This category focuses on discussing various records that I feel merit discussion. Content here might include reviews of new records, recommendations on older records or reissues and revelations about records with music and sound that inspire enthusiasm. If you are a reader who has an opinion about a record I am discussing on this page, feel free to make a comment. If you know of a better pressing of a record I’m dicussing here, I’d love to hear from you!
The Stooges
A record I purchased recently that I’m just nuts for at the moment is the first, self titled album by the Stooges. Originally released in 1969 and produced by John Cale, The Stooges is a hugely influential album that many feel marked the birth of punk music. This whole album is good, but the songs “1969” and “I wanna be your dog,” considered two of their best, really stand out.
On first listen the album can appear ridiculously simple and idotic. In a review of the record shortly after it’s release, Edmund O. Ward of Rolling Stone called it “loud, boring, tasteless, unimaginative and childish.” But then he adds, “… I kind of like it.” This is exactly how I first reacted this record. Sure, the lyrics are sparse and sometimes sound a bit dumb, but as Scott Asheton’s drums pounded and Ron Asheton layed down an almost drone like stream of distorted “wah, wah” solos and power chords I found myself getting lulled into a kind of trance that made Iggy singing “No Fun” seem somehow revelatory. Furthermore “1969” has to be the single best song ever recorded about the draft. Iggy somehow manages to capture the experience of a draft age young man of that time here with a disturbing combination of angst and indifference.
This album is all about the feelings behind the lyrics and about the feelings that the music inspires in the listener. If you listen to “We Will Fall” (on which John Cale adds an inspired contribution on the Viola) loud enough and long enough you will feel transported, maybe not to a good place but you will feel it nonetheless. Even the tracks that the Stooges wrote a day ahead of the recording session to satisfy Elektra’s last minute demands for more material somehow transcend their “throw away” qualities and shine. On “Real Cool Time” Iggy basically just repeats the lyrics “can I come over, tonight…we will have a real cool time, tonight.” The repetition and the relentlessness of the music express feelings of boredom and routine tempered with a certain youthful enthusiasm that remind me of my late teenage social life, and without resorting to irony.
In 2005 Elektra and Rhino records joined forces to remaster and reissue The Stooges. I picked up the copy you see above which is a 2010 180g repress of the 2005 remastered album. I had recently bought a Rhino reissue of The Doors and was impressed with it. I was curious to hear how their version of The Stooges would sound.
I have to say I really like the sound of this record! It’s got a great analogue feel to it. There’s good punch to the drums and bass, the guitars scream accross the sound stage without overwhelming the other instruments. It’s loud and intense and there’s loads of distortion but it’s never grating or muddled. On “I wanna be your dog” the sleigh bells have a great presence, despite the distortion heavy guitars. John Cale’s piano helps to sustain the relentless pace of this song while retaining a distinct clarity as an individual instrument.
Throughout the record, Iggy’s vocals remain compelling, present and listenable without sibilance or distortion. On “We Will Fall” there’s great depth to the sound stage and nice placement of instruments and vocals, as is the case on “Ann.” And I love that the hand claps on “no fun” actually sound like hand claps. This is something that really stands out to me that digital remasters seem to get really wrong. No fake, keyboard sounding hand claps on this album!
So maybe it’s a mistake to recommed this pressing without having heard others. I do admit that I have been really enthusiastic records that I’ve bought at first, only to discover annoying flaws as I continued to listen to them. I have also had certain records that I thought sounded fantastic be completely upstaged by a different pressing of the same record I obtained later. If you are reading this and you’ve had the opportunity to compare this reissue with other releases of this album and have an opinion about them, I’d love to hear from you! But so far I’m still really happy with this Rhino reissue and if you don’t already own a copy of this record, or you’re not happy with your current copy I would strongly urge you to pick one up.