Iggy Pop Takes an Experimental Approach to New Album 'Free'

It’s been three years since the release of Iggy Pop’s last studio album Post Pop Depression and man did those three years make a massive impact on the punk legend. At least, that’s what his new album Free implies.

Iggy Pop Tweets About Free Album Release

Drop nearly all of what you know about Iggy Pop because Free takes an entirely different turn than what we’ve been used to in the rest of his discography. Wondering who’s on lead guitar? Try lead trumpet. That’s right, on nearly every one of the ten tracks on the new album, trumpets take control of the tempo creating a basis for a larger brass and horns section throughout.

Rolling with this different instrumental setup, Iggy Pop takes a new turn in regard to his origin influences on the album. Almost immediately after the intro title track “Free” begins, Pop lays a foundation of jazz and blues roots that take control throughout the remainder of the album. And while I was first taken aback by the atypical Iggy Pop sounds, I quickly grew to love every piece of the album.

Iggy Pop's "Free"

Only Iggy Pop could find a loophole in the physics of music as he somehow perfectly blends his intense hard rock vocals with experimental electronic beats alongside soft jazz undertones. Continuing the album with the more rock rooted track “Loves Missing,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer gives listeners a glimpse into his heavier past, while still managing to bring in the calming presence of a brass section to tie the song in with the rest of the album’s tone. Following the more typical Iggy tune is “Sonali,” an electronic filled record that screams experimental, but in the best possible way.

Iggy Pop's "Loves Missing"
Iggy Pop's "Sonali"

While the album introduces an entirely different side to the punk rocker, as exemplified by “Sonali,” it’s not necessarily a surprise as Iggy Pop is actually known for toying with developmental sounds since the start of his career.

The album continues with a bit of a tammer hit that almost feels like the outlier as compared to the rest of the tracklist. However, as “James Bond” comes to an end, a killer saxophone solo takes hold, transforming into the bridge between the song’s oddity and its perfect accompaniment to the rest of the album, including the fourth track “Dirty Sanchez.”

In case the listener craved more brass following a brief omission, “Dirty Sanchez” opens with an extended brass prelude dominated by the trumpet before a heavy bass line cuts into the tune as if to signal the true Iggy Pop influence to come. Led by heavier vocals and profane lyrics, the rest of the song has the most punk feel of any other song on the album.

But don’t get too comfortable. As the record continues into track six, “Glow in the Dark,” we are once again reminded of the eccentric expression in its entirety. At its core, the sixth track is relatively simple. With a heavy bass line to carry it through, the song somehow manages to convey the most relaxing tone of any track, despite its steady buildup to an overwhelming saxophone melody. Again, Iggy Pop manages to blend such different forces in a way that produces simplicity.

Iggy Pop's "Glow In The Dark"

Similarly to the previous song, “Page” manages to transmit a tone that brings the listener into a trance-like state of calmness via its perfect combination of soft piano undertones and eventual jazz intermission. But what’s to come is anything but soothing.

In the final three songs, Free takes an entirely different shift. While the backing tracks continue to emphasize heavy bass lines, simple guitar riffs and intermittent brass junctures in “We Are the People,” “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” and “The Dawn,” Iggy Pop no longer sings his craftily put together lyrics. Instead, he tells three separate stories, all intense and personal in their individual ways. As if to emphasize the story component of the trio, each of the last three tracks emanates a score-like quality, good enough to make appearances in a feature film.

Iggy Pop's "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"

Hiatuses, no matter how long, can make a significant impact on an artist's music and Iggy Pop's Free proves just that. From instrumentals to vocals, Iggy Pop's twenty-fifth album embraces change in every manner. The punk rocker found new musical influence and it's definitely worth the listen.

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Last updated: 29 Mar 2024, 04:36 Etc/UTC