie and Pop. I love the raw rock of Iggy's other work, but this album is unique, fun, and a different way to absorb Bowie.

Iggy Pop + Bowie + Berlin = 5 stars of course

this shit was gas

Very nice! Bowie's China Girl is much better.

Glorious Iggy and Bowie collaboration.

I've got to apologize to Mr. Pop because I was unfamiliar with his game. Who is this artist and how could he possibly have come from The Stooges. This is weird, funky, rhythmic, metallic, and a ton of other adjectives that are many steps removed from his punk past life. There's still some of the droning and repetative riffs that I commented on in his other music, but it works quite well here. Mass Production sounds like it was made in a factory and is a great song. But several others like Nightclubbing, China Girl, and Dum Dum Boys are just strange and awesome songs. It's a good thing he and Bowie were friends, because I think it evolved Iggy's music by several levels. This was an amazing album.

Imagine not liking Iggy

Seedy, slinking, slicked post punk. Probably the coolest thing on Earth when this dropped.

5 out of 5. The Bowie influence really stands out this album.

One of the greatest achievements in punk rock ever

I haven't heard this album before, but many of the songs sounded familiar. Both tempoally and stylistically it's between rolling classic rock and brooding, synth-filled Wave. The tracks are all different, and there are only eight of them, so the album doesn't get repetitive. The lyrics are a similar flavor of nonsense to a weird '70s movie, except it actually works well in a song, because song lyrics are mostly for vibes, while a movie should have actual plot and dialogue. It's an essential Iggy Pop album, you don't need me to explain why it's good.

Iggy and the artist formerly known as Ziggy construct a brave new world of gothic industry and stark, robotic grooves that pulse with dystopian decadence.

An ultimate classic.

It's Iggy Pop. It's great. It's always great. It's even short and to the point.

mid morning music but peak post-12 hour shift music 10/10

tis a banger

Wow. This was awesome. Sounded as fresh today as I imagine it did in 1977 - the mark of a truly great record. Going to work my way through the rest of the Iggy Pop discography now.

This is probably Iggy’s best album outside the Stooges. Again, like Lust For Life, it has Bowie stamped all over it and it is probably some of his best work too. The whole thing has great sounding guitars and some stomping Krautrock beats going on. You can hear where Siouxsie and the Bamshees and similar got their inspiration. Love it.

Superclassic album, nothing to add.

Didn't realise China Girl was on this album. It was never my favourite Bowie song, but I now prefer the original

The start of so many things I like.

We can't talk about 'The Idiot' without talking about Bowie. The story is very familiar by now. By 1976, Bowie and Pop were struggling with addiction and desperate to escape their fame. So they moved to Europe to have freedom from their past lives. 'The Idiot' is both Iggy Pop's radical departure from the proto-punk of The Stooges and the beginning of Bowie's frantic Berlin Era. Bowie later admitted to using Pop as a guinea pig to experiment with new styles that he hadn't quite figured out get. For that reason, fans rightfully argue that this isn't a true representation of Iggy Pop. But seen as a collaboration, it's really brilliant. Pop's vocals fit the bleak, industrial soundscapes perfectly. Together, the two artists created a really inventive album, drawing heavily on influence from the German rock scene of the 70s, particularly Kraftwerk. The title and artwork further add to the feelings of discomfort, recalling Dostoevsky and displaying Pop in a twisted, unnatural pose. 'The Idiot' has been cited as a influence of a huge range of artists. Most notably, Joy Division, as it was famously the last album Ian Curtis chose to listen to. It also ushered in a heap of post-punk artists and would continue to be felt through industrial, goth, and synth pop acts for years to come.

I listened to this one after Lust for Life and didn’t like it but loved it this time. I can hear the echos of this album through a lot of the post punk and gothic rock of the 80s. China Girl even sounds like a precursor to Hong Kong Garden. All around great album. It is innovative and the entire album has a unique and consistent feel to it. Rating: 4.8

I'm a fan, and this is a great album. People will discredit it because it doesn't sound like The Stooges, or even later Iggy Pop solo records, but that's precisely what makes it great -- it's unique, it created musical ideas that resonated with many people for many many years.

Love it.

Berlin proto wave coolness. class

This record rules. You can hear Bowie all over it. Just a great post punk art record. It's weird and raw. A perfect little record.

This wasn't what I was expecting and I liked it much more because of that. Raw, unpolished, energetic and fun, but missing the angry I was expecting. Not angry, but Iggy seemed disappointed.

Absolutely awesome, went into thinking this would be self indulgent trash, could not be more wrong.

Inconsistent song structures but absolutely amazing. Just think that he sang I wanna be your dog just a few years later.

The second installment of the supposed Berlin Trilogy, yet very much its own machine and creation, Iggy Pop's The Idiot oozes with its sauntering, swaggering, no less heavy disposition. At best left for dead, and whether it is appreciated or not, Iggy powered through with the help of a change in scenery, a change in mindset and charitable help from a admirer turned collaborator who was also undergoing similar transformations. The result was one of the many documents that best exemplify the feeling of Year Zero that permeated the air in 1977; that, with the walls torn down (regardless of irony), anything and everything can be possible. Never has turning a new leaf looked and felt so electric.

I love Iggy Pop

"David Bowie produces krautrock with guest vocalist Iggy Pop." That's not a negative sentiment, it's badass. Bowie is the king of cool, always knowing how to capitalize on trends, and Iggy is genuine punk (though he hates the term) - their combined experiences meld fantastically and create a coarse, grimy soundscape bemoaning the world the pair wish to escape from. Favorites: "Nightclubbing", "China Girl", "Mass Production".

In college, I dated a guy who was Totally into Punk Rock, so I grew to love it in the late 70’s early 80’s. I think of Iggy Pop as the grandfather of Punk Rock… I attribute him being who launched the genre whether that’s true or not and so think his work is Genius!!

Great album, already listened to it before but glad to hear it again :)

China Girl is one of my favourite songs of all-time

I'm not familiar with Iggy Pop (except Lust for Life) but I enjoyed this album & would listen again.

LP

love!

Iggys first solo debut album. So much history is tied to this release, I highly recommend checking out the podcast 'No Dogs In Space' for a good in-depth history behind Iggy's antics that led up to the album. Also, if you do enjoy this PLEASE checkout The Stooges. Iggy Pop did not begin as a solo artist, The Stooges (the band he was apart of) kicked off punk scene with their energy and stage antics.

Proto-industrial sounds with a strong emphasis on dark and moody keys and synths. Some good post-punk lead guitar work on a few tracks but as accent rather than the basis of the songs. The vocals are very Bowie-style: off kilter crooning and high drama. A couple songs at the end are a bit tuneless, extremely repetitive, and go on way too long.

👍

Weird, but alluring. China girl is especially cool and nightclubbing has some uniquely awesome guitar sounds.

I know this one fairly well and I love love love it. Easy 5.

What a fucking idiot.

What a great surprise this was. This is exactly the kind of album that I usually don't like, and that's why I had never listened to it. Somehow everything came together perfectly here. Just a collection of weird songs that incomprehensibly work incredibly well together. Also never realized Bowie's version of "China Girl" came out after this one, even if it was only a few years later.

The guitar and synth mix with Iggy's vocals is gold.

All this time I had no idea China Girl had been recorded by Iggy first. I knew he had working history with Bowie, but I just didn't know the extent of it. I was already loving this album, but now I feel more rock educated and totally mind blown at the same time. Incredible artistry, love the musicianship here, and Iggy's thick dry vocals always do it for me. It's good shit.

Prominent bass with some great guitar underneath. David Bowie’s prints all over it. I dig.

Disco redentor, con un Iggy Pop transmutado en Bowie, calmado y confesor, que renace de su abismo mental en su mejor trabajo. Brillante y oscuro. Brutal.

I'm not particularly thrilled by the lyrics, but musically I LOVE this. Part of the mythic Berlin era, it's like Bowie using Iggy as a sort of lab experiment, and the results are a fantastic new direction for the rock and roll animal. Has an exquisite combination of monotony and swagger that endlessly delights me.

Love it so so so so so so much. this album is a little bit in my blood though.

Je ne suis pas assez une connaisseuse pour dire si c'est album est bon ou mauvais; ce que je peux dire, c'est que les chansons me plaisent, Iggy Pop ne ressemble à personne, et j'aime qu'il prenne des risques et suive son propre chemin

Great album.

Najbolji iggy

This is one of my favorite albums - I went through a period where I mildly obsessed with David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy, which this album is a precursor. China Girl is absolutely fucking epic. I knew Nightclubbing from the Trainspotting soundtrack, but only grew to love it more when I got into this album. I can't be objective in my assessment since I have loved this album for years, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Sometimes listening to 1001 albums you get an album that is simply incredible (and one that you have not heard before). Iggy Pop's idiot is such an album - weird, dark, punk rock with almost pop-punk infused sounds about twisted partying and popular culture haunts you throughout the album. I absolutely love it. Highlights for me - China Girl, Nightclubbing, Sister Midnight, but really, it does not have any bad songs.

Good for vibes

Really great album! I felt like this was just another record made by David Bowie and lo and behold, it is produced by him. Even Iggy's vocal sounds like a slightly more used and tired Bowie. So this is already a very big positive. On the other side we have great instrumental music. It's not a classic rock, trying to fit many riffs into a short song. It's more bluesy, melodies are stretched over minutes of the songs, and they create amazing atmosphere, quite on par with best Bowie's albums. I have never heard any of the song on this record, but that's not really a surprise. Tracks aren't necessarily radio friendly and neither of them is a hit per se. But altogether, when listened in the most cliche way possible, with wine, on a sofa, under a blanket, it's incredibly great piece of music. Another favourite to add to collection.

This is exactly the type of weirdo Eno/Bowie-esque sound I'm into. Definitely a departure from the sound of the Stooges, this album is more experimental, artsy, and electronic. I've always loved Nightclubbing & I have a feeling this will become one of my favorite listens going forward. 4.5 stars

Excellent greasy off-beat punk. Nightclubbing is excellent and made the Trainspotting soundtrack famous. Lots of lovely little gestures to Bowie blood but the energy is very Iggy. Interesting, groovy, slunks along in a gravy strut. The production makes the album sound like you are overhearing it from an adjacent room which lends the whole experience an air of cool I can really get into.

There is very little music that is greater than the music Iggy and Bowie produced together.

As others have said, this is like listening to a new David Bowie album without Bowie's vocals. Delightfully weird, it has that Bowie charm throughout. It doesn't overwrite 'Lust for Life' as my favorite Iggy album, but it's a great predecessor.

Man, there's a lot to like in this record. I kept hearing things that reminded me of later groups like Oingo Boingo and Jesus and Mary Chain. I will for sure be playing this again.

5/5. Not a bad song on this. At least on first listen. Might go down later but it was really good.

Welcome to Iggy and David's perverse nightclub cabaret, filled with freaks, ghouls, industrial automatons and other sorts of monsters of all stripes. It's a fun place, where you can have... a "Funtime". At least if your idea of fun is to get spooked by a twisted Iguana whispering bizarre stuff in your ears. Instruments here do not so much "play" as they grind, croak and wince (Bowie indeed had a great turf to play in here so as to prepare for his infamous "Berlin Trilogy"--a.k.a. *Low*, *"Heroes"* and *Lodger*). A clear outlier, "China Girl" rises high above the other tracks in terms of melody and sheer emotions (what a finale on this one--as good as Bowie's later version is overall, the latter's ending is not as intense as in this original version). As for the rest, heartfelt emotions are not in Pop's agenda anyway, so we can't blame him for painting his imaginary venue in all shades of black instead. In terms of relative flaws, maybe the middle of side 2 is *a little* underwhelming ("Dum Dum Boys" is probably too long, and "Tiny Girls" and its saxophone are quite inconsequential, as moody as they are). But everything else radiates with a dark, ultra-violet light. Especially "Nightclubbing" and the insanely tense and brooding closer "Mass Production", aptly named when you get lost in its proto-industrial waves of noise. To put it in a nutshell, it's easy to understand how this record influenced the likes of Joy Division, Killing Joke or Nine Inch Nails. 4.5/5 for this one, rounded up to a perfect grade. Number of albums left to review: 727 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 135 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 65 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 74

omg his voice is amazing

Lou David Pop

Classic from the Godfather of Punk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amJUMYE3Qho

Wow. I didn't know how Bowie Iggy's Bowie album was going to be. I've been mad generous with the 5* reviews this week, but it looks like that run is going to carry on today! I didn't even know China Girl was a cover! Everything plays like Glam on antidepressants, which sounds better than the simile does. The drums go big, the emotions go flat and resigned. It woooorrrrrks!!!

The second album, after Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin, I've been motivated to buy after listening to this. Really its the fourth of Bowie's Berlin trilogy, or rather the first, and that's reason enough.

Very like:)

Fantastic

It's amazing how this seems to sit perfectly on the precipice of the 70's and 80's, using the best out of both worlds. And yet, it also seems like it is current and relevant today.

I had no idea that I liked Iggy Pop. Smashing!

This was haunting and so atmospheric

No surprises that Bowie produced this mater piece. Incredible album, perfectly weird without being totally inaccessible. Nightclubing and Dum Sum Boys arey highlights.

A great album I've never discovered before! It's got a nice gritty underground vibe and a cheeky mashup of all the best parts about this era/style of music in my opinion. Super varied and interesting. I love his description of a cross between James Brown and Kraftwerk. I never knew this backstory about Pop and Bowie moving to France together but it's brilliant.

an unexpected gem! Very Bowie-esque

so great

Absolute

An unexpected 5. Every track added to the playlist

This ode hit it on the head. I really liked it much more than his (I assume) layer heavier stuff

A a long-time perennial favorite. Listened yet again because it's so good.

Great album, few bangers in there I didn't know was iffg pop

Uno de mis discos favoritos. Dum Dum Boys da mucho miedo.

Qué goce escuchar esta colaboración Bowie-Iggy. Lo disfruté mucho, varias cosas que suena a Blowie pero también con la particular voz de Iggy. En definitiva, sí se nota distinto a los otros álbumes de Iggy que ya han pasado. Aunque todas las canciones me gustaron, destacó "Sister Midnight", "Nightclubbing" y el final "Mass Production", una chulada 👌🏼. En fin 10/10.

Absolute mad cunt of an album, didn't realise Bowie did so much on it too, and china girl *chefs kiss*

no lust for life but

Raw

What a freaking record.

As a fan of The Stooges since I was a teen, Pop and his aforementioned band have always been a favorite for me. His solo work, more hit and miss. The Idiot stands as one of his best works as a solo artist. The ethereal China Girl and the standout Nightclubbing were top tier tracks on this underrated Iggy Pop album, which should really be a Iggy Pop & David Bowie album, given the latter is a producer on the record.

I wasn’t super into it at first but China Girl onwards I really liked it. You can definitely hear how it’s influenced so many bands.

Hated the first track but then it really grew on me, really not what I was expecting

Oh hell yes. Nightclubbing is 🔥🔥. I've never listened to the rest of this album until now.

Very blunt style. I enjoyed it! ★★★★

I forgot how Bowie-esque this album is, and how much that beautiful warble is on display, what a journey.

One of the best 4-stars there is. There's not one part of this album I dislike but some of it's tracks are vastly more memorable than others. The opening 2 and mass production are some of the best, moodiest rock songs ever recorded.

Realmente todo lo que produce bowie es perfecto, no habia escuchado nada de este hombre pero me encantó 8,5/10

Wild how vastly different this is to Raw Power. Both excellent surprises

Pretty great, loved this version of China Girl, great vibe outside of that

Quite good, slower than I was expecting. Didn't realize the Bowie China Girl wasn't the original

Hard to listen to this and not think of it as a Bowie album. Probably unfair as they seem to have genuinely influenced each other and Iggy probably needed Bowie on this to break the Stooges shackles. Hot take (not so hot?), is there a finer and more distinctive voice in rock that Iggy Pop? Enjoyed this album.

Very solid example of arty post-punk, a lot less raw than the other Iggy/Stooges albums in this list but a lot more Bowie-influenced, which is never a bad thing.

Rapidly beginning to believe this album was made for me. The crunch, the atmosphere....perfection. This version of China Girl is so superior I actually couldn't believe it, either.

Pretty much every Bowie produced album on this list gets at least four stars from me, I’ve noticed. Same for this one.

A classic album with David Bowie production. Nice experimentation in early new wave

Rarete el rosquete breo. No sé. Si me gustó, pero ni idea, es como que lo entiendo pero no lo sigo. Me gusta y al mismo tiempo no. Le voy a dar un 3. Me arrepiento no haber puesto algún que otro 5, sino esto sería un 4.

Fun!

Basically a Bowie album with Iggys lyrics and vocal. Probably on a par with Heroes album.

You can tell Bowie produced this, every song sounds like it's from the Berlin trilogy

1001 albums to hear before you pop your iggy 109# I burned my tongue while drinking coffee because I was listening to this. Such a bop. Iggy bops, more like Iggy bop. My guy at 1977 creating timeless music.

Very good.

My takeaway is that I should definitely listen to this album more. A darker and more ironic album than the punkier Lust for Life with its own story to tell.

Enjoyed this, something different from my usual picks and clearly a legend of the underground/punk scene

I could listen to Iggy all day Best Song: China Girl Rating: 8/10 Stars: 4

It literally sounds like Iggy Pop singing a David Bowie album. Which makes sense since Bowie produced it. It grew on me though.

Proto-punk. Always welcome.

Глубоко уважаю их дружбу, но все-таки при продюсировании хотелось бы слышать не Боуи 2.0. На втором альбоме получилось в этом плане получше, хотя там прошло сколько? 3 секунды? А так все супер. На последней песне подумала, что на улице начался ремонт дороги. Мы с котом офигели.

Альбом хороший, но в первую очередь спасибо Галату (или кто там Мэйби Бэйби тексты пишет) за следующие строчки: Культовей Игги Попа Плюс у меня как у Игги попа

Bowie uplifts everything he touches. This is a step above Iggy ever did by himself or with the Stooges. Iggy is still such a sleazeball, even Bowie can't shine him up. Described as being a cross between Kraftwerk and James Brown, I see what they were going for.

Latter half is great

👍

solid 4. Definitivamente meu favorito do Iggy

3.5/5

Initial impressions were that I wasn't going to get into this. Sluggish, flat sound, and droning. But then it clicked for me, Iggy shows his wailing crooner side, the songs started hitting with me. By the end, I loved Mass Production. Still don't love the production. The drum sound in particular is not very crisp. But there's a lot of other sounds that feel like they're being invented out of whole cloth. It sounds like, but sounds better than, what Joy Division would be doing in a few years. Definitely grew on me. Convinced by the end that it belongs in the list. 4.5/5

Pretty good dissonance rock. I got a free bump in the bathroom of the bar I was leaving and it enhanced the drive back home.

The first two tracks of "The Idiot" were underwhelming. When "Funtime" began playing, listening to the album became worthwhile. I didn't know Iggy Pop did "China Girl" first; I always assumed Bowie wrote it. The problems I had with "The Idiot" went away by the time it ended. Let's see what the final album of the week has in store. 4 stars for "The Idiot".

Queensberry Hotel morning

A true Iggy Bowie collab in the best ways. Feels like a real piece of music history.

røvfedt, og de to første numre er jo sindssyge anede ikke, at china girl var et Iggy Pop-nummer. Her har jeg gået og hørt det som et Bowie-nummer og holdt mig selv for nar jeg synes sgu, det er fedt, det her. for mig bliver det et lovechild mellem Lou Reed, Bowie og så bare en masse stoffer - det kan man sgu da kun synes godt om! 3.9

Good album.

3.5. I liked it, but some of the songs are a slog.

Pretty cool album, sounds great, production is brilliant. Has Bowie all over it.

I really liked this - essentially a 70s Bowie album with the vocal duties handed over. Accidentally listened to it once on shuffle so I listened to it again in the right order. This gave me a better sense of what it was about and I enjoyed it a lot more the second time. Iggy’s vocals are an acquired taste, but it still works.

This was a Funtime.

Amazinh art hard rock one of the best ever

Favorite Track: Nightclubbing

One of my favorite albums of all time. Can't give it a 5 cause Tiny Girls is fuckin' indefensible.

Great album! I'm a huge Bowie fan, but still making my way around Bowie's satellite artist. Bowie's DNA is all over this album, but Iggy Pop brings the material to life with his performance. This is an album I will definitely revist. Nearly a 5 star, but I'm going to keep it at a 4 for now although I could certainly see this growing into a 5 star album for me. Favorite Track - Sister Midnight Least Favorite Track - China Girl (simply cause I like Bowie's version more) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The first of Iggy's Berlin albums with David Bowie is quite forward thinking for 1977. There's an early dance music influence here that wouldn't become more widespread in rock music for a several years. A couple of songs here would become hits for other artists in the 80's, "China Girl" for Bowie, and "Nightclubbing" for Grace Jones. This is also a great example that illustrates how Post-Punk and Punk were completely different movements that came about at around the same time, and that there's nothing "post-"punk about Post-Punk. Reportedly this was the last album Ian Curtis listened to before taking his own life. Eerie. Key tracks: Sister Midnight Nightclubbing China Girl

Iggy's debut shows a man who is more than a rock singer, but certainly a proper artist. It's a great album with many different styles and art rock. Herein lies somewhat of a problem: To me, it all sounds like a David Bowie album without Bowie doing the vocals, but nearly everything else. That means that Iggy Pop is here still in that limbo between The Stooges and his own identity as an independent rock artist. The next album, "Lust for Life", is a lot better in my opinion.

Man slipper vel ikke inn på blårock om man gir under 4/5. Jeg faller for presset og gir den en somid 7/10. Passe snålt med en god dæsj kult. 7/10

Trivelig! Hørt på bussen. Bra pub-musikk?

One of two (maybe three) bonafide Iggy solo classics. Band sounds great, the mix is bang on. This, Lust for Life and the three Bowie Berlin albums are all in the same box of cool late 70s rock for me.

A lot cooler than what I was listening to back in 1977. I had no idea that China Girl was co-written by Iggy and Bowie. No real big hits but a solid listen.

even at face value, a pretty great album marred by how absolutely insane "China Girl" is.

Ah, Iggy. As with Lust for Life, this is basically a Bowie album with someone else singing and arguably better than Bowie’s own albums from the period.

I don’t like his voice very much, but I can admit that this album is pretty good. I can definitely heard Bowie’s influence of this album, which is great. Worth checking out!

Fuck that was unreal. Solid throughout and Bowie’s influence on this is very noticeable. Incredible stuff for a debut album!

cabrón

This was already in 4 territory before I got to China Girl, which prompted me to do some background research. So the album was written by Bowie and Iggy. And it's more than the sum of its parts with Iggy's growling vocal and improvised lyrics and Bowie's musicality. So much better than the Stooges.

Somehow I liked this one a lot more than the Stooges one we had last week You can really hear the Bowie influence. I really liked China Girl, Dum Dum Boys, and Mass Production.I really like the guitar riffs quite a bit, super catchy. Variety’s surprisingly good too, some definitely sound more punk themed and others are a lot more mellow. I don’t say this often but honestly this one could use one or two more songs. I’m still not huge on Iggy’s voice, and I do think the first half drags a little bit (that first song just isn’t very good unfortunately). Lyrics are also not great on some songs and on the repetitive side I think there’s just a lot more going on with his solo work where it’s catchier and more innovative. Pleasantly surprised

Really good. Loved the sound- very unique. Bowie influence shined through- was interesting to hear China Girl this way. Overall very enjoyable and different.

Three Stooges albums, two Iggy Pop albums, and The Idiot is the last one of them. But this album reminded me the most of David Bowie's Low, which was one of my favorite Bowie albums on this project, instead of Lust for Life or the Stooges' music. Of course that's due to their friendship and Bowie's producing, but Iggy was far from a passive participant. A few songs in, I noticed that The Idiot gave Iggy Pop more depth. Iggy's follow-up album, released just a few months later, is louder, brasher, and closer to garage rock. The Idiot is more art rock, the most art rock I've heard Iggy to be. "Nightclubbing" has a dark tone and a good beat, and it's so enticing in a way that you don't hear in other Pop albums. As the last song, "Mass Production" may be the song closest to the Stooge's proto-punk origins since half of the sound is so distorted and over-produced, while the other half is normal, making for such an uneasy listening experience--but that has to be a purposeful statement. I can understand how a song like this contributed to Joy Division's stylings. I didn't enjoy The Idiot as much as Lust for Life, but I realized I solidly enjoyed Iggy Pop's solo music more than the Stooges. Unfortunate for me to enjoy the music of a pedophile. 3.5

Iggy Pop has had some sort of charmed life. He grew up in Detroit and seemingly bumbled his way into becoming a rock legend. That’s not to say he didn’t have talent, he did, and more importantly, he had charisma. In rock and roll, a lot of times, all you need is charisma. It’s Iggy’s charisma and insanity that got David Bowie, one of the hottest acts at the time, and all-time legend, to take notice. Bowie and Iggy were both in the throes of drug addiction when Bowie suggested they leave Los Angeles and go to Europe. They ended up in Germany, and Bowie wanted to help Iggy record his first solo record. So, Bowie, with some help here and there, wrote the music for The Idiot. Iggy, of course, supplied the lyrics, with him writing most of them in the studio while listening to the music Bowie composed. And now we have The Idiot as a record of this dynamic duo. Track 1 is Sister Midnight, and it’s plain to hear Iggy isn’t making proto-punk, garage rock this go round. The music is a bit funky, a bit electronic, with someone calling the album “a cross between James Brown and Kraftwerk.” I’ve always loved Iggy’s voice, it’s so distinct with that low roar. Bowie plays a lot of instruments on the album and wrote most of the songs on guitar and keyboards. While the album isn't garage rock, like the Stooges, there’s plenty of guitars in this song. Such a great song. It was the first single off the album, with China Girl being the second. Yes, Bowie recorded China Girl himself for his Let’s Dance album. Track 2, Nightclubbing, has what sounds like Bowie singing vocals, but it’s, in fact, Iggy. Wow. It really fooled me at first. More great guitar on this song. It seems that quite a bit of the music from the demos was used on the final takes. Drummer Michel Santangeli played drums for what he thought were the demos and was let go after the second day. He figured he didn’t get the job, but later heard his used drumming on the finished album. Track 3, Funtime, sounds like a song The Stooges might have played together. It’s very loud and mixes rock guitar well with electronic sounds. I’m really digging this album. Track 4 is called Baby and I can hear why Josh Homme, of the Queens of the Stone Age, calls Iggy an influence. Such a weird song for the year 1977. That’s something that should be said about this album so far. The music on it sounds timeless. It sounds like music that came after the 80s and new wave. It sounds way ahead of Bowie’s Let’s Dance. This song is so cool. That’s all that can be said. Track 5 is China Girl, and it’s totally different than Bowie’s version. Bowie’s version is so burned into my brain, with Stevie Ray Vaughan playing lead on the song, but I dig this one too. Bowie plays sax on this version. I’ve always loved Bowie’s sax playing. Iggy sounds just as high as Bowie does while singing. I like this song, but Bowie’s is still my favorite. As I mentioned earlier, this was the second and last single from this album, though Bowie’s version was the bigger hit of the two. Track 6 is called Dum Dum Boys and it's basically a song about the Stooges. Bowie played all the guitar parts on the song, but got a bit self-conscious and hired someone to re-record them. It’s a shame, I’d like to hear what Bowie’s playing sounded like. The song is very slow and heavy. Kind of like a Stooges song with actual musicians. Not saying the Stooges weren’t great, they were, they just weren’t ever going to be session artists. Such a cool, chill song. Track 7 is Tiny Girls and it opens with Bowie’s saxophone. It’s a slow, almost old-fashioned, ballad. The song is about a dude wanting to find a “tiny girl” who doesn’t play games, is naive, and has no emotional baggage. He later finds out that even the “tiny girls” have their own flaws. It seems Iggy was going through some stuff during this time. Not my favorite song on the album, but it’s short and not very sweet, at least to tiny girls. Track 8 is Mass Production, and it sounds like it should be played in a sci-fi movie. According to whatever AI Google uses, the song is comparing relationships and human existence to disposable products on an assembly line. Pretty bleak, but both Iggy and Bowie had just recently gotten off the horse, as they say. I assume their nerves were frayed and synapses were firing on all cylinders. A lot of people see this as a precursor to the industrial music that became popular for a time in the 90s. The music is so interesting and not what you expect, so I do like it. This album was fun. I love Iggy Pop, and truthfully, I love his solo stuff more than his work with the Stooges, though they do rock. I think this was a brilliant debut album and critics enjoyed it too when it came out in 1977. Though I imagine quite a few critics were caught off guard, as the music on The Idiot is the opposite of the Stooges. Sometimes, I think when an artist totally reinvents themselves, it takes people years to catch up. This album is a must-hear, and I’m adding it to my playlist to enjoy again. It’s been a great start to the week with ZZ Top yesterday and Iggy and Bowie today. The 1,001 list got two right so far this week.

'I'm a breakage inside.' Never panned, tho criticized for being too Bowie-influenced - e'en Bowie himself concedes that he 'used' Iggy as a means to his own creative ends - The Idiot's still fortified by the fact that there're 8/8 great tracks to choose from. You're proffered 'funtime' instead of 'fun house,' & Iggy is less explosive than he's wont to be on Stooges records or Lust for Life - it's indeed difficult the extract his characteristically physical style from these songs - but the strengths of the album are an undeniable feast. +, the 'China Girl' you get here is superior to the one on Let's Dance. It does start to sound like a Bowie record w/ vocals coming from elsewhere, alas, & the saxophonic parts on 'Tiny Girls' are feeble, but a debut to adore.

I’ve heard plenty of Iggy Pop before, but never a whole album. Really liked this one.

The album starts strong but ultimately peters out.

Dark, cold proto-industrial mood 🎶

Reminder that this was the last album Ian Curtis ever listened to.

4/5 porque descubrí que China Girl fue coescrita con Bowie ❤️

discaso, me lo guarde para comprarmelo y todo.

I like how it's messy, but melodic at the same time

A very creative, interesting listen. A bit challenging to digest in one shot, but no doubt the layers of brilliance reveal themselves more and more each time you listen.

enduring songs, iggy personality throughout with some bowie influence, prelude to tin machine for him

Great album that holds back just a little--The tempo, the tone, the ferocity are a little subdued throughout.

aka Low 2. It's the layers on The Idiot that makes this album so special. Some songs almost have two separate narratives taking place, but somehow still manage to stay on track. The China Girl original adds a little more malice than Bowie's cover. But ultimately it's Bowie who shines through on The Idiot. He's across every track, bringing the best out of Iggy. A dirty, messy album. But much needed.

Bowie’s fingerprints are allover this and sit comfortably alongside his Low and Heroes albums. Definitely no the Iggy of the Stooges but still pretty good

Gillade det inte alls nu första varvet, var väl på fel humör? Men andra varvet, jäklar. Vilket mörker, vilken röst och industrikänslan på topp. Minst en stark trea men sätter fan en fyra för antar att det är ännu bättre nästa varv?

king

Tillbaka till de mytiska Bowie/Iggy-i-Beröin-åren! Alla de plattorna låter ju så coolt att man brakar och den rösten skojar man inte bort. Slås alltid av hur bra texterna är. Tiny girls och China girl... Ojvoj!

Excellent

I had no idea what to expect with this one. Brilliant moody and hypnotic album

Iggy and Bowie is such a winning combination . A pure joy to listen to. An idiot he is not.

Great stuff, absolutely steeped in Bowie

Very good album! Could definitely hear the David Bowie in the music and I really enjoyed it

Overall: 8/10 Loved this. I prefer Iggy's work with The Stooges but I love that he did this weird little album with David Bowie as well. His voice goes great with this type of music. Fav Song: Nightclubbing

I prefer Iggy when he was louder and played with Stooges, but he's surely not an idiot. Didn't liked late 70s mainstream influences much though... Best song Dum Dum Boys

Decent album. Some great songs on here.

Pretty great to be honest. Bowie all over this but it’s an Iggy album at its heart. This is a goth album and you can’t tell me otherwise. Hope there’s more Iggy Pop on this endeavour. Best: Funtime Worst: Didn’t skip anything

Super cool album. China Girl was my song of the album and best first listen with Tiny Girls and Dum Dum Boys being my other highlights

Good album. Nightclubbing is a classic

i'm sorry gang but the david bowie version of china girl is MILES better

3.7

This was a really great album. Thoroughly enjoyed the listen.

p387. 1977. 4 stars. If Jim Morrison had produced an album with Bowie, it would sound like this. Point deducted for "Tiny Girls" which is possibly the worst thing that Iggy has done, but otherwise it's terrific.

I quite enjoyed this - more than Stooges material. Lyrically consistent with expectations but musically more mellow and diverse than first. Entirely first impression but scoring 4 to ensure future revisits. 4/5

It's hard to believe that this 1977 album is almost 50 years old because it hardly sounds dated at all. Contains the original version of "China Girl" which was a big hit for David Bowie in 1983; apparently, Pop improvised the lyrics while standing at the microphone.

Iggy croons dark lyrics with his typical raw punk attitude, while Bowie adds an unmistakable richness and accessibility. You can hear both artists clearly, and easily place where this fits within both their careers.

Great album

Very well done album. Pleasantly surprised.

Goddddd meget interessant lyt!

Liked this one! Reminds me of like an alt version of david bowie? Is that a hot take??

One of a kind voice. Love the Bowie influence on this one.

Perfectly fine. Not a fave yet a good listen. 4/5 but not a regular spin.

My mind is blanking on how to start this review, so I'll just skip to the fun part of the review, that being the review itself. This album is great! I've had great experiences with albums from Iggy Pop as well as the Stooges over the course of this project so far, and The Idiot is no different. I'd say it's pretty much on par with Fun House and especially Lust For Life (the two that I've heard so far), but it might be my favorite by a slim margin. The Idiot is just such a cool album. Iggy's vocals delivery has a distinct disinterest in it, but I think it fits the vibe on songs like "Funtime" pretty well. The whole album has this artsiness and experimentation that I think is really cool. Everything from the writing to the music itself goes beyond the roots of Iggy Pop's career up to that point. But of course, I can't just praise Iggy Pop for this, as there's someone whose presence is arguably even more important for this album than Iggy Pop himself. That's right. We've got a major collab going on here between Iggy Pop and the GOAT himself, David Bowie. Between the production, experimentation, and lyrical themes. Bowie's presence can be felt all throughout the project. In fact, David Bowie would end up covering this album's best song, "China Girl," on a later album of his. Maybe that's why I enjoy this one so much, although he was also present on Lust For Life which I enjoyed as well. The songs are all good. As stated earlier, "China Girl" is my favorite of the bunch. I think it's the chord progression. It's just so... cool! "Nightclubbing" is neat. It's probably the most emblematic of this album's strengths. Good song. Overall, I had a great time with this one. I can't go all the way with a 5, but it's definitely one of the best albums that I've gotten in 2026 so far. High 4/5.

If David Bowie was from the Midwestern United States and went long periods of time between showers, I think this is what he would sound like. And I actually mean that in a positive way for Iggy.

No hits here; but comparing this version of “China Girl” to Bowie’s, it’s so much more interesting in its rawness. That’s the way of the entire album. Rounding up.

J'étais pas très concentrée mais j'aimais bien les sonorités, je connaissais déjà Iggy pop de toute façon

C'était très cool, très chill. J'avais jamais trop écouté Iggy pop

I first listened to The Idiot and Lust for Life at the same time and it was Lust for Life that stuck with me, but The Idiot is really really good. I probably should have been more open to it. Some of the songs aren't as catchy, but it's more cohesive I think.

i know listening to this in the club high off coke in the 70s/80s would’ve been so fun

I’ll always prefer Iggy with the Stooges. But there’s still a lot to love here. I love Bowie, so this might land a little differently for me than with other fans. But where would we be without Iggy Pop?

Genius stuff. The sound of this record is fascinating, I love it. David Bowie’s production and compositions are great, the man could do any genre he wanted. I was pretty surprised when I learned that Iggy Pop improvised a significant portion of the lyrics, but it does make sense and contributes heavily to the vibe of the music. I wasn’t expecting Iggy’s version of China Girl to completely blow Bowie’s version out of the water. 4/5

Pretty chill, see why he’s such a big name in the scene. Kinda dig his vocals, instrumentals are great too. 3.5

Surprise Bowie album, and a good one at that.!

Oh man… it’s just a peak era Bowie album I’ve never listened to before. Excellent.

Mjoah, ganz solide

Interesting sound.

Klingt teilweise schon ziemlich nach David Bowie. Besonders natürlich "China Girl". "Mass Production " ist recht schräg und unharmonisch. Trotzdem interessant zum Anhören.

Like _Lust for Life_ which I heard for the first time as part of this challenge, I've not had the time to gather any coherent thoughts but just like that, I really enjoyed listening. I knew _Nightclubbing_ and _China Girl_ coming in and they're probably the best 2 tracks on here. _Post Pop Depression_ was the first Iggy album I'd heard and I've liked each subsequent album I've heard. He might e a bit good at this music malarkey!

Definitely feel the Bowie influence

More albums should be 38 minutes long. Amaing

iggy scho en weeeirdo. aber d songs sind bis etz groovy und recht igängig. ha no denkt alles tönt noch bowie denn chunt china girl. nöd mis lieblingslied. ok de schlussteil isch seeehr geil. bass uf dum dum boys ischeeega geil. mass production isch d weirdness woni vom iggerdougg erwarte. guet so. vieri

Iggy's collaborations with Bowie are fascinating. This one is more like a Bowie album fronted by Iggy, and I miss some of Iggy's usual energy, but it's good and it points ahead in a few gothy directions

Great stuff, this album is a nice tight length (ahem) with some memorable bangers - love Nightclubbing and China Girl especially, but it's all good

4.

ANOTHER DEBUT? anyway as an AFAB asian person (or a literal china "girl"), i agree, like everybody, that this album consists of nightclubbing, china girl, and other mid to bad songs. a tad bit letdown for me. 4/5

Last album that Ian Curtis listened to before hanging himself, says it all. The best version of China Girl before Bowie glamorized it.

Good album. Enjoyed the electronic elements and influence from Bowie.

Y'know, I don't wanna come out here and undermine Iggy Pop — after all, this is his album, with his name on the front. He's not one of those artists where you can say, "Yeah, but someone else **really** deserves all of the credit here." He **did** write all of these songs, after all. But at the same time, I listen to this and what I come out mostly thinking is, "So — Bowie's Berlin trilogy, huh?" I'm very familiar with Bowie's Berlin trilogy as, like ... a piece of history, though not so much as actual albums. I mean, to this point I've only heard two of them, 'Low' and '"Heroes"'. But I don't think anyone's told me that there was a secret fourth part to it. To the point where I've seen some people opine that **this** is actually a main part of the trilogy, and that something like 'Lodger' is more of an epilogue. That's not nothing, you ask me. I mean, honestly, listening to this album, I hear Bowie all over it. Of course he produced it, but I swear there's just something in the melodies that screams **BOWIE**. Even Iggy Pop's vocals sort of sound like him in places. If you'd given this album to me without telling me who it was by, I think it'd take me a while to have my suspicions that it was anyone else. I mean, jeez, Bowie on later albums Bowie would even rewrite "Nightclubbing" and re-record "China Girl". And seriously, it's not just me and a couple of Iggy Pop fans thinking this; even Bowie himself has said he felt bad for using Pop as a "guinea pig" for this sound. And none of this is to even say that this is necessarily a bad thing, by the way. Of course it sucks for Iggy, I'm not denying that, but, again, this record still ended up being considered an unofficial part of the Berlin trilogy. That is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. And it's good stuff, too! Like, honestly, Bowie's Berlin sound is a good sound. Plus, there is one thing Iggy Pop adds to this that Bowie couldn't have on his own: his punk sensibilities. It's been a while since I've heard 'Low' or '"Heroes"', but I don't recall either of them sounding as punk as this one does. And not even that it sounds like a Sex Pistols record or whatever; there's just a looseness and a bit of an energy here that I don't recall hearing anywhere else. And I gotta tell you, it's quite the nice addition. Makes the album worthy of being an experience by itself, rather than just a tangent to the trilogy. So ... yeah, I ain't got much of a conclusion here. Sure, this album might lean more in favor of one of its collaborators over the other, but it's still a good listen. Besides, if I want some true Iggy Pop action, my group's still got all three Stooges albums to get through. And, goodness me, y'wanna talk about raw power? I can tell you about raw power...

Y'know, considering Bowie produced this record, it's very obvious that it'd be similar to his own Berlin Trilogy, but this has more of a punk leaning, fitting for Iggy. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

It's a big change from the Stooges. I could definitely hear the Bowie influence. Post-punk Iggy is still enjoyable.

The album that Iggy an Bowie collaborate on that eventually leads them to the greatness of Lust for Life. This one is still good, but it has moments of *huh?* It's probably a 3.5 but I'll round up.

Wow

Second Iggy Pop album I've enjoyed, although I really didn't know him beforehand. It's just a good, fun vibe and a really listenable experience. He goes from the rocky and immediate tracks like Sister Midnight and Nightclubbing through to the sludgy, experimental chugging of Mass Production. And I found something to like about pretty much all of it.

Did not know this album. But liked it. Not very much. But too much to give a 3. So it'll be a 4. Furthermore it reminded me of David Bowie. That has not really happened before with music by Iggy Pop.

I mean, if I had a $1000/day heroin habit, maybe I could be this brilliant, too!

This is basically a David Bowie album minus some of his flair. I really wasn’t expecting Iggy Pop to sound this good

01) Sister Midnight - 8,0 02) Nightclubbing - 7,5 03) Funtime - 7,5 04) Baby - 7,5 05) China Girl - 8,0 06) Dum Dum Boys - 7,5 07) Tiny Girls - 7,5 08) Mass Production - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,56 (76/100) Current ranking: 305/735

Iggy is always cool and so is this album. What brought it down for me is the China Girl cover. But still, this sounds like Bowie just like a Bowie record.

I own this one, and I like it. Iggy isn't for everyone, but he made this one with Bowie! Worth checking out.

Mostly good apart from the bluesy bit.

Ojämnt både låtmaterial och insatser. Det bästa är fantastiskt bra. China Girl i en version som jag tycker är bättre än Bowies t ex. Men runt det är det sämre. En svag fyra, för att det är en gammal hjälte. Detta är inte hans största stund.

Definitely enjoyed this one. I liked China Girl the best. It sounds so David Bowie-y which obviously is a plus.

A great album. Iggy and Bowie magic

Fun

I think I now understand when Iggy Pop is at his best. It's when quite a lot of the singing, songwriting and producing is done by David Bowie. The best song on this is China Girl, unsurprisingly, as it's a David song that hits you like a fist out of nowhere for it's brilliance. The rest is good, and I'm going to be generous and say that Iggy Pop deserves some credit for that, alongside Dave.

Up my street 3.5

Pop, great! Not my favorite album of his, though. It sounds too raw, too dull, and mechanical to me. I miss the unbridled energy I associate with Iggy and the Stooges. But never mind, maybe it's more of a Bowie album, definitely an album of change. 'China Girl' is still great, and I also like 'Sister Midnight.' Again, a great album.

With David Bowie as the producer, this album really feels fresh and different. I don't adore it, but it's pretty good.

A big departure from The Stooges! more electronic and moody. Starts with Sister Midnight then Nightclubbing two killer tunes then later get the OG China Girl. Wish the album would have finished on a stronger note

Not what I expected. More cold, mechanical, and Bowie-esque than raw punk. Dark, hypnotic, and surprisingly restrained. A moody detour that grows on you.

Ponury, fascynujący, niepokojący. Czuć palec Bowiego. Mocne 4

I like this. I've seen Iggy Pop once in Houston, but really never have been a fan, or listened to his music. I say, if I HAD listened to this when It came out, I probably would have been a fan sooner!

When I get excited my little China girl says “oh baby just you shut your mouth.”

po esse aqui é excelente fala sério

bom d+ esse. gostosim, guitarrudo e até meio experimental? mas eh massa d+, só pedrada. dá até pra sentir um leve post-punk em algumas músicas hein ou, china girl eh boa pra caraio hein. como pode

Hieno Bowie-henkinen Iggylevy. Tää lienee eka. Aika tällainen post-osaston levytys, jossa rähinää ei oo liiaksi. Hieno kyllä! 4/5

Great album, definitely grows on you. I did already have but has been some time since I listened. Seems to be a mostly Bowie creation according to the wiki, and Bowie was on an amazing streak. Iggy's vocals are great too. 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes 19/1001, 19/75 (25%) Will I get? Already have

Only an idiot like this one would have his hands flat. idiot

Love this era of music, and loved listening to this album. Fantastic stuff.

Like a bit off Iggy

Su cooperación con Bowie se nota en muchas canciones

Yea this is the good Iggy Pop. With the help of all the people who worked on this album. This is pretty close to a masterpiece

Fun album but I prefer lust for life

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: China Girl, Mass Production I enjoyed this. It reminded me a lot of (the limited exposure I have to) Velvet Underground and Lou Reed's Transformer (both from the List). I especially liked how discordant the music was on Mass Production.

Kept returning to this album after having Nightclubbing stuck in my head for the last three weeks

The Good: We are allowed to name call! The Bad: Idiot is so 1973… The Ugly: Pop… he’s just not model material like Bowie is!!! After listening to this I felt a massive urge to go watch Trainspotting… and to listen to Lust For Life… Oddly enough, though at first listen, there were moments where I thought “can we start sounding more interested”, by spin #2 I just got into this odd groove… Idiotic, really… I also don’t believe I will ever be able to listen to Bowie’s “cover” of China Girl the same way. I am going to give this album a 4 1/2* downgraded… however, I shall reserve the right to upgrade this to 5* at some point.

Apparently my favorite Iggy is Bowie-Iggy. Interesting that the biggest knock on this album is that it isn’t really an Iggy albums since Bowie did all the instrumentation… and then released Low soon thereafter… and then did his own version of China Girl a few years later. To my dumb ears Nightclubbing sounded like NIN’s Closer (esp the intro) and Manson’s Dope Show mixed into one. Cool stuff. Still like Lust for Life more than this one, but enough here to round up. 3.75/5

Iggy playing his hand perfectly to the crowd.

Very groovy.

Maybe more David Bowie than Iggy Pop, but still excellent

Drugs sound awesome