Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life’ Is a Big Step in the Right Direction

Though I liked certain aspects of Iggy Pop’s last album, it contained nothing to suggest that the followup would have what it takes to eclipse much of its competition. While Pop talked his way through most of the previous disc’s one-dimensional odes to depression, he offers riveting vocals on the new Lust for Life, where he also tempers boredom with laughs and turns occasionally to outright exuberance. He still can’t write music, as evidenced by his one attempt here. But that hardly matters, since the captivatingly stark Bowie tunes that predominate fit Iggy’s lyrics to a T. In addition to the title track, key cuts include the rollicking “Success,” the triumphant, poetic “Passenger” and “Some Weird Sin,” which ought to be Pop’s theme song.