8/10
Throughout the decades, Iggy Pop has stood as one of the most influential and enigmatic names on the international music scene. Stretching back to his time as the frontman of The Stooges in 1960s and 70s, his subsequent solo career has been an exceptionally proficient run of form that has seen him take on a chameleonic approach to his sound. And while his previous outing 'Free' in 2019 showed him in a more reflective and retrospective light, the 75-year-old is returning to his raw and uncompromising roots on his nineteenth solo album 'Every Loser', a record that looks to rekindle plenty of that early fire that first made him a household name.
Kicking off with the powerful and explosive opener 'Frenzy', it is clear from the very start that 'Every Loser' sets itself as one of his most anthemic releases for a decade. While he has never quite lost that bold and driven showmanship he is known for, this new collection sees him revitalise himself for a modern ear and bring his raucous ambitions right up to the modern day. With the occasional nostalgic nods to his sweeping indie-rock and post-punk flavours, his latest effort shows that he is still very much at the top of his game and ready to develop something new and interesting at every turn.
Iggy Pop by all expectations should not still be this good, but when you have something special within your character, it is always difficult to move away from it. 'Every Loser' feels like it could have been released by a far younger artist at the helm, given its adventurous and contemporary appeals, but instead it is another exciting step forward for a name still bringing with charisma and creativity throughout.