Lou Reed

I was ashamed to discover only one thread on mister Lou Reed himself. For shame!

Velvet Underground are just soo key, and some of his solo stuff is fantastic as well. (most notably Berlin, Transformer, Metal Machine Music)

Show some love!

Street Hassle also goes on my short list of best Lou Reed albums. But Metal Machine Music was the beginning of a disturbing trend in Lou's recording career, namely recording seriously terrible albums on purpose. Don't get me wrong, MMM is a great joke, but Lou fell into a pattern after a while of getting a new record deal with a new label, putting out a really good album then a mediocre one then one or two really crummy ones until he could get out of his contract, sign a new deal with a new label, and do the same thing all over again. He's shown too much contempt for his audience for me to buy his records any more. He's still awesome live though.

I went to an autograph signing by him a couple of months ago!

Sadly i missed the show that night...

The one time I saw him live, he was much more personable than I expected. He was a little grumpy when he first came out, but the crowd was so enthusiastic that he warmed up quickly.

It's amazing that he is still able to produce great music as he's gotten older. New York, Songs for Drella, and Magic and Loss were made as he was approaching 50. He's 61 now and more capable of putting out a great CD at any given time than any other artist of his generation.

Hey -- I'm bumping up this thread in lieu of starting a new thread to ask what Lou Reed peoples suggest I listen to. I've been listening to a greatest hits album (I know, greatest hits albums are wack) and I'm ready to move on to more stuff.

Any Lou Reed afficionados out there feel like pointing me in the right direction? Thx.

Transformer
Berlin
Street Hassle
Blue Mask <---Started to listen to this one again semi-frequently "The Gun" is a great fucking song.

I think there was only one thread because if you have to be informed of the greatness of Lou Reed then there is something wrong with you. I always thought Lou Reed respect was innate. Even if you don't dig his music he is a legend and he and/or at least his vision should always be respected. Just my opinion

I'll second "Transformer."
If you like live albums, try "Rock n Roll Animal."
And don't forget about the Velvet Underground & Nico.

No love for "The Bells," huh? "Coney Island Baby" wasn't bad either. I rarely see that one in stores, though.

Yeah, Lou's the man. It's great to see him on Letterman reruns sporting the frizzy mullet.

Oh man. pale_blue_eyes is like obsessed. Ask him.

I'd stick with Transformer and Berlin. I've picked up some of the others in cheapo bins here and there (The Bells, New York, Street Hassle) and found them to be, um, less than stellar. Okay, I admit it, if I didn't know they were by Lou Reed I'd probably just say they're crap. Weird since Transformer matches some of the better Velvet Underground material IMO.

Street Hassle is my favorite album of his. however, Transformer is a way better entry point.

go listen to STREET HASSLE.

its the best album ever if you've overplayed Transformer.

his first one, just called 'Lou Reed' isnt that bad. its waaayy poppier than the VU but its not that bad.

thats if you can find it. i lucked out and found it used in damn fine condition! they havent released it on CD yet i dont think.

I'm going to agree with Berlin, Metal Machine Music is something you say to be cool I think it's eh... well, I'll just listen to Merzbow or Russell Haswell or Masonna, or KK Knull...

Transformer (BEST!), Coney Island Baby, Street Hassle, good in concept, Orignal Wrapper (OMG, PLZ Lou!!!) "I Wish I was Black" = Classic, great!!!

Lou once described himself as a "Faggot Junkie", I love him.

*oh, I once went on halloween as Lou Reed from the cover of Rock n Roll Animal.

[Edited on Jan 21, 2005 by sadisticmika]

Thanks for the help, peoples.

I cant stand metal machine music! Its a joke people! Its a pile of noise! Lou says so himself.

Beginners: Transformer>Berlin>Coney Island Baby

[Edited on Jan 22, 2005 by scrantonian]

It's on CD.It's remastered and has a fancy slip cover and everything. I just picked it up today.

How does his stuff compare to Velvet Underground? Fans of both: are they comparable or is it a huge leap?

I always thought we didn't talk much about him because it was sort of a given, y'know?

lyrics are relatively similar (same writer)
id say a bit less avantegarde, a bit more mainstream
all in all his solo work is similar just more toned down and less schizo

if you like VU for his playful banter bewteen nico and mo - then you maybe disppointed by solo lou (also its just not as edgy)

i cant sress it enough that if you're looking for a solo album and you only know VU - then choose Transformer, a handful of the songs were written during VU era (some demos exist of VU doing the songs)

i also enjoy a sarcastic lou on "ecstasy" from 2000

[Edited on Jan 22, 2005 by scrantonian]

[Edited on Jan 22, 2005 by scrantonian]

If you don't have to pay a lot of money for it (I found it on used vinyl, very cheap), Take No Prisoners has three interesting things on it: 1) a long, rambling "Sweet Jane" that isn't really musical but fun to hear a couple of times for weird stage-patter (ex. audience member- "Patti Smith!!" Lou [angrily] - "WHATABOUTHER?!??!??"), 2) a long, rambling "Walk on the Wild Side" where Lou never even really gets to the song, but he talks about how he came to write it, and insults Diana Ross, and some other things (ex. "Little Joe never once gave it away... Joe was a moron!"), 3) there is one good song on it, "Leave Me Alone" - it really, really rocks.


But please, start with Transformer... get the edition with the demos on it. There's a fantastic solo-acoustic demo of "Perfect Day."

okay, i know it's his biggest hit, but walk on the wild side is one of my all time favorites tunes, ever.

That's always been my favorite single album. He's got lots of great ones, of course, but for some reason that one always resonated with me.

Also Berlin, Sally Can't Dance, Coney Island Baby, Legendary Hearts, New York, Transformer, Rock & Roll Animal...and on and on....