The Stooges - The Weirdness
Reviewed by mike
More than 30 years after their implosion and nearly just as long since everyone thought they’d be dead, The Stooges return with their original lineup (Mike Watt replaces the late Dave Alexander on bass) for an album that can be commended for its effort, not necessarily its content. The brothers Ron and Scott Asheton deliver high-octane rock and roll without letting go of the gas, but Iggy Pop’s voice is missing a certain fire and his elementary lyrics lack substance and prevent The Weirdness from ever properly taking off. Ron’s guitar playing is stellar, but it also won’t slay you and leave you bleeding like his work on Fun House or their self-titled debut. No one was expecting re-creations of those two records, but this incarnation of the band has been playing live together for a couple of years and they shouldn’t just be running through the motions. That said, everyone should be pleased they’re still nasty and haven’t “matured” into a late-age acoustic album or sonic experimentation. [www.myspace.com]