“Soldier” by Iggy Pop - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1980Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s

TJR says

The sixth album from the 32-year-old, his second for Arista, arrived in February, 1980. Recording sessions were marred by a series of disagreements which led to his old Stooges mate James Williamson walking out as the project's producer. Steve New's lead guitar was largely stripped from the mix (and the ears back this up) after he punched Iggy's friend, David Bowie in a row about a girlfriend. Bowie abandoned the session too. It seems a pissed off Iggy just decided to erase the former Rich Kid. Haha, quite right, show 'em who's boss. This actually works well for me, leaving all the focus on riffs and rhythms, with former Pistol Glen Matlock being a notable presence on bass and songwriting duties, co-writing two of the album's very best tracks “Mr. Dynamite” and “I Need More”. Completing the supergroup were Ivan Kral (guitar, keyboards) from the Patti Smith Group, Barry Andrews (keyboards) who had recently departed XTC and Berliner Klaus Krüger (drums) of Tangerine Dream. The album was panned by some critics, most likely due to Iggy's general irreverence and the odd throwaway lyric, but they've got it wrong, it's part of the charm. Whilst it may not reach the high watermark of “Lust For Life” these are strong players and they get solid results for the entertaining frontman. Rock on Iggy, don't take no shit.

The Jukebox Rebel
22–Apr–2007

Tracklist
A1 [03:13] 7.0.png Iggy Pop - Loco Mosquito (James Osterberg) Proto-Punk
A2 [03:23] 5.8.png Iggy Pop - Ambition (Glen Matlock) New Wave
A3 [03:18] 6.0.png Iggy Pop - Knocking ‘Em Down (In The City) (James Osterberg) Proto-Punk
A4 [03:00] 7.2.png Iggy Pop - Play It Safe (James Osterberg, David Robert Jones) Post-Punk
A5 [02:42] 8.0.png Iggy Pop - Get Up And Get Out (James Osterberg) Post-Punk
A6 [05:03] 7.7.png Iggy Pop - Mr. Dynamite (James Osterberg, Glen Matlock) Alternative Rock
B1 [02:47] 7.3.png Iggy Pop - Dog Food (James Osterberg) Proto-Punk
B2 [04:00] 8.6.png Iggy Pop - I Need More (James Osterberg, Glen Matlock) Alternative Rock
B3 [03:23] 5.8.png Iggy Pop - Take Care Of Me (James Osterberg, Glen Matlock) Alternative Rock
B4 [03:54] 7.0.png Iggy Pop - I’m A Conservative (James Osterberg) Alternative Rock
B5 [03:05] 5.5.png Iggy Pop - I Snub You (James Osterberg, Barry Andrews) Alternative Rock

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