CD Review

It’s funny how time forgives. Iggy Pop was once considered too vial for even commercial radio. Now his music has been used in commercials for Carnival Cruises and the man himself has appeared in Gap spots. While long-time fans might have been disgusted by Iggy’s wiliness to sell out, it made him more famous than he ever was prior.

While it would be damn near impossible to package a comprehensive collection of Iggy Pop’s work outside a box set, A Million In Prizes does his career justice. From his earliest work with the Stooges to his collaborations with David Bowie, the two disc set gives a nice overview of Iggy’s work. Naturally, the most eminent songs are present - "Lust For Life," "Real Wild Child," "I’m Bored," "The Passenger," and his version of "China Girl" - but unlike 1996’s Rude and Nude, the new collection delves deeper into the vaults.

While the material selected is thoroughgoing, there are a couple of issues with this set. Most significantly, is the lack of attention to remastering, as the volume from track to track fluctuates terribly. If you’re a fan of The Stooges, you would be better off buying the two newly reissued discs as only one song from Fun House made the cut.

Iggy and The Stooges have re-grouped for a world wide tour. For the novice listener who’s planning on attending one of the many shows, A Million In Prizes would be a good reference point to familiarize yourself with Iggy Pop. For hardcore fans, hold on to your vinyl, there’s really nothing new here.