Artist: Iggy Pop Title: Préliminaires
Producer: Hal Cragin
Rating: 3,5 / 5
I can say that I am one of " loyal fans " of Mr James Newell Osterberg (real name of Iggy Pop) both at the time of Stooges ('67 -'74), and in great solo career until today. Although the "Skull Ring" of 2003 did not really left me with the finest feeling, the "Préliminaires " left me with best impressions. I listened to it in my portable mp3 player the whole cd, 12 Songs in a roll, under the shadow of a tree on the beach and believe me, was the best way I could pay attention to all the spacial features of the cd.
First of all I must say that the new job of Mr Iggy has almost no relation to the known punk and grunge sound. On the contrary, it is dominated by jazz style with touches of "Leonard Cohen" style and "authenticity" of pure american rock . The production is of high standards and the music (rather than the lyrics) compositions are excellent . The first track "Les Feuilles Mortes" makes an entrance in the best possible way. Iggy sings in French by placing retro , jazz melodies and escorted by clarinet . In "I Want To Go To The Beach " reminds us of Nick Cave and beautiful tunes . The retro continues with wind instruments and rythms of '30s from New Orleans in "King Of The Dogs" , in "Je Sais Que Tu Sais" listen steady rock rhythm, in "Spanish Coast" listen to blues aesthetic but poor lyrics , while in "Nice To Be Dead" returns the "good old" punk Iggy to shake a little before we get to "How Insensitive" with Cohen's "alter ego" of both melancholic and emotional. Partially indifferent the "Party Time " an excellent slam bass , however. The "He's Dead She's Alive" strikes us with the country acoustic guitar and the particular style. The narration in "A Machine For Loving" by Iggy with American musical background is one of the best moments of the album. Moderate and " She's A Business ", but very good performance by the artist. The album closes with a slightly different version of "Les Feuilles Mortes ( Marc's Theme )" where the clarinet fills the song with meaningless parts from the beginning to the end.
Ultimately, I am not sure where this attempt by Mr Osterberg belongs, but I can certainly say that it can't leave the listener indifferent . I hope to see him soon live in our country and to hear songs such as "Les Feuilles Mortes", "King Of The Dogs" or "A Machine For Loving", preferably in autumn or winter .
Tres bien, Iggy!
The scores:
Les Feuilles Mortes: 5 / 5
I Want To Go To The Beach: 4 / 5
King Of The Dogs: 4 / 5
Je Sais Que Tu Sais: 3 / 5
Spanish Coast: 3 / 5
Nice To Be Dead: 2 / 5
How Insensitive: 3,5 / 5
Party Time: 2 / 5
He's Dead She's Alive : 3 / 5
A Machine For Loving : 5 / 5
She's A Business: 2 / 5
I can say that I am one of " loyal fans " of Mr James Newell Osterberg (real name of Iggy Pop) both at the time of Stooges ('67 -'74), and in great solo career until today. Although the "Skull Ring" of 2003 did not really left me with the finest feeling, the "Préliminaires " left me with best impressions. I listened to it in my portable mp3 player the whole cd, 12 Songs in a roll, under the shadow of a tree on the beach and believe me, was the best way I could pay attention to all the spacial features of the cd.
First of all I must say that the new job of Mr Iggy has almost no relation to the known punk and grunge sound. On the contrary, it is dominated by jazz style with touches of "Leonard Cohen" style and "authenticity" of pure american rock . The production is of high standards and the music (rather than the lyrics) compositions are excellent . The first track "Les Feuilles Mortes" makes an entrance in the best possible way. Iggy sings in French by placing retro , jazz melodies and escorted by clarinet . In "I Want To Go To The Beach " reminds us of Nick Cave and beautiful tunes . The retro continues with wind instruments and rythms of '30s from New Orleans in "King Of The Dogs" , in "Je Sais Que Tu Sais" listen steady rock rhythm, in "Spanish Coast" listen to blues aesthetic but poor lyrics , while in "Nice To Be Dead" returns the "good old" punk Iggy to shake a little before we get to "How Insensitive" with Cohen's "alter ego" of both melancholic and emotional. Partially indifferent the "Party Time " an excellent slam bass , however. The "He's Dead She's Alive" strikes us with the country acoustic guitar and the particular style. The narration in "A Machine For Loving" by Iggy with American musical background is one of the best moments of the album. Moderate and " She's A Business ", but very good performance by the artist. The album closes with a slightly different version of "Les Feuilles Mortes ( Marc's Theme )" where the clarinet fills the song with meaningless parts from the beginning to the end.
Ultimately, I am not sure where this attempt by Mr Osterberg belongs, but I can certainly say that it can't leave the listener indifferent . I hope to see him soon live in our country and to hear songs such as "Les Feuilles Mortes", "King Of The Dogs" or "A Machine For Loving", preferably in autumn or winter .
Tres bien, Iggy!
The scores:
Les Feuilles Mortes: 5 / 5
I Want To Go To The Beach: 4 / 5
King Of The Dogs: 4 / 5
Je Sais Que Tu Sais: 3 / 5
Spanish Coast: 3 / 5
Nice To Be Dead: 2 / 5
How Insensitive: 3,5 / 5
Party Time: 2 / 5
He's Dead She's Alive : 3 / 5
A Machine For Loving : 5 / 5
She's A Business: 2 / 5
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