Some Songs Considered

“Sonic Reducer” – Dead Boys
(Words/music: Stiv Bators/Johnny Blitz/Cheetah Chrome/Jeff Magnum/David Thomas/Jimmy Zero, available on Younger, Louder, and Snottier: The Rough Mixes, Bomp 1989)

“Sonic Reducer” speaks to the part of my soul that rarely expresses itself in words, which is probably why I’m writing and immediately deleting lines of clichés trying to start this post.  It taps into the sort of adolescent anger that attracts many of us to punk rock in the first place, but does so in an aggressive and blatant way.  It gives these feelings a backbone rarely associated with this strand of punk; usually this sort of rage comes with a nervous, frantic energy.  However, “Sonic Reducer” sounds like a freight train accelerating downhill, barreling through with enough force to destroy anything in its wake.

So when Bomp records reissued the “rough mix” of the Dead Boys debut, “Sonic Reducer” probably didn’t need a refinishing.  There are a few expected touches, such as a slightly quicker tempo and a more abrasive guitar sound immediately.  Overall, the song has a dryer, rawer sound than the original version and sounds like Raw Power-era Stooges.  For me, the drum break at the end validates this alternate version.  Where the original puts some sort of panning effect on the drums, the raw treatment of the tom toms gives this version eeriness on top of its aggression.  Coupled with the most brazen lyric in the song (“I’ll be a pharaoh soon”), this bridge tips the song into a new realm of menacing confidence – one that speaks to the part of us that wishes we could declare ourselves kings and act upon this declaration confidently.

More on Dead Boys: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm

“Raw Power” – Iggy & The Stooges
(Words/music: Iggy Pop and James Williamson, available on Raw Power, Columbia 1973)

Two things stand out when I listen to “Raw Power.”  First, the entire track sounds heavy.  This isn’t heavy in a “hard rock” way, but rather that it has a thick, full sound.  It’s not as sinister sounding as “I Wanna Be Your Dog” or as edgy as “Search and Destroy.”  Instead, “Raw Power” relies on a thick, chugging guitar riff trudging through the entire track.  It’s a full sounding guitar heavy on low end (as some of those other Stooges songs sound a little tinny) and it almost gives the impression of being doubled or tripled.  This riff also gives Iggy Pop room to be more flexible in his vocal delivery.  While he shared the spotlight on other Stooges tracks, “Raw Power” puts Iggy Pop squarely in the spotlight.  Appropriately, he sings in a deeper voice (a voice that I think he grows into by the late 70s) while also starting to let loose.  He cultivates this tone that’s equal parts sneer, growl, and squeal.  By the time James Williamson strangles a solo out of his guitar in the final minute, Iggy Pop has worked himself into such a frenzy as he maintains pace with this onslaught of guitar.  It’s the moment on the Raw Power album where Pop fully puts himself in the center of the stage, and Pop sounds completely in control on this track.

While there’s such a heavy (and yes, raw) quality to the song, a few elements seem out of place.  Specifically, the piano and the sleigh bells are odd for such a heavy song.  In particular, the twinkling piano line (which sounds like a single repeated note) contrasts with the chugging riff and Pop’s manic vocals.  I like how it’s used almost like a triangle, as the note locks in with the rest of the band.  It’s appropriate that “Raw Power” would bring the piano back to its roots as a percussion instrument, as its relentless feel might inspire listeners to start bashing along.  Still, the high note is an interesting choice that seems designed to cut through the rest of the arrangement.  I can’t help but wonder if it’s a slightly subversive choice; even in such a heavy track with one of Pop’s definitive vocal performances, this single, high-pitched note remains prominent in the mix just enough to distract our attention away, only to get sucker punched by that mammoth riff waiting for us when we turn back around.

More on Iggy & the Stooges: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm