Every Loser. Iggy Pop

When was the last time I thought, wow!, when listening to a new Iggy Pop record? Hint, no, it was not with 'Post Pop Depression' in 2016. It was in 1990 when 'Brick By Brick' was released. Not in the least because of that great single 'Candy'.

On Friday 6 January, after having read a full page interview/review with Iggy on the advent of his new record, I put on Spotify to be surprised; and I was. At 75 Iggy Pop is rocking as if there is no tomorrow. Every Loser is urgent, relevant and above all good. The kind of record I did not think he had it in him any more.

Right in the opening of 'Frenzy' it's clear: this is serious business. A distorted guitar goes full out, the drums roll in and then start whacking away in a warm, huge sound. If anything the song reminds me of the best songs on 'Raw Power', the best Iggy Pop album as far as I'm concerned. 'Frenzy' is the kind of punkrock song that was impossible to make at the time. These sounds did not exist back then. Now they do and the result is a huge song, a tower of strength and power. With a 75 year old man bellowing over it all. Eternal youth? Not when looking at him. in mind and musical prowess certainly.

The next song is not that loud but just as good. 'Strung Out Johnny' is more like 'Candy' but on the one hand softer and on the other far less stylised. A hybrid punk song 'Strung Out Johnny' is. What catches my ear, again, is the use of synths in between the onslaught of all else going on. It gives the song an extra layer and quality.

For Every Loser Pop worked with a host of famous musicians. (Ex-)Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith Josh Klinghoffer and Dave Navarro, Taylor Hawkins, Travis Barker, Stone Gossard and Duff McKagan to name the most famous ones. Producer and label owner Andrew Watt is the person who is most present, as multi-instrumentalist and co-writer. He has made a record with Iggy that does him totally right. Watt made sure that Iggy Pop's voice is always the middle of the song. Sounding deeper than before, of course older, but totally in control of Every Loser.

The extra points are scored in making this album sound new and fresh. The sound is not retro, so the album is not as well. This is not about recreating what used to be. It is all about releasing the best punk album of 2023. Not all of this album is punk rock musically, the feel and rawness of it is and that's what matters here. We are only in the first days of the year but the mission may have succeeded already. The first album to be jotted down for the favourites of the year. Every Loser is the real deal.

Wout de Natris