Customer Reviews

New Values

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After "Lust For Life" and "The Idiot", both of them produced by someone named Bowie, this is the best record by Iggy. He is free, somewhat matured, and enjoys himself.
This is a rock'n'roll album. It sounds very low budget and it's exciting. It's direct and it hurts. "New values" is about the important things in life: boredom, the sea and girls.
And if anyone has a "political" problem about African Man, she/he might just want to think back to times where we were actually allowed to say the things as we thought them.
This is one refreshing record by a guy who went straight against the normal-type rules. Iggy, in "New Values" establishes himself as the Henry Miller of rock: Wild, but tasteful; horny, but self-conscious; eager, but earnest.
Everyone with some degree of honesty regarding the disillusions of life should play this album at least once a month.
Highly recommended.

I just bought this CD yesterday after being overjoyed to discover that Buddha Records had released a remastered, pumped-up edition of Iggy's New Values, and boy am I glad I did. If you buy this CD, and also track down Soldier, The Idiot, Lust for Life and Kill City (recorded in 1975 but unreleased till 1977), you've got the best of Iggy's post-Stooges albums, and New Values is easily the greatest of that bunch. Besides the fact that this is one of Iggy's greatest and funniest albums, we also now get two strong unreleased bonus tracks, "Chains" and "Pretty Flamingo," both of which are strong enough that they could have made the original album. New Values has been one of my favorite records for the past ten years--now I can retire my faded tape copy and play this lovely shimmering CD version. The sound is even better than before, hardly any hiss that I can detect at the high end, amazing for a recording released in 1979 and recorded on analog equipment--Iggy jumps out of the speakers at you, as well he should! Do something a 5'1" man can do and go buy this CD...

I bought this on LP as a new release when I was something like 14 years old. What the heck did I know? My older sister's girlfriend's weird boyfriend was into Bowie, Lou Reed and Eno. So these were my primordial rock and roll experiences.

And "New Values" has to be Iggy's all-around best recording. You could see it as the third salvo in a trilogy with "Lust For Life" (1977) and "The Idiot" (1978) -- at the time RCA released the live album "TV Eye" to finish off Iggy's contract ... or you can look at it as the opening statement of Iggy's punk oeurve along with "Soldier" (1980) and the terribly disappointing "Party" (1981).

In this context, "New Values" sits at the pivot of Iggy's earlier Bowie-rock releases and the later Pop-Punk direction (or mis-direction) he took in the 80s. Of course, his good friend Bowie's career took a bizarre turn toward commercial dissolution during the 80s as well.

If I could keep only one Iggy Pop record it would be this one. I'd rather keep three or four. But if somebody held a gun to my head ... I'd keep this one.

Here are some reasons why people often bash IGGY POP-"New Values" (1979):
1) They have never ACTUALLY LISTENED to it.
2) They cannot accept that there is more to Iggy's career than just the STOOGES, a great band of Iggy's youth.
3) They cannot accept production values which are not necessarily drooled on by David Bowie.
4) They are simply, idiots.
Now for some comments from someone who tries hard not to be too much of an idiot. I admit that after my first time listening to "New Values", I was disappointed. But this was mainly because I didn't have a good enough buzz and because the mastering on the original Arista CD version of "New Values" was so abysmal(thankfully this new version is a little better). I think the moment I realized that "New Values" was easily as good as "The Idiot" or "Lust For Life" was during the song "Don't Look Down". The opiates were doing wonders and the song floored me. "New Values" blends spacey, almost post-punk tunes with punkified songs and great pop numbers. Every song is top-notch, if you give it a chance. Even if you're a staunch STOOGES supporter, you will find much to offer on "New Values". Hell, James Williamson plays guitar on it, and he played on IGGY and the STOOGES-"Raw Power" LP back in 1973. Williamson is also responsible for the simple, but often lush and nuanced production on "New Values". So just ignore all the idiots who claim that "New Values" sucks. More than likely, they've never even listened to it. So sit back, get drugged, and enjoy some of the best rock of all-time. On "New Values" Iggy was definetly doin' the things a five-foot-one man can do....

This album is fcking brilliant. I would recommend it to anyone, but I would especially recommend it to fans of Lou Reed or any VU stuff. This is a must have.

Let's face it, Iggy's "solo" career is patchy at best. Even longterm fans have to force themselves to be selective. If you thought "American Ceasar" was great and "Naughty Little Doggie" a toss off, we're on the same page. However, most fans would agree that NEW VALUES is a highpoint. Like the now classic, LUST FOR LIFE, NEW VALUES maintains a sense of vigor and focus unlike his other albums in the late 70's and early 80's. Inspite of the the excesses of BLAH BLAH BLAH, it's also Iggy's most successful "Pop" album. Which is odd, considering it was produced by an ex-Stooge: James Williamson.

From "Tell Me A Story" to "Curiousity" the songs, production and playing are first rate. "I'm Bored" features Iggy at his most gleefully tongue and cheek. And who doesn't love a song about "Girls"? When he nonchalantly breaks into Gershwin's "Summertime" it makes me wonder just how much of it was off the cuff.

On "Don't Look Down" and "Endless Sea" things get a little more epic. "Down" is plain haunting. And while, "Sea" gets a little too deep for it's own good, the honest to God passion behind it saves the day.

Though Iggy's not really known for his romantic side, "Angel" has to be one of his best ballads since "Turn Blue". When he sings, "I'd split my skull all for your love" I want to cry. A charming sentiment and a beautiful song. It ranks as one of my favorites.

Now if you're looking for more of the classic Iggy, "5 Foot 1" is still a staple in his live shows and for good reason. But things sour a bit on "African Man". True, it's good inane fun but the whole thing comes off more like some jam session outtake and is just a cut below the rest. And I have to confess, "Billy Is A Runaway" tends to get on my nerves. Though it's grown on me over the years, it's just one of those things you have to be in the mood for.

Now say what you will, a lot of reissued albums are ruined by the inclusion of bonus tracks. Though a nice fringe benefit for curious fans, there's usually a damn good reason they didn't make it on the album. I'm happy to say that "Chains" and "Pretty Pink Flamingo" are exceptions. They're both great little songs and compliment more than disrupt the procedings.

So despite a few questionable moments, 98% of this album rocks. No self-respecting fan can live without it.

I bought this cassette when I was in high school and at that time it was almost ten years old. Now twelve years after I've graduated from high school I still listen to New Vaules and it still gets better every time. It is one of Iggy's best cd's and a must for any fan of alternative music.

A great album, Iggy's best and one of the best rock records ever. Grossly overlooked. There is something about the recording of New Values that puts you right in the studio, something you can touch. Iggy's vocal nuances are in peak, beautiful form. And all of it is rocking and deep. It takes me back to those early New Wave days, Elvis Costello, Devo, Boomtown Rats, and how Iggy's voice and sound so clearly stood apart from anything else, and still does. He's a complete original and you can hear him here raw, slick and bratty. Long live James Osterberg, Ypsilanti's one and only.

The first of a three album deal with Arista Records, Iggy Pop is collaborating with producer/guitarist James Williamson for a strong collection of songs that was released in September 1979.

Williamson's production is not cluttered and allows the cool performance art of Pop to take the spotlight in Tell Me a Story, I'm Bored, Five Foot One and Angel. The title track is drenched in a satirical look on society, while Billy is a Runaway has as much sonic power lyrically as musically.

And it is a true band that is in the studio, as Scott Thurston (b, key), Klaus Kruger (d) and Jackie Clark (b) give the numbers a "live" feel. Two bonus tracks - Chains, Pretty Flamingo - are included.

By this time, punk rock was reeling from top bands imploding and a pop culture cool that made style over substance the biggest selling point. But the "Godfather of Punk" was not ready to take to the surf of the new wave.

Iggy Pop-New Values *****

New Values found Iggy Pop working apart from David Bowie for the first time since The Stooges Funhouse, and back in touch with former one time partner James Williamson. With Bowie out of the picture and Williamson back in the fold Iggy released an album much rawer than that of his solo debut The Idiot, or his landmark, Lust For Life, the album that New Values is the follow up to. For me personally this has always been my favorite Iggy solo album. It is the most raw, stripped, and real feeling of all his work. While it might not have the hit singles of Lust or the atmospheric sound of The Idiot, and not as popular as his later albums it is his best.

The guitar sound for one is amazing, as is the playing from Williamson. Iggy's vocals and lyrics are some of his best as well. 'Tell Me A Story' which opens the album couldn't have been placed better. 'The Endless Sea' is a Iggy classic and a fan favorite live. 'Angel' is nice at times but others can be much. 'African Man' is incredible but it is 'Five Foot One' that is the real gem on the album. The autobiographical track is typical Iggy. With 'little mans disease' Iggy is short but thinks he can take on the world, more so then than now but still. Iggy's performance can be summed up with the lyrics to the track as well.

New Values was a return to form for Iggy. A return to the sound and attitude that landed him the title of godfather of punk.