Indie Music Review (Friday Collab): Iggy Pop - Every Loser

Written by J. D. Estrada & Joe Compton

Artist: Iggy Pop

Release date: January 6, 2023

Genres: Alternative/Indie, Rock

Label: GOLDTOOTH INC

Length: 36:53

Yes, technically this was distributed by Altantic Records in a new multi-album partnership with Iggy and Andrew Watt's Goldtooth Records but (and JD and I have had this conversation a lot over the years and again with this one) the spirit in which this was made and how it came together, I can't think of anything more Indie than EVERY LOSER and IGGY POP respectively. Atlantic Records is basically the distribution arm, they had nothing to do with how this art was created. For that reason and for others that will be explained within this review, this had to be talked about. 

In fact, every Friday myself and others at Go Indie Now will collaborate with another writer and together review a more "mainstream" indie piece of brand new art. We are still very much committed to bringing you those who we might be introducing you to for the first time and that need our help to get the word out. Very much committed!! 

We just can't ignore something like this, if we are going to say we are covering all Indies. There is not only the spirit of what Iggy has done here but what he has managed to do over the course of a lifetime. For that I will now let J. D. Estrada give you all a little background. 

Some elder statesmen show their age by wearing different clothes, taking it slower, and kind of getting a bit lame.

Iggy Pop will be 76 in April and this album sounds like he’d whip out his dick during a set just because he was lost in the music.

There’s a difference between being cocky and being cocksure, and Iggy has ALWAYS been his own man, offering a much better discography than his record sales would indicate. We’ve often seen artists beyond their prime just go through the motions to push out an album and remain active. Maybe it’s an attempt to remain relevant. Maybe they have to fulfill contractual obligations. Maybe they had nothing better to do. But some artists don’t do much more than an obligatory musical bowel movement. 

None of this applies to Iggy Pop’s latest release, Every Loser, and I can’t state this enough.

WHAT THIS ALBUM DOES WELL:  11 tracks (9 with two interludes if you want to be nitpicky, but I’d count them because they’re fun and definitely should NOT be skipped).

37 minutes.

Tight as fuck. 

This is classic Iggy and dare I say, one of the most solid albums he’s ever released...and doing this at 75. What I love about this album is that anyone that gives it a chance should definitely feel inspired to check out his discography. There are rockers like album opener "Frenzy" but Iggy’s croon doesn’t take long to show up, tracks 2 and 3 offer Iggy serenades coupled with new wave sounds that sometimes echo even a bit of vintage Cure. 

I couldn't agree more with J. D. this album is a masterpiece and masterclass. Those tracks J. D. referred to in "Strung Out Johnny" and "New Atlantis" have this goth-like, echo chamber, deep growling vocal accompaniment that changes the tempo of the opening track and leads you into this vortex of a mismashed retrospective that gives you everything you know or don't know about Iggy Pop's discography. He goes through it all, a little bit of The Stooges in songs like "Neo Punk" and "Frenzy". You get the trippy Natural Born Killers / Tarantino-esque-ness in "Comments". There's even some nice spoken word with a rich layering of music to bring it out.

Then there's the social commentary and smart-ass, tongue and cheek aspect that has always been with Iggy and it is layered thick here but yet it is surprisingly touching, haunting, and downright funny at times. Something I think Iggy has always had...but not like this. 

Yeah like the album's closer "The Regency" is a great example. It starts dreamy and then pushes 75 MPH in a school zone. It has such wonderful shifts and closes off an album that screams that age is just a number and lyrically speaking, Iggy keeps it honest and pretty in your face, but not brazenly so. Still, it does have some classic lines I’ll leave you to discover in between rocking out to tracks like "Modern Day Ripoff" and particularly "Neo Punk". The croon becomes a snarl in "All the Way Down", including a riff that oozes swag. "Comments" brings new wave back and the synths and heavy bass again remind me of the Cure but with such raw energy. 

WHY CHAMPION THIS ALBUM: I think on a fundamental level, the songs are catchy, road trip worthy and often afterwards, even in the not so serious aspects of this album, leaving you with something to digest and think about as only Iggy can make you do. For any Indie trying to make it, this album is a good study tool in how to just let it all be what it is going to be, and never flinch at or doubt that.

If you think Iggy Pop has any plans to coast, to be lazy, or to half ass it, you’re out of luck because not only does the album kick ass but it's more proof that when you have talented musicians an up-and-coming producer like Andrew Watt who makes sure EVERY track shines, plus a no nonsense guy like Iggy, you will be reminded that rock is not a phase, it’s a fucking way of life, and that many shall imitate, more shall copy or rip off the man, but that there is only one Iggy Pop. 

YOU CAN GET THE ALBUM HERE