Reviews (page 6 of 9)
Very strong solo debut, with big Bowie influence it seems. Really not much to criticize but just not convincing enough for full marks.
Ok but not my scene
I enjoyed most of the music, but I just can't do Iggy Pop's voice on this album. It doesn't work, it really drags this album down in my opinion.
Very 80s psychedelic sound. Some interesting songs but not my style overall. Didn’t dislike but wouldn’t jump to listen again.
Ikke super spesielt men ikke dårlig heller liksom
This is my first full iggy album. Its not what i was expecting. You can tell it has bowie written all over this. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, just not the style i associate iggy with. I enjoyed sister midnight. Nightclubbing was a standout. China girl was good too. Overall a pretty good album. I think its a grower, not a shower. Will take a few more listens for me to really appreciate it.
Another album that I was surprised I liked as much as I did!
I was not expecting better from Iggy. I get why you put Lust for Life on this list, but a second album from the same year? Complete waste.
Didn't realise China Girl was on this album. It was never my favourite Bowie song, but I now prefer the original
Weirdly enough, I wasn’t really a fan of the first two songs, but then it just got better and stayed better from ‘Funtime’ onward. It’s kind of like a David Bowie album, just a bit different, which makes sense considering the fact that he produced this, not to mention the fact that he’s basically as important as Pop in the backstory and production of this album. Anyway, pretty good. I think Lust For Life is generally considered better than this one, so that could be 5 stars, but I’ll have to see.
Good album
This sounds more Bowie than Iggy, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like the rawness that Iggy brings to this.
The start of so many things I like.
"The Idiot" is the debut studio album by American musician Iggy Pop. Musically, Iggy called it "James Brown meets Kraftwerk." That leaves a lot open. I'd say post-punk is more accurate. David Bowie produced and wrote the music while Iggy wrote and sung the lyrics for the album. Bowie also played most of the instruments. The recording took place after the break-up of the Stooges and a period of drug addiction where Bowie and Iggy moved to Europe to kick their habit. The album had largely positive reviews and, commercially, hit #30 in the UK and #72 in the US. "Sister Midnight" opens the album in a funky way with the bass and a droning synth. Nice underlying guitar. Iggy talking and yelling in a deep voice. This song sounds a lot like Bowie's "Fashion." It's about a cipher who could send Iggy to the moon or fall back to earth. "Nightclubbing" introduces instruments one at a time: electronic drum, synth, bass, piano and a distorted guitar. It's electronic, Krautrock if you will. Iggy singing in a cold, emotionless tone. It's about hanging out every night (clubbing) with Bowie. I believe it's a xylophone that's creating an Asian melody in "China Girl." Guitar background, clear bass and drums. A very nice mixing job. Great guitar bridge. It's about unrequited love and an actual Asian woman. I like this version better than Bowie's remake in 1983. Side two begins with "Dum Dum Boys." Iggy's talking about his ex-Stooge's bandmates. Slow drums, a wah-wah guitar and a repeating piano. The album closes with hypnotic and industrial "Mass Production." Synths, horns and guitar are featured. Iggy's vocals are fully throttled. This album is electronic, cold, experimental and droning. This has to be a singular entry in the Iggy Pop catalogue. It sounds more like a Davud Bowie album. And actually, some people consider it part of his Berlin trilogy set of albums. "The Idiot" was recorded before "Low" and, for some, connects the musical dots from "Station to Station" to "Low." I'll buy that. Overall, this is very good album and a must listen for all Bowie and Iggy fans.
3.5 Very good album. Not as good as "Lust for Life" though. Almost sounds like a Bowie album - he's all over it. China Girl, Dum Dum Boys highlights
- interesting vibe, not really what I was expecting - kinda grimy - 2.5
- decent, this isn’t any old crap - still not really moving me tho
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.
So much better than I thought it would be. Note to self, do not prejudge. I think he needs to keep his shirt on though. 😂
I'd rather listen to the Stooges. Give me punk rock Iggy not this art rock Iggy. Meh
Iggy being icky aside, a great album.
A full album of these slow and washed-out sounding songs is a bit much.
Not particularly memorable or engaging for me.
Good album for a guy who slept with a 13-year-old and seems to be incredibly okay with that. For shame! I'll rate this on music alone even though it's hard. I'll try to do the same for Kanye, Bowie, Led Zep, but can't promise anything.
Not bad. Had no idea China Girl was his. Ok as a one-timer.
Another one of his albums that didn’t really do anything for me. Most interesting thing here was the collaboration with Bowie on Cbina Girl. Had no idea Iggy’s version existed. I just glad Bowie took that song back.
Jag var inte riktigt på humör för denna. Bowie lyfter.
This is OK- I've had a couple of Stooges records but this is the first Iggy Pop solo record I've had, and I much prefer the rawer, punkier, less polished stuff than this. It's fine though, but not really my thing.
Meh, this didn't do much for me.
Well, I was decidedly *not* looking forward to an album from Iggy Pop...but this was much better than expected. I mean, it's still not great and I'll never listen to it again, but I thought this would be a 2. Turned out it was decent. Interesting to read the Wiki blurb here noting that this was a collaborative effort with Bowie. 3.1
I wish I was more familiar with this part of Iggy Pop's career. I need to allocate more time.
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
Iggy Pop's The Idiot is a haunting and influential album, marked by its dark, sleazy, and sometimes creepy tones. It's hard to escape the shadow of knowing it was the last thing Ian Curtis listened to before his passing, adding an eerie layer to the listening experience. Tracks like Nightclubbing and Dum Dum Boys exude a gritty atmosphere that has clearly influenced bands like Depeche Mode and She Wants Revenge, whom I enjoy more. The album's brooding ambiance and raw edge set a precedent for the post-punk and new wave movements. While I appreciate its impact and can see its value, the overall vibe isn't entirely to my taste. Nonetheless, The Idiot remains a significant piece in music history, showcasing Iggy Pop's ability to push boundaries and evoke powerful emotions. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 2 STAND OUT TRACK - Nightclubbing
I like Iggy.
This was fine. A lot of people talking about Bowie's influence on this album, but my main takeaway is that Iggy Pop has a very cool voice.
Iggy Pop sounds like a dangerous and sexy version of David Bowie. It seems like everything he sings is really cool. He could be singing about farts. I don't care. He's so cool! I honestly don't know much about his work. I know some songs but I've had some of their albums on my list for some time. It was a pleasant surprise.
Very glam and bowie and fun.
It's the best Bowie album, but it is not a Bowie album. China Girl is a great song, no matter who is singing it. I prefer other albums by Iggy Pop. I link his image with the punk movement, so he does not match so well with this electronic /art-rock stuff. However, I must say that his work here, with good production, makes it stand out compared with Stooge's work, even the last being my favorite.
Every iggy pop album I've listened to on this thing I've prepped myself for music that I don't like. And yet each time I end up with the review "not bad, better than expected"
A lot lower energy than I was expecting from Iggy. It felt like a lot of talk singing as well. Just didn't reel me in.
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.
I've always loved this Iggy album, though it is most definitely a Munich Bowie album. I'm not sure why it appeals to me so much... the lyrics are kinda... embarassing. But man, some of the hooks, the layers, etc... Still… great album and a significant step for Iggy post-Stooges. Honestly, he shouldn’t be alive. He should have been found in a back alley 50 years ago. I am convinced this album saved his life.
Going between a 3 and a 4, but ultimately a 3. I really thought he was British, gave me those vibes. It was short and I think that was good for me. I enjoyed it but it got a bit repetitive in each song, but then each stood pretty good on its own.
I'm at about a 3.5 with this. I don't always love his singing and sometimes think he sounds a little ridiculous. Knowing that David Bowie is involved somehow seems to make more sense now.
Iggy Pop and David Bowie, whom Iggy worked with deeply here, go hand in hand at this point in their careers. They may as well just be considered the Hall & Oates of the 70’s, only more inventive of a world unique to them and not necessarily following others (no shade to H&O…I love them). The Idiot is a fantastic escapade into art dance and club music. The astounding thing about Iggy is that he was a pioneer of punk music in the late 60’s with his band The Stooges, and later became a pioneer of electronica music with his work here with Bowie. This music, along with bands like Kraftwerk led to the electronica and goth explosions in the 80’s and 90’s. This album is definitely a very important historical document and worth every second of a persons attention.
I didn’t know Iggy was the first to record China Girl. Cool version of it! I dug this album. It was cool and feels innovative for its time. He has a pretty unique sound.
Love it.
to many, iggy is considered to be the godfather of punk, but you would never know that listening to this album, as it sounds nothing like his output with the stooges. iggy and david bowie were friends and you can definitely hear bowie’s influences on his sound with this album. and while his version of china girl is not as polished as bowie’s, it’s just as good. highlights: “nightclubbing” “china girl” “tiny girls”
I thought that I liked Iggy Pop until I heard some of his complete albums because of this challenge thing. Now I’m just meh on him. But this album wasn’t terrible.
Just not really for me.
Berlin proto wave coolness. class
This kicked off with a banger. Loved sister midnight. After that it just seemed a bit noisy with Iggy droning with unimpressive lyrics. HOWEVER, I respect the vibe for 1977!
Iggy always nails atmosphere. I bop my head because I’m on side the whole time and then I hear a lyric or two and I’m back in reality feeling less enthused about the album. Moments I really enjoyed (like nightclubbing) but I had that problem throughout.
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.
was pleasantly surprised
bland but got ok at the end
This album is fine so far. 3/5
Not a fan.
Mass production just sounded weird in the middle... not sure what they were trying to do?
crazy album, nooit naar Iggy pop geluisterd maar wel erg vet, leuk om te horen, goeie David Bowie vibe ook wel, snap wel dat zij dit samen tijdens hun drugsverslaving geschreven hebben, lekker doen joh, niks mis mee
China Girl hitje wel gemiddeld albumpie
Relatively unremarkable. Not my kind of thing
Given how much I have fallen in love with The Stooges because of this list, I really expected more from this. Don't get me wrong, it's perfectly listenable, but it just feel really inconsistent and some moments drag on much longer than they really should. I still like to see Iggy evolving his sounds though, the ideas are definitely there, but the execution could have been done a bit better.
Nightclubbing! Who knew
The instrumentals were pretty repetitive and the vocals sounded like a drunk David Bowie doing a Jim Morrison impression. Mostly kind of ugly sounding
“I’m going to copy David Bowie. To prove it, here’s David Bowie” Yes, this album is a tad derivative, but it’s also pretty fun. Most of them have some feeling in them. “Dum Dum Boys” could have been better in a variety of ways. Seems like filler to me. Overall, though, very nice. 4/5
Spooky, groovy post-punk. The hand of Bowie evident on every track but overall the vibe is more gothic than on his own records.
satisfactory
Yeah, this is really Bowie-adjacent. It's hard to tell where one starts and the other ends. Not quite as catchy, though.
Underwhelming and not his best work.
3.5
An oddly strange but fascinating album. Iggy Pop’s vocal style is an acquired taste but there’s so much dark bluesy pop on this album with excellent arrangements and production. Can’t say I’m jonsing to listen again soon but enjoyed my time with it.
3.5
I like the Stooges better, but this isn't bad. 3.5/5
Sounds like a Bowie album. I love Bowie. What’s not to like?
I thought this would be more my style. The Bowie influence is clear but it's still figuring out where to go. Not a bad album and some really cool instrumental work but this feels in progress vs complete.
What I'm about to say sounds super reductive, but I'm not sure I've ever heard an album before that sounds like the audio version of puppetry. That being said this is some great stuff, just with that strange story to it's production. Is the song Funtime a distant relative of the Monster Mash-verse of songs? "last night I was down in the lab (Fun) talkin' to Dracula and his crew All aboard for funtime" The bass on Dum Dum Boys is great, tho sounds like something else I can't place that came before or after... I think this a solid album with some awkwardness.
Not my thing
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.
..
Duger till vardags.
A disembodied David Bowie - who influenced who, that is the question? Enjoyable from that perspective alone.
Absolutely awesome, went into thinking this would be self indulgent trash, could not be more wrong.
3/5
this is fun
My kind of weirdo in so many ways, but just not something I would choose to listen to.
Not too bad musically. Vocals are not the best, but the songs were not too bad.
It’s just iggy. Good album not really my listening.
Pure and simply this is a classic album, it's a shame it's so short. It is similar to a number of other artists albums- Bowie (obviously) but also I hear bits of Transformer (also produced by Bowie). It's so dissolute. A sad thing of beauty.
Never cared much for solo Iggy. The stooges were great because the music complimented his voice. Iggy Pop does not have a good singing voice, it works for garage rock/punk, but o don’t want to hear him singing slow songs and ballads.
I had never listened to an Iggy Pop album, and that's on me. Man, I've been missing out. AMAZING record.
Inconsistent song structures but absolutely amazing. Just think that he sang I wanna be your dog just a few years later.
I enjoyed this album, but there’s nothing standout here. It’s well produced, the vocals are distinctive if not exactly the greatest and the subject matter covers all elements of debauchary. But I wouldn’t find myself going back to it at any point.
This is pretty solid. I always had Iggy in my head as sloppy punk, but his music is much more fleshed out and nuanced.
A hell of a step away from punk, as lame as that sounds.
favourite song: nightclubbing pretty sure this is the first album ive gotten with a song that features in the trainspotting soundtrack, based on that alone it deserves a 4
Nightclubbing is a brilliant song 3/5
Solid. Love Iggy's version of China Girl. Much more sinister than Bowie's version but I detect sadness instead of anger inside that sneering veneer. The album is a bit more downbeat than I anticipated but Iggy and Bowie were trying to clean themselves up so I understand the darkness in the album.
I don’t like Bowie and I don’t like this. Really lazy stuff.
Whiny and annoying. Mass Production forced me to give this 2 stars.
A little too experimental/weird for me.
not listened to much by him before but i really enjoyed this
Nope niks voro mij
This was a weird and unexpected journey into the mind of Iggy Pop. As everyone else pointed out, the Bowie influence is palpable throughout. This makes for a FANTASTIC journey through weird and wonderful soundscapes. Truly enjoyable and may be my favorite Iggy Pop album. Standout Tracks: Sister Midnight, Nighclubbing, Dum Dum Boys
Поп и Боуи - как Вупсень и Пупсень
I liked it! pretty good debut album. you can really hear the Bowie influence in a few songs. its pretty varied too, the sax in Tiny Girls is great. also doesnt overstay its welcome.
Really enjoyed this album. I’m guessing this is one of the Bowie produced albums because it just straight up sounds like a dirtier grungier Bowie album.
Probably fairer to consider this as a Bowie/Iggy collaboration album, as it is so far from The Stooges and so close to what Bowie was doing. The only issue there would be that I would expect more from Bowie! It is a good album with plenty of light and shade, and some very odd lyrics, but it just doesn't hit home in the same way as plenty of his other work (both solo and with The Stooges) - so I can't give it full marks. I enjoyed it and found it interesting though, so it came close!
Classic album with quite a bizarre atmosphere
Eh
This is great, fucking love it
I can't say that I'm really crazy about Iggy's solo career, including his two classics Lust for Life and The Idiot. And out of those two, I prefer Lust for Life. I get the appeal though, its dark proto-New Wave songs with Bowie's metallic production gives it a particular atmosphere, but most of the songs just fall flat for me. Good, but not great.
I never got Iggy's works, but maybe someday I will.
It's incredible how this album just doesn't make me feel something. It's like listening to white noise. That said, the man's a legend and this album seems to be to? Who knows.
Venga, 4. China Girl.
Excellent but not bowie
Not a fan of Bowie and this seems like the Walmart brand Bowie. His fingerprints are all over this. I did relisten to this and gave it a higher rating though. 2.63
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.
2.5
Stop letting British people make music
Interesante pero al final tiene algunos skips. No me encantó. 5/10.
I love Iggy Pop
What a coincidence Iggy and his Stooges yesterday and Iggy Pop today. This album is heavily influenced by David Bowie and if you didn’t know would say it’s one of his. For that reason (although I’m not the biggest Bowie fan) it benefits and is a better album than the Stooges one. But that is relative and doesn’t mean that I like this album. There are one or two melodic passages but like a lot of Bowie influenced albums of this time they suffer from Bowie’s and Iggy’s quest to find new musical directions which to my ears amount to random sounds rather than musical masterpieces. Most interesting aspect of this album was learning how Bowie and Iggy collaborated. A piece of musical history I remember reading about at the time but had forgotten. 2/5 6/4/24
Infamous
I really don't like Iggy Pop. I don't even really like Bowie that much (with some exceptions). So this album doesn't do much for me. Just kind of... boring
"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".
Iggy does his best Bowie impression. Not great.
I like Igggy overall, and did not know many of the songs on this album. I liked it, though not enough to seek it out for a listen in the coming months.
Hmmh. Musikalisch nicht übel. Nette Texte. Aber Pop‘s Stimme passt einfach nicht …
Classic Britpop / Punk
The start of the Iggy/Bowie era. A change to the usual Iggy wanna be your dog approach
Meeeeh
57/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
This one is a little too Bowie for my tastes. It's okay, but not really my jam. Much prefer his second solo album Lust for Life.
I can't lie the way Iggy Pop sings is a bit creepy, but this album is very well made. Stand-out: China Girl
This still sounds as immediate as it did back in 1977. Not only is the album still a banger, but you have to give credit to the engineering crew for the crisp sound.
good fun
I already knew Iggy Pop's work with the Stooges and The Passenger album, but was not previously familiar with this album. It's a bit more out there than I expected. Reading the background it makes sense, but I am not exactly excited to listen to it again any time soon.
Thought I would like this because I knew Iggy pop was an influence upon David Bowie and they had collaborated on things together but sadly I didn't like it.
Venga, 4. China Girl.
Not at all what I was expecting from an Iggy Pop album. Solid post-punk that gets extra consideration for being pretty early to the genre.
I've never really known the music of Iggy Pop - other than a couple of songs on Lust for Life that I didn't actually know were his - but it turns out I l really like him. The funny thing is that I reviewed David Bowie's Low a couple of days ago, which was made right after The Idiot. I didn't really like Low all that much but this album much better. Had to listen to it on YouTube though because it's no longer available on Amazon.
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!!
The intro had me worried that I'd be thinking more of Kraftwerk than Bowie whilst listening, but by the middle of the album I was very much enjoying myself, and by the end I would consider this an extremely solid album, full of those long, dreary songs that I tend to love, and this oppressing atmosphere that I believe only David Bowie's production could pull off so well for another artist. Do I admittedly believe this album would be all the better were Bowie singing here, and at the end of the day is it more Bowie than Iggy? Perhaps, but that isn't to discredit Iggy Pop, because I believe his lyrical additions suit the music well, and give it this of punkiness that I think others would struggle to grasp. In that way it feels like a remix album of Stooges songs, where someone with killer production skills completely flipped Stooges songs on their head, and I think that really works in its favor. I still don't think too much of those first two tracks, and on a short album that can really kill it, but the rest of the album is top notch stuff. Could see this being a higher score someday, for sure.
It was OK, you can hear a lot of Bowie in this
I want to like it, but I don’t. It wants to be David Bowie sometimes.
Really enjoyed this record
So this has the usual SoloProject stench on it for sure...with a twist. My overreaching opinion is that 99% of solo albums suck. This record is salvaged by the fact that it is more of a Iggy/Bowie collaboration. Ot plays as if David Bowie wrote an album of Stooges material and invited Iggy to be on lead vocals.
Iggy iggy
It's moody and a bit unsettling. One hell of a debut album.
This was ok overall.
Ich kenne von Iggy Pop "Lust of Life" und war daher sehr gespannt wegen "The Idiot" Es ist so etwas wie die Basic seines Schaffens und schon sehr beeinflußt von David Bowie. Da ist die ursprüngliche Version von "China Girl". Natürlich kenne ich mehr die "Lets Dance"-Version, die mir viel besser gefällt. Es ist sehr interessant, wie sich alles entwickelt auf der Platte, aber umgehauen hat es mich nicht. Solide, gut produzierte Schallplatte. Der Beginn einer großen Kariere.
fun
Gritty at times but then surprises you with a horn section. The first1+ minutes of the last track, I forgot I was streaming and literally thought it was my neighbors doing yard work outside. Highlight was definitely China Girl, which I'd assumed was a Bowie original. Love Iggy Pop's creativity; don't love the all-over-the-place sound with the only consistency his monotonous vocals.
Cure for my hangover
Expecting punk (of which I'm not a fan), I got something that sounded like Bowie. Oh, this album's music was entirely composed by Bowie. Oh, he and Iggy were super close friends and collaborators. Oh, "China Girl" came out a full 6 years before on this album. So anyways, with the feeling of having lived under a rock, I'm now diving into The Stooges. See you on the other side. 4/5
I was expecting some punk music and was surprised by something feeling like a baby between Jim Morrison and David Bowie. I was taken off guard and delighted by what it was. I feel like the Stooges were more punk, but this did not have that feel. Super Good though! 3.5
Did not know China Girl was an Iggy Pop song, though Bowie helped write it. Bowies version is way better, but it is still the best song on this album. Didn't really like The Idiot otherwise.
Нудная и однообразная музыка. Хоть альбом и на 40 минут я не мог дождаться когда же эта нудятина закончится.
OK but anticipated better fo some reason.
Fuck this dork
Not for me. I enjoyed the weirder more experimental sounds in spots but overall just sounded like Iggy kinda talking over odd instrumentals.
Iggy. What else can you say? It's fun to know that the first version of China Girl appears here.
Like Bowie without the Bowie
I didn't think I'd like this but it is kind of a grimy version of David Bowie with some more punk swagger (which makes sense since this is Iggy of Stooges fame). Night Clubbing and Baby are very drunk/weird guitar experiments. China Girl and Dum Dum Boys are just generally good rock songs.
China girl is good but the rest is tiresome
Good background music but I feel like I don't get "it"
I don't think any of the songs on this quite reach the song lust for life but nevertheless this was a really interesting album. It felt like David Bowie does post-punk Kraftwerk and the wiki says that's pretty much exactly what it is to the point that people just consider this to be another David Bowie album I guess. It even sounds like David Bowies voice in parts. Regardless of who made it, it was a good listen and I especially liked sister midnight and nightclubbing.
Good tracks. You can tell David Bowie and Iggy Pop hung out a lot together in the late 70's but it's difficult to say which was the dominant influencer. Elements of this album showed up on later Bowie works but with a lot more polish.
Bowie's arrangements are excellent on this album. And Iggy's voice and lyrics fit the music wonderfully. And interesting topic, I now know where Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner) got his vocal inspiration from.
Nice punky vibe.
While not my favorite album that Iggy's had a hand in, I've always liked this one. It feels dark, almost dangerous. It also wouldn't sound out of place had it been released in the '80s, so in that way it's ahead of its time. Lyrically, it represents Pop at the crossroads between eras, and you can hear him actively shaking off his demons in these songs, or at least doing his best to ignore them. If it's not his best work, well, it's certainly a respectable one.
Never really listened to him before. Sort of like Bowie
Starts great, but ends up in noise
Not the biggest fan of this album. I thought it was decent but could not get into it.
Sleazy as hell but good grooves as well as good production from Mr David Bowie. Fav Songs - Nightclubbing - China Girl - Dum Dum Boys
Very Bowie. For obvious reasons. I dug this album, I was surprised to hear China Girl. 4
Good mid-period Iggy collaboration with David Bowie.
Never heard an Iggy Pop before, not what I expected, but not too bad.
This is a cool one, I don’t think I’ve heard it before. A lot more subdued and structured than I expected in comparison to the Stooges stuff. Can definitely hear Bowie’s influence, pretty neat
Good album musically. Obvious Bowie influence which drowned out the Iggy Pop sound that I prefer if I'm listening to Iggy. Bowie good, Iggy good, but together it's in a middle ground that isn't as good as either of their individual work.
Pretty solid. Doesn't quite grab me.
Reminds me of the 00s NY indie scene, "meet me in the bathroom" era
I'm not sure I got it, some of the songs where iggy is a bit more shouty and it has a bit of bite are okay, but the rest kinda passed me by and was quickly forgotten. I don't think it's for me and I wonder if it's only on this list because of the pedigree of both the artist involved.
Viel Musik habe ich von Iggy Pop bisher nicht gehört. Interessant, dass mir China Girl von Bowie bekannter war.
Had never really listened to Iggy Pop before. He's like buying David Bowie on Wish. Not bad...just not Bowie
3
Great album, already listened to it before but glad to hear it again :)
This was not my favorite. I don’t like his voice, I couldn’t make out many of the lyrics, and the music didn’t grab me. I didn’t actively hate it but I never need to listen to this again.
Thought I’d like this more. The Stooges were too out there for my tastes and this solo disk as a collaboration with Bowie seemed more promising. Some Ok stuff on side one, but side two was meh.
I must have listened to this before because Nightclubbing is vaguely familiar and Dum Dum Boys is a “liked” song on Spotify. On this new listen, DDB remains the lone liked song.
Nicht schlecht. Anders als gedacht.
Iggy pop conosco già ma penso solo alcune canzoni. Mi ha colpito molto la canzone "china girl". In certe canzoni non mi piace la sua voce. Non mi piace "mass production", la trovo un po' ripetitiva. Non riascolterei l'album per intero.
Venga, 4. China Girl.
Will be blasting this in my 2001 Ford Explorer with my dum dum boys.
Meh
What an intense and vicious bastard. Great musician and still rockin’! Who’d have thought?
China Girl is one of my favourite songs of all-time
Like all Iggy stuff after the Stooges, this was a bit disappointing. Dunno what drugs he was on but just seems a self-indulgent mess tbh. 2.5*
I'm not sure how to fully put this album into words. It's party music I'd never want to party to. It's spooky music that wouldn't make the cut on my Halloween playlist. It's alternative rock that doesn't rock. The vocals remind me of Muse. Lots of long droning notes. A lot of these songs aren't quite skippable but outside of the last song Mass Production, none of them have any qualities that really stand out of me. Mass Production has the right level of weird that I wish Iggy Pop had leaned into for the whole album.
It gets an extra point for being so Bowie but I just don't like this. I think Iggy Pop would go on to do much better stuff than this.
Not sure I’ve ever heard this like before, and I don’t think it’s for me
Not my style and very unfinished feel
not mine
Not my cup of tea… the vocals are monotone vibrato which sadly I could not vibe with, the production was decent, lyrics are good at best and then also show the sign of the times at other points. Favourite songs: Tiny Girls, Mass Production Worst Song: Nightclubbing
A voir plus comme un album de compo de David Bowie plus que juste Iggy. J'aurais voulu aimer plus. Good sound et lyrics ok en général. Moins nice que Lust for life.
Prefacing everything I’m about to write by saying that this was a STRONG start to this music challenge. The bar has been set, and It’s definitely pretty damn close to the ceiling. Anyways, Calling Sister was the perfect start to this album. Mixed really well through headphones and I really enjoyed the techno / dark funk feeling. China Girl was by far my absolute favourite song. So much emotion, the chimes in the song, agh. After reading the history of the album, I absolutely hear David Bowie in this. Some of the songs could have a bit of fat trimmed off, such as the final song of the album. Otherwise, the album itself was a great listen. I have never given Iggy Pop much of a chance, but after this, I definitely will be adding to my playlists.
I knew some songs but had never listened to the album. Good.
Not good. Sorry Iggy.
5/10
I'm not familiar with Iggy Pop (except Lust for Life) but I enjoyed this album & would listen again.
A bit weird, but ok I guess. Didn't age well, as with most Rock from 70s era
Okay... let me give this a try... I typically like Iggy more as a character than a musician... let's see about this offering... Apparently Ian Curtis (Joy Division) committed suicide while listening to this? The Bowie influence is very obvious. Kinda crazy for Iggy and Bowie to release The Idiot, Lust for Life, Low and Heroes in 1977. Kinda messy... but I like messy... this is much better than I expected!
Ok . Apparently bowie did most of it. Not enough lust for lifet
What an interesting, clunky, industrial sound. It sounds a lot like David Bowie’s “Low,” which makes sense because they were made around the same time and Bowie produced this album. Some of it worked for me, some of it didn’t. The production on some of these songs is pretty murky. It has to be intentional (especially since other songs have a much cleaner sound) but it’s an interesting choice. I wonder what sort of drugs were happening in the studio when they recorded and mixed this. “Mass Production” is starting to sell me on the sound of this album. Those awful, queasy synths (?) that come in around 4:30? I kinda dig it 😂
Iggy Pop consistently bores me. I don't know why. I feel like if you sat me down on a couch, gave me an SM57 and oversaturated the mic, I could sit and crank out these tunes without even having to get up on my feet. Maybe it's the period of time? This was harder in the 70's? It just doesn't do much for me. It sounds like he's sitting on a couch and reading from a notebook. Even the more energetic songs lack energy in the vocals. I know he's known as a punky artsy guy, but I'm always surprised when I hear Iggy Pop's music and remember how monotone it can get. You have to wait until "China Girl" to get some of his wailing, but it takes so long to get there and then when it does it comes and goes and he goes right back to his drunkenly warbling. Not my favorite, and went by very quickly.
I wanted to like this one better than I did. It's not bad but nothing really stood out to me, will listen again in the future. The stories behind the album are cool but the music just didn't do it for me as much as I wanted it to.
LP
A pretty decent David Bowie album. China Girl sounds weird on this one, though. XD
This is my first listen to this album. My first impression of the album is that it seems heavily influenced by David Bowie and is a departure for Iggy Pop from his previous work with the Stooges. The album feels like it was put together rather quickly and some of it is a bit flawed. The vocals don't seem to exude much energy. Lyrically it is pretty dark. The Synth is a bit over used as well. There is no doubt that this is a transitional album for Pop that would lead to better work, but I don't see this as a particularly good album. Favorite songs, Funtime, China Girl, Night Clubbing. 3 out of 5.
An interesting collaboration record between Iggy Pop and David Bowie. This ain't the Iggy Pop of Stooges fame. Here, he is in control of his voice and the energy is much more tame. It has that "Cold War" feel of the Berlin Trilogy, just a little less engaging, but somehow somehow funnier? The lyrics and themes feel a bit like satire/dark comedy. I prefer Lust for Life from this era. Fav track: Sister Midnight
What a fascinating record! I can't believe I haven't listened to this before. The late 70s Bowie instrumentals are not what I expected from an Iggy Pop record. It's like I've just uncovered the lost companion album to Low. That said, Pop's vocals suffer from the comparison. I enjoyed it but couldn't help but feel like I'd rather hear David sing these songs. I suppose we get the chance later with Bowie's version of China Girl to follow sometime later. Is this interesting? Yes. Is it transcendent? Not as much. Fave tracks: Sister Midnight, Mass Production
If this list has taught me one thing it’s that Iggy and Bowie were tight. I liked this. Pretty rough around the edges but it’s interesting to hear something between Fun House and Lust For Life. But I guess this is more of a Bowie record than Iggy record. China Girl was great and Dum Dum Boys.
Felt like this dude was a little disturbed but I mostly enjoyed the music. I see the similarities with Bowie but it’s worse than Bowie in most categories.
This is David Bowie by another name.
I don't dislike Iggy Pop but we are reaching PJ Harvey levels of disproportionate representation on this list with him too. \"Dum Dum Boys\" did rock, and I enjoyed the Hendrix-inspired guitar parts on that song.
This one was another one that proved totally new for me - Never heard anything from this before. But it was very evident just from hearing it that Bowie produced it. It's a really neat, electronic and experimental post-punk record, and really does great things to that genre of which I'm still not sure where my opinion stands. This is definitely among one of the great post-punk albums though. There's enough variety in the tracks to keep them interesting, and plenty of interesting elements that prevent each track from going stale. It's awash with atmosphere, dissonance and distortion but it all feels like it adds more to the end product, something I think a lot of post-punk fails to achieve in my opinion. I think Iggy Pop described it perfectly when he described it as "a cross between James Brown and Kraftwerk". There's a funky and soulful element to it, but it's very cold, mechanical, robotic. I can totally see how this went on to inspire a lot of industrial and gothic acts. I admit I had to listen more than once to 'get' it, but now I've had an opportunity to give it my full attention, I'm fully sold on it, and I feel it's only getting better with every listen. An amazing record. Favourite: Funtime
Why this album?!
Kinda weird for my taste
He gross
love!
Mostly excellent
This album really does sound like David Bowie had his hands all over it, and that’s a good thing. Often eerie, dark, loud, and raw.
meh
I've never liked Iggy's voice, but I like the music here.
I remembered this as a five-star album. I guess I’d forgotten about a few mediocre tracks in the middle. It’s still got a lot of good stuff, and I like how Bowie helped Iggy go from unrestrained wild man proto-punk front man, all hot and heavy, to detached, cold post-punk crooner. It makes me want to listen to Lust for Life again and see if it’s still a five star album for me. I always liked that one better anyway.
I guess Iggy is more "Rock n Roll" in personality and not really music wise. It's a decent album but was hoping for more of a kick.
A collaboration between two icons of the age, Iggy and Bowie.... what could go wrong? Unfortunately, to my ear, this ends up being a watered down version of both. I can see what they were trying, and I'm glad they did....this could have been amazing! It just didn't work for me.
This was certainly an album,nightclubbing was cool I guess.
As producer and co-writer, David Bowie’s influence is pretty evident on this record: it feels a bit like a companion piece to “Heroes”. If you like Bowie’s Berlin era and Brian Eno, I suspect that, like me, you’ll find a lot to like on “The Idiot”.
Garbage
Vaag album klonk de gehele tijd alsof ze net compleet dronken een jamsessie hadden rond een uurtjenof 4 in de ochtend.
Afgezet. Heel herhaaldelijk en kan zijn stemgeluid echt niet verdragen
Jaa dit is dus gewoon niet goed. "The idiot" is de persoon die dit in de lijst heeft gezet.
Its great for a David Bowie record. Not as much for an Iggy one kkk
Why does he remind me of David Bowie?
3.5
Blind album, know the artist. I feel like this is a slower rock/blues, and its funny cause I feel my self falling asleep to the song Nightclubbing
Too much Bowie, not enough punk.
Can't knock it but can't say I loved it.
Very good! It has more Bowie than Iggy
I'm not crazy about it, but Bowie is cool.
Prefer the passenger
I love the music here, once again questionable content with the young girls
Very progressive for the time. Great handful of tunes.
Not a huge fan of the punk sound. Why was this guy popular?
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.
it's ok. Definitely not Iggy's best work. Weird how Bowie took inspiration from Iggy, but then this album is very obviously inspired by Bowie.
My favorite iggy album is lust for life but this one is still great. what happens when your creepy uncle and his cool bestie make an album together?
I like Iggy Pop, but I was in a weird mood yesterday, and this was a little dark for me.
I've never really listened to a full Iggy Pop album - this is such a great album. Classic. Some songs are similar to David Bowie's stuff.
I realize that I’m not cool if I don’t like this, but that isn’t enough for me to lie to myself and say that I connect with this. It’s just not that exciting.
A solid album, but not particularly to my taste at the moment. I appreciate the experimental, lo-fi production and composition and there are times in my life where I would have loved this album. I appreciate it, but it's not my favourite.
Un tanto flojo para ser de Iggy Pop. Un 4.
Makes me want to do cocaine
Another scary one! david bowie's all over this - 3
No annoying songs, overall a good vibe that's more chill than expected. Thankfully no screaming. 3.5 or 4, will listen to again
Apparently if you were in the music industry in the 70s and liked heroin, you had to do an album with David Bowie. This is a David Bowie album. The production, the music, even the lyrics scream Bowie. It's good but it lacks the menace of Iggys later work or the noise and violence of the stooges.
I think the first side is excellent, but the second side let it down a bit.
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.
Interesting music. Liked it.
Sounds exactly like an Iggy Pop lyrical response to David Bowie's songwriting while both were holding up in a castle in France in an attempt at sobriety. Dark and a bit more coordinated than the Stooges, it helps to show a different side of Iggy, though the music remains distinctly Bowie-like
Very noisy and industrial with its version of new wave. Almost like a proto-no wave album! Im very digging it
I can’t believe a dog sung this Also David Bowie moment
Wacky album pretty much just David Bowie with a different voice. Fav song: China Girl
This is the first of two albums made by Iggy during his time in Berlin with David Bowie, whilst getting sober (both of which were made in 1977). This one is actually the debut solo album for Iggy as well. It is a hard departure from his proto punk roots with The Stooges. Bowie wrote and performed all of the music for this album, and it really comes through. My first thought upon hearing this record was that it sounded like a Bowie record with a scratchy, gruff vocalist. Favourite songs: Nightclubbing, China Girl Least favourite songs: Mass Production, Baby 3/5
It doesn’t sound like something groundbreaking. Also the roughness doesn‘t swing my opinion to „oh wow, what a milestone!“.
👍
Weird, but alluring. China girl is especially cool and nightclubbing has some uniquely awesome guitar sounds.
There is this slow, unassailable, confident energy enveloping this whole album. And it's all a night energy--literally the first four songs directly reference nighttime. This confidence of an idiot who doesn't know any better is just so darned attractive, especially when the person in question is not an idiot. Oh, and I prefer this version of "China Girl". I wonder what it was like to walk the streets of Berlin at night in the 70s. With Bowie at your side. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that his ghost still walks there, moseying along to the warped electronics of "Mass Production". And one last thing: if you're going to get your strings pulled by someone, you could do worse than Bowie.
You would never guess that Bowie produced this first solo album for Iggy lol. Although David and Iggy Co wrote China Girl, its amazing the difference in Iggys version, where he murdered it, and 6 years later David releases it and its a hit. For me this album was an expression of Bowie at a low in his life, and Iggys first solo attempt fell short of the goal line with strained vocals... only to find his solo spirit in his next album Lust For Life. I could listen to this if it was on, but wouldn't choose to listen to it. I'm torn for review rating, and only giving it 3 stats for the Bowie influence.
this is what i imagine chain smoking would sound like if it made music.
I was a bit hopeful for this album, but I knew I probably wasn't gonna be crazy about it. I like the overall dissonant sound of the album, but it's pretty boring. China Girl is good, but it's hard to fully appreciate this one when I like the Bowie version a lot more. A few of the songs are pretty long too, which is part of what made this album a bit of a drag. Perhaps it'd be a three if there were more short tracks rather than having a seven minute and an eight minute song on here. Oh well. My favourite song was China Girl.
Slow start but surprisingly has some bangers
Solid album from the king of punk.
An album that had some songs with potential, but only one good song I would listen to again. 2.5/5
It's 1977. Punk is in full swing. It is by and large stealing sounds Iggy Pop was making five years earlier. Meanwhile, Iggy is making a record that sounds five years ahead of its time.
That was an unexpected burst of joy.
On his debut, Iggy pop sounds like a Bowie clone while wearing a shirt for what I can only assume was the first and last time in his career. A damn good short-wearing Bowie clone.
Whenever I listen to this I’m impressed at how two such talented musicians can make me feel this little. It’s fine and parts are even really good, but I don’t really care for it. It’s as if nothing is truly on the line until the closing track. Okay, this may sound more negative than it actually is. But… It’s Iggy and Bowie for crying out loud!
China Girl is probably his best song
Weird, icy, dour, atmospheric. Definitely reminds me of Bowie's Station to Station, though not as high-quality. A very dense and interesting album although not one I'd want to listen to much. Best song: China Girl
Had moments of great tunes, but overall this project fell flat
Pretty good
No.
September 17, 2023 HL: “Sister Midnight”, “China Girl”, “Tiny Girls” Well. I have a new least favourite Iggy Pop album. Also a least favourite Bowie. If Station to Station had icy moments, then The Idiot is freezer burnt. I applaud its unconventional nature though the blend of “krautrock” and Stooges stomping didn’t do a lot for me today. On the fence about “Mass Production”, kind of equal parts hypnotic and nauseating
2/5. While this album wasn’t anything special in my opinion, I did enjoy the song “Mass Production.”
A nice Bowie collaboration album that leads nicely into Bowie’s Low.
First time I really heard the original version of China Girl. Iggy is another one that I understand the greatness but I don't necessarily want to listen to it.
This is the first artist to have two of their albums come up out of the 1001 possible albums. This is the most Iggy Pop I’ve ever listened to and I’m struggling to understand his status in music culture. This guy is an icon and a punk hero. He’s vital to an entire genre of music and it’s prominence in our society. And I gotta say I’m pretty underwhelmed by these songs. They’re fine. They’re not bad in any way. But I expected them to be undeniable. Forces of nature that laid waste to my ears and brain. Maybe it’s a build up to his best stuff and I’ll listen to that later. Then again, if this is his good stuff why is he on this list at all?