Nude & Rude: Best of Iggy Pop
Distilling Iggy Pop's work down to 17 songs is nearly impossible. Anyone with an interest in Mr. Pop should first pick up the Stooges albums before exploring his later solo years. This collection, however, includes enough highlights to satisfy a casual fan. The Stooges are lightly covered with the essential punk anthem "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and the manic "Search and Destroy."  The inclusion of the slinking "Sick of You" is a nice touch.  Pop's pop leanings pop up with "Nightclubbing," "China Girl," and "Lust for Life," tracks in which the guitars are toned down a notch and Iggy exhibits a slightly more mellow side. Of course, he ultimately returns with a vengeance befitting one of rock's original wild men.--Rob O'Connor