Iggy Pop
Every Loser
Gold Tooth Music/Atlantic Records
![](https://i0.wp.com/spillmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RATING_4.5_of_5.jpg?resize=150%2C29&ssl=1)
Like a fine wine, Iggy Pop continues to age into a truly one-of-a-kind vintage. Despite decades of hard living, the original street walking cheetahβs bottle of creativity remains seemingly endless, as is the case with his newest album, Every Loser. Despite talk surrounding 2016βs collaboration with Josh Homme, Post Pop Depression being his recorded swan song, or at least his departure from creating rock music, Every Loser marks a revitalized return to form from Pop. Supported by all-star producer/guitarist Andrew Watt, and a band mainly consisting of Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Duff McKagan (Guns Nβ Roses), along with additional performances from Taylor Hawkins, Dave Navarro, Stone Gossard, and others β Popβs latest record signifies a strong latter career highlight.
Opening with the lead single, βFrenzyβ, Pop, Watt, Smith, and McKagan conjure the power of The Stooges with a relentless punk banger. The driving opener is immediately countered by the modern melodicism of βStrung Out Johnnyβ and the romantic yearning of βNew Atlantisβ. The former feels nostalgic for β80s new wave with its accenting synths and Popβs restrained and bellowing baritone vocals, while the latter shines for its rich layering of vocal harmonies. Both tracks feel reminiscent of David Bowieβs work with Pop (β77βs The Idiot and Lust For Life) while also acting as a modern exercise in songwriting for Pop.
As you listen beyond the opening handful of songs, it is clear that Every Loser is full to the brim with musical highlights.Β While it would be easy to say that Pop and his band are at their strongest when thrashing about with larger-than-life rockers, that simply isnβt the case. βModern Day Ripoffβ β a track that very well could have been pulled from Raw Power β and βAll The Way Downβ are compelling defenses for Popβs role as the Godfather of punk, but they shine as bright as the haunting and humbling βMorning Showβ, the only song with the exception of the pair of interludes written solely by Pop and Watt. The ballad is the true centerpiece to Every Loser and brings a level of sophistication and maturity to Popβs artistry. Additionally, we get a pair of Hawkinsβ final recordings through βCommentsβ tht also features Eric Avery, along with βThe Regencyβ featuring Navarro and Chris Chaney; the former driven by a noir synth-pop energy, while the latter delivers one final biting punk rock attack.
Pop soars as an undisputed elder statesman of punk while demonstrating how one can evolve from the genre creatively without a feeling of selling-out or leaving it behind entirely. While he has done this time and time again throughout the many eras of his career, Every Loser continues to demonstrate Popβs worth as an artist beyond the principal architect of β70s punk. Continuing his tradition of creating massive records, a trend started with Ozzy Osbourneβs Ordinary Man, and continued with last yearβs Earthling by Eddie Vedder, Watt very well may be among rockβs greatest producers. All in all, from the songwriting to the performances from a stellar revolving cast, Every Loser is a very early contender that will certainly be among the albums to dominate 2023.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: IGGY POP – EVERY LOSER
Gerrod Harris