Iggy Pop & James Williamson – Kill City (LP Orange)

From 1969-73, Iggy and The Stooges managed to bang out a trilogy of albums that set the world on fire. Except nobody noticed at the time. It’s hard to believe now but back then they were simply collecting dust in the bargain bins. By 1975, drugs and alcohol had kicked Iggy out of the Funhouse and into the mental ward. But you just can’t keep a good man down. On weekend leaves from rehab, Iggy embarked upon his first ever solo album. Except nobody knew it at the time. Not even Iggy himself. His career and reputation in tatters, Iggy and his former bandmate, James Williamson endeavored to press on, recording some demos for a new record deal. Through some acquaintances, Williamson finagled himself into Jimmy Webb’s home studio (unbeknownst to Webb at the time). While the results failed to land a deal, they eventually saw the light of day in 1977 when Iggy was making a comeback with pal, David Bowie. Demos they may be, but they certainly make for one hell of an album.

What has become known as Kill City is far more laid back than anything Iggy cut with the Stooges. Williamson’s production and playing, almost too heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones. For what it lacks in go for the throat fury, it makes up for with great licks, atmosphere and darkness. I’d be hard pressed to name another album that manages to capture the dark side of mid-70’s LA than, Kill City. Fear, loathing and desperation haunt these tracks. One cannot only smell the ice cream melting on the sidewalk but the faint whiff of an ocean breeze, the morning after.