Is Anybody Here NOT Into Lou Reed?

iaredatsun · Post by **iaredatsun** » 06 Dec 2006 11:58

Transformer was my first and probably bought before the VU&N and WLWH. I bought everrything from 1st up to and including Coney Island Baby and RnR Animal. I then got rid of everything apart from MMM and 1st. I still like Lou Reed 1st for its upfront and very upbeat sound (and despite the session musicians and backing singers) and I really like the version of Ride Into The Sun.

I still love the MMM LP for its extreme f*** you bad boy statement and foolhardy bravery in the face of commercial pressures, but musically I admit it's weak when you compare with other work in that area. The reissue does nothing much as they couldn't even join the tracks up and it doesn't really have the infinite loop.

I used to listen to Legendary Hearts in the 80s (nice guitar and some upbeat funny and poignant songs) and then recently bought it on reissue and the Transformer (e.g Hangin' Around) and Coney remasters. I still like those albums and like Charlies Girl ('If I ever see Charile again I'm gonna punch her face in' is mean but affectionate) and Coney Island Baby song. CIB has a great sound on the remaster.

I like him best when he is coming up with those great one-liner gags that also show when he's in a relaxed and playful mood (Andy's Chest, Foggy Notion, She's My Best Friend, Hangin' Around). Like - 'Here's to Mulberry Jane, she made jam when she came. Somebody cut off her feet and now jelly rolls in the street'. Always makes me smile.

I hate it when he gets too serious about 'rock and literature' or morose and I hate it when he rattles through his songs like he's just getting a job done.

So I do have an affection for some of his solo albums and work but I wouldn't say I'm a big Lou Reed fan.

Pig Related · Post by **Pig Related** » 06 Dec 2006 13:27

I always thought it to be strange that the John Cale, Lou Reed and Velvet Underground fanbases are so polarized. You can see this most clearly on the internet with the Lou Reed forum, The Velvet Underground forum and the John Cale mailing list.

Anyway, I like all of their music with rare exceptions (Mistrial, Artificial Intelligence, although in both cases mostly because of the production). I'll always like the Velvets best, though.

Another thing that's weird, is the lack of recognition for the post-1980 Lou Reed. Come on, The Blue Mask, New York, Songs For Drella, Magic & Loss and maybe to a lesser extent New Sensations and Ecstasy. All great!

iaredatsun · Post by **iaredatsun** » 07 Dec 2006 01:53

Pig Related wrote:I always thought it to be strange that the John Cale, Lou Reed and Velvet Underground fanbases are so polarized. You can see this most clearly on the internet with the Lou Reed forum, The Velvet Underground forum and the John Cale mailing list.

I'm afraid I can totally understand it. The VU were one thing the solo artists were quite another. Just not the same. The VU were a group sound that was bigger than the individuals, the individuals were only ever just themselves.

For example the only Cale album I have and like is Church of Anthrax (which wasn't a solo album and I'm a big early T.Riley fan). I've never felt he could write a good song or lets just say one that I liked. Cale could however create a great sound with other artists (Nico, Stooges, Modern Lovers) and that was his strength. Lou Reed could write good tunes and lyrics and that at least makes a great working foundation and makes some of his solo work entertaining for me - but he could never allow himself to ever really collaborate again after the VU (for whatever reasons) and that was his real weakness .

Doctor Bob · Post by **Doctor Bob** » 08 Dec 2006 04:27

Reed is God

Everything he's ever done is sheer genius

And for the record, Transformer is one of his weaker albums (which obviously still makes it one of the greatest albums of all time)

He's the greatest icon in the history of Modern Music

Just my $0.02

MJG196 · Post by **MJG196** » 08 Dec 2006 06:06

Doctor Bob wrote:Everything he's ever done is sheer genius

DISCO MYSTIC!

Pig Related · Post by **Pig Related** » 08 Dec 2006 13:29

iaredatsun wrote:I like him best when he is coming up with those great one-liner gags that also show when he's in a relaxed and playful mood (Andy's Chest, Foggy Notion, She's My Best Friend, Hangin' Around). Like - 'Here's to Mulberry Jane, she made jam when she came. Somebody cut off her feet and now jelly rolls in the street'. Always makes me smile.

That reminds me, in the same song there's the line 'Let's hear one for Newspaper Joe, he caught his hand in the door'. Did Lou Reed come up with this line or is it some saying I don't know about?

I'm asking this because in the song 'The Man Who Would Be King' by The Libertines they sing this line somewhere near the end of the song. It could be they just borrowed it from the Velvets since Carl Barât is a Velvet Underground fan (if I remember correctly). I like to see it as a little tribute to The Velvet Underground.

Sorry if this is a bit off-topic.

Doctor Bob · Post by **Doctor Bob** » 09 Dec 2006 00:45

That's a Reed line and the Libs just referenced it because, as you say, Carl is a VU fan.

Disco Mystic is genius.

iaredatsun · Post by **iaredatsun** » 09 Dec 2006 14:51

Doctor Bob wrote:Disco Mystic is genius.

I haven't heard this, to my knowledge. How is it genius, if you don't mind me asking? And what is the rest of that album (The Bells) like?

kaisersose · Post by **kaisersose** » 11 Dec 2006 12:58

Problem with Lou is that he cant sing anymore. He can only talk. & he must do it slowly. RCA used to manipulate his voice o lot (lower basses,etc...)& it worked so fine, great. Everytime he tries to sing now is a disaster. Is been like that by the times of Growing up in public. When he sings he reminds me of Donald Duck.In the Velvet reunion his voice was a disaster; he should have leave Cale singin mostly of the songs. I mean Lou is a great artist,but he cant sing. I hope he will perform Berlin in the old way, leaving Frank Sinatra & the Tai Chi master at home. By the way his poor dog is having a walk on the wrong side.

Jez · Post by **Jez** » 11 Dec 2006 13:31

Never a Lou Reed fan to the same extent as Doctor Bob, but bought most of his albums during the 70's, of which "Transformer", "Berlin", "Rock'n'Roll Animal" and "Street Hassle" stood out the most for me. I expect to get some stick for this, but I hated "MMM". Apart from "Songs for Drella" (great) I didn't buy much after "Blue Mask". Saw him a few times as well. Could say the same for Cale (loved "Paris 1919") and Nico, although more into the latter.

But the Velvets were a magic mix at a special time and no-one ever came close as far as I was concerned. Lou could still sing a bit back then. As a song writer though, no-one can touch him in my opinion.

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Is Anybody Here NOT Into Lou Reed?

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