Iggy Pop
Préliminaires


1.5
very poor

Review

by robertsona STAFF
June 7th, 2009 | 6 replies


Release Date: 2009 | Tracklist

Review Summary: What the hell is this?

My first exposition to Iggy Pop was in my brother’s car, listening to Lust for Life, a record that would stay in regular cycle while we drove to and from school or other places. Lust for Life was the kind of exciting record that you didn’t need to pay full attention to; perfect for driving. At the time that the record was released, Iggy was young and raw; fresh with ideas. Now, skipping forward, Iggy Pop, a decidedly past-his-prime artist, has released Préliminaires, his first album since 2003’s Skull Ring.

Iggy Pop, an artist associated with the punk act of the ‘70’s, suddenly took a turn with his career and decided to release a jazz album, stating he was “sick of listening to idiot thugs with guitars banging out crappy music”. This sort of world-weary, cynical reflection highlights Préliminaires, an album that shows an artist who has no idea what to do next.

The first emotion I felt when listening to Préliminaires was fear. The opener, “Les Feuilles Mortes” (a cover of the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves”), is a literally scary cabaret-fare croon; Iggy Pop’s deep vocals, bizarrely warbling French lyrics, being backed up by a Spanish guitar. It almost seems like a self-parody. The second song’s subject matter seems more fitting (“You can convince the world that you’re some kind of superstar, when an asshole is what you are”), but is no less freaky. The rest of the songs continue in this line, from songs that are simply mediocre to songs that legitimately seem like jokes (what the hell is “Party Time”?).

Iggy Pop’s low, gravelly voice remains the same throughout the album: weary and misanthropical. The music that backs him up differs, but only slightly, switching from New Orleans-style barrelhouse (“King of the Dogs”) to ludicrous dance tracks (“Party Time”). However, all the tracks are the same in what they convey: an out-of-touch artist struggling to find some kind of musical identity.

Beyond this theme, some songs try to hold some kind of continuity, like “Je Sais Que Tu Sais”, which repeats itself in the 11th track, “She’s a Business” (albeit with one small change: an outré vocalist delivering French remarks is removed in the latter). The first and last songs are both titled “Les Feuilles Mortes”, with one of them having the subtitle “Marc’s Theme”. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t tell any difference between the two tracks. Which is bad.

The album isn’t a complete failure, in that it has its own kind of weary charm, but it’s a strange experience for anyone expecting anything remotely like Lust for Life. Or anything that resembles a good, coherent record. In its own confines, the album has a few songs worth your while (“King of the Dogs” is undeniably fun and “Nice to Be Dead” is somewhat of a decent rocker diversion), but overall, the album just doesn’t add up, neither as a collective whole nor as a collection of songs.

If this is a joke, I don’t get it.



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user ratings (63)
2.6
average

Comments:Add a Comment 
shortone323
June 7th 2009


883 Comments


Good review. I don't know who this is, or won't bother listening to it, but it gave me a break from my U.S. paper and that's what matters.

Meatplow
June 7th 2009


5523 Comments


Yeah, the later Iggy Pop albums I have heard are bloody awful. Skull Ring and Avenue B., though at least Avenue B brought Corruption. That is one awesome Iggy track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrcL5DE8QuQ

The Idiot and Lust For Life are absolute classics, and Blah Blah Blah is pretty damn good as well. I might check this out just cause I like the guy so much, I know it will be bad though.

ShowNoMercy
June 7th 2009


77 Comments


His last album wasn't that bad...but at least it was rock, the hell was this?

RobotFrank
June 25th 2009


344 Comments


Nice review. I'm still gonna check this album out and hope that I disagree with you. I can totally understand Ig's desire to hold off on putting out another mediocre rocker album. He's got enough forgettable rock records to fill a box set, so I was honestly hoping this idea/new sound would work well with his deep, aging croon. If that is not the case, then that's a shame. Long live Iggy Pop.

KILL
May 17th 2012


81580 Comments


isnt even that bad

Eons
January 14th 2023


3770 Comments


KILL is right, but you have to already like this style somewhat, I think, if you want to appreciate the record.



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