Shane’s Music Challenge: IGGY POP & JAMES WILLIAMSON – Kill City

Shane | 4 April 2014 | Reply

Shane’s Music Challenge: IGGY POP & JAMES WILLIAMSON – Kill City
7/10

Recorded in 1975 as demos for The Stooges’ follow up to Raw Power, these tracks languished while the band disintegrated in squalor and drug chaos, before Williamson secured a deal in 1977 to release them (against Pop’s wishes) under this title.

There’s several versions available, the most recent reissue being mixed from the hitherto lost master tapes so sounding pretty good, but earlier copies have a muffled production. My disc includes several tracks from the I Got A Right Iggy & The Stooges EP as well.

At the time of recording The Stooges couldn’t sell ice to desert nomads, so out of step were they with what was considered the commercial realities of the times. Ironic then that Raw Power and Kill City have gone down in history to be such iconic and influential records, informing just about every metalhead, glam rocker, punk and alt-rock wannabee since.

Most of these songs were never recorded properly with a talented producer, but the rawness and unmistakable magic between Pop and Williamson is what makes it such a riveting, dangerous, visceral listening experience.

I Got A Right, Gimme Some Skin, I’m Sick Of You and Tight Pants from the EP all pulse with the danger and drugs of the time. Scene Of The Crime, Kill City, Sell Your Love, I Got Nothin’ and the rest of Kill City itself are all nihilistic, wasted chronicles of a band rapidly going nowhere at the speed of light in a machine fuelled by bad smack and cheap wine. Even now you’ll feel like a shower after listening.

By Shane Pinnegar