Customer Reviews

Soldier

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Boy, was I relieved to see that somebody else thought this might be Iggy's best album. Yes, Raw Power is his ultimate nihilistic punk masterpiece, but truth be known, I'm not always up for the challenge of listening to it all the way through. On Soldier Iggy sheds the overtly pop elements thrust on him by Bowie and James Williamson, and provides a sloppily rocking good time. The songs are probably the most consistent in quality of any Iggy record, yet range from ridiculous and raw (Dog Food, I Snub You) to dark and dangerous (Ambition, Play It Safe), to just plain outstandingly tough and cool (I Need More, I'm a Conservative). From the roller rink rock of Loco Mosquito to its blistering end, Iggy and his band pull out all the stops on this one and take you on Mr. Pop's wild ride. Kudos to Glen Matlock's kickass bass playing, Barry Andrew's rollicking keyboards (likely the best punk keyboard player ever), and Pat Moran's raw but catchy production. Any time the album veers anywhere near pop, the bass snaps, the keys blurt, or the ever-snotty background vocals slap you back into your place. It's a shame this band was such a interpersonal disaster according to the liner notes--they made great noise together, but they probably never would have topped this record anyway. No sweet baritone ballads for the Iguana on this one--this puppy rocks from beginning to end. A pure pleasure for the kind of day when you're driving in your car, and you feel like shooting the finger and smiling at the same time. Sublime and essential Iggy.

I can't tell you how often I listen to this one.. truly one of the best Iggy Pop CD's you will find, this album just doesn't stop. Creative, poetic, Soldier definately rocks . This is one of those albums in which every song fits perfectly together... Out of 5 stars, I give this one a 10. This is Iggy Pop's best album in my eyes. (with New Values a close second)

A relatively unknown Iggy release, "Soldier" proves to be one of his most diverse and unusual collections of songs. Due to some personnel shake-ups during the recording, the finished product contains a lot less heavy guitar than almost any other Iggy Pop album - but the resulting sparse arrangements end up enhancing the songs. For example, the killer opening track "Loco Mosquito" draws much of its punch from Barry Adamson's brilliant swirling, merry-go-round keyboards and strumming acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitar is utilized to excellent effect on several other tracks as well, such as "Ambition."

The only real drawback to this outstanding album is that the production on some of the songs does sound a bit dated. "Dog Food," for example, contains a powerful riff and a great lyric, but the backing track hasn't really stood the test of time.

This album contains some really infectious hooks - which is not surprising considering he had Glen Matlock (who wrote almost all the best Sex Pistols tunes) in the band. "Take Care Of Me" is just plain gorgeous - it sounds like the kind of punky, edgy track that Bowie would have been proud to write.

You've got rockers, like "Knocking "em Down In the City"; slower, more sinister numbers like "I Need More" and "Mr. Dynamite"; pure weird fun like "Get Up and Get Out" and "I'm A Conservative"; and prime Iggy vitriol (most notably on "I Snub You") throughout.

The only thing this is missing is a bonus live disc like the reissue of Zombie Birdhouse. But on its own merits, this album holds its own - an Iggy classic, a "new-wave" classic, and just a rollicking good time.

"My mommy told me, If I were goody, she would buy me a rubber dolly". I consider this cd the rubber dolly of Iggy records. As reflected in the opening statement, maturity is not a concern. Some people claim the content of this record even steps over the "Iggy" standards. So what. This cd shows Iggy at his finest as only he could pull it off. This is one of the few solo efforts by Iggy which holds my attention through every song especially "I'm a Conservative" (although the two additional songs are less than spectacular). For those who are into Iggy will enjoy this cd. For those who aren't, they will ask us to grow up.

First, let me say that this is my favorite Iggy album, right up there w/Raw Power. The other reviewers made some good points: some of the lyrics seem a little silly, others are enigmatic ("I'm sick of hanging round with old transvestites/they stare at my rubbers/it makes me uptight"). Others are excellent: "They call me Mr. Dynamite/I blow things up in black and white/an end to your charade/A button I have made/Must be pushed". The band is great, with surprisingly tasteful use of horns and keys. Many of the tunes are very melodic but still edgy. The production is quite good and it is obvious the songs were carefully constructed. Almost every one is good, no real stinkers. I even like Loco Mosquito, though it took awhile. Check out "I'm A Conservative" and "Mr. Dynamite", 2 standout tracks. A few tunes have kind of a new wave feel ("Play It Safe"), and they work too. Thumbs up from me, Siskel.

With so much drama surrounding the sessions that produced perhaps the strongest post-Stooges album, it is somewhat surprising that Iggy Pop - given his uneven track record - was the one who kept things together.

David Bowie and James Williamson each abandoned the production chores, with Bowie reportedly getting into a heated exchange with guitarist Steve New before bidding adieu. Pat Moran was enlisted to pick up the pieces, with Bowie limited to a backing vocal appearance - with the Simple Minds - on Play It Safe.

With an all-star cast of musicians - Glen Matlock (b), Ivan Kral (g, key), Klaus Kruger (d), Barry Andrews (key), New - Pop made his second album for Arista Records one solid effort, which also set the stage for a critically-acclaimed tour to support the February 1980 release.

Pop slaps hard with biting lyrics in I'm a Conservative, I Snub You and Play It Safe. His performance art is keen on Mr. Dynamite and the silly Loco Mosquito. Knocking 'Em Dead (in the City) is unbridled energy, while Ambition and Dog Food are Pop at his tongue-in-cheek best. Low Life and Drop a Hook are bonus cuts.

This was an ambitious project with plenty of egos involved. Pop kept it real and delivered the real deal.

The other being New Values. Neither album has classic songs all the way through. However, any album with: 2. I'm A Conservative 3. I Snub You and 11. Dog Food is, by definition, a masterpiece simply because these are three of the finest songs ever crafted and sung by any human being. "I like the small black marks on my hands." There's never been a song, lyrically, like I'm A Conservative. I always blare that song. I Snub You is so Iggy. The backing vocals, "He snubs you" with bratty vocal effect, I mean, come on, what more can one ask for from pure rock. And, Dog Food is, clearly, lyrically possibly the finest song ever. "Dog Food come pose as my wife." I mean, come on, what more can one ask of a lyric? (Turns out a massive Iggy fan, Todd, emailed me to let me know that the lyric sheet says, "Dog food composes my wife." I'm still sinking my teeth into that. I think I like both. I made a classic mishearing-of-lyric blunder that I've believed for about 25 years! Ha. Still gets me. Thanks Todd!) These three songs are so perfect I still get as excited any time I hear them today as I did when I heard them in the late 70's. That's standing the test of time folks.

1. Knocking 'Em Down (In The City) 6. Take Care Of Me 10. Play It Safe 7. I Need More These four songs are great songs. Not the masterpieces the other three are but way better than most of the songs on most other people's albums. The first three are like Iggy anthems of how he lives, or aspires to. Naked emotionally and vocally.

4. Get Up And Get Out 5. Ambition 8. Loco Mosquito 9. Mr Dynamite. I don't consider these songs to be essential but I sure listen to them when playing the full album. Nice.

I actually purchased this CD from amazon.com and am glad I got to hear these two additional songs. You can see they could have fit on the original album nicely. Definitely worth not kicking out of bed. 12. Low Life 13. Drop A Hook

New Values and Soldier. Take the finest songs from each of them and they make the single best album Iggy ever did. chrisbct@hotmail.com

You gotta love a guy who sings about eating dog food on one track, and then sings about the perks of being a Conservative on another. Of course, we're talking about the great Iggy Pop here, so, you know it's going to be weird, and a little bit snide, and cynical throughout. Which is why I love this album.

Iggy really lays down some twisted tracks on this disk, and while it may not be for everyone, if you like this kind of offbeat and strange type of music, this is a definite must-have album for you.

So, if you are getting a little bored of listening to the mainstream music out there and want to give something quirky and cool a try, give this one a listen.

Standout tracks are, Dog Food, Knocking 'Em Down (In The City), I'm a Conservative, Loco Mosquito, and I Need More.

Mr. Iggy Pop really cuts the rock and roll mustard with this one; it's depraved, lunatic, sometimes over-the-top (but always delightfully so), and oh so much fun. . . its entirely original, and very very Iggy. (Well, not completely Iggy, as David Bowie has his hand in Iggy's cookie jar on this album (which, in my opinion, only strengthens the album: they do work so well together, don't they?!). The tunes and lyrics are infectious; you will very likely find yourself jamming out and singing along with Pop and Bowie when you listen to it. And I don't think that its even remotely one of those "acquired taste" albums, you know, one of those albums which take multiple listenings to enjoy it. . . in my case, at least, it got me rocking out on the first spin. My first listen to it was while driving around with friends after a very long and Dionysian-tinged night out clubbing (yes, we had a designated driver to cart our inebriated tushies around, so we were "playing it safe!. . . unlike our Iggy here, who claims that he "never knew how to play it safe," in the song entitled "Play it Safe." Oh yeah, that, and he also proclaims that he "wants to be a criminal!"). Regardless, we drove home rocking out to this album, especially to tracks like "Loco Mosquito," "Knocking Them Down in the City," "I Snub You," and "I'm a Conservative" (how very tongue-in-cheek of Iggy, n'est pas?!). This song is one of the stand-outs on "Soldier," with pounding guitars and (there's that word again) an infectious chorus. This is one of those rare rock albums out there which has no pretences to grandeur, yet still possesses it. . . Iggy doesn't take himself too seriously, or anything else for that matter, and his rare and perenially quirky character and perspective shine and even gleam, if you will. Some of the tracks remind me of Bowie's album "Alladin Sane" (especially the piano on "Mr. Dynamite"), but regardless of Bowie's participation, they have a flavor uniquely their own. All of the tracks get my adrenalin flowing, and please my picky rock and roll heart. Perhaps oddly, my favorite of all is the totally self-effacing, odd, and pathos-filled ballad "Low Life." A guaranteed party pleaser. . . just put it in your stereo, and join Iggy (and David) in their excess, depravity, wierdness, and last but not least, genius. Oh yes, and sing along, and "say ta ta ta ta ta ta. . .!"

Arista Records wasn't the least bit proud of Iggy Pop's modest success with "New Values" in the United Kingdom. The New York City Office of Arista had declined to sign Iggy, and Iggy seemed unwanted at Arista. But Iggy had to overlook that for the time being. He had something to prove to those you claimed he had no success. He had somewhat proved his point with "New Values," but wanted James Williamson and David Bowie included on one album. This idea seemed good on paper, but never really took flight in the studio. For whatever reason, James Williamson had no respect for David Bowie, and when David showed up at the studio one morning, James lost his cool. He left the studio screaming and yelling, claiming he would never contribute anything where David Bowie was included. Although Williamson had left, Iggy was more determined than ever to carry out "Soldier." He had Bowie sing the chorus on one of the strongest tracks on "Soldier," 'Take Care of Me.' The album starts off with a bit strange of track, but still very enjoyable to the listeners' ears. 'Ambition' is a great song, probably a second cousin of 'Some Weird Sin' on "Lust For Life." 'Knocking 'Em Down (In The City' is another weird track, similar to the song 'Dog Food' also included on this album. The first song I ever heard off "Soldier" was 'Play It Safe.' At the time, my friend had claimed it was the best song on the CD. Although after buying it I must argue that 'Take Care of Me' is better than 'Play It Safe.' An added bonus on 'Play It Safe' is David Bowie bellowing out the lyrics in the chorus. 'Get Up And Get Out' is fairly good song, rich with lyrics, but it seems every song on "Soldier" is filled with rich and fertile lyrics. 'Mr. Dynamite' reminds me of Bowie's 'Running Gun Blues', in that each song seems to be talking about violence and how it can get under people's skin, almost craving it. 'Dog Food' has been described as a simple and funny song about a couple living off of dog food. And it seems to be just that. The tune is adequate, enough for the song to be above "filler-level." When Iggy Pop released his autobiography entitled "I Need More." Many fans were puzzled by the name. For most in the USA had heard almost nothing off the Arista Records. The most obvious name for the novel would have been "Lust For Life" or "A Stooge." But Iggy picked "I Need More," which is track 8 on this album. My personal favorite track on "Soldier" has to be 'Take Care Of Me.' The song is tailored fit for success and popularity, but unfortunately Arista Records begged to differ. A fan of Iggy's would have to laugh when they say the name of the next track. 'I'm A Conservative' makes many laugh. Although once you think about it, it could be true. Iggy grew up in a trailer park in Detroit around a father you had played professional baseball and now taught middle school English at a local school. His father was most likely a conservatie. although being a teacher he could have also been a democrat. Liberal or conservative, I do not know. But Iggy wants people to know that he isn't 100% liberal. 'I Snub You' is a good song, but likely the weakest on the album. I was a little nervous about the bonus tracks. Most of the bonus tracks included on the Ryko Disc editions of David Bowies' albums were mediocre, at best, and many not enjoyable to listen to. Yet all the bonus tracks on "New Values," "Soldier," and "Party" are excellent songs and could have been easily included on the original album. 'Low Life' is song probably of what Iggy thinks of himself. He has low self-esteem and probably will always think of himself as a 'low life.' 'Drop a Hook' is an excellent rock instrumental. They're not too many rock instrumentals included on albums anymore, so 'Drop A Hook' is an added bonus.