Iggy Pop: Post Pop Depression—Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Then-68-year-old Iggy Pop is in energetic form throughout this 2016 engagement at London's Royal Albert Hall, backed by a versatile band that includes drummer Matt Helders, bassist Matt Sweeney, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, keyboard player Dean Fertita, and singer-guitarist Josh Homme (the latter three from Queens of the Stone Age). Pop wrote his 17th album, Post Pop Depression, with Homme and Fertita, and has said that it will be his last. The 22-song set here includes eight songs from the new record, but leans even heavier on his solo career. While the players wear red lounge lizard suits (designed by Hedi Slimane of Yves Saint Laurent), Pop sports a black number sans shirt, but loses the jacket quickly (the better to reveal the red briefs that peek out from his low-cut waistband). The group, which splits the difference between proto-punk and glam rock, starts with the signature song "Lust for Life" and ends with "Success." Throughout, Pop dives from the stage and sings while in the audience, none of which negatively impacts his performance, not even when he cuts his face (he just keeps on going, and the bleeding eventually stops). If the vintage tracks make a better impression than the new ones, the mix still works well, especially Post Pop Depression's "Gardenia," which recaptures the sound of the 1970s albums Pop wrote and recorded with David Bowie. Other highlights include "Some Weird Sin" and "Funtime," although "The Passenger" might have benefited from a less hurried pace. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LCPM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include two bonus audio CDs. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)