Zombie Birdhouse

Zombie Birdhouse was recorded on 16-track in June 1982 at Blank Tape Studios in New York City. Chris Stein of Blondie produced the album. == Musical style ==

Charlotte Robinson of PopMatters writes that "Zombie Birdhouse [...] has reached near-legendary status for its oddity", and that it is "full of droning synthesizers, Afro-style beats and pseudo-poetic, free-associative lyrics". She also wrote that the album "marked the end of an intriguing and experimental if erratic period of Pop's career." Jeffrey Ramos of Minor Clash Publications called it Pop's final new wave-era album and "[o]ne of Pop's most obscure and experimental releases that was decades ahead of its time. Filled with a strong punk rock ethos, as Pop rambles through poetic verse over introspective and experimental beats." According to writer Ross Horton, the album exhibits "a kind of greasy, sweaty, sleazy rock 'n' roll fitted with a sharp electronic edge," with sporadic musical comparisons to Suicide, Throbbing Gristle and Talking Heads. == Release ==

The album was released in September 1982 by Stein's record label Animal Records. In 1991 the album was remastered by Mike Reese and included one bonus track, "Pain and Suffering", from the original Blank Tape Studio sessions. The track was used in the 1983 film Rock & Rule. In 2003 the remaster was reissued as a double disc which included a concert recording from 28 October 1982 at the Masonic Temple Theater in Toronto, during Iggy's 1982 Breaking Point tour. == Reception ==

Zombie Birdhouse has received a mixed response from critics. Parke Puterbaugh of Rolling Stone called the album "a brainy, well-plotted collection with more depth than could have been expected from the author of 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'." In a positive review, Ross Horton of The Line of Best Fit felt the album was "an absolutely delicious car-crash of a record, all twisted metal and noxious fumes. It's undoubtedly the noblest kind of failure, the result of two drug-damaged, burned-out rock 'n' roll casualties turning to a mediocre songwriter to cook up a set of classics. It was never going to work out exactly how they wanted, but it does almost work out." == Track listing ==

• Iggy Pop – vocals • Rob Duprey – guitar, keyboards, background vocals • Chris Stein – bass on A5, A6, B2, B3, B6, art direction • Clem Burke – drums, percussion Technical • Joe Arlotta – session engineer • Butch Jones – mixing engineer • Esther Friedman – cover photography == References ==