Formed just two years before the counterculture and dirty smelly hippy festival known as Woodstock, Ann Arbor, Michigan’s The Stooges proved to the world that blue could in fact go. The influential and wild by definition four-piece band performed a highly specific genre of music that was the precursor to ‘70s Sex Pistols and/or Ramones rock known as proto-punk, which you likely never read on paper before despite the fact that we know that you know everything there is to know about punk. For this album ranking piece no live records, compilations, box sets, or Iggy Pop solo records are listed, but The Stooges went by another moniker, Iggy and the Stooges, for two of their five full-length studio albums, so those are included here. We know, we know, we don’t make the rules, but we sure as heck follow them. Maybe we’re not as cool as you think?
5. The Weirdness (2007)
Despite the fact that your friend and ours, the late Steve Albini of Big Black, Shellac, “Surfer Rosa,” and “In Utero” fame produced “The Weirdness,” album #4 of five for The Stooges, one release had to be in the golden stinker spot here, and this free, freaky, fried, and fun one sadly fits the bill. Obviously if you’re a hardcore fan of The Stooges, or even a casual one, you know for sure that it would be a violent battle between their two full-length studio albums this century for the next to be mentioned ranking, as their 1969, 1970, and 1973 records are all killer, no filler… so death wins! Still, it is quite an epic feat that this record was The Stooges’ first effort in thirty-four years, just beating the non-twenty-seven but thirty-three club featuring the holy trinity of John Belushi, Jesus of Nazareth, and Chris Farley.
Play it again: “My Idea Of Fun”
Skip it: “The End Of Christianity”
4. Ready to Die (2013)
The Stooges’ fifth and final full-length studio album as of now actually, as the kids say, slaps (do they still say this? Honest question), even if you stupidly aren’t aware of their older and classic twentieth-century material. Also, the record certainly packs quite a punch and got a lot of love from inferior publications, basically proving in recorded form that old guys can in fact rip hard, and even, uh, harder than your Midwestern uncle Reggie’s weekend warrior active rock cover band featuring not one, not two, but three lead guitar players. Released on the legendary Fat Possum Records out of M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I, making it the band’s only non-major label effort, “Ready to Die” is the last to be mentioned here with some filler, but that’s ok, as it’s an unfriendly world out there. So get a job, burn your gun, and beat that guy! Which guy? You decide.
Play it again: “Sex and Money”
Skip it: “The Departed”
3. Fun House (1970)
The Stooges’ sophomore full-length studio album “Fun House,” like the next two records to be listed below, is a “no skip” effort, and if you disagree, skip the rest of this article; we already got your advertising money anyway, FOOLS. Anyway, back to the song AND the year 1970: Easily the cult hipster favorite for the band’s famous and non-famous fanbase, proving that our bronze opinion is wrong unless it’s right, “Fun House” was a grower and not a shower, as initial sales were disappointing, but the world eventually caught up like they did when “Office Space” was on display at Blockbuster Video. Basically, if you are a fan of fellow Michigander Jack White and ALL of his projects, then this record is for you! If you’re more of a Jack Black Dewey Finn stan, then the next two are even more up your alley, even down on the street!
Play it again: Elation
Skip it: Apartments
2. Self-Titled (1969)
First of all, it’s pretty cool that 1970’s sequel “Fun House” has a song called “1970,” and that The Stooges open their debut full-length studio album with a song called “1969”… at least to us! In addition, for another dorky stat, this record has a song that Sex Pistols covered called “No Fun,” and “Fun House” also contains the, wait for it, word “fun.” Anyway, The Stooges certainly closed out the 1960s in style with sweat and volume with this record! Featuring an iconic album cover, The Stooges made a dirty statement in musical form that was consistent across and throughout the album’s eight tracks that knock your proverbial socks off and even put holes in ‘em. Fun fact: This album is the only album featuring the man now known as Iggy Pop with the moniker “Iggy Stooge.” If you already knew that, you’re lying and that’s not right.
Play it again: Moe
Skip it: Shemp
1. Raw Power (1973)
Honestly, if The Stooges’ third full-length studio album “Raw Power” was eight consecutive tracks of its album opener “Search and Destroy,” it might have still won the gold medal position here, but luckily the album is a tour de force that doesn’t stop till its closing… and we’re here for it. For another hot/heavy version of “Search and Destroy,” check out underrated Louisville, Kentucky act Emanuel’s cover of the song on ”Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland Soundtrack,” which features thirteen other then-contemporary scene/scene-adjacent bands covering classic punk rock tracks. Back to The Stooges: “Raw Power” is universally known as one of the more influential rock records of all time. “Raw Power” was also the band’s comeback album after a short breakup post-”Fun House,” but disappointingly it was their last for another few decades, as the chaotic band split up again in 1974.
Play it again: Monday Night
Skip it: Dangerous Dillard Fighting Flippo Bam-Bam Barch