By Alex Brenner
In an ongoing argument with my friend which Stooges record is the best I say Raw Power
This reissue contains a second disc titled Georgia Peaches which is a widely bootlegged Atlanta show and a booklet including essays and introductions from the band. A Deluxe Edition will be released containing a DVD, The Making of Raw Power, along with some outtakes and previously unreleased material.
From the opening blast of “Search and Destroy” to the screaming of “Your pretty little face is going to hell” it’s clear the Stooges were truly punk rock innovators. The guitars punch you in the gut and Iggy’s strained yelp still sounds as dangerous as it did on their 1969 debut. As the story goes, Columbia Records pushed the band to include some ballads on Raw Power so in true Iggy and the Stooges fashion you get “Gimme Danger” and “I Need Somebody”. This record is really short and abrupt with only eight songs; each one a winner in my book. The record lives up to its name, it’s rough (later outakes would be aptly titled Rough Power). Most importantly this record barely sounds dated; it’s hard to believe the original was released nearly 37 years ago.
The Stooges to me are the quintessential punk band, and although opinions may vary, they were one the first bands to really start the entire punk movement. Most historians usually credit another Detroit rock band, The MC5 (they both started around the same time) but in my opinion the MC5 did not have the songs nor the charisma Iggy and the Stooges had. Their influence on alternative rock and punk is unquestionable. They have been covered from everyone from the Sex Pistols to Sonic Youth and Kurt Cobain even listed Raw Power as his #1 album in his 2002 published journals. One thing all the members of the Ramones could agree on, is if it was not for The Stooges they would never have existed. This is one of my favorite albums of all time; truly a punk rock masterpiece.
Rating: AAAA
by Gunter Grass. All are welcome.
