Album: Fun House
Artist: Stooges
Born: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Released: July 1970
Genre: Punk Rock
Influenced: Television, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine
There's probably no more obvious rupture from the Summer of Love than the music of the Stooges. Like MC5, who inspired the band to join the emerging Detroit music scene, the Stooges were noted for their energetic live performances, creating a sound that was hard-edged, anti-establishment and the blueprint for punk. On the Stooges self-titled first album, produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale, that raw power is evident on the first two tracks, 1969 and I Wanna Be Your Dog, but things lose their way a little on We Will Fall. Fun House is much more focused, attempting to distill the sound of the band live into seven fast-tempo tracks. Iggy Pop's blues growl is reminiscent of Captain Beefheart, though the lyrics are much more primitive and sexual, complemented by the brutal simplicity of Ron Asheton's guitar riffs. This is the visceral sound of angry, adolescent boys and Fun House's legacy rests more on its energy and attitude than its musicianship or songwriting.
Loose is one of the standout tracks on the album, mixing a metronomic guitar riff with Iggy Pop's boast that, "I stick it deep inside". TV Eye sees that aggression reach a new level, right from the initial scream until the closing seconds when the thumping beat fades out. Dirt is one of my favourite tracks on the album, there's something more atmospheric and sinister about it, while 1970 is an update of the anger felt at current events expressed on 1969 (from their previous album). Fun House is the longest album cut (coming in at a very un-punk 7:45mins), producing one of Steve Mackay's finest saxophone performances. On album closer LA Blues, the chaos of the previous songs seems to intensify until there's nothing left but wailing mixed with the noise of drums, guitars and saxophone. Fun House is the sound of raw rock & roll and the intensity was ahead of its time, giving the album a small cult following that would grow and grow over time.
There's probably no more obvious rupture from the Summer of Love than the music of the Stooges. Like MC5, who inspired the band to join the emerging Detroit music scene, the Stooges were noted for their energetic live performances, creating a sound that was hard-edged, anti-establishment and the blueprint for punk. On the Stooges self-titled first album, produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale, that raw power is evident on the first two tracks, 1969 and I Wanna Be Your Dog, but things lose their way a little on We Will Fall. Fun House is much more focused, attempting to distill the sound of the band live into seven fast-tempo tracks. Iggy Pop's blues growl is reminiscent of Captain Beefheart, though the lyrics are much more primitive and sexual, complemented by the brutal simplicity of Ron Asheton's guitar riffs. This is the visceral sound of angry, adolescent boys and Fun House's legacy rests more on its energy and attitude than its musicianship or songwriting.
Loose is one of the standout tracks on the album, mixing a metronomic guitar riff with Iggy Pop's boast that, "I stick it deep inside". TV Eye sees that aggression reach a new level, right from the initial scream until the closing seconds when the thumping beat fades out. Dirt is one of my favourite tracks on the album, there's something more atmospheric and sinister about it, while 1970 is an update of the anger felt at current events expressed on 1969 (from their previous album). Fun House is the longest album cut (coming in at a very un-punk 7:45mins), producing one of Steve Mackay's finest saxophone performances. On album closer LA Blues, the chaos of the previous songs seems to intensify until there's nothing left but wailing mixed with the noise of drums, guitars and saxophone. Fun House is the sound of raw rock & roll and the intensity was ahead of its time, giving the album a small cult following that would grow and grow over time.
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