One day it appeared in all its magnificence...the elusive artifact, the holy grail, the Raw Power album. When Raw Power was mixed by David Bowie and released in 1973, it became history -- fast. Admittedly, the original mix was done on old equipment, which further distorted (or enhanced) an already chaotic, unconventional and rebellious sound. The vocals and guitar were so prominent that the low end was barely audible. This razor sharp edge secured the album's place in history. To me, it sounded like a bunch of angry guys attacking some kind of machinery with razor blades. A fresh sonic abomination, redefining music altogether. It was a dazzling mess, only because of the tight, powerful band behind the metallic wall of sound -- the Stooges. It highly repelled my parents and friends, so I knew I had discovered a real treasure. Then it became critically acclaimed, proving there were other people in the world with good taste.

From a technical standpoint, Williamson was a more gifted guitar player than Asheton (not that that was ever the point), but his sheets of metallic fuzz were still more basic (and punishing) than what anyone was used to in 1973, while Ron Asheton played his bass like a weapon of revenge, and his brother Scott Asheton remained a powerhouse behind the drums. But the most remarkable change came from the singer; Raw Power revealed Iggy as a howling, smirking, lunatic genius. Whether quietly brooding ("Gimme Danger") or inviting the apocalypse ("Search and Destroy"), Iggy had never sounded quite so focused as he did here, and his lyrics displayed an intensity that was more than a bit disquieting. In many ways, almost all that Raw Power has in common with the two Stooges albums that preceded it is its primal sound, but while the Stooges once sounded like the wildest (and weirdest) gang in town, Raw Power found them heavily armed and ready to destroy the world.

Raw Power is the perfect title for this LP. Everything from start to finish is full of amazingly ground-breaking music, still ahead of our time classics. If you've ever had even the slightest interest in Iggy or the Stooges or really any great thunderous rock & roll, this is the album for you. The most phenomenal thing about Raw Power is that despite it's rawness and the craziness that surrounded its recording, it still highlights a very competent band who are almost punk virtuosos. Here they trade in the sprawling (and brilliant) dirty jazz/blues of their past for an adrenalin packed raver. They even manage to top the more experimental sounds achieved on Fun House.