Iggy Pop and Josh Homme’s (of Queens of The Stone Age) Post Pop Depression became a surprise album nobody knew they wanted. After listening, I’m still not sure if I do, but this isn’t a bad thing.
While this collaboration is welcomed for sure, it is an awkward reminder that Iggy’s blend of pop and punk isn’t as straight and narrow as it is chaotic and weird. “Post Pop Depression” may be a swan song of sorts for Pop, as he tells stories of places, people and industry that belong in a world that has changed since Iggy’s rise to fame.
For example, “Gardenia” bridges into a worded painting of a woman of glamor brought down by poverty. How this is interpreted? Your guess is as good as mine. Album closer “Paraguay” meanwhile gets drowned out mid-song by a vulgar rant against technology and constant flow of information that Pop claims is ruining humanity and how he strives to be in his own words “a basic clod.”
However, around the rough edges are swaying tunes like “Sunday” and chief collaborator and producer Josh Homme’s croony harmonies complement Iggy’s belly deep howls very well in songs like “German Days” and “Chocolate Drips.”
The album's true flaw is how it clearly isn’t for everyone. It might be for old souls, it might be for idealists, it might be for nihilists. It could be for no one but Pop himself. The opening line of “Paraguay” says, “Wild animals they do. Never wonder why. Just do what they goddamn do.” You don’t get much more wild than Iggy Pop and he also does what he goddamn does.
