Why didn't the American version contain the extra track?
Charles A. Miller | Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A. | 05/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just got the Japanese version of The Weirdness, which features an extra track. Big deal, right? Pay twice the money for one extra song? Well, that track, "O Solo Mio" (which is totally new material and not to be mistaken with the original by the same name) is over 6 minutes in length and contains the type of music many thought should have been on this album... a more "mature" work. Why this was left off the American version is way beyond me. Perhaps they thought the track length was not compatible with the rest, but considering how short this album was to begin with, it certainly could and should have been included. It would have made a great album even better.
As far as it comes to the rest of the album, please see my review for the American version."
Their Back!
Morton | Colorado | 04/28/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Stooges-The Weirdness ****
This is like the second coming for true hard core Stooges fans. Iggy, Ron, Scott, and Matt are all back and playing together again after so many years apart. Something like 35 years.The band broke up in the early 1970's after the release of three of the greatest albums of all time and three of the most influential albums of all time, see The Stooges were Proto-Punk before there was actual punk. Modeled after fellow Detriot rockers The MC5, The Stooges have gone down in history as one of the most important and greatest bands of all time, and besides they helped to launch Iggy Pops amazing solo career. The bands self titled debut influenced Joe Strummer to start The Clash, the bands second album Raw Power defined the lines of what could be crossed and what would be crossed by punk and alternative, the bands last album before the break up Raw Power is just one of the top ten albums of all time, and The Weirdness, the bands new album is doing a great job of carying the torch.
The album opens with 'Trollin' which to be honest with you is one of the best songs The Stooges ever recorded, it is signature Iggy Pop attitude. 'Trollin' is a killer way to start off the album. 'You Can't Have Friends' is pretty catchy. Short but catchy. Story of a wealthy person who is too houdy-toudy to keep relationships and relate to people. 'ATM' is another great song with some really good guitar work from Ron Ashton. Very catchy once again. Pretty simple except for the guitar in true Stooges form, making this an instant classic. 'My Idea Of Fun' is one of the best songs on the album. You can hear in the striped down production that the song was recorded live with all members of the band in the studio, which gives the song a much more authentic feel. The lyrics to the song are also some of the best the band has ever written, and the lead guitar riff is awesome, as is the outro guitar solo. The albums title track 'The Weirdness' finds Iggy Pop singing very baratone (or in a oddly low key) for his voice. It works though. At times in the song he sounds like David Bowie during his Lets Dance album of the early 1980's which isnt surprizing concidering the two are best friends and help out with each others recordings all the time. The song takes a few listens to get into being as it is very different from what the band is known for, so it is a good change of pace, but the song does grow on you. 'Free And Freaky,' maybe the best song on the album? The songs lyrics are catchy, the use of slide guitar is really random and great in true Stooge fashion, the back beat of the song is what really drives the song though, this is really Scott Ashtons song. The bridge in the song about Obama, and Bennis Hanna is killer! 'Really Awful People' features some wah-wah pedel guitar from Ron Ashton that at first deos not go with the song but some how the band makes it work and the end up pulling it off. A nice song. The first song on the album that aims for contraversy, complaining of the judgemental bible thumbers in the world. The song is not against people who go to church its against those who judge others that do not believe the same things as them. 'She Took My Money' is funny and true. "You can beat the system, but you can't beat the girl" more true lyrics have never been written. Very early 70's feel to this track, reminicent of very early T.Rex before Marc Bolen went crazy. The second to aim fro contravesy is 'The End Of Christianity,' the title says it all. More or less the song in a nutshell is about getting laid and having premarital sex. Not a big issue on the surface but the title make get the band into a little trouble and Iggy being the shocker he is was no doubt wanting that. 'Mexican Guy' opens with a killer guitar riff and a nice solid drum beat. A incredibly catchy song about a "Girl running off with Mexican guy." One of the better songs on the album really. Apon listening to this album one has to wonder when the saxophone would make an appreance. Well 'Passing Cloud' is that appearance. All of the bands other albums had at least one song with the sax or some form of a horn. 'Passing Cloud' is the perfect song to use it in, the track almost calls for it, and it honestly makes the song a lot better then it would have been had they not used a sax. 'Im Fried' ends the album. The song sounds like something that would have fit perfectly with the Raw Power. Very in your face and leaving you wanting more from the band. A killer way to end the excellent album.
The Stooges are known for a few things.
A)Iggy Pop is their front man
B)Amazing albums with minimal production
C)Being the worlds all time greatest garage band, hands down no contest.
This album, The Weirdness does a phenomonal job of showcasing all of these things. For the true fans that have been waiting for an album for the past 35 years, for the die hard Iggy Pop fans, and even for the newer and younger fans, The Weirdness is one album that will surely not dissapoint. It's good to know that after all of these years the band is still at the top of its game."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1