Monday 1 July 2019

Fun House - THE STOOGES**

On The Down Street/Loose/TV Eye/Dirt/1970/Fun House/LA Blues

Fun House by The Stooges, led by vocalist Iggy Pop, was an early expression of nihilistic punk rock. Although a total minority interest in 1970 this dubious sub-genre would erupt into public consciousness later in the decade.

Fun House is my favourite Stooge’s release. Iggy's voice was a hard hitting whip, the guitar was like a flame-thrower, the drums like a machine gun, and the bass like a rifle, and saxophone as a brief explosion. Really just a huge jam with vocals.”

“Raw energy pressed on to vinyl. Guitars and saxophone pressuring down on your eardrum to the point where you can't help but dance and sweat. At a certain point the structure of the songs ceases to matter at all and you're just caught in the feeling.”

“The album that ended The Stooges short tenure with Elektra Records, Fun House is a chaotic seven song crash 'n' bash set that sounds as if it is coming apart at the seams.”

“No record or band ever pushed the concept of punk rock as far as this - not just aggressive two and three chord raucousness, but a little symphony that moves from startlingly predatory aggro-stomp to a free jazz-meets-garage-rock cacophony.”

“The feeble cry from most singers is nothing compared to the bestial dentist-drill-inyour- head scream from Iggy on Loose. A truly frightening journey.”

“Whether you believe in the use of the term 'proto-punk' or not; you must admit that this album is essential to what would later become punk rock. Iggy was one of the first 'on stage madmen,' acting strange.”

“Although Fun House was never really commercially successful when it was released back in 1970, it developed a cult following, garnering respect over the years as a major influence on punk, noise rock and alternative rock. The Stooges’ aggressive approach to music allowed them to stand-out at a time rock was becoming more and more radio friendly.”

“If you appreciate raw and evolutionary influential music, then you must give credit to this album even if you don't particularly care for its music. A ground breaking album that laid some of the foundations of what punk rock eventually became.”

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