Reviews (page 6 of 8)
4.5
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
I enjoyed this. I liked the orchestration used throughout and its got quite the star studded list of musicians.
I didn’t quite give this the attention it deserved but it was okay. I had an idea what to expect based on Apple Music’s write-up. It didn’t really capture my attention either way.
Legendary concept album about a relationship that after a good start (Berlin) starts to fall apart in awful ways (Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed). Not the happiest lyrics, but an emotional rollercoaster.
Nice pop-rock. Not his best, but a good listen.
Lyrical. Emotive. Genius.
they really heard this man gently whisper over light guitar strumming and called it an album to hear before you die
Words are good. Music okay
Lou Reed. Icon for many. Revered by some as even more. I still don't get it. Though some of them there diddies weren't bad… Future me again… maybe, just maybe, after having listened to one too many shit albums, I find that I was a little too strict with my scoring when I originally started this journey. This album, the 36th to be presented to me, I found to be worthy of a 2*, yet, I just listened to it again, and I am going to double that score… weird how things can work out...
Slow musically, appreciate the narrative. Reminds me of Evelyn Evelyn (2010), whom he likely influenced. Perhaps I’ll listen to Bowie’s Berlin trilogy to flesh out my thoughts on Germany. More interesting than aesthetically pleasing. Enjoyed The Kids, Men of Good Fortune, and Caroline Says.
Always hear about this one as a Lou Reed highlight, has never grabbed me. There's always something cool about a Lou Reed project, reaching its potential less and less as he works with Professional Session Musician types. A standout of VU/the best Lou Reed is that there's no blues guitar solos etc., & some of these post-VU albums have moments that sound like Musical Theatre Presents: The Songs of Lou Reed. Musically, Caroline Says pt. II is very nice and I would probably like it quite a bit if there wasn't Stephanie Says already. Lyrically/vocally I don't think Lou Reed pulls off the sensitivity for this domestic violence story.
This is musically probably my favourite Lou Reed thing I’ve encountered (though I know he worked with a wide variety of people through his life, and I’ve barely scratched the surface over the years). But I think it’s kinda hard for me to engage with this kind of bleak/tragic story. It’s very well done, it’s just the sort of thing that tends to not connect with me. My rating here is more about my taste than the album’s content, but aren’t they all.
enjoyed more than i thought i would. a peculiar guy it seems. downloaded 3,4,5&9
Maybe the best Lou Reed album I’ve ever heard.
This shit sucks
What a great album. Melancholy and longing and a celebration of life.
Not my cup of tea.
LP
Accidentally listened to the live version. Not sure I got it as there’s clearly some kind of narrative but I liked it anyway
4.1 Gave it a couple of listens. In addition to the obvious, Lou Reed sure gets some good bass players to contribute to the albums
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...
Schön uu hören sehr abwechslungsreich gute Texte
Apart from Walk on the Wild Side and Perfect Day, I could never really take to Lou. I think he always tried to be too artistic - too beyond his capabilities Berlin - waste of a track Lady Day - odd, but still half decent Men of Good fortune - crap Caroline - another odd one. Bit over theatric. How do you think it feels - Nah Oh Jim - Oh No Enough... it's 1/5
The instrumentation of this albums is great, even the poetry is really thoughtful but man, his voice is just so boring and I don’t like the style of speak singing that he does that it makes the songs kind of bland and forgettable. I kind of figured that it had some kind of story before I read the description but sometimes these concept albums make a lot of sacrifices for the sake of the story, and I think the melody/lyrics kind of make focus on telling the story and not on expressing it musically. C teir
helvíti gott.
'Sad Song' the best track.
Absolutely shite
Music to jump out of a window to.
Cannot believe just how bad this is. Almost unlistenable. I have nothing good to say
I absolutely love Transformer (the album he released just prior to this) but have never dug deeper into Lou Reed. Album opens in a hazy drunken state with some piano plinking with messy, overlaid vocal samples. The samples give way to a melancholy piano melody and Lou's typical deadpan delivery. Lady Day is a more boisterous tromp of a song that makes use of traditional folk elements (horns, woodwinds, organs). Production kind of sounds crappy tbh. This album is very very different from my memory of Transformer (will have to relisten) and almost isn't fair to compare. Whereas Transformer is a straightforward rock album, this is a cohesive opera telling the storyline of two drug addicted lovers. While both feature Reed's deadpan in full, this feels more "full" with all of the additional instrumental flourishes through the front half. I will say that comparatively, I like this album far less; there aren't as many individual songs to sink your teeth into. Also this is significantly bleaker in its tone and subject matter (drug addiction, children being taken away, suicide). The songwriting is solid, but in service to the progression of the central plot, and therefore are not as catchy in their individuality. I would say for the concept this scores high, but for musical enjoyment this is low in my regard. 3 at its best of days for me.
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.
Such a strange album but it was pretty cool. Took a while for that style of music to grow on me with the way hew as singing. But the backing instrumentals kept getting better and better. It was kind of like the whole album was composed of the interludes that are in The Wall. Had some good highs but also some pretty bad lows. But all around enjoyable
Such dark lyrics a quite the story. Never really went into any crazy highs or lows for me. Solid 3. Really love his voice though throughout with the instrumentals and I feel like on a different day I could get more into this.
The first half has bursts of rock n roll and doo wop. (“Caroline Says I” and “How Do You Think It Feels” were highlights for me.) And the second half has longer, sadder story-centric songs. (“The Kids” and “The Bed” were both heartbreaking.) Lou Reed is a plainspoken poet. He’s very direct in his lyrics and he emphasizes that directness with a sort of flat style of singing. He’s not afraid to say something in a monotone voice and just let it sit there for the listener to absorb. I’m a big fan of his in general and this was an interesting album I hadn’t heard before. Lots to dig into and enjoy.
There's something about Lou Reed's music that makes me kind of bored. It feels like he has a lot to say and even has plenty of emotion in his vocals and performances, but almost like he doesn't say it loud enough. It makes it so when I listen to him I really have to lean-in and listen, because he's not going to grab me and pull me in. I did really like "Oh Jim" and the midway shift from heavy electric to soft acoustic vibe. I don't know if I'll ever really get Lou Reed or he'll cross that boundary from "listenable music" to "desirable music" for my personal tastes. I will say that I also don't find myself reaching to turn off his music when it comes on.
Love Lou Reed. But this is rubbish.
blerherhwnergcuiosehng NNNNNNNN
Terrible vocals with stylistic choices that ruin decent songs
Svårt att säga nåt , men chill lysning, hade kunnat sätta på när som helst
Good album. Lou Reed is not really my flavor but he is clearly very talented
Не Трансформер, не Велвет Андеграунд, но музыка отличная. Лучшая песня - Sad Song.
Dark and beautiful. Rough and delicate. What an album.
This was one of my favourite albums as a child. I was in awe of the storytelling. The music was haunting and even the sound effects contributed to such a poignant narrative. The crying children on the kids got me every time. As a concept album, I think it’s complete and not overly long. Deceptively simple but just beautiful in a sometimes sad and horrific way. There is not one weak song here and even though some songs are rewrites or rehashes of older material, they make a cohesive whole. Heartbreaking but a true classic.
I'm not a fan of Lou Reed's "singing" but he's got a great band. I love what's going on behind the vocals.
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.
I admire the ambition of this album way more than the execution. Caroline Says II, which is a remake of The VU's Stephanie Says, is a great example. He took a pretty, albeit straightforward, song and deconstructed it to the point of sabotage. It could have worked, but his singing really got in the way. Frankly, his singing was my main complaint on this album. But damn, The Bed—a song I'd never heard before—absolutely floored me, and mostly because of his singing. And that's the thing with Lou. His use of Sprechstimme can make or break a song. With the Velvets, it almost always worked. In his solo career, it often seems like self-parody. But this was my first listen to Berlin. I could see this album growing on me.
Not his best and I don't think it deserves to be on the list.
Favorite songs: Lady Day, Men of Good Fortune, Caroline Says II, How Do You Think It Feels.
lou reed should have lived for ever oh yeah! this is groovy!
Not my speed…a little too beatnik for me
Boo
I was expecting to dislike this album, but put it on in the background! «This is probablly just another overhyped depressed junkie with a guitar and an undeserved record deal». At some point I started to wonder «Hmm, this sounds very different than what I expected». By the end I had to put all my focus into this, and it revealed itself to be absolutely beautiful. Then I looked at the personell involved, and I was mindblown. This has both Brecker Brothers, Steve Winwood, Bob Ezrin, Tony Levin AND Jack Bruce on it? Upon my second listening, I now realize that I am a complete idiot. This is beautifully arranged and performed. At times it sounds fresher than anything else of the day, which goes to show Ezrin's talent for production. The album drags a bit in the middle, but never so much that it would be better off if anything was removed. There are things that don't always resonate with my aesthetic preferences, but most of the album hits me straight in the heart. I know need to revisit every single «overhyped depressed junkie with a guitar», which is far too many for me to list here.
When it started I thought I was going to hate it but by the end I couldn't deny the cohesive vision behind the album. It also sounds really good for a mid-70s record and doesn't suffer from that stuffy studio treatment that so many albums from this period do.
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.
"Berlin" is essentially Lou Reed's musical interpretation of "Hamlet." The songs themselves aren't spectacular but the album touches base upon gruesome, macabre themes with a surprising modernity. "Berlin" explores a couple's moral descent into prostitution, substance abuse, domestic violence and eventual suicide. "The Kids" contains snippets of children wailing for their mother who can no longer provide for them. While "Berlin" is not an accessible album for casual music listeners, I think it's a worthy listen. Lou Reed has definitely changed my perception on the world.
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.
# Playlist Track - Sad Song # Notes - This is a profoundly weird album. It has a janky opening, awful samples of real kids crying and strange transitions and theme changes. - Not that I would expect something different from Lou Reed. - Still, I enjoyed immensely the final bang with "Sad Sond", and not just because the album was finally over.
A dour piece of greatly arranged and lyrical commercial suicide. I love it.
An amazing album. It’s like a photo album of despair and abuse. Wow.
C'était très dépressif.
I like Lou Reed, but I'm not sure every single one of his albums needs to be on this list. Still, it's a solid album - probably not my favorite of his, but classic Lou.
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.
This is the album that made me stumble upon the 1001 album book! What a powerful album.
Opener was great but I just can't get into Mr. Reed
3.5, great at parts and at times dragged on
I couldn’t get into this one, not my thing.
really sad lyrics over top some really triumphant and uplifting melodies. big fan of lou reed in general.
I'm usually pretty ambivalent when it comes to Lou Reed, but this record was a very pleasant surprise. The orchestration here gave a very proto-Spiritualized vive, which I'm all in on. Immediately my favorite Lou Reed project I've heard.
Quite a hard listen because of the subject matter but still amazing. Cant see myself listening it to it too much again but still a great time.
Un LP que, por razones que desconozco, nunca había escuchado antes. Siguiendo directamente a la obra maestra que es "Transformer", Reed no decepciona, entregándonos una colección de canciones melancólicas, potentes y tristes, interpretadas con especial foco en la grandeza de las cuerdas y los bronces. Muy recomendado.
Fine. Not really my thing. I love some of Lou’s solo stuff and VU stuff, but this album did not grab me. This album makes me think of Rocky Horror. Or do I have that backwards? Did Berlin (1973) influence Rocky Horror (1975)?
I was excited when this one came up, I haven’t heard it in years. And then I remembered why. This is such a beautiful, grotesque monster of a record, with moments that make me smile but even more that disturb me deeply. I mean, that’s the point. And few people can nail that beautiful grotesquerie like Lou Reed. I love this album but it will be a few years before I revisit.
While, I prefer Velvet Underground, I do like some Lou Reed solo stuff. This didn’t do it for me, but was pretty good.
Given the themes, this is actually quite absorbing and I guess if anyone was going to do this in the early 70s, it was Lou Reed. He is ably assisted by a team of distinguished personnel as he guides us through some dark places. Is this why Bowie and Iggy were attracted to the place? One last point: I could have done without the crying and screaming children.
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.
This is one of those a,bums that you’re supposed to like. Like vegetables, it’s good for you. And it’s ok. The only song I knew was Lady Day, and I strongly prefer the version from Rock and Roll animal. The record songs really great, especially the bass. But overall, the songs are just OK. And nobody will ever contend that Reed was a great singer. I suppose this is a charming album, a solid 3/5
New to this album. The Bed was haunting.
Lou Reed has always been a story teller and this album captures that very well. He also comes across as authentic -- there is a real experience to the stories and a connection.
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.
This sounds like a bad Bowie album. I didn't mind some of it, I hated the rest of it.
The more I hear from Lou Reed, the more I am in awe
Absurdly bleak. I remember borrowing this from the library in my teens: not exactly Laden with mixtape bangers to impress a pal or woo a prospective girlfriend. I love it
10/10 definitely a bit different from his other work, but still so great
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.
I wanted to like this… but I did not. I listened several times and just when I’d find something to like, something else would come along and ruin it. The crying baby about did me in. But I can’t say it’s wholly unlistenable, so I’ll give it 2/5.
I did not enjoy this album at any level.
Yawn inducing
4.1 - I love Lou Reed a lot and think this album was great, but I wouldn't say it was my favourite.
I really wanted to like this one, but sadly I didn't get all that much from it. I listened twice through and both times round my main takeaway was that Sad Song is by far my favourite track here. Fave Tracks: Lady Day, Sad Song 2.6/5
Some interesting things, but not enough for me to recommend it.
I think this is what I want Bob Dylan to be lol. Probably better than Transformer, but I'll have to relisten and compare
A more understated and "literary" brand of rock opera. Pretty disappointing considering how much I loved Transformer; a little too dour and serious, and honestly kind of same-y. Best song: Sad Song
Prefer Rock and Roll Animal
Very different album. Ups and downs. And one moment in particular that was very off putting. But definitely all Lou Reed.
Felt like the back half of this album had a lot more to it.
This was an interesting album. It's got kind of a Rocky Horror meets Rent vibe to it. If you treat it as more of a musical/show than a straight album, it's not bad. It definitely gets melodramatic and can be a bit much in parts, but I didn't hate it. The campiness is definitely on par for a Lou Reed project. I don't know how much I'd listen to it again, though. Best songs: Men of Good Fortune, How Do You Think It Feels, Oh Jim, Sad Song
Lou Reed is always welcome at a listening party. I can't say I was fully taken in but this will get more spins, probably.
That's a whole lotta Lou Reed doing Lou Reed things. I like his music, I have a few of his albums, a couple from the Velvet Underground, but tellingly I don't own this. I'm no stranger to a concept album or rock opera, but a whole narrative arc buoyed by Reed's halting sotto voce is a little exhausting. Despite that, some of the songs make an impression, whether poignant or harrowing. I'm sure Alice Cooper was taking notes for Welcome To My Nightmare, perhaps having heard 'How Do You Think It Feels' in particular.
Sad, emotional, but a truly story teller album! 51 yrs old album still looking actual. 3,5/5
As a rule of thumb, I prefer albums with heavier production and less lyrical focus. I was prepared to make this album an exception, if only because Lou Reed has a reputation as a musical storyteller and for being incredibly influential on his contemporaries. The album is decent, albeit incredibly lyrically-focused and without much melodic (or, indeed, musical) regard. There were some musical peaks, namely the brilliant horn-focused production in some of the later tracks. However, I did drift away from the lyrics a few times and found myself thinking "This music is kind of nondescript... where's the energy?" And with the exception of a few tracks on side 2 (Sad Song, Caroline Says II, The Kids), the music does feel somewhat lacking energy and emotion. Maybe that was the point. I can see someone of Reed's calibre asking his bandmates to "Play simply!" for the sake of driving home the album's concepts of introspection, lost love, and coping with hitting rock-bottom. Perhaps as a result of this, the concepts are communicated clearly and capture a vivid image of a doomed couple's lives falling apart. Even someone as thick-headed as myself could pretty much understand what was going on. As a concept album, it's tough to fault it. I've listened to a couple of Velvet Underground albums prior to this (their first two albums), and I do prefer them to this one. Still, I can acknowledge the influence this had on artists such as Bowie (Low-era) and some later Pink Floyd projects like The Wall and The Final Cut. 3/5
I had not heard any of the songs before, not bad.
Not my cup of tea but, there is something refreshing about listening to a piano in Berlin! Caroline Says II would probably be the only song I'd listen to again
I enjoyed listening to it but not sure I'd listen to it again.
I love Lou Reed. I love the Velvet Underground. I have never heard this album before. ….aaaaaand I will never hear it again. This album was, for lack of a better word, cringy. I felt like I was listening to a Jackie Rodgers Jr skit. I expected him to break out with “Meshugana! meshugana! Gerr, gerrr, gerrr” Weirdly, one bright spot “Caroline Says 2”. All of the sudden it sounded like Lou Reed again. Then it went away.
what do you get when you take a rock album and strip it of any vocal inflection, instrumentally cohesive tracks, and basic enthusiasm? 40 something minutes of mindless crooning. im not mad, just disappointed. listening to blue oyster cult after so i can remember what good soft rock sounds like again.
So horrifying. So real. Couldn't look away. I was going to give it a 1 star. But it haunted me all day. Does that mean that it should get 5 star? I'll go with 3 just because I can't decide.
Sigh. I had high hopes, I like Lou Reed, I think. I thought. Currently bored though. I enjoyed Berlin, and Caroline Says II.
I would have loved seeing this at an easy village club. Hearing it on a stereo isn't quite doing it for me. I'm liking it but not loving it so far (Caroline says I). My enjoyment picked up. I think because the production got more sparse which made it more clean and raw at the same time. By the time Caroline Says II rolled around I was way more inside the album. It's still getting a 3, but 2 is totally off the table now.
I love the VU, but never really got into Lou Reed solo--maybe his 'hits' that were radio played never grabbed me. This album absolutely grabbed me and somehow I hung on every word. I'm not sure how the math adds up here to Lou Reed being good. He's so weird. But I dig it.
This was interesting - I don't have opportunity to listen to many concept albums for the first time. "Lady Day" seemed like a good intro track. The next one was forgettable but I liked "Caroline Says I". I could've done without the screaming kids in "The Kids". Overall, not bad, but I won't ever return to it.
I don’t think I really got it yet, it I liked it.
Every so often you come across an album where you just can't believe it wasn't on your radar before. Rock operas/concept albums always fit that bill for me - I love albums to have a narrative focus. This one is inventive while also being tuneful. It creates a soundscape that alternates between grooving and being ethereally expansive. Great album!
I'm not a huge fan of his voice, and while the music is fine and has some flashes of brilliance, it's never really consistently great. The star of this album is the lyrics and the story of the full album. They're dark and sad, but well crafted and make for a great listen.
A beautiful, sad, sultry album...one of his best.
Perfect album for cloudy nights. He was probably very depressed while recording this album
pretty good album, I think in terms of Lou Reed’s music I liked Transformer much more. Berlin is much more laid back vibe
Bit of a direct innit? This is actually pretty good and I'm tempted to go 4 here, but I think the fact that I will probably not go back to this for the most part probably keeps it a 3.
Good: men of good fortune, sad song
I enjoyed this one because it reminded me of a movie
I like this, it is definitely a whole album listen, which I'm in to
sympathique
It wasn't bad, but I didn't notice anything super exceptional either.
Sounds a lot like Tom Waits in places, but it just didn't have the same impact to me.
Really liked it! Hadn't ever listened to Lou Reed solo stuff even though I like the Velvet Underground. It was depressing but really beautiful
This is tough one for me. The music kinda sucks, it plays well with the lyrical themes and has some very poignant moments but overall the music sucks. But man, what fantastic storytelling. In under 50 minutes Lou manages to spin a tale of toxic relationships, drug abuse, prostitution, domestic violence, child neglect and suicide. A harrowing and dark tale told with unflinching honestly. 9/10 I just wish the music was better.
Started strong, ended weak. 3/5
Interesting idea as a concept album but quite a dreary and depressing listen. Won't be listening again
life is far too short for me to get into this in any meaningful way
Pretty shitty.
Hard to get past a cool voice. It's a different album for sure.
Love Lou Reed. I wouldn’t listen to this outside of this project much, but he creates interesting mellow songs
perliini. ja englanniksi tulee virttä.. kuiskutellen etenee kunnes bombastinen, jättimäinen lopetusnumero.. hyvä ääni kaverilla, haavoittuvainen, pikkupoika...elämä ohi nipsnaps, miksi olemme näin heikkoja? sairas paska lyriikat. And no one showed us to the land, And no one knows the where's or why's.. lady day
How much fiction was poured into this story? What to do with this moving tragedy? Do you think Irvine Welsh was inspired by Lou while writing Trainspotting? Do you think Lou knew the power of his work and its influence on upcoming generations?
Better than "Transformer." Sweeps from cabaret act to soaring orchestral movements without dropping the ball.
Eh, a bit of a miss...
Probably my favorite Lou Reed to come across here, and I liked it alright. On the whole, though, Lou Reed solo and Velvet Underground both have a lot of albums on here, and while I think Velvet Underground deserves about that amount of exposure, the glut of solo stuff on top of it pushes Reed over into territory of "OK I've had about enough of this guy"
Reed, Bowie, heroin. Most people can't even function on drugs and these guys were blasting out killer albums. Fucking wild.
this was a strange album for me. i think the first half i was sort of adjusting to this album. it's a little off-kilter. by the second half i was really enjoying myself, especially with the songs that had a horn section. not an album i think i would have expected lou reed to make given my previous context on him listening here, but still, a fun time, a little challenging, but i could see myself listening to this album a few more times and really appreciating the quirkiness.
Muy buen disco. Tiene cosas de joya pero sobre el final se vuelve medio somnífero. Está para escucharlo bien profundo con auriculares. La calidad de Lou Reed es innegable.
Lou Reed sucks
I like Lou Reed, but I don't like Lou Reed albums. There I said it.
While I'm not a huge fan of his voice, the songs and instrumentation were warm and rich.
Some of it was very nice. Some of it was not.
Great music. Typical Reed poor voice.
Fun and interesting listen. Really enjoyed it
pretty kewl? but also boring and depressing he doesn't really sing, he just talks oh wait it kinda gets worse 😕
I do like his Smokey voice. I enjoyed this album.
Ummm, no. I like a good concept album and I like Reed, but nothing here caught my attention. Meh. Dull. I didn't even pick up a character. I can understand why it was totally panned, but not why it has since gained favor.
Standout- "Lady Day," "Men of Good Fortune,""Oh Jim," "Caroline Says I & II," Lyrics/Vocals- 4/5 Instrumentals- 5/5 Vibes- 5/5 Overall- 5/5 I love Lou Reed, so I went into this with high expectations and was not disappointed. Lou Reed's voice may not be for everyone, but it's distinct. This album felt fun, and a lot of the production value really shined in this album. Lou Reed was a very talented musician, and I say that even without my previously mentioned biases.
Didn’t really do much for me
Damn. I love this album. Never heard it before, but after a couple listens to it today, I think it is so great. All my favorite songs are on side two. But, all and all, it's pretty fantastic. 5/5: The Kids, Caroline Says II, The Bed, How Do You Think It Feels 4/5: Sad Song, Berlin, Men of Good Fortune, Caroline Says I, Oh Jim Rating: 4/5
I couldn't get into it. I read it was a story of a drug addicted couple, and that made sense. It just wasn't for me.
Besides the musical legacy, Lou Reed is most responsible for most of us New Yorkers wearing black 12 months out of the year.
better than the other lou reed album but... 2
Three out of my last five albums have featured Lou Reed and I've loved every single one of them. Now I'm even more excited to do a full deep dive. 4.5/5
One of the most boring and utterly mind numbing things I have ever listened to. Ptew!
Good too
What a challenging narrative. Not a great listen altogether but a bold concept. There a number of fine musical moments along with a few dirge-like passages. One or two songs work outside of the concept and could be listened stand-alone.
Thoughts before listening: I don't know much of Lou Reed's solo work outside of the hits, but I do know a lot of it can be challenging. I feel like I probably won't like this all that much, but I'm definitely interested to listen to a full album. Review: This is a very nice surprise. I am rather enjoying this album even if I have never heard these songs before. I always loved Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground, and his talk singing vocal delivery is one that instantly draws me in. This is much more of a rock sound to this album than I was expecting, especially the guitar solos on "How Do You Think It Feels". I also like "Lady Day" and "Caroline Says I". There are some songs that don't work for me, and the lyrics are all pretty dark, but overall this was a nice listen. 3-star album.
Piano bar/basement lounge singer vibes. A "sit-down" mind of album. Hadn't listened to this lou reed album before and while it was good, it wasn't my favorite.
I liked this album. Nothing incredible but also not bad.
So theatrical though very macabre. I love an album that tells a story, and this one does it very well - poor Caroline. Even if it is much darker than what I would usually listen to, there is no denying the artfulness.
Best Song: Oh Jim. I liked the driving rhythm on this one. Worst Song: The Kids. It was definitely a choice to close this song out with the sounds of children crying. Good thing they also blow out the microphone. Overall: I find that I like the idea of Lou Reed more than I like the reality of him. I'm a big fan of other of these artists who can write but can't sing, but something about Reed's droning vocals make it harder for me to appreciate the writing.
I am not sure how often I would want to listen to this but I can appreciate it. can't really imagine rolling stone calling it a disaster
Lou Reed really can’t sing
DNF’d
I can appreciate a concept album, but this is just too slow and depressing for me. The music is actually pretty good, but the long drawn out depressing voice cancels out the music. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none
Sad lyrics dominated by Lou’s spoken word like singing. Not a big fan of this
Some real standouts amid a lot of dullness
I liked the music, but couldn’t stand his voice. Also the children crying and screaming during “The Kids” was disturbing. I do like when music makes me feel emotions, but I don’t know if I liked that emotion.
hoo boy that was a depressing one
I like big crescendos and the motifs but I don't think I like the topics much at all. nor some of the other choices made
Man Lou Reed is tough because if you like his music you have to be like "yeah so there's this great album about just all the worst things that can happen to you"
first half of the album was meh and to quote my notes directly after finishing the second half: "What the hell was this album, it's depressing AF and the songs are not even good."
I'll just say: if it weren't for those 30 seconds on "The Kids", this 3 would be more of a "leaning towards a 4" than the "straight 3" it is. I get those 30 seconds, I get why they're there, and I can appreciate what Reed was doing there, but they were seriously one of the most unpleasant times I've had with music in recent memory. No thank you, Lou.
more of a 3.5/5 for the slow start, but still a decent album nonetheless.
In terms of being a concept album that gives you its story from start to finish, backs that up with great instrumentation, and keeps you rather compelled once it really kicks in, then… yeah. We’ve got a great album here. It’s not perfect; even though I think Lou’s voice still ended up being the perfect tone by the end of the album, I don’t think the sort of monotony works at the start, when Jim hasn’t gone completely drug-addicted and insane. It also doesn’t really spell out the idea that there’s a story going on here until about track 6, at least for a presumed “casual” listen like I was doing. If you want to go all in on the concept album, then start with a curtain opening or something; give the listener a very audible clue that this is an overarching story and each song has a part to play in it. I think just because I got so enthralled by it, I have to give it a 5 out of respect for absolutely nailing what it went for, but it's not a very replayable album: if we were going out of 10, I'd probably give it an 8.5/10. I'd recommend the album to anyone, as long as you tell them there's a story first.
YUHHHHHH berlin- happy birthdayyy. piano. me when its paradise. 7. lady day- i like that weird piano part its like a villain song. 7 or 8. men of good fortune- he gets me. 6 caroline says I- sorry i was playing red ball 4. 7 how do you think it feels- i like the horns. foxy? like fnaf? 7 or 8 oh jim- theyre shooting me up with pills?? huh. the fade out is interesting. 8 caroline says II- omg just like stephanie... i really love the (womens name) says series. my favorite. 8 or 9. i the kids- ronette my dear dont ever disappear. sorry. 7 or 8. i like the kid crying the bed- damn she slit her wrists? and all he said was oh oh oh. 8 for suicide. the little choir is nice. sad song- flute. im ascending to heaven. the guitar is funny. its not very sad. he gets me. favorite track was caroline says II
I enjoyed this. Maybe not a first-pick listen so another reason to appreciate this list and app. Very sparse on my Lou Reed listening history so appreciate getting exposed to more
Could not finish it. Too depressing and the talk singing kindred of grated on my nerves.
ah, i'm so split on this album. I did not warm up to the mid-section of the album because the production choices just didn't work for me - with the horns, and dramatic riffs and strings, very operatic and sort of glam and i am just not feeling that sound. and then caroline 2, the kids, the bed came on and god damn it was such a turnaround. Something about the other songs is just not clicking with me. The story however is really good and depressing and I wish the sound was sorta more somber and distorted for the whole album. You can't have grim lyrics and upbeat production and then have vocals that don't sound upbeat as well. Lou sings them without any character and It doesn't work for me. Caroline 1, I think, would really pop with bowie vocals. It's a decent 3 for me. ----- Nevermind, the album really grew on me after a few more listens. The lyrics and the story really elevate the album and the atmosphere the lou creates with his penmanship just keeps you coming back. Also, I guess, i just took the album for what it is but i still do think how much better it would sound if the vocals for the first half were replaced by someone like bowie. Anyway, it's a decent 4 for me. The only song that doesn't work for me is men of good fortune.
It’s objectively untrue to call Lou Reid’s voice “good,” but I love it. That being said, I don’t love this album. I’m always wary of concept albums - while they can be brilliant, more often than not the conspicuous theme means that they are predictable and obvious, losing a lot of the subtly of good song writing. Berlin is that for me. There is no curiosity about the subject for the next song, because it’s already completely laid out. The “rock opera” idea in general is not my favourite. However, its interesting to listen to Berlin and think how much American Idiot owes to its existence.
It seems like a conceptual Album. Really inspiring, should be listened again. Influenced by Progressive Rock era of that wonderful year.
Self indulgent. A few interesting ideas for songs in there but needed someone to sort it out. A few good bass lines in there.
Wow! That was something else! I really didn't want to keep listening breeches the end was inevitable, compelling, and tremendously sad.
Ok
Ben correct, ça me fait ni chaud ni froid
Precioso. Bastante triste. Pero precioso.
Like the political and social commentary, however the music itself doesn't really spark and unique qualities for me with the exception of "Berlin" using the tune of "happy birthday" along side the message was clever. I will always love when music is used as a means for a stronger message such as "the kids" and "Berlin". The lyrics are the best part of this album, however sometimes on the nose. I didn't like the album at all upon first listen, however after 3/4 listens it grew on me. I would listen to three songs again on the album but ultimately wouldn't return to the album as a whole. The lyric writing and story telling for me earns this album 4 stars
it was hard not to love this for me. i found it's experimental in a familiar way so it ends up with a very unique sound. elements which struck me as "oh, interesting" are ones that grow on you quickly as he blends the familiar with the new very well. there were bits i disliked, such as the crying in The Kids, but they all make sense thematically so i cannot fault them. in general i really liked this album and it was a big surprise it grew on me so much as when i first listened, i didn't expect such a result
quite bleak, a melancholic mood needed to enjoy this. however i quite enjoyed a few tracks for the combination of lou's singing with the wide use of instruments, quite "hypnotically" good. the vocals are not traditionally amazing, but i don't think that's what lou was trying to express with these songs anyway
As usual with concept albums I didn’t really like it much, though it wasn’t terrible
Lou Reed finally feels old :(
a day is never enough for a concept album. the first four songs are half-baked. second half is good. I like the concept for an album. I feel like people live lives with struggles similar to this more often than music like this is made, so I just appreciate that it exists. the second half has more energy than the first, and the slower songs sound like they spent more time in the oven. second half is more cohesive and solid all around. definitely glad I kept listening through.
weird "story album". 1.6/5
Interesting.
Absolutely not the kind of thing I enjoy, but an undeniable accomplishment. Deserves to be on this list. I am struggling to come up with a rating so I think I'll just average how much I liked and how much I respect it.
A Boxing Day road trip jam - traveling with an actual kid meant that I skipped the end of "The Kids" but otherwise this was a cool listen - a sort of punk folk cabaret musical - complete with piano, orchestra and even a reprise.
Not sure I really like this
Very Dark
They all sound the same
Ugly Bob says II stars
Very good! I liked it!
I’m not a big Lou Reed fan. But this album is okay.
Lou Reed annoys me but I liked this album. The stories remind me of a Nelson Algren novel who also wrote Walk on the Wild Side
12/14/23. I get Lou Reed as my musical birthday treat. I'll always respect his work as an artist and pushing the boundaries. This album definitely does that for me; doesn't follow a specific formula.
It was alright. Nothing to write home about.
This guy is kinda like a white 70s weekend I fw it
Echt niet mijn ding - begrijp ook de praise van die mens niet echt - persoonlijk
Rakende teksten, maar de muziek deed me weinig
Loe Reed's chanting is an acquired taste that I've never acquired. Nevertheless, Bob Ezrin's production and Steve Hunter's guitar make this record listenable.
Meh. It was okay. Maybe it's an album that grows on you with each listen.
While I love Lou Reed, many of the tracks on this album can only really be described as "interminable". Sad Song appears to have been going on for at least two hundred years.
Lou Reed smokes a fat blunt while Bob Ezrin screams at small babies. The other 70s concept album about "drug addiction, prostitution, depression" that features a word from the name "The Berlin Wall" and had Bob Ezrin working on it. I think I like this more than Transformer. I really enjoyed the dark storytelling, even if it didn't tug on my heartstrings as much as I hoped it would.
Floyd vibes
Nice album. Excellent listening experience
surprisingly good, love the piano and the general sound of it
Terrible.
:'(
I liked it.
not my cup of tea
Vet du hva, jeg føler jeg burde elske Lou Reed, men dette funka bare ikke helt for meg🤷♂️
Dette likte jeg egentlig ganske godt! Men tekstene manglet dybden til de andre snakke-sangerne vi har hørt. Men skal undersøke mer av musikken hans!
Dark, melodic, and intriguing.
Lou's music really just does nothing to grab me. Sorry guy. Favorite track: Oh Jim
Lou Reed rock opera sounds cool in concept, but this just doesn't come together for me for whatever reason. 2.5/5
It was very... NYC. I didn't care for the vocals.
Loads of people love Lou Reed, and I can understand why, but unfortunately I just find it dreary.
Initially I thought the music was alright, even though I wasn't a fan of his singing, but the final few songs dragged on and it was quite tiring to finish the album. Stand-out: Men of Good Fortune
Ugh won't be listening to this again
While I do not personally enjoy this as much as “Transformer” I was blown away by the emotional depths Lou Reed was willing to explore. Always should commend someone for not just making a sequel to their greatest commercial success.
Putting a crying baby in your album is cruel, who wants to hear that?
This one opened weird. Got sad.
Funky but sad
I heard about all the controversy about this, many calling it a failure of vision. I enjoyed this, it is a perfect marriage of theater and rock'n'roll. Just a lot of layers musically, very rich, deep and satisfying.
Album triste. Similar a Bob Dylan, solo como Rock Alternativo. Letras buenas.
So sad
8/10
What a masterpiece. There was a clear vision in mind on this album and Lou Reed delivered it to near perfection.
Interesting listen after hearing Lou Reed's previous album Transformer. This album says to be a concept album however I never heard anything that would make you believe that. This album does not have any song like "Perfect Day" or "Take A Walk On The Wild Side" but probably a higher overall level of songs. 7/10
I think if this album leaned more into psychedelia then it would have stuck out more. It was pretty slow and heavy on the guitar strumming, which for me couldn't sustain my attention the entire record. The lyrical content was intriguingly dark and it shone through with a soft and laid back voice. 'Sad Song' felt very modern though and I think that if a more recent artist was heavily inspired or sampled this, I would like that more. 3.5/10
This kind of thing always just feels like they are daring me to not like it so they can go somewhere and rag on me for "just not getting it, man". Whatever. Rag away.
I thought this would be a live album with a name like Berlin, but it's a rock opera. I never really delved into Lou Reed's music before this, I only know the hits from his work with Velvet Underground. It's not bad or particularly great and it doesn't really speak to me through the lens of 2023. I liked Tommy more. A little glammy, a little rocky, a bit introspective. The Kids has some crying children in it.. and I have one at home, that wasn't really fun. Do people who don't have kids not know how aggravated that can make someone? Best Track: Men of Good Fortune. (Jack Bruce's bass line that is driving it sounds pretty fun)
4/5
Way better than I was expecting. I had heard this album was borderline unlistenable.
Little bit too depri for my taste
I want to listen to this more. Some great songs
beautiful and devastating; they were right to take her children away, though, at least until she cleaned up
Going in I did not expect much. I'm really not familiar with Lou Reed's work. Also not to familiar with VU except for the two albums I listened to on this list from which I liked one and disliked the other. This is straight up a masterpiece. This is going on my regular rotation
I went into this album with high expectations. I always love concept albums, and I expected this one to be no different. But it was just so underwhelming. I didn’t care for most of it. There were always elements that ruined each song for me. For example, The Kids was an alright song for the most part. A bit too long, but it was going well enough until about 5 minutes in, where you can hear a crying baby for about a minute. This is the most uncomfortable I’ve been so far on this 1001 albums journey. Just such an uninteresting album. Maybe if I go back and listen again with the lyrics, I’d have more of an appreciation for it, but my first impressions are that it’s just not a good album. The opening track gave me hope, I did like it quite a bit. But after that, there were really only a couple highlights. The last track had some beautiful music, but I just wasn’t interested in the lyrics or how they were sung. Especially the repeating of “sad song”. I don’t see myself ever returning to this album, and maybe not even returning to Lou Reed in general, unless another of his albums is in this list. 3/10, rounded down to 1 star. Top 1: 1. Berlin
boring monotone with concepts which were fresh at the time and are not any longer.
Great album the songs Caroline Says 1&2 were great and Lou Reed is a legend
great concept album and definitely haunting at times. however, i'm a bigger fan of transformer ☺️
I like Lou Reed, but this album didn't quite do it for me.
I ❤️ Lou
Some decent parts, but overall a hard album to listen to. Didn’t seem to have great production value or much vocal talent.
This album does absolutely nothing for me. The vocals seem very dry and boring.
This album gets worse as you listen through it. I managed to make it through, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Full of emotion and great instrumentals; love the bass and its tone and not surprised to find out it’s Jack Bruce playing!
Dit was euro’s gap. Men of good fortune was zo behooooorlijk lekker
prima album, Kan z’n stem niet helemaal plaatsen. Niet echt een favoriet nummer
I know Lou is an OG, but I really don't know why this album is on here. I could hear some of his signature guitar in some songs, especially sad song, but none of these songs connected.
I'm not always into Lou Reed, but this is a pretty solid album. Some acoustic songs that sound way more contemporary than the '70s. It took the first half of the album for me to settle in but the second half was really good. The kid crying on "The Kids" was a nice touch too. No big hits on here, at least that I'm aware of, but I'm saving a few. Maybe I'm becoming a Lou Reed fan. Favorite tracks: Men of Good Fortune, Oh Jim, Caroline Says II, The Bed. Album art: A shot of Lou I'm guessing, with a couple other people, framed in another shot of a ton of people with a little poem about Berlin. Lots of things going on here. It's not a bad cover though, the contrasting colors help. 3.5/5
Not my style. Some of the softer, later songs on the album appeals to me but many others dont click with me
7/10
This is story. This is art.
This is a weird one. And not in a good way. Just bizarre.
Yes, it can try a little too hard, but I don't get how Lou Reed's solo stuff isn't more acclaimed than his work in TVU. This has better melodies, sharper production, and is more realized as an album.
I just so want to like this but it brings nothing new to the table. Good old fashioned rock n' roll really. Comparing what others were doing at this time he should have done better. B-
Some real nice songs in there
how do you think it feeeels, working all day at harveys? up all night watching reels, no butter is not, a, veg-etable, ro-bert
Men of Good Fortune and How Do You Think It Feels. Depressing. Just like me.
bad length men of good message
Good bass and drums, the first half is much better.
Darkest of all the Reed albums I’ve listened to. I love Lou Reed but this one is still probably my 4th favorite of his solo work as of rn. It’ll probably grow on me but behind Transformer, New York, and Coney Island Baby. This album has a much better theme with stories that tie it all together. Lou Reed is that guy Rating: 4.4
Better than I thought it was gonna be
Highlight of this album is obviously Reed’s lyrics, but the instrumentation creates a really great and chilling atmosphere on a lot of the tracks Favourite tracks: Berlin, Lady Day, Men of Good Fortune, Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed
Quite sad. The crying kids in "The Kids" in particular is artfully disturbing. I really don't like to hear kids crying. Other than that, it's folky and has a bombastic production and a nice melody. Just what I expected from Lou Reed.
No sé quantes escoltes al llarg dels anys m'ha costat poder 'disfrutar' (una manera de dir) de 'Berlin'. Moltes, sens dubte. Depressiu, dur, complicat, opressiu. Més mèrit encara que aparegués després d'un disc tan rotund com 'Transformer'. Hom no li pot posar en dubte a Lou Reed la seva valentia al llarg de la seva carrera. Ni la seva genialitat artística
Easy rating
I liked this one
The Cold War in Berlin. A real dark and dirty album.
I’m struggling to connect with this one. The storytelling across the album has been highlighted as its strong point, yet I’m not as moved as I should be given the heavy subject matter of side two. It’s not like the music is completely tuneless either, but again, it’s not grabbing me either viscerally or cerebrally. 2.5... but I usually give albums that attempt to be cohesive (musically or narratively) the benefit of the doubt, so I’ll round up.
I didnt love or hate it. Was a real middle of the road album.
BEST SONGS: -Lady Day -Sad Song
This album is nothing but bangers Favorite track: How Do You Think It Feels
Not abjectly terrible, but I do not like this. I hope there's no more Lou Reed.
Tough listen but very moving
Do not love his voice at all. The songs too.
I've been thinking about musicals lately, and that's pretty much what Mr. Reed gave us here. On first listen, the music lacks the harshness of its sibling albums. There's also the feeling of giving up, appropriate for the subject and uncommon for the form. That ambivalence makes the end work; A closer listen will easily push this a point in either direction.
Eh
2.5 stars. This was ok. Singer songwriter early rock. Lyrics are full of heavy themes. Didn't have any big standout tracks.
Unexpectedly loved this 4.6
Sehr gut, Herr Reed