Move over, 20-something-year-olds trying to recapture the intensity and raucous energy of early ’70s rock, the classics aren’t dead yet. Iggy and the Stooges, the arguable progenitors of punk rock, are back with “Ready to Die,” a new offering of stripped-down, in-your-face rock ’n’ roll.
A band known for its wild energy and near-maniacal live shows, The Stooges were ahead of their time when they rocked the stages from 1967 to 1974. Following their disbandment, it wouldn’t be until 2003 that original members Ron Asheton (guitar), Iggy Pop and Scott Asheton (drums) would reunite to play together once again and release “The Weirdness” in 2007.
Unfortunately, with the untimely passing of Ron Asheton in 2009, the future of the band was put into question. As Pop put it, “The Stooges died with Ron, but Iggy and the Stooges will continue on.” The band then turned to James Williamson, the guitarist from their groundbreaking 1973 album “Raw Power,” and got back to work.
“Ready to Die” is the culmination of the band’s past three years and is a return to the raw proto-punk rock ’n’ roll of the 1973 release. Forty years does take a toll on a band, as now the members are well into their mid-60s, and though that fact is most apparent in Pop’s voice, tracks such as “Burn” and “Ready To Die” show that the band still has the capacity to create quality rock ’n’ roll.
The proto-punkers haven’t lost their sense of humor either over the years. “Sex and Money” and “Job” are both hilarious satirical jests exposing not only Pop’s two favorite things but that also, “I got a job and it don’t pay shit!” On top of that, Pop also still manages to write songs you’d expect to hear from a teenager; “DD’s” is a track that is about exactly what the title says, double D’s.
Age can also make men a little wiser. The track “Gun” is an openly political song that voices Pop’s opinions on issues ranging from gun control to social inequalities and the wrath Americans might one day face from years of exploiting others.
The album’s intensity dies down in two instances, first with “Unfriendly World” and then with the final track, “The Departed.” Both are acoustic renditions that feature Pop’s somberly baritone vocals and Williamson’s slick guitar-playing prowess, intertwining to create a soundscape that some Stooges connoisseurs might find surprising.
Despite what a few might think, these are some of the best tracks the album has to offer. They help to show that the band members have evolved not only as individuals, but also as musicians. A whole album of nonstop rock is great when you’re young, but at 66, it’s understandable that Pop and the rest of the band want to explore new things and slow the tempo down a little.
“Ready to Die” is a record packed with classic rock riffs and deserves to be listened to from start to finish without interruption. It’s not long, rounding out at just over 37 minutes, and while some of the tracks don’t stand out very well on their own, cohesively they make for a great album. Despite having aged and lived through decades of evolving music, Iggy and the Stooges have stayed true to their sound and to their fans and have delivered a record that will make all modern rock pretenders quiver.