AMG Review of From the Front Row: Live

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

After experimenting with a variety of different approaches/styles after the break-up of the Stooges, Iggy Pop finally came to terms with the fact that he was a rock and roller in the late '80s. Taking a break from the studio and the road from mid-'83 through mid-'85, Iggy hooked up once more with old pal David Bowie for Blah Blah Blah. Iggy also finally returned to the concert stage, resulting in the recording of a show at New York's ~The Ritz, which has surfaced over the years in several different configurations. But with the advent of DVD-Audio in the early 21st century, whoever was in possession of ~the Ritz tapes decided to transfer them over to this new format, resulting in the release of 2003's From the Front Row: Live. While it's obviously not going to be as clear as a pristine studio recording (especially Iggy, who's one of rock's most energetic and unpredictable performers on-stage), this live show does a fine job of balancing the old with the new, as the time off obviously helped refuel Iggy. The Stooges songs always get a hearty reception at Iggy solo shows, and here it's no different, as "I Wanna Be Your Dog," "I Got a Right," "Down on the Street," and "Gimme Danger" are all highlights, as well as the bouncy "Lust for Life" and tense "Five Foot One." From the Front Row: Live is probably one of the better '80s-era live Iggy discs on the market.