The Weirdness

Last updated
The Weirdness
The Stooges - The Weirdness.png
Studio album by
Released5 March 2007
Recorded7–30 October 2006 at Electrical Audio Studios, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genre
Length40:04
Label Virgin
Producer Steve Albini
The Stooges chronology
Telluric Chaos
(2005)
The Weirdness
(2007)
Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano's
(2010)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 44/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Alternative Press 0.5/5 [3]
BBC Music (very favorable) [4]
Entertainment Weekly B− [5]
NME 7/10 [6]
Pitchfork 1.0/10 [7]
PopMatters 3/10 [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Uncut 2/10 [11]

The Weirdness is the fourth studio album by American proto-punk band The Stooges. Released on 5 March 2007, [8] it was the first Stooges album of new material since Raw Power in 1973, and is also the final album to feature guitarist Ron Asheton, who died in early 2009. Founding members Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), and Scott Asheton (drums) are featured, along with new band member Mike Watt (bass guitar), formerly of Minutemen, and returning guest musician Steve Mackay (saxophone), who appeared on The Stooges' 1970 album, Fun House .

Contents

Recording

The album was recorded by Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, Illinois during October 2006, and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, England in December. Bassist Mike Watt posted a day-by-day diary of the recording sessions on his website, but this was deleted without explanation. Watt referred to the album's title as Secret Plan in his diary entries.[ citation needed ]

According to Watt's online diary, the songs recorded during the sessions included a finalized version of "My Idea of Fun" (first heard on the live CD Telluric Chaos ) and a cover of The Beatles' "I Wanna Be Your Man" (more faithful to the Rolling Stones version), while a 20 November article on the album, derived mainly from an interview with Pop, also gives the following song titles as appearing on the album: "Trollin'", "ATM", "You Can't Have Friends, "The Weirdness", and "Greedy Awful People". Further titles were announced in December after the album was mastered, and the final track listing was announced by Virgin Records on 30 January 2007.

Release

Two singles, "My Idea of Fun" and "Free & Freaky", were released on the iTunes Store on 20 February 2007. The album was also released as a vinyl LP with four bonus tracks.

"My Idea of Fun" was performed on the reality television show Bam's Unholy Union .

As of 2009 it has sold over 30,000 copies in United States. [12]

Reception

According to the aggregate review website Metacritic, the album received a score of 44, which indicates mixed reception, from 32 critic scores. Pitchfork gave the album an exceptionally low 1.0/10 rating, writing that it "hideously disgraces the band's original work." [7] PopMatters wrote "Like every other inferior album by a defunct cult band that has unexpectedly reunited, it is a danger to the band's legacy. Every assessment or endorsement of the Stooges must now be made with The Weirdness somewhere in the equation, and most fans will no doubt reference it with either apology or dismissal. Exactly why was this album made?" [8] Drowned in Sound wrote, "Devoid of inspiration, lacking in any edge, this is pathetic." [13]

BBC Music, on the other hand, wrote "Fast, tight, and ready for action, [The Weirdness is] entertaining, exuberant and fun." [4] Mojo called the album "a brash, modern-sounding rock record that also sounds more vital than most bands 40 years The Stooges' junior." [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton, and Scott Asheton, except where noted

Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."Trollin'"3:05
2."You Can't Have Friends"2:22
3."ATM"3:15
4."My Idea of Fun"3:17
5."The Weirdness"3:45
6."Free & Freaky"2:39
7."Greedy Awful People"2:07
8."She Took My Money"3:48
9."The End of Christianity"4:19
10."Mexican Guy"3:29
11."Passing Cloud"4:04
12."I'm Fried"3:44
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."O Solo Mio" (Vinyl edition and Japanese edition-only bonus track) 6:18
14."Claustrophobia" (Vinyl edition-only bonus track)  
15."I Wanna Be Your Man" (Vinyl edition and iTunes editions-only bonus track) John Lennon/Paul McCartney 3:42
16."Sounds of Leather" (Vinyl edition-only bonus track)  

Personnel

The Stooges
Guest musicians
Production

Charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [15] 89
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [16] 78
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [17] 37
French Albums (SNEP) [18] 53
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [19] 65
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [20] 88
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [21] 35
UK Albums (OCC) [22] 81
US Billboard 200 [23] 130
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [24] 47
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [25] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stooges</span> American punk rock band

The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, were an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Initially playing a raw, primitive style of rock and roll, the band sold few records in their original incarnation and gained a reputation for their confrontational performances, which often involved acts of self-mutilation by Iggy Pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iggy Pop</span> American rock musician (born 1947)

James Newell Osterberg Jr., known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor, and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band The Stooges, who were formed in 1967 and have disbanded and reunited many times since. Often dubbed the "Godfather of Punk", NPR named him one of the 50 Great Voices. In 2010, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of the Stooges. Pop also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, for his solo work.

<i>Raw Power</i> 1973 studio album by Iggy and the Stooges

Raw Power is the third studio album by American rock band the Stooges, released on February 7, 1973 by Columbia Records. The album departed from the "groove-ridden, feel-based songs" of the band's first two records in favor of a more anthemic hard rock approach inspired by new guitarist James Williamson, who co-wrote the album's eight songs with singer Iggy Pop. Though not initially commercially successful, Raw Power gained a cult following in the years following its release and, like its predecessors The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970), is considered a forerunner of punk rock.

<i>Soldier</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Iggy Pop

Soldier is the fourth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop. It was released in February 1980 by record label Arista.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Asheton</span> American rock musician (1948–2009)

Ronald Franklin Asheton was an American musician, who was best known as the guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter for the rock band the Stooges. He formed the Stooges along with Iggy Pop and his brother, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Asheton, once ranked as number 29 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, is currently ranked at number 60.

<i>Fun House</i> (The Stooges album) 1970 studio album by the Stooges

Fun House is the second studio album by American rock band the Stooges. It was released on July 7, 1970, by Elektra Records. Though initially commercially unsuccessful, Fun House developed a strong cult following. Like its predecessor and its successor, it is generally considered integral in the development of punk rock.

<i>The Stooges</i> (album) 1969 debut album by the Stooges

The Stooges is the debut studio album by American rock band the Stooges, released on August 5, 1969 by Elektra Records. Considered a landmark proto-punk release, the album peaked at number 106 on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The tracks "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "1969" were released as singles; "1969" was featured on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs" at number 35.

<i>New Values</i> 1979 studio album by Iggy Pop

New Values is the third studio album by American musician Iggy Pop. It was released in July 1979 by record label Arista.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J Mascis + The Fog</span> American rock band

J Mascis + The Fog was an American rock band formed by J Mascis in 2000, following the break-up of Dinosaur Jr. The project released two albums; 2000's More Light and 2002's Free So Free.

<i>Skull Ring</i> 2003 studio album by Iggy Pop

Skull Ring is the fourteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop, released in November 2003. Every track on the album features guest performers. The performers are The Stooges, The Trolls, Green Day, Sum 41, and Peaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Alexander (musician)</span> American musician

David Michael Alexander was an American musician, best known as the original bassist for influential protopunk band The Stooges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Asheton</span> American drummer (1949–2014)

Scott Randolph Asheton was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band the Stooges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Williamson (musician)</span> Musical artist

James Robert Williamson is an American guitarist, songwriter, record producer and electronics engineer. He was a member of the iconic proto-punk rock band The Stooges, notably on the influential album Raw Power and in the reformed Stooges from 2009 to 2016. Between his stints in music, Williamson worked in Silicon Valley developing computer chips. Most recently he has continued as a solo artist.

<i>Telluric Chaos</i> 2005 live album by Iggy Pop & The Stooges

Telluric Chaos is a live album by the reunited Iggy Pop & The Stooges. It chronicles the closing date of the band's first ever Japanese tour, which took place on March 22, 2004, at the Shibuya AX in Tokyo. The album documents a typical reunited Stooges set, primarily drawn from the band's first two albums with no material from the James Williamson era. This live set also includes some of the first live performances of three of the four Stooges reunion tracks from Iggy Pop's 2003 solo album Skull Ring plus one brand new song, "My Idea of Fun".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Search and Destroy (The Stooges song)</span> 1973 single by Iggy and the Stooges

"Search and Destroy" is a song by American rock band the Stooges, recorded for the group's third album Raw Power (1973). Lead singer Iggy Pop said that the title was derived from a column heading in a Time article about the Vietnam War. In 1997, "Search and Destroy" was remixed and remastered by Pop and Bruce Dickinson. The result was far more aggressive and stripped down than the original release, which had been mixed by David Bowie.

<i>Live in Detroit</i> (The Stooges album) 2004 live album by The Stooges

Live in Detroit a 2004 DVD release of a live performance by the band The Stooges. The surviving original members of the Stooges reunited in 2003—nearly thirty years after they had disbanded—and scheduled a handful of live shows, including an August 14 concert in their hometown of Detroit. The gig was postponed due to a widespread North America blackout, but the band played at the DTE Energy Music Theatre eleven days later. The performance was released on DVD in March 2004.

Thomas "Zeke" Zettner was a member of the American rock band the Stooges. Zettner had originally been a roadie for the band, but replaced original Stooges bassist Dave Alexander after their second album Fun House until the end of 1970. Alexander's drinking problem had made him an unreliable performer. Jimmy Recca soon replaced Zettner as bass player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stooges discography</span>

The discography of The Stooges—a Detroit, Michigan based rock band founded by "The Godfather of Punk Music" Iggy Pop as singer, Ron Asheton as guitarist, Dave Alexander as bass-guitarist and Scott Asheton as drummer—currently consists of five studio albums, twenty-four singles, four live albums, and three box sets.

<i>Have Some Fun: Live at Unganos</i> 2010 live album by The Stooges

Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano's is a live album by the rock band The Stooges. It was originally recorded on August 17, 1970 as an audience recording by Danny Fields, who had signed the band in 1968.

<i>Ready to Die</i> (The Stooges album) 2013 studio album by the Stooges

Ready to Die is the fifth and final studio album by American rock band The Stooges. The album was released on April 30, 2013, by Fat Possum Records. The album was the band's biggest success on the Billboard 200 chart, where it debuted at number 96.

References

  1. "The Weirdness". Metacritic.com .
  2. Mark Deming. "The Weirdness". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  3. J. Bennett. "Why, Iggy, why?". Altpress.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  4. 1 2 Nick Reynolds (2 March 2007). "The Stooges The Weirdness Review". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  5. Dalton Ross (23 February 2007). "The Weirdness (2007)". Ew.com. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  6. Michael Lane (9 March 2007). "The Stooges". Nme.com. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  7. 1 2 Stuart Berman (20 March 2007). "The Stooges". Pitchfork . Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Zeth Lundy (27 March 2007). "The Stooges: The Weirdness". PopMatters . Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  9. Rob Sheffield (7 March 2007). "The Stooges". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  10. Jimmy Newlin (5 March 2007). "The Stooges". Slant Magazine . Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  11. David Cavanagh. "The Stooges - The Weirdness". Uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  12. "Ron Asheton, guitarist for pioneering punk band the Stooges, dies at 60 - latimes". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  13. "The Stooges". Drowned in Sound . 30 March 2007. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  14. "The Weirdness", Mojo : 96, April 2007
  15. "Ultratop.be – The Stooges – The Weirdness" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  16. "Ultratop.be – The Stooges – The Weirdness" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  17. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Stooges – The Weirdness" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  18. "Lescharts.com – The Stooges – The Weirdness". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  19. "Officialcharts.de – The Stooges – The Weirdness". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  20. "ザ・ウィヤードネス" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – The Stooges – The Weirdness". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  22. "Chart Log UK: 2007". zobbel.de. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  23. "The Stooges Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  24. "The Stooges Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  25. "The Stooges Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2014.