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[Thrillho]

Somewhat of a running gag on this forum, for those unawares, was to recommend two albums to anyone asking for recommendation - Spiderland and Fun House.

Well, I still have no intention of listening to Spiderland, but in the meantime, my copy of Fun House (as well as Raw Power) arrived in the post today. I'll re-appear with first thoughts on the music later tonight (my first thought in general is that the front cover is fucking awesome), but in the meantime, what are other peoples' opinions of Fun House, and Iggy/and the Stooges in general?

[KvP]

It's good, and it's loud. I actually much prefer Iggy's first solo albums that were more on the bluesy side, but the Stooges records remain classics. I was a bit disappointed that they wouldn't play any Raw Power cuts when they toured a few years ago.

[Mister Arkadin]

The Stooges are most excellent.

[Thrillho]

First impressions:

The Stooges may be, without hyperbole, be the greatest band to do anything ever.

But yeah, I'm up to about midway through 'Dirt,' and this is fucking amazing. Am I the only one who can hear Television being born in the middle of 'Dirt'? I didn't realise the Stooges had such a proggy streak in them.

[carrotosaurus]

1969 rules.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

another year for me and you, another year with nothin' to do

GOD I LOVE THAT SONG

[Thrillho]

1969 rules.

I'm sure I'd agree, had I bought the first album, with that song on it.

[carrotosaurus]

1970 is pretty badass, too.

[Thrillho]

What the fuck have I been missing out on because of my stupid descrimination? That album was BRILLIANT. I'm listening to Ray Power now, and 'Gimme Danger' started with a fucking acoustic guitar. I did NOT expect an acoustic guitar on a Stooges record, but then I didn't expect it from Minor Threat either.

[karl gambolputty...]

I'm sure I'd agree, had I bought the first album, with that song on it.

You should definitely pick that one up, it's basically perfect.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

What the fuck have I been missing out on because of my stupid descrimination? That album was BRILLIANT.

maybe it's time rethink your position on Spiderland? i'm not saying it's the best thing ever, because it's not. however, if you go at it with no preconceived notions (like i did), it is a damn good album.

[Thrillho]

Because I just... couldn't care less about it, I'm afraid.

Honsetly, I only got into the Stooges because they buddied up to the MC5, who I fucking adore. I got into the Stooges in spite of this board, not because of it, and then remembered the running gag today.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

I got into the Stooges in spite of this board, not because of it

haha fair enough.

[ElctrcMyhm]

The Stooges remain one of those amazing bands where every album they released is borderline brilliant.  Well, that's not entirely true, seeing as how I really couldn't stand Weirdness, but no band is perfect.  Those three initial Stooges records combined with Iggy's first two solo albums (Lust for Life and The Idiot) are enough to counter-act whatever meh music he put out post-1978 (IMO).

Oh, and do give Spiderland a listen.  It's not mind-blowing, but it's definitely worthy of your time.

[dalconnsuch]

the stooges!!!! i love them, unfortunetly i don't like raw power (which seems to be the only album anyone has by the stooges) but their first two albums were godamn excellent, fun house is easily one of my favorite albums

[Beastmouth]

I'm sure I'd agree, had I bought the first album, with that song on it.

You should definitely pick that one up, it's basically perfect.

'We Will Fall' much?  :p


Get 'Open Up and Bleed'.  It's fuckin great.  Also Metallic K O for major laughs

[David_Dovey]

I too am a recent convert to The Stooges, thanks to some beautiful person posting the first three albums in the Mediafire thread, and I too am amazed at just how versatile their stuff actually is. I mean, the first album (which I agree with everybody in this thread in saying you should pick up immediately KvP) has a 10 minutes song on it!

Can anyone explain why Funhouse became the meme here? I personally consider the first LP and Raw Power to be better, which is to say they're all pretty fucking mind-blowing, just Funhouse is the one that grabbed me the least.

[Beastmouth]

Because I just... couldn't care less about it, I'm afraid.

Honsetly, I only got into the Stooges because they buddied up to the MC5, who I fucking adore. I got into the Stooges in spite of this board, not because of it, and then remembered the running gag today.

Like the coolest man alive joining had nothing to do with it! 

Oh, does anyone else have a copy of The Fun House Sessions?

[E. Spaceman]

Can anyone explain why Funhouse became the meme here? I personally consider the first LP and Raw Power to be better, which is to say they're all pretty fucking mind-blowing, just Funhouse is the one that grabbed me the least.

At some point, the Gabbly Hive Mind just decided it was the best album ever. Like one day we all woke up and the truth was clear.

[Caspian]

Funhouse is pretty good, even I - someone who basically dislikes all rock music before Thrash came in - like this record a great deal.

Raw Power would possibly be quite solid, but the version I have has some terrible ear-bleeding mastering action. It makes Californication sound like a classical record in comparison, no dynamics whatsoever.

[David_Dovey]

According to the wikis, the master of Raw Power you're talking about (the 1997 re-release) is in fact "the loudest rock CD ever recorded"

In 1997, Iggy Pop assisted in the remix and remaster of the 1973 album Raw Power by his former band The Stooges, creating an album which, to this day, is arguably the loudest rock CD ever recorded. It has an RMS of -4 dBfs RMS in places, which is rare even by today's standards though getting more and more common.

[E. Spaceman]

It could also be the Bowie version, which is also mastered inredibly poor.

[Caspian]

According to the liner notes, it was Iggy's version.

Possibly the ONLY 70's rock album that is more fatiguing to listen to then Merzbow.

[David_Dovey]

MEMO TO: Mastering Engineers

FROM: Me.

Guys,

fucking quit it.

Seriously.

[Caspian]

MEMO TO: Mastering Engineers

FROM: Me.

Guys,

fucking quit it.

Seriously.

Pretty much. Worth noting (and perhaps this could be another thread) that the 'loudness wars' aren't entirely these dudes fault, mastering engineers also get a fair bit of pressure from Label Execs and band members and what not.

That's why vinyl is often a good idea, you can't compress super loud on vinyl, so no one does.

[David_Dovey]

(and perhaps this could be another thread)

Indeed it could

[dalconnsuch]

I too am a recent convert to The Stooges, thanks to some beautiful person posting the first three albums in the Mediafire thread, and I too am amazed at just how versatile their stuff actually is. I mean, the first album (which I agree with everybody in this thread in saying you should pick up immediately KvP) has a 10 minutes song on it!

Can anyone explain why Funhouse became the meme here? I personally consider the first LP and Raw Power to be better, which is to say they're all pretty fucking mind-blowing, just Funhouse is the one that grabbed me the least.

for me fun house was what the self titled album started then funouse perfected, let it warm up to you, listen to tv eye and 1970 in a loop for three days while snorting speed

[Beastmouth]

I too am a recent convert to The Stooges, thanks to some beautiful person posting the first three albums in the Mediafire thread, and I too am amazed at just how versatile their stuff actually is. I mean, the first album (which I agree with everybody in this thread in saying you should pick up immediately KvP) has a 10 minutes song on it!

Can anyone explain why Funhouse became the meme here? I personally consider the first LP and Raw Power to be better, which is to say they're all pretty fucking mind-blowing, just Funhouse is the one that grabbed me the least.

for me fun house was what the self titled album started then funouse perfected, let it warm up to you, listen to tv eye and 1970 in a loop for three days while snorting speed

Or you can just leave the first album on the left turntable and funhouse on the right as you go thru a case of beer a day for a week

[Uber Ritter]

Not having listened to Fun House quite as much as Raw Power (I own the latter but not the Former) I suspect the higher esteem that Fun House is held in is due to the greater degree jazziness and crazy musical cacaphony going on in Fun House, where Raw Power sounds a lot more like what we think of as 'punk rock;' in other words, Fun House does more things, and bolder things, with its sound.  On the other hand, "Search and Destroy" is the eidetic punk rock paen to aggression and self-destruction.  Has any other song done it better?  I mean, "Heroin" has self-destruction down, but it's hardly aggressive in the same way.  It does not make me want to punch strangers in the face. 

Speaking of Raw Power, am I the only person that prefers the Dead Boys/Rocket From the Tombs cover of "Search and Destroy" to the original?

[dalconnsuch]

Not having listened to Fun House quite as much as Raw Power (I own the latter but not the Former) I suspect the higher esteem that Fun House is held in is due to the greater degree jazziness and crazy musical cacaphony going on in Fun House, where Raw Power sounds a lot more like what we think of as 'punk rock;' in other words, Fun House does more things, and bolder things, with its sound.  On the other hand, "Search and Destroy" is the eidetic punk rock paen to aggression and self-destruction.  Has any other song done it better?  I mean, "Heroin" has self-destruction down, but it's hardly aggressive in the same way.  It does not make me want to punch strangers in the face. 

Speaking of Raw Power, am I the only person that prefers the Dead Boys/Rocket From the Tombs cover of "Search and Destroy" to the original?

actually you almost hit the nail on the head, funhouse was alot more chaotic and bold well raw power was... well, yeah, punk, i hate the raw power album (although i am a big punk guy) but the fun house album and the self titled are excellent masterpieces on my opinion, but then again who am i? lol

[faylosophy]

At first, I thought Raw Power was better than Fun House.  But after listening to both albums non stop for a while, I've concluded that I can't really compare the two.  They're just too different and wonderful in their own right. 

Personally, I like Fun House because it's a lot looser (is that a word?) and is a great album to play when friends are over for a drink or five.  Raw Power is something I'd listen to when I'm alone in my underwear wanting to rock out while I'm blazed.. or you know, when I'm riding the subway and want to annoy fellow subway riders with Iggys amazing screaming.

[Misereatur]

Fun House is probably one of the best albums ever recorded.

You have to see it live, though.

[E. Spaceman]

I actually found them to be rather underwhelming live! Maybe it was just because LCD Soundsystem was supposed to play at the same event but they cancelled so everything felt underwhelming




because I think LCD Soundsystem is a better band than The Stooges

[Misereatur]

There is something wrong with you, dude.

No, seriously, The Stooges concert in Tel Aviv was probably one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

[E. Spaceman]

I'd probably rank them somewhere in the top ten concerts I saw last year but even at the same event !!! was better.

[faylosophy]

I don't think proto-punk bands such as The Stooges should be compared to Indie Electro/Pop bands such as LCD Soundsystem.  I mean, you're completely fine with saying that /you/ think they're a better band, great for you.  But still, it's like comparing apples to oranges. 

However, seeing The Stooges live now, is like watching The New York Dolls play now.  It's just not the same when they were 20 year old junkies (well, Thunders was a junkie, I dunno about the rest of them, Kane just became a mormon), especially when like most of the band is dead now.

[KvP]

Nobody would deny that a Stooges show would be more of a wild spectacle back in the high point of their careers, but still, the Police they ain't. Iggy will kill himself onstage before he has to phone in a performance. That he isn't quite as physical as he used to be is tempered by the fact that the whole time you watch him you're thinking "this guy just turned 60 years old." It's really something.

[Misereatur]

Mike Watt is playing bass now. Mike fucking Watt. Ron and Scott are still amazing and Steve Mackay sounds just as clear and fresh as he did on Fun House (his solo live concerts aren't bad either).

Fuck their old live shows, I'd sell a kidney to see the same line up I saw ten months ago live again.

[Beastmouth]

Mike Watt is playing bass now. Mike fucking Watt.

he is the most awesome of dudes

[Kai]

I don't think proto-punk bands should be compared to Indie Electro/Pop bands

Suicide was a better band than Daft Punk

[faylosophy]

For some reason when people compare younger bands to older bands and saying they're better irks me.  But when done the other way around, like your Suicide comment, it doesn't bother me.

[Joseph]

I don't think proto-punk bands should be compared to Indie Electro/Pop bands

Suicide was a better band than Daft Punk

Even Bruce Springsteen thinks so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EzcBL1yDY

I personally prefer Raw Power to Fun House, but it's a close call, and likely as not it has to do with the fact that I heard Raw Power first.  Something about the sleeze in Iggy's voice on 'Penetration' and 'Gimme Danger' just enraptured me, and the anger held behind his snear is pretty darn exciting.

[E. Spaceman]

I've never really understood the "apples and oranges" argument, because both are fruits, but oranges are better!

[Beastmouth]

all you raw power haters should try and find 'rough power'

it's early mixes for the album that weren't mastered terribly

[Uber Ritter]

Where could I find this 'rough Power' that you speak of? 

[Thrillho]

However, seeing The Stooges live now, is like watching The New York Dolls play now.  It's just not the same when they were 20 year old junkies (well, Thunders was a junkie, I dunno about the rest of them, Kane just became a mormon), especially when like most of the band is dead now.

Except all but one of the Stooges are all still alive, and, unlike the remaining Dolls, don't look exhumed.

Plus this. -JC

[Beastmouth]

Where could I find this 'rough Power' that you speak of? 

it's on the internets somewhere

how does this mediafire thread thing work, anyway? 

[E. Spaceman]

It works in the following way: You make requests and I sigh and delete your post 

[Beastmouth]

I'm not the one requesting 'Rough Power'


can i just post a link or should i send it to a mod or something?

[E. Spaceman]

uhm

What you do is you open the mediafire thread and paste the link, encased with the code button thing. I think there were some other rules i made up but i forgot!