Maps of Music

Free (2019)

Where the lyrics of Free take you, and where it was really made.

The poem Iggy Pop recites was written by Lou Reed in 1970 but was first published only in 2018, after Reed's death.

Key places

Vocals recorded in Miami (2019)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — Pop's vocals for the album were recorded at Elite Music Studios in Miami. The point is set at the city centre, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Tracks 2 and 7 recorded in Brooklyn (2019)

Recording site Rough Customer — Tracks 2 and 7 were recorded at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, New York. The point is set at the city centre, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Tracks 3, 5 and 6 recorded in Bagnolet (2019)

Recording site One Two Pass It Studio — Tracks 3, 5 and 6 were recorded at One Two Pass It Studio in Bagnolet, France. The point is set at the city centre, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Track 4 recorded in New York (2019)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — Track 4 was recorded at Red Bird Studio in New York. The point is set at the city centre, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

First full live performance of the album in Paris (2019)

Live show La Gaîté Lyrique — Pop performed the entire album live for the first time at La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris on 10 October 2019, as part of the Arte Concert Festival 2019. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Free is the eighteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop
• Released 6 September 2019 by Caroline International and Loma Vista Recordings
• Features contributions from Noveller and Leron Thomas
• The title track was released together with the album announcement
• A music video for the second single James Bond was released on 14 August 2019
• Packaged in a 4-panel Digisleeve with a 4-page lyrics insert

Background

• Pop described the album as reflecting the exhaustion of post-tour life and as uniquely somber and contemplative
• After touring for Post Pop Depression, Pop felt drained and wanted to be free
• He said the album just kind of happened to him and he let it happen
• He wanted to step out of the rock instrumentation frame he had been encased in over time
• He wanted to work with musicians who broke out of normal time and space
• Pop first learned of Sarah Lipstate, who records as Noveller, and Leron Thomas while hosting his BBC Radio 6 Music show
• In 2016 Pop invited Lipstate to open for him during the Post Pop Depression tour
• The record has been referred to as a work of ambient music

Recording

• Pop's vocals were recorded at Elite Music Studios in Miami
• Tracks 2 and 7 were recorded at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, New York
• Tracks 3, 5 and 6 were recorded at One Two Pass It Studio in Bagnolet, France
• Track 4 was recorded at Red Bird Studio in New York
• Tracks 8 and 9 were recorded at Neutral Sound Studios in New York
• All Noveller tracks were recorded at Moon Canyon Recording
• Mixing and mastering were done by Mickaël Rangeard at Studio Question de Son, Paris
• We Are the People uses Lou Reed words written in 1970 and first published posthumously in 2018
• Pop had earlier recorded Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night for an advertising agency commercial
• For Free he rerecorded the poem and had Lipstate and Thomas improvise around it

Cover

• Front and back cover photos are by NP Novak, taken from the short film The Dawn starring Iggy Pop

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · fr.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• James Newell Osterberg Jr., born April 21, 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan, known as Iggy Pop.
• Began as drummer in Ann Arbor high school bands, including the Iguanas and the Prime Movers, where he got the nickname "Iggy".
• Formed the Psychedelic Stooges with Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander; he became the lead vocalist, nicknamed "Pop".
• Signed with Elektra Records in 1968, following the Doors.

Members

• Original Stooges lineup: Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), Scott Asheton (drums), Dave Alexander (bass).
• Later lineup included James Williamson (guitar) and Scott Thurston; the band reunited with Mike Watt and Steve Mackay in 2003-2005.

Career

• The Stooges' albums sold poorly, but they became known for confrontational live performances, including self-mutilation and stage-diving.
• Raw Power (1973) became influential on the Sex Pistols, the Smiths and Nirvana.
• Solo debut with David Bowie: The Idiot and Lust for Life (1977), with Bowie producing; "China Girl" was later a hit for Bowie in 1983.
• Only Top 40 US hit "Candy" (1990), a duet with Kate Pierson of the B-52's.
• "Lust for Life" was featured in the film Trainspotting (1996).
• The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010; Pop received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
• Also an actor and voice performer in films and television, and hosts the radio show Iggy Confidential on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Free received generally positive reviews from critics
• Metacritic gives it an average of 73 from 18 reviews, which indicates generally favorable reviews
• Adam White of The Independent called it an album built on unwieldy and uncertain jam sessions
• White said the album shows Pop embracing the guises of poet and provocateur
• White found the spoken word tracks more intriguing than the traditional ones
• White said the album often feels like messy improvisation full of stream-of-consciousness expression
• White predicted the departure from Post Pop Depression would polarise fans
• Mark Deming of AllMusic said the album continued the less aggressive, more pensive side Pop showed on Préliminaires and Après
• Deming said the album prioritizes atmospheric keyboards and spectral trumpet
• Deming called it a fine and compelling study of the mind and mood of Pop at 72, a detour from rock and roll
• Kory Grow of Rolling Stone pointed to jazzy horns, synthy backdrops and Sinatra-style crooning as the main differences from the Stooges era
• Grow wrote that the iguana makes a convincing lounge lizard
• Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Pitchfork grouped the album with the jazzy arthouse inspirations of Après and Préliminaires
• Erlewine said the album lets Jim Osterberg turn inward and meditate, unlike the rocker side of Homme
• Erlewine found the haziness and pensive soundscapes alluring but wished they were sometimes more sculpted
• Max Sefton of The Skinny gave a reserved review, saying the album would baffle all but the most hardcore Iggy Pop fans

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Pop performed the entire album live for the first time on 10 October 2019 at La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris, as part of the Arte Concert Festival 2019
• He ended that concert with four other songs: the solo songs Sister Midnight and The Endless Sea, a Sleaford Mods cover of Chop Chop Chop tentatively retitled People! Places! Parties!, and Death Trip, an Iggy and the Stooges song
• Faith Vern lent her voice on James Bond, and is thanked specially in the album credits
• The front and back cover photos come from the short film The Dawn starring Iggy Pop

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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