Iggy Pop is a freak of nature. His last release, Avenue B, was this weird intellectual trip, but Beat Em Up is true to its word. It’s a no bullshit ride that tries to show that the old boy can still kick ass.
But though Iggy is out to kick ass, the songs are nothing but him saying the same damn things over and over again. Hello? Is that really music? “Howl” is crazy, crazy in a bad sort of way. I just can’t follow.
“Savior” shows the Pop wit while actually sounding decent. “Beat Em Up” is an attempt at an anthem but unfortunately it sounds a little like some bad hair band’s take on Iggy Pop. “Talking Snake” finds Pop giving us a little falsetto. His voice sounds old and tired, but the song itself works well. Iggy sounds much better when he’s playing “The Jerk”.
“Death Is Certain”, Iggy’s Axl Rose vocals tell us that, but Iggy Pop isn’t dead. He just looks like he is.
That was a cheap shot, sorry. Iggy Pop still has music in him, and as long as he can crank it up, why in the hell shouldn’t he? Beat Em Up, Iggy, beat em bad until the dirt covers the sky.
+ charlatan
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