Punk legend Iggy Pop has released “James Bond”, the second single to his upcoming eighteenth studio album, Free. The album will be released on September 6th through independent label Loma Vista Recordings. The lead single, “Free”, was released on July 18th. While Iggy Pop’s 2016 album Post-Pop Depression ended up becoming his highest-charting project, and even garnered a Grammy nomination, this album is a major departure from that sound, going in a more reserved and atmospheric direction.
“James Bond” is the story of a cold lover. It begins with a distinct bass line that remains a prominent part of the instrumentation for the entirety of the song. As Pop croons about this woman and her dangerous skillset, he is followed by subtle drums and a simple guitar lick with little variation for most of the song, as the focus remains on Pop’s storytelling. However, for the final bridge and chorus, the instrumentation kicks it up a notch, with Leron Thomas materializing out of nowhere for an excellent trumpet solo. A few more particularly unique elements of the song include Faith Vern’s brief appearances in between chorus lines to whisper “James Bond” and Pop’s many great lyrical moments, like the bridge: “Didn’t make the rules, so don’t blame me / Most fools gravitate to vanity / And her sanity is insanity / Driving off while making you feel guilty”.
UPDATE (8/21): Iggy Pop has released a new video for his song “James Bond.” The video is equally as minimalist as the song itself, mainly revolving around the singer grooving along to the bassline and crooning “She wants to be your James Bond.”
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