Fat Possum

Iggy Pop has engaged in some of the most shocking antics in rock history. He’s smeared himself with peanut butter, upchucked onstage and rolled around in shards of glass. But nothing could’ve prepared listeners for his most surprising move yet: a Stooges album filled with acoustic balladry. Yet while it might be a bit disorienting to hear the Detroit punk icons in a mellow mood, it’s one of the key components that makes Ready To Die as vital as Fun House and Raw Power. Tracks like “Unfriendly World” and “The Departed” add a new dimension to the band’s sound by echoing the reflective sentiments of Pop’s recent solo work to stunning effect. But Die is not in short supply of sonic shrapnel either: Returning guitarist James Williamson delivers the most slashing string play this side of Kill City on tracks like “Burn,” “Job” and “Gun,” while founding drummer Scott Asheton and legendary bassist Mike Watt rumble in the pocket. The Stooges have not slowed down.