Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Overall good. Intimate rock
Kinda meh, songs are way too dramatic, but some good ones
Chill rock vibes, I liked it but I don't see the mass appeal
Dark and bleak. Not my favourite album! I know some of the tracks but hadn't ever listened to this in its entirety. Could benefit from more listens. Covid recovery might not be the best time for this one!
I was hoping I would like this more than I did. It wasn't terrible, but not really great either.
God that "The Kids" song is stuff nightmares are made of
Not bad, not amazing. Lou Reed reminds me a little of David Bowie. This album was sadder than I expected.
I just don’t see how this is anything special. Maybe I need to be on heroin. It’s not terrible but nothing I need to hear again.
Not terribly excited by this album. I imagine there will be other Lou Reed albums on the list that I will enjoy more. The tracks that most caught my attention were "The Kids" and "Sad Song."
Hard to rate, beautiful yet uncomfortable to listen to
This album is one that needs to be listened to as a whole and not as individual tracks. The story is depressing and covers some dark subject matter (from drug addiction, abuse, getting your children taken away and suicide). I was not a fan of it the first listen (its slow, the music comes in short bursts and the singing is not at all melodic) but after diving into the lyrics you can see how this approach lends itself to the subject of the album. Not the greatest album from lou reed but a great story(though extremely sad)
If you didn't know, you probably wouldn't think this was a Lou Reed album. Mellow, but interesting.
A few stand out tracks but overall, not something I would listen to start to back on a regular basis.
@@@. Nice, always like LR.
It was a dark album. I thoroughly enjoyed it though I doubt I would listen to it often due to the lyrical content.
not very catchy or memorable
- Chill Rock
Meh
So boring, but not bad.
Dark subject, slow, lot of instrument (brass, violin, synth)
Not too familiar with his stuff but a solid record overall.
Love Lou reed but feel like he can be hit or miss a lot of the time
Not too bad, I don't think I'll ever actually be a Lou Reed fan (he can't sing for shit and his songwriting is that clunky "it was acceptable in the 70s" just-before-punk stuff), but at least this isn't going to make me want to kill myself rather than wait for it to finish... unlike some of the albums on this list. 3/5.
Pretty good. Not his best work though.
10 songs Just doesn't do it for me, Lou's voice and his style of speak-singing especially aren't my favorite. I can see what it's trying to do, and I'm sure there are people out there that really enjoy this album, but to me it's just a bit of a slow drag.
Crazy album! Sleeping around to child services to suicide wasn't what I was expecting. Didn't care for it vocally or musically.
Berlin Lou Reed 1973 Genres: Rock Styles: Psychedelic Rock, Art Rock, Singer Songwriter 1. Berlin (★⯨☆☆☆) - Contexto: Jim recuerda con nostalgia el inicio de su relación con Caroline en un Berlín idealizado. El amor parece auténtico, pero desde el principio se percibe que el recuerdo está teñido por una tragedia ya consumada. 2. Lady Day (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: Caroline comienza a hundirse en el alcohol y las drogas. La referencia a Billie Holiday ("Lady Day") sirve como símbolo de una vida marcada por la adicción y el sufrimiento. 3. Men of Good Fortune (★★⯨☆☆) - Contexto: Reed reflexiona sobre la desigualdad entre quienes nacen con privilegios y quienes deben luchar por sobrevivir. Ayuda a pintar el ambiente social y emocional que rodea a los protagonistas. 4. Caroline Says I (★★★⯨☆) - Contexto: Jim describe a Caroline como una mujer fría, distante y difícil de comprender. Es la primera versión de la historia, narrada desde su perspectiva. 5. How Do You Think It Feels (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: La heroína ya domina la vida de la pareja. La canción explora tanto el efecto de la droga como el vacío emocional que lleva a consumirla. 6. Oh, Jim (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: Jim y Caroline protagonizan una violenta pelea llena de insultos, resentimiento y reconciliaciones pasajeras. La relación entra en un punto de ruptura. 7. Caroline Says II (★★⯨☆☆) - Contexto: Ahora es Caroline quien habla. Revela el abuso físico y psicológico que sufre, mostrando que la realidad era mucho más compleja de lo que Jim había contado. 8. The Kids (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: Las autoridades le quitan la custodia de sus hijos a Caroline debido a su adicción. Los llantos de los niños convierten esta canción en el momento más devastador del álbum. 9. The Bed (★★⯨☆☆) - Contexto: Caroline se suicida. Jim contempla la cama donde murió y reflexiona con una frialdad que transmite culpa, vacío y resignación. 10. Sad Song (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: El epílogo de la historia. No hay redención ni consuelo: Jim sigue adelante cargando con el peso de todo lo ocurrido mientras la música cierra el álbum con un tono solemne y trágico. -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,75) -Debería ser un tres, estoy dudando un poco, pero no me gustó lo suficiente en el fondo...
Respectfully, a tough listen. Just very bleak. The imagery is powerful, it's just not pleasant imagery and not sugar coated. Good songwriting. Not my favorite Lou.
I'm sure that Lou Reed thinks that he shits gold, but all I hear is a weak attempt at a rock opera. It's way too literal and has no attempts at subtlety or deeper themes. The Bed and Sad Song are probably the best two tracks, but I can't get over the stupid and obvious lyrics. I mean, seriously, if he changed the name of the closer and had a phrase repeating that was better thought out it would have been a banger. All together though just a display of his subpar talents compared to his many, many contemporaries. 1.5/5 -> 2/5
Maybe on another day, but too sad and slow. I do love a Concept Album though.
I admit my bias towards anything Lou Reed-related whenever his projects come up on here. Yet, at times, he can almost grab me. But then it keeps going and I'm reminded why I do not like him. It's a combination of his voice, the disaffected tone he takes, and the overindulgence (which really started to ruin my mood by the time we get to The Kids.) It's mostly well-produced and arranged and I like the drumming on Lady Day. Outro on Sad Song is also good. You can keep 3/4ths of this.
This one was all over the place, and I'm not sure what I am supposed to get from it.
Every time this album does something interesting, it pulls back and immediately reinjects something unpleasant to jar you out of it. Given that this is a concept album about heroin use, that could make sense. But that doesn't make it good.
second drone-ass Lou Reed album I've gotten and why? He just sort of talks over some music. He has no range at all, everything he "sings" sounds like it's made for the same key, and they just add music later. it's just not interesting at all.
Just not for me, put me to sleep, and did not enjoy his voice. The baby crying in "the kids" can f*** right off.
Lou Reed couldn’t carry a tune if you gave him a brand new backpack. Seriously, he makes Bob Dylan sound like Adele. His slam poetry vocal style instantly murders anything he does for me. There were some interesting elements musically on some songs, but nothing near the quality needed to overcome Reed’s shortcomings as a vocalist. 2/5
Enjoyed "Sad Song", but thought the rest of the album was pretty forgettable.
I mean it’s a perfectly serviceable album. Not exciting but not horrendous. Just kind of passed me by. That said the last three tracks did irritate me. There’s a reason why a compilation is enough for some artists (and why Berlin is the only track on that from this album).
I found this a bit of a mixed bag. Definitely got more out of it when I focused 100% on the music vs having it playing while I was doing household chores. It’s definitely a ‘pay attention’ type album as distinct from something I’d have playing in the background for my listening pleasure. 2.5 stars rounded down for the screaming kids.
"The Bed" really put me to bed, maybe that was intended...
I completely missed this album on 24 May, so I ended up listening to it on 19 June. I’m afraid I didn’t really miss it that much. Two stars...
"Somebody else would have broken both of her arms."
The baby crying mid album was an odd addition
favs: men of good fortune, oh jim, sad song not really feeling it. #sorrymrreed
I don't think I really liked this. His voice is iconic but nothing really came through for me. I had a mild panic in the kids song because I thought my own child (who wasn't at home) was crying
I generally like Reed’s vocal style, but this album is a bit too chaotic and dark for my taste
I can't say this was my favorite 2/5
schwerfällig, besonders der gesang.
what does lou reed have that leonard cohen does not also have? that was tolerable, i guess?
Not for me. Songs are a bit long and repetitive especially towards the end
Some of it good, some of it a bit dull. 2.5 stars, rounding down to 2.
Never really been much of a Lou Reed fan.
2,4/5
2.5
Meh. Preferred transformer.
Well, the longer it goes on, the worse I feel... Though I liked the first ones !
Boring
I feel like the child wailing in The Kids summed up this album perfectly. Mediocre music with random obnoxious shit to make it worse. His voice is bad and every song is forgettable.
Second and final Lou Reed. I don't remember much about Transformer, though I maintain that Perfect Day and Take a Walk on the Wild Side are good songs. Hopefully this album is more of the same, though I'm not expecting much given Lou Reed's standing as an innovative and influential musician. Anyways, here goes. Yeah, not for me. There isn't much going on with this album. The vocals are skittish and jittery, but not in a way which carries any weight. There isn't much harmony between these instruments, either. The brass is especially weak. It isn't paired with any instruments that complement its sound and is muffled by the emptiness which hangs over most of this album's compositions. The guitars are blown-out in usual 60s/70s fashion and convey a dull blues sound. The pianos are competent and usually belong to the better songs of the album, but they never manage to escape the murky, grey sound of this album. The minimal, stripped-back style just doesn't work here and produces as stale, lumbering and lethargic sound. Overall, this was a boring listen. "How Do You Think It Feels" is vaguely familiar to me, though I've no clue where I've heard it. This only moderately sounds like a song my Dad would play in his car, though I think that's my best and only bet. Anyways, it's a competent song. The best on the album, though I'm not particularly enthused by it. I like the vocal melody during the chorus and the brass numbers during the second half are solid, though the blown-out guitars can be a little much at points. Like the rest of the album, there's an emptiness hanging over the music which makes it difficult for me to get into it. Still, it's a tolerable listen. Book time. A pivot in style from Transformer. Reed's "...most brutal work to date." and a "movie for the ears", with the album chronicling the decline of a relationship between two Americans living in Berlin. The album's producer elevated the material, bringing in an "...all-star studio band" to record the material. Shunned by critics and audiences at the time, but predated the gloomy sound that would be popularised by post-punk and gothic rock bands in the 80s. Wikipedia confirms that this album is well-received by critics. "Caroline Says II" has been covered by a few prominent musicians and the album performed decently on the UK charts, but that's about it. I won't go on a puritanical tirade, but I do dislike art which revels in dysfunction and decay like this album. It always seems to come from the same group of people who hold a historic grudge towards White people, are obsessively clannish and communal in their racial ties and are more prone to severe forms of mental illness like schizophrenia in their lifetimes, but we are NOT politisperging here. I don't respect this album, but as far as a list of popular, influential and historically/aesthetically significant albums go, I think this album has leverage. If it truly is Lou Reed's second-best release, then I think its spot is well-earned. I cosign this inclusion.
At first I didn't like it, then I didn't mind it too much. I can appreciate what's going on here.
Caroline says this album ain't nearly as intersting as Lou Reed himself. Caroline says she likes a lot of the musicianship and production on BERLIN; if only someone else were singing, instead of talking, through the often simple and monosyllabic lyrics. To the book's contributor's assertions that this is an influential album, Caroline says "That's as may be" but that doesn't mean she should have to listen to it. Caroline says the editor of "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" must learn to say no. Caroline says Lou Reed's BERLIN has made it into her book, "4,004 Albums You Must Forget Before You Fatally Fall."
I made it all the way through, but it could have just been 1 really long track for all I could tell. Very monotonous and single-paced. Not really my thing at all.
not for me
Das 1 Lied war shcokmässig, Die anderen KLieder sind Melidiös und gut gemacht
Berlin - 1/5 Lady day - 2/5 Men of good fortune - 4/5 Caroline says I - 3/5 How do you think it feels - 3/5 Oh Jim - 3/5 Caroline says II - 2/5 The kids - 1/5 The bed - 1/5 Sad song - 2/5
my thoughts on Lou Reed echo that of Bob Dylan. Good writer, bad execution. Same thing here.
Just write poetry dude. Don’t subject us to annoying music instead. Definitely not one of Lou Reeds best
A concept album about a couple's struggles with abuse and addiction, but it's so boring and dreary I had trouble trying to follow the plot when the urge to hit "skip" was so incredibly strong. Lou Reed really mined his "voice of the streets" thing for as much as he could, but the moments of great music were few and far between. Still, an icon of future street poets who also couldn't sing very well and only half-bothered to try.
estilo cantautor, rock suave, meh en general, 2/5
One time only. Too experimental for my taste
2 Stars. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this album is not good, much like the Velvet Revolver album that will eventually come up (although that one is certified as an "OK" album from me). I get that the guy get a lot of loved, but it's unwarranted. Sorry. That's just the way it is.
I can't give an album with a heartfelt and unresolved story about the musician's friend's suicide a one, so I guess I have to give it a two. But wow, what a “not-for-me” album this was.
I'm gonna go ahead and say the lyrics are most of the draw here, which is at least part of the reason this album doesn't work well while I'm working. Other than "The Kids" it wasn't objectively bad, but this did nothing for me. Musically it was pretty boring. 1.7
4/10
Me: give me a genre that isn't the 60s This game: *adds 4 years and spits in my face*
Kändes rätt mediokert.
Some credit for convincingly evoking a poverty-blighted boho Berlin existence for his protagonists, Jim and Caroline. But musically it’s not very engaging.
Lots of ideas. Zero bops whatsoever.
Unique voice, and music.
**An ok album, most tracks sound alike
12/03/2026 I had expected better.... This was bloody boring. Spotify listeners: 4 million
The older I get the less I care about Lou Reed. In highschool I loved the Velvet Underground. That's a pretty highschool thing to do. Maybe as time has marched on the paths he forged in lyrical content are kind of more well established and accepted so it just kind of doesn't really leave much impact if I missed it on the first go around.
piano and talky
Love many of the instrumentals, but Lou Reed's vocals really really grate on me. This album also seems to lack some coherence.
Never been a Lou Reed fan
I received this selection March 3, 2026. I was in a horrible mood. I was fighting with someone I met on a dating app, the previous evening I didn't get to sleep until after one in the morning, allergies were going nuts, and I had a doctor appointment with a kidney specialist (I was worried for nothing). I was anxious, angry, upset, and tired. With the first notes of Berlin - 1973 Version, I hated it. All I thought was Reed is the American poor man's Bowie. So I took a step back, took a break and listened to it the next day. In a better mood, this album is decent. I can't say it's going to be a favorite or one that I'll think, "hey, let's listen to Berlin". I can only tolerate his "singing" so much. This album is much better in the background with songs, or lyrics occasionally rising to attention.
Extremely boring with zero redeeming qualities, and his voice isn’t that great?? 1.5
I don't really get the Lou Reed hype. He has a "cool" voice but it's not very technically gifted or enjoyable to listen to. Some of the music in this album is good but it feels very theatrical and overly dramatic, rather than inherently substantial. Definitely not an album I'd return to very often.
mouais
:/
Not a fan.. 2
Kinda boring.
solo he escuchado 2 segundos
Before: I do like Lou Reed a lot and he has many songs in my best of years list but nothing from this album. I'm sure I skimmed through it at least once before. During: Two tracks in. I can see why this album does not stand out to me as one of his best. The first tracks definately won't be making it on my best of 73 list. If this wasn't Lou Reed, I'd definately be skipping through, but it is Lou Reed, and it's a Saturday so I have plenty of time to listen to the complete album. I see 2 version of Caroline Says, is that the song I'm think of? We'll see, the first comes up next, I'm on track 3 now and don't really care for it at all. I see there is only one other Lou Reed album which is Transformer, which is a good choice but what about Coney Island Baby? Why would you put Berlin on this list instead of Coney Island Baby? Caroline Says I - nope, not the song I was thinking of. Candy Says is the song I was thinking of. That's a great song and would be very out of place on this album. Six songs in now, why on earth would anyone put this album on a best of 1001 list? Maybe it was very innovative or edgy for 1973? Let's see what the experts have to say about it. After : Overall, it's not an enjoyable listen at all but I did like it a little better the second time. I get it that this album is not meant to be enjoyable. Maybe it deserves to be on this list but still can't rate it higher than 2, based on my own persona criteria.
Vrij meh
Jesus Lou, do you need a hug? Or a therapist? Crying babies, abuse, neglect, suicide? And all of this is before the last track which is titled “sad song”. This whole album is an “sad song“. All those years I’ve wasted in therapy, I should have just become a musician. I do hear the David Bowie influence. I do see how music can be very therapeutic. This album should come with a warning label, or a referral for a therapy talk helpline.
Kids kept confusing me with the crying baby
the baby crying threw carly and me off
I liked velvet underground, but this one's not for me
Not a terrible album, but rather boring. I didn’t care for his voice or singing style and the music was not interesting. 2/5
This really wasn't my jam. I definitely liked the earlier album "Transformer" more. That said, I could still hear relics of the influence David Bowie had over "Transformer" in this album, as well, namely those proto-glam influences. Those influences just weren't as strong or as interesting here. Also, as a proud Dual Income, No Kids (DINK) household, the use of children screaming and crying in "The Kids" immediately triggered me and served as an immediate recommitment to the childless life.
I don’t love Lou’s voice, but there’s a couple of good upbeat tunes on display here. The song writing is strong as well.
Eh
I can understand why people like this album, but it’s not for me. Sad, weird, but not in the ways that I enjoy.
This album is entirely forgettable. When it came time to write this I could not remember a single memorable item.
The music and lyrics are good and fitting for the concept of this album. Production is fine, I just don't like Reed's voice, his music, or VU.
Vocals gehen gar nicht, musikalisch fand ich es in Ordnung.
Too sad to enjoy.
This feels like an exercise in storytelling rather than attempt to make an album of good music. I'm here for the music; if I wanted a short story I'd read one.
I'm not a fan of Lou Reed's work outside of VU, and this album didn't convince me.
Hated it, arrogant and unpleasant Triggered me for some reasons
2+ Stars (6/15)
Berlin will be my second Lou Reed album, my last album from 1973, and my last album from any member of The Velvet Underground. I thought Lou Reed’s Transformer was fine; it had some songs I enjoyed, and I liked Lou Reed’s vocals, but the majority of the album was pretty forgettable to me. I’m hoping that Berlin is a bit more up my alley than Transformer was. As much as I wanted to enjoy Berlin, I didn’t really care for it. The narrative of this rock opera was tough to follow along with for me; there wasn’t really much of an introduction to these characters, and I felt like I had been thrust into the middle of a book, trying to piece together what had happened before I picked up the story. The somber mood of the album was effective, but without that connection to the characters in the story, I felt like there just wasn’t much emotional weight to these songs. Musically, there were some elements that I enjoyed, but none of those pieces really created a great sounding whole to me. I did think the backing vocals were persistently good though, and I enjoyed it when the saxophone was more prominent. I thought “The Kids” and “The Bed” were the best songs on this album, because they packed the most punch emotionally. The sounds of the child crying on “The Kid” were particularly upsetting. Even though that was one of the best songs on the album, I hope I never hear that song again. In the end, while I appreciate the artistry behind Berlin, this album just wasn’t my cup of tea.
God damn this album was depressing as fuck. Like way too depressing for my tastes. Also too slow.
It's ok. I don't love this, just like I don't really love velvet underground. Also that's kids song kinda put me off. It doesn't deserve a 1, but I don't really like Lou Reed , or this album.
I really only knew Lou Reed from the Trainspotting soundtrack which had “Perfect Day.” This concept album made me realize he’s not that good of a singer (do concept albums not do second takes?).
Can't say I cared much for this one. There was a bit too much Lou Reed talk/singing for me. Between that and the somewhat theatrical style/presentation/feel, I never was able to get into it. It didn't help that there was a crying baby section. It was interesting, but not in a way that worked for me. Overall: 1.9/5
beautiful instrumentals, wasn’t a fan of the vocals.
I love Velvet Underground, but I just can’t get into Lou Reed’s solo work.
It was really hard to finish it, so sad and sluggish, but not in a nice way
I’m certain I was in the wrong headspace to hear this album, but I also don’t want to be in the right one. I don’t feel like this album was created for the purpose of enjoyment, and I found myself getting irritated with artist for inflicting it on me. I wasn’t too surprised to find initial reviews echoed my feelings. Other thoughts: Is sad song supposed to be sad? Just saying sad song over and over again doesn’t make it sad. Dear every artist - I hate your song with the crying baby sample. I can see how this would be a moving and effective album for some, but it’s not for me.
A little too soft and slow for my taste. Also didn’t like the crying baby in the kid song. Not pleasant.
Just like the last album 1001 generator gave us of his. It’s the same for this one. Meh
This album is much like the David Bowie Berlin period--also not my fave. 'Berlin' is bleak and dreary, much like the city in 1973. There is one fantastic song on the album, "Sad Song." Top tracks: "Sad Song," "Men of Good Fortune"
--Berlin...the piano is compelling --Lady Day...hmmm --Men of Good Fortune...each individual instrument is doing something interesting but does it come together? I'm having difficulty figuring out my feelings about this record. it may require multiple listens --Caroline Says I...backup singers! this feels more accessible. great bass --How Do You Think It Feels...I may not love all of his choices, but Reed is consistently surprising. didn't think I would get such a solid rocker with this one. Actual guitar shredding! --Oh Jim...more rock, this is nice but less surprising. there's...a second acoustic song at the end? that is surprising, and odd --Caroline Says II...plodding. first song that bored me --The Kids...why is this 8 minutes long? is that a baby? Alright, Lou, you convinced me. I won't have kids --The Bed...I like the production but it's too long --Sad Song...same as "the Bed"
Yeah this really wasn’t good…
This was pretty good. Felt a little long but I found it to be nice while working on somethings. All in all a pretty pleasant album.
I don't understand Berlin by Lou Reed. I get he was going through some stuff, hanging out with Bowie, and going through more stuff. I don't hate it but I don't get it.
Berlin is a mellow, sad, and dark Lou album. Slowest speed trip ever put down to music. Berlin (the song) kicks it off OK and crazy that the most upbeat track is Sad Song to finish it. Just depressing for everything in between. (1.7*s) I can’t imagine this one flew off the shelves…
Some lackluster Lou in Berlin. I get the themes here are dower but a slow album, sounds a bit empty. I have not liked Reed so far on this music journey and I am a bit surprised since through my radio exposure, I have. I know he chummed around with some heavy hitters and was admired by the likes of Bowie but I'm not feeling the impact. Must be just the hits are good. This record doesn't belong on the list in my opinion but I'm not a paid critic. Maybe I'll change my tune after some years like Rolling Stone. 1.83 stars.
Not sure what about Berlin makes this list-worth. It's a pretty pedestrian album in terms of Lou Reed and in the broad spectrum. Side A has a little more energy and is a decent listen. Side B has a couple slower ballads that are not bad but not great. I'd call this album pretty skippable not in that it's bad, but moreso in that it doesn't do anything to stand out. Even as a Lou Reed fan he is over-represented on this list (primarily because of The Velvet Underground getting 3 albums for some reason). I'll stick to Lou Reed greatest hits for the most part and skip a lot of the filler among his discography. 2.05 stars
Weirdly I’ve never listened to Lou Reed/The Velvet Underground so for this to be my first foray feels as though I can’t fairly rate as I know from reading that it wasn’t his “best”. I love the concept though, and think in the future I’ll definitely revisit it with perhaps a better understanding of Reed’s catalogue.
That didn't really do it for me, there are some interesting moments but it's overall not a treat to listen to and couldn't pick out a song I'd like to listen to again.
Singing and riffs. Boring. 2/5
Rolling Stock had it right - a disaster. This was not enjoyable. How could anyone possible enjoy this?
I like Lou fed but this is bit dirge I’m not sure I enjoyed it
This is proof that I could have been a singer song writer
The esteem that Lou reed is held in continues to baffle me, what was exceptional about this? 1.5*
After The Velvet Underground, I had low expectations on this one. But there were a couple of tracks with brass that weren't too bad. The Bed, though...oof. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): How Do You Think It Feels, Oh Jim ⭐⭐: Didn't like it, didn't hate it. Saved two tracks.
I guess I'm just not a fan of Lou Reed. This is just another solid number 2 that plopped out onto this list. 💩
I just don't get the allure of Lou Reed. I guess I am supposed to listen to the storytelling in the lyrics, but I find myself not caring at all. The music is the okayest music I've heard in a while and the vocals sound so blasé that I don't even think Lou cares about singing them at all. This one is just a big waste of time.
Sonically, this has some truly unlistenable moments. Thematically, it’s grim and dark and overall unpleasant. But there are some really compelling and nice musical motifs scattered throughout the din and noise. Overall this is not my thing at all but there are a few redeeming qualities.
5/10 - I mean it's alright, it's more about the lyrics rather than the music itself
just
cool album. a bit too theatrical for me. reminded me of bowie
Eh, it was very low end of ok for me
Sad and not my style
I like Lou, I liked Velvet Underground as well. Not sure Lou deserves this many spots in the T1001 though. This will be my first swing at "Berlin", none of the song titles look familiar at first glance... First song, "Berlin" is an instrumental SNOOZER. "Lady Day" & "Men of Good Fortune" continues the slow pace. Then it picks up (a little) in the middle of the album. All forgettable tracks. Then back to Downer City with "Caroline II", "The Kids", "The Bed" and "Sad Song". Holy cow, my eyelids got heavy! Some impressive listen counts with most tracks over 1M, one or two at 2M and 4M. That was the only thing impressive about this album though. I was bored outta my gourd, couldn't wait for it to be over. 1.5 stars.
This was a trippy album. It felt as if I was listening to a theatrical production.
Blind album, know the name from Velvet Underground. I couldnt wait any longer for this to end cause I may have fallen asleep behind the wheel. At least the last song was a little louder.
Reality is grim enough for me, thanks.
I’m sure this is very good but I don’t like it. Musical theatre rock. Not for me.
Top track: Sad Song
Eeehhh, asså det är inte min stil bara. No thanks
#707. Honestly I found this to be kinda generic and somewhat boring. 2/5: meh
i don’t get it but as jackie’s doppleganger, i have to give it something.
This one didn't land for me like other Reed albums.
I love Transformer so much. This album though...
good listen nothing fancy
Not great tbh, all the worst aspects of Lou reed and not many of the good aspects. It's no transformer that's for sure.
Wasn't very impressed with this, felt like Lou thought it was a lot more trippy and interesting than it actually was. Some of the music was quite nice in parts, liked the guitar in the last one but generally think it was focusing more on trying to be arty than sounding good. Found that song with the kids crying at the end particularly off-putting. Think I liked previous velvet underground despite the pretension as opposed to because of it and this album is missing most of the bits I liked.
I appreciate who Lou Reed is and what he means to many but he’s not someone I would seek out. This album was ok - but didn’t make me wanna slap my momma because I was so overjoyed listening to it.
ez nem nekem való.
This is a sleepy, meandering, lifeless effort from an artist that is capable of way better. Might as well have been titled Take a Walk on the Dull Side.
When I reviewed Lou Reed’s previous album, I wrote that Transformer "sounds like demos for a musical about living in New York in the early 70’s that never got made because it was too precious even for a musical about living in New York in the early 70’s". And what does Lou Reed go and do next? Makes his follow up album a literal musical about living in New York in the early 70’s but fictionalizes it by setting it in Berlin, a city to which he had never been at the time it was recorded. Absolute mad lad! Look, the guy wanted to write musicals but writing musicals doesn't pay so he made rock albums instead. He just made his rock albums into “everything but the cast and stage directions and actors” versions of musicals. But here is the thing: I don't like musicals (except Annie) so I don't like this. If you like this, maybe go watch Hamilton on Disney+ or something because you like musicals bruh. (I also like Hamilton).
Interesting listen 2/5
Meh
Gross. Well executed, but disturbing. I get it - Lou Reed telling a story that didn't fit as a single song. Great musicians play on this, the Bob Erin production is very dramatic, everybody here bought in. So it succeeds in taking the listener into the dismal world of the people being depicted. No disrespect intended, but the sincerity of the delivery is chilling, the craftsmanship painstaking, and it reveals something about the artist. Like horror movies that are hyper-realistic. How do you conceive of and execute these disturbing images? What is in your head that makes you pass it off as entertainment, rather than a kind of off-label therapy? And everyone around you is saying "Yes! You should absolutely record and sell this to the public!" instead of: "Hey, Lou, are you okay?" Edgy, though. So if that's your thing, have fun with this.
I know very little about singing, but the singing on this album seemed awful. Every other part was good, though. If they weren't it'd be 0 stars.
Strange album dynamic. Doesn't flow well.
Idk if I was in the headspace for this one
Telling a sad story doesn’t make shit music any less shit
I did not massively love this. I thought it was going to be a live album which I was not looking forward to but it still wasn't good. Very on the nose lyrically which I always find so dull. Musically it was interesting enough. "Sad song" You can't just have your songs announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!
Still not a fan. Don’t get why he’s held up as an amazing songwriter. Like the US version of Leonard Cohen.
Nah, this ain't it bruv. 3/10
Really sad album. I was not a fan of the vocal performance. The delivery was kind of awkward. But you can tell that Lou put a lot of thought into this album and the production on The Kids is haunting.
I was going to give this a 4 but then I realized that while this album makes plenty of impressions, it makes me feel bad. So I'm deducting one star from it because this shit is just too sad. The Kids is a phenomenal number though. Oh Jim as well. There's great songs but the ending gets me too strongly. I'm going to listen to Loaded to freshen up. (7/10, 3/5 on this scale) (Update: Bringing it down to a 2, it's just too damn sad)
There are a couple of moments in the back half of this, but even those (Sad Song, I'm looking at you) go on waaaaay too long. Two stars and Lou can thank me for them.
When I read that this was a concept album about a couple in the throes of addiction I was excited thinking I’d love the storytelling. Not exactly, it was flat and at times uncomfortable. The kids song triggered me hard. I do like how “dark” the album is and there were a couple of songs I’d listen to again on their own but I can confidently say I’ll likely never listen to this album in full again.
At least Transformer had some reasonably uplifting music to accompany the dark lyrics. This is just total and absolute darkness, like a black hole of music. Sucking all the enjoyment out of life track after track. I like The Velvet Underground and I like Lou Reed, but this is just soul destroying listening to this.
I've never been a huge fan of Lou Reed, I think he's kind of overrated but this album was not good, especially that weird ass kids song ugh! I was listening to that and it instantly made me want to stop listening lol I get why people say he's so good but I just never thought so 🤷
😬
Some of the music was nice. The voice - not so much.
Not as good as his other work. Doesn't have any standout songs. 2.5/5 Probably won't listen again
Ugh. Rock opera shit. "Et tu, Louté?"
Why are we repeatedly asked to listen to this atonal garbage. No woman would ever be allowed to put out an album with a voice like that.
Berlin is the third studio album from Lou Reed, who began his solo career after his time with the Velvet Underground. Berlin is a concept album; it is the story of a couple's struggles with drug abuse. The album was panned critically, and did find much commercial success. Over time, retrospective reviews have been increasingly positive. It is not clear why the album's reputation should improve. These are not particularly interesting songs, that wander past melodramatic into an "oddly contrived" space. Reed ends the album with "Sad Song," in which Reed repeats "Sad Song," over and over again. It's so stupid that the album lost a star for this song, alone.
I like his vocal delivery.
Ugh
Brutally depressing. Also getting tired of albums about heroin addiction.
point7.
Lou Reed is folk music for punks I suppose. This has pretty bleak subject material which didn't really resonate with me. It was tolerable, except for The Kids, which I really didn't enjoy.
This isn’t terrible, but this project is making me realize that I like the concept of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground more than I really like their music. 2.75
Kinda shite
Not as bad as I remember, but certainly not good.
4/10…art rock / glam rock
Not feeling it at all. One listen was enough
my rating might be more heavily weighted on the last song in this album but i feel like the vocals didn’t match the instrumentals very well. i was left wanting more a lot
Sad Reed is bad Reed.
Not a fan of this one. I felt like it was quite boring and I was not a fan of his voice.
tedious
Not really my jam. Bit depressing and disappointing
I could not imagine stepping into a vocal booth to lay down vocals over some really cool sounding backing tracks and instrumental performances and when I open my mouth to sing, I sound like I just ingested half a bottle of Xanax and I am trying to claw my way out of a haze. Yet that's what this album sounds like to me....for ten whole tracks....like....singing like that on purpose. It's just kind of perplexing. Maybe there's something I'm missing or just don't get. Cool instrumental performances. The singing made me feel numb, like listening to Ben Stein read the dictionary.
I liked his last one... this one was not so great. Pretty boring overall. Big meh.
This is pretty boring and I didn't really get into it.
Not a good album to listen to after a hard week. Lou is an advocate for the forgotten urban’s plight, which I respect, but I’d prefer this album if there were no vocals. His voice was just too jarring for me.
Rock, 1973 -> 2
Okay, but Reed's voice can be grating at times. Also this album felt a bit all over the place.
Annoying, then ok, then back to annoying again!
听不明白，有点不能确定这盘专辑的风格
This is so close to being a decent album but it's lacking something that I cannot put my finger on.
With a different singer this may have been an enjoyable album but alas......
Lou Reed is fortunate to have great musicians backing him up: Bob Ezrin, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Winwood, Michael & Randy Brecker and Tony Levin. But damn it, the vocals are just... terrible. I have never liked Lou Reed's vocals. He writes some pretty good lyrics, but the problem is he has to SING them. The only time I thought they were effective was at the beginning of "Caroline Says II", but it went on for too long. "Men Of Good Fortune" ended weird, I thought. I was expecting more of a fadeout. "How Do you Think It Feels..." great lyrics, but the delivery, ugh. "Sad Song" really had some great music backing him up, but dammit, Lou, find the melody. SOMEWHERE. It's just so... frustrating. NEXT.
Wow. I really did not like that. Lou Reed seems to speak to a subset of a generation that I am definitively not a part of and I find his smugness boring, annoying, and dated all at once. Giving it a courtesy point for the ripping guitar solo at the end of “How Do You Think It Feels”
Noped out of this when the kids started crying. And then I heard the kids in Oh Jim. Stick to the hits, Lou.
Whatever.
2.3
Never was a big fan of this one. It has some good moments and the concept is interesting, but it's so dreary and I don't find the songs strong enough to carry the album's replayability. Key tracks Caroline Says I How Do You Think It Feels
ho apprezzato la chitarra (sempre meno verso la fine), lui non ha una brutta voce trovo ma era sempre monotono diciamo. Musicalmente non mi ha colpito e sinceramente le parole non ho ascoltato molto ma il poco che ho capito erano argomenti che non mi interessavano molto..Non penso di riascoltarlo, forse molto più in là nella mia vita. L'ultima canzona mi è già piaciuta di più.
I do enjoy a good concept album telling a story but just couldn't really get into this one. Just felt really dreary and nothing really stood out to me.
In general, did not like Lou Reed's talk-singing style however not giving this album a 1 star because I enjoyed the music.
"Men of good fortune / Often cause empires to fall / While men of poor beginning / Often can't do anything at all." It's a concept album with a miserable bummer of a concept. I kind of like "Men of Good Fortune," quoted above, and several other songs at least have pieces I like. I almost rated this at a 1 because the subject matter sucks so bad, especially near the end, but listening back through it one last time I found more parts to like than I'd remembered.
I don't understand the appeal of Lou Reed. Only avoided a 1 because it's not the worst thing on the list. 2/5
I could really only think of bad things to say about Lou Reed's music so I'll just say nothing.
A bunch of Lou Reed songs I had never heard before. All decent, but not ones I would go back and listen to many more times.
Turns out I don't really love Lou Reed save for maybe 2 songs. This album did not do it for me at all.
4.5/10
2.5
An acquired taste. A bit depressing. For me, not as good as Transformer.
This ok but nothing that will move you. It’s 2.5 but Im gonna go down.
Exactly how I expected it to sound. ..
Not dreadful, but a bit annoying. I liked most of it, but not enough for me to add it to my library.
I tried but could just not get into this one. Might've just been the wrong day.
never really been a fan of lou reed, and this did nothing to change that. i have always found him kind of boring and thought he was vastly overrated.
Loses a star because of the goddamned baby.
This guys a communist
Not a Lou Reed fan
it was ok
I do love Lou Reed but this one wasn't my fave
It's honestly not bad, but there's something about it I can't shake. The crying child put me off it a bit. There's an air of cruel cynicism to it that I just don't care for.
Not horrible but not something I would listen to again. His vocals are constantly flat.
It’s quite a bad album. Not entirely sure of its purpose.
Idk. Seems like the dude is reveling in female misery.
I would have much preferred Perfect Day ten times in a row. And not the Lou Reed version, that celebrity one from the 90s.
I previously had no exposure to Lou Reed other than Walk on the Wild Side. Thought this album might be a bit weird, and it was, but I didn’t hate it. I don’t care much for his half-singing half-talking vocal style, but I guess that’s a big part what makes him Lou Reed. I might have to give it another listening, due to the story telling. Not really my thing, though.
This album could have been OK if it was sung by someone who could actually sing or at least enjoys singing. But it's not. The songs are better than on his other album on the list, Transformer, but the singing is just as awful. Favorite song: Lady Day
Lou Reed has always been very hit or miss for me and, unfortunately, this album didn’t hit home. A very sad and touching story throughout… but I found myself pretty zoned out while driving around.
Not a big Lou Reed fan.
So I listened to this a few days ago, and forgot that I had listened and what any of the songs were like. I relistened, and I think that I liked it, but it drifts from my mind like flour through a sieve. Favorite track: I think there was one called "How Do You Think It Feels"
cool
um... not for me
:S
Okay, so there are some weird songs, but a few other ones are pretty decent, so that slightly makes up those unenjoyable minutes and this is why I have decided to rate this slightly higher.
Man knows how to cultivate an atmosphere. … the same self gratification and ego as Dylan as it goes on though, everything about him … I do not like Lou Reed.
Well, that was depressing.
Miserable, which is understandable given the ‘concept’. But even the previously-wistful Caroline Says gets flattened out here. Interesting, but it does reinforce the perception that Reed wasn’t always a bundle of laughs. Transformer was so much more playful, and more meaningful for it. You need some light to appreciate the shade. That is lacking here.
An album from Smiling Lou that has somehow passed me by. I was looking forward to this, but ended up feeling a little let down. I quite liked the scummy cabaret feel, but felt it lacked the quality of songs to see it through. Marc and the Mambas did a far better cover of Caroline Says.
Not a horrible album but no idea what merits warrant it being on this list.
Mjaa 🤷🏼♂️ Det er ikke decideret dårligt, hvis vi ser bort fra lyden af grædende børn. Men det bliver heller aldrig godt.
Babies crying? I don’t need to hear that
I wish it was good like his other album
Really disappointed in this one. Pretty somber stuff.
Ok music, but for me not very interesting
Hard work for little reward. Found Caroline Says II good though.
Second song was alright. The rest were shite
That was a weird one, didn't go past the first few songs, but probably I should give it another chance in a different moment
I think I am allergic to this style if singing/talking the lyrics... which by the way I also don't find particularly interesting
i bet people really like this but it just doesn't do anything for me, baby crying drops it a star too
Pretty bad Lou album. I can see why this one was maligned at the time. 1.5/5
Samey
One of his slower albums, not my favorite
Just can't do Lou Reed. When I see his name appear as next up on here part of me lets out a little groan. Same as Nick Cave, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen. Can I just skip them all now please. Give them all 2* so they don't feel too put out.
STANDOUTS: No? the DARK subject matter interests me but...sonically? nothing unique. OVERALL: 2/5
He talks through his albums atonally. No memorable songs.
Crazy how much less I like this than the other Lou Reed within on this list.
all respect to lou reed i love the work he did with the velvet underground, but this album was really boring i found it hard to stay focused and it was a challenge for me to listen to the last 3 as they’re all over 5 minutes long.
This is more listenable than most Lou Reed stuff that I’ve heard but I still don’t like it and don’t understand the appeal
This was around the point when someone should have taken Lou aside and told him to stop making music. This album does sneak in an extra star for creativity though. 1.5/5.0: Bad
they really heard this man gently whisper over light guitar strumming and called it an album to hear before you die
Not my cup of tea.
I like some Lou Reed albums (Transformer is (imho) good and New York is brilliant. This one however was a bit...er... 'odd' and not really to my taste - at least on the first couple of listens... Maybe if I re-visit it'll improve - but, tbh, I'm not sure I'm going to...
'Sad Song' the best track.
This little bitch won't shut about about some girl named Caroline. No body cares Lou! 2.5 stars
Kinda folky, kinda emo, kinda boring. Last song was pretty interesting. It felt like a happy and triumphant song even though it was a "sad song". Maybe something about the lady finally finding peace after razoring her arms? Probably could get a lot out of this album if I listened again and more in-depth, but overall not really doing anything for me.
Terrible vocals with stylistic choices that ruin decent songs
There was a time when I actively disliked Lou Reed's music. It inspired anger in me. Maybe not anger, but something strong and negative. That's no longer the case, at least not as I listened to Berlin, but I kept wondering, what was Lou Reed's compulsion to create music? He's like the opposite of auto-tune. He can take anything and make sound out of key and unmelodic. He sounds bored and uninspired... so why do it? I get about as much enjoyment listening to this as he sounds delivering it, which is to say, not much.
Not his best and I don't think it deserves to be on the list.
Not my speed…a little too beatnik for me
Heroin high music
I didn't like or dislike it. Never heard any of this before. It might be nice as background music for some other activity. Probably just not my thing.
I wasn't really feeling it to start from, but halfway through it got sleep inducing. The crying kid was the final nail in the coffin. (I guess I take back my comment on Cloud Nine by The Temptations) Okay, Sad Song is actually pretty good, but he could have done more with the chorus.
C'était très dépressif.
Sellainen olo, että tästä on tekemällä tehty koskettavuuteen pyrkivä levy? Se ei tavoittanut mua kuin aavistuksena. Ja kysyn: onko Caroline saysin tarkoitus keskustella Stephanie saysin kanssa tai olla sisarbiisi? Herää siis kysymyksiä tavoitteista, mikä ei ole ainakaan nyt superhyvä merkki. Mutta levyn tunnelma sopi harmaaseen päivään, pidin kokonaisuudesta siltä kantilta.
Uskottavat puitteet, mutta jotain puuttuu: tasalaatuisen kiinnostavat kappaleet. Aihepiiri ei ainakaan niitä korvaa.
I couldn’t get into this one, not my thing.
I guess it is important to some one. The main character seems like a nice guy. 2+*
This isn’t for me. It’s not bad, but Lou Reed just isn’t my jam.
Once that baby started crying, I had to stop listening. The most disappointing Lou Reed album.
I would have expected a better, more enjoyable album from Lou Reed.
I love The Velvet Underground, and I think Lou is a bit of a musical genius in that band. However, his solo work has just never done it for me. It flashes greatness but is so interspersed with just some weird ass and uber depressing vibes.