Free
by Iggy Pop
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
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  1. The Wire
    Nov 20, 2019
    60
    It’s definitely a mixed bag, but pays off with “The Dawn” in which Lipstate’s guitar exhales in tandem with a spoken admission of small hours frailty. [Dec 2019, p.53]
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  2. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 9, 2019
    60
    True to quixotic form, Free doesn’t build on the success of that record [2016’s Post Pop Depression], Iggy veering off at yet another tangent, courtesy of avant garde guitarist Noveller, aka Sarah Lipstate, and jazz trumpeter Leron Thomas.
  3. Clash Music
    Sep 9, 2019
    60
    On an album centring around concepts of storytelling and reflection, Iggy Pop’s voice remains phenomenal. It always will. However, an underwhelming feeling lingers throughout 'Free', one which is hard to ignore.
  5. Mojo
    Sep 3, 2019
    60
    Free, in a good way, resembles his more esoteric work from that time, such as 1999's brooding Avenue B. [Oct 2019, p.88]
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  6. Q Magazine
    Sep 3, 2019
    60
    Imperfect but never less than interesting. [Oct 2019, p.110]
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  7. The Skinny
    Sep 3, 2019
    40
    Unfortunately, for all but the hardcore, Free seems to baffle as much as it bewitches.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. yannbgiraud
    Sep 8, 2019
    6
    This is not a bad record but it lacks a clear direction. The fact Iggy Pop worked with Leron Thomas could make you think it's a a jazz recordThis is not a bad record but it lacks a clear direction. The fact Iggy Pop worked with Leron Thomas could make you think it's a a jazz record but it's not. There is a new-wave song, "Loves Missing", which is probably the best track on this record. There are a few fun albeit goofy tunes like "James Bond" and "Dirty Sanchez". And then, there's the whole B-side, which is almost entirely filled with ambient, jazzy soundscapes and spoken work. Iggy Pop reads Lou Reed's and Dylan Thomas' texts and you can't really go wrong with that sort of material but, ultimately, the entire record feels half-baked, the music having been insufficiently labored. It sounds like Iggy recording a podcast for NPR or the BBC rather than a full-fledged record. Maybe it's the sort of recreation he needed after the tenser Post Pop Depression but, ultimately, it feels like an underachievement after that beast of a record. For fans of the jazzy Iggy, I'd advise you to go back to the excellent Avenue B.… Full Review »
  2. Stevenpirie
    Sep 8, 2019
    8
    On Iggy's latest we hear him crooning around some minimalist tunes bolstered by a gorgeous trumpet. It comes across as though the music cameOn Iggy's latest we hear him crooning around some minimalist tunes bolstered by a gorgeous trumpet. It comes across as though the music came first and Iggy then slipped in some lyrics. Iggy croons well, his voice has matured and ripened over the years and he uses it here to essentially read poetry over some jazzy sounding tunes. It's not his usual fare, but then did Iggy ever have usual fare? He has survived this long and come this far. Think of this as a quiet Coda. Hypnotic and seductive. Only 33 minutes, but enjoyable nonetheless.… Full Review »
  3. Vandole
    Sep 7, 2019
    9
    Instantly I fell in love with "Loves Missing" - a great well crafted work with Iggy`s superb voice and groovy chilled style again.
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