Let's face it, Iggy Pop's
The Idiot was one of the best rock and roll albums ever recorded.
Lust For Life was fantastic too, but if you were to listen to any of the modern stuff the rock and roll iguana and former frontman of The Stooges has been pumping out over the years you'll find a right load of trash to wade though. Still, even albums like
Avenue B had the odd gem (namely
Corruption), and its all too easy to write off Iggy as something of a hell of frontman but a lousy songwriter. I introduce you to one of the mans most underrated works,
Blah Blah Blah.
The 80's New Wave influence is dominant here, Iggy takes the route of synthesisers and electronic drum kits to great effect. Opening track
Real Wild Child is a cover of Australian Johnny O'Keefe, and it is a corker which has been adopted as the offical theme song for Aussie music video show
Rage for the past 20 years. It is rock and roll at its finest as it opens with the line "I'm a real, wild one, wild one, wild one[/i]" and a pulsating rhythm part kicks in, just pure adrenaline.
Baby, It Can't Fall shows indications of what the rest of the album is like, and screams 80's in its lightning melodies. There seems to be a lot of reverb present, if songs like
Shades are anything to go by, with a "big" drum sound and lyrics that are well written and catchy. Many of the songs follow a similar formula, and whilst they get a little samey at times it is consistently fun.
Cry For Love and
Winners & Losers are my favourites.
Jere Iggy Pop successfully molded himself into the 80's New Wave trend, and it works really well.
Blah Blah Blah is one of his most overlooked albums, and admittedly whilst the guy has a patchy discography this is a damn shame as it could use more attention.
