The Stooges

On "Trollin'," The Weirdness's first cut, Iggy Pop declares, "Rock critics wouldn't like this at all," and if he's right, the Stooges' improbable comeback will collapse on the starting line. In the end, though, most reviewers are apt to view the disc as an honorable miss, not a flat-out disaster...

By Michael Roberts

March 8, 2007

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On "Trollin'," The Weirdness's first cut, Iggy Pop declares, "Rock critics wouldn't like this at all," and if he's right, the Stooges' improbable comeback will collapse on the starting line. In the end, though, most reviewers are apt to view the disc as an honorable miss, not a flat-out disaster. There was never much chance that these guys could recapture the glory days, and these twelve serviceable but strangely self-conscious songs prove it.

Granted, guitarist Ron Asheton and his drumming brother Scott come across as game, and ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt and producer Steve Albini are ideal recruits. But while "Greedy Awful People" and the rest are overtly primitive, they never seem on the verge of implosion, as does 1969's The Stooges. Moreover, Pop's vocals, which once had to fight for their place amid the instrumental maelstrom, are out front and prominent, thereby placing too much emphasis on lyrics that smack of forced nihilism ("My idea of fun/Is killing everyone") or metaphysical dumbness ("I saw Frank Zappa eat a lonely hot dog").

Take that, rock critics.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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