Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Bro rhymes vial with vile. Some of the guitar work towards the end was a bit of a surprise.
adding a crying baby to the background of a song is never a strong musical decision
J'ai plus aimé que j'anticipais considérant que j'ai jamais été un grand fan de la voix de Lou Reed. J'ai particulièrement aimé la 2e et la dernière chanson. Je comprends pourquoi tant d'artistes l'adule, mais ça reste un goût acquis pour moi et il n'est pas encore acquis. Je serais curieux de réessayer par contre. 6/10
This album was really heavy, but also really good. I don't really have the experience to really understand a lot of it, it'll be interesting to come back to when I'm older. The music and lyrics are both memorable, they create a gloomy and uncertain atmosphere together. The music gets better as the album goes on. BT: - Men of Good Fortune - How Do You Think It Feels - Oh Jim - The Kids - The Bed
A concept album about a couple's tragic descent into drug addiction, Lou Reed never shied away from taboo topics of his era and I respect him immensely for that.
Well, I did NOT need the song “Kids” this morning, no not at all. But all in all a good, solid Lou Reed album.
I really dislike this, it’s a 1 or a 2. The question is do I hate it or not? Like the smell of petrol, I keep coming back from more. I had it over a weekend so had plenty of opportunity to listen. It’s got all the annoyances of Transformer or Banana but non of the stand out tracks. The music sounds less amateur though with Jack Bruce and Steve Winwood in the squad. I like Lou’s tone, he’s got a soothingly smooth singing voice. But the lyrics and rhyme schemes are just so bad, it’s like my toddler is making it up as he goes. I hate it. But I kind of love to hate it.
Frábær plata. Mikil stemming.
Precioso. Bastante triste. Pero precioso.
There's a lot of emotion in this album. I loke lyrics on many songs. The sound of the songs starts to bleed together after a while, which makes it less fun to listen to.
I'm a bit hit or miss with LR albums. This one leaves me cold (not because of the dour lyrics) It's so lacking in inspiration. Thank God it was appended to a single album.
Very good. Standouts: Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed. The Kids and The Bed are gut wrenching songs. So sad. Oh what a feeling…. 3.5/5
Turns out I like Lou Reed! Not surprising bc I like Velvet Underground, just never gave his solo stuff a listen yet.
Louuuuuuuuuuuu
from all the 13 albums so far, I thought Rumours would be fav for a long time! But this one way better than I thought. I knew some of Lou Reeds work before (VU&N, WL/WH, Transformer) and even if it doesn't get close to some if them I loved this album soooooooooo much. Maybe it's because I'm already a Lou Reed fanboy like Bowie but his solo work of what I heard is NOT worse than VU. 9/10 (5/5)
Pretty depressing, but in a good way. I was never really a fan of Lou Reed's solo albums before, having felt that his best work was as part of the Velvet Underground. When I first heard this album, many decades ago, I didn't really like it as it was a bit sparse and sad. Listening to it again, it just keeps getting better and when I got to the end I felt a powerful urge to listen to it again from the start. So I listened to it again, from the beginning to the end and it was even better the second time.
Bleak af
This album broaches some pretty dark topics, but does so with gravitas and authority -- it never feels like an artist wearing a Halloween costume, but rather a weary soul sharing glimpses at the dark corners of life that he witnesses around him regularly. It's a little too heavy to throw on at a party, but it's no doubt a great work of art.
Ganska bra platta.
Was going to rate two stars by way of it being very unspectacular folk, but then they added crying children. Don't put crying children in your music
Album 50 of 1001 Lou Reed - Berlin Favorite Track : Men of Good Fortune Rating : 4 / 5 Such a sad album but so enjoyable at the same time. It also includes of my favorite recordings of all time - Men of Good Fortune with Jack Bruce on bass. This one wasn't new to me but I'm still hearing new stuff each time I listen.
Man, this was a tough listen. I had no connection to this and struggled at times to appreciate. 2/5
A sad story expertly told.
Surprise. I liked this a lot. Not the angry bitter Lou Reed. This was sweet sound.
Concept that worked.
an interesting and sad tale told by a dude that cant sing. myriad styles of rock from lounge to vaudeville. this is a romp. thanks lou, you pretentious bastard.
Not available on spotify
Not too bad, all a little the same
In the last year, I have become a very big fan of Velvet and Lou Reed. The album right before this, Transformer (produced by David Bowie), arguably had his biggest hit, Walk on the Wild side and I was expecting something similar. Wrong! Everything I've listened to up to this point I have really enjoyed. Then we get to Berlin. Holy shit. May be the most tragic, depressing an tragic album I have ever heard. I know music should be able to move you and make you feel, but damnit, it made me sad and heartbroken for both Jim and Caroline. More Caroline because the shit beat her, she loses her kids and she takes herself out. I made the mistake of reading the lyrics while I listened, just verifying I was hearing what I though I was hearing and I'm sorry I did. This could be the soundtrack of a movie, but I think most would not like this movie. I still don't know what to think of this album and how to rate. Not sure why, in Caroline II there's a line that says she puts her fist through the window pane, it was such a funny feeling. I think of Hurt by NIN, I hurt myself today to see if I still feel. Anyway, I've sat on this for a few days and still don't know how to score. Lou's voice is awesome. The lyrical content absolutely fits the tone of this album. I really could have done without the crying children when they are being taken away. I actually liked a few songs when Jim was falling or in love. Berlin and Caroline I come into mind. The Bed was just too much for me. Love Lou, but this an album I do not care to ever revisit or listen to again. Doesn't make it bad, as I have a few songs I think are great but hit spots in in heat and soul I don't want them to reach. I just don't know. But I will continue to dive into all his music. Hopefully, not much more of this out there and I am happy to put this album behind me. Again, can't even come up with a score I could justify, so I'm giving my love to Lou and rating a 3. 3
Strangely enough I really enjoyed this album despite my vocal distaste for Lou Reed and Velvet Underground. I'm not really sure what makes this one different than what I've heard before. I think the production is way better than anything else I've heard but LR or VU. It's a slower, more sad album that I recall others being. Not sure but this is going to make me go back and double check those other albums. 4
3.5 “The album is a tragic rock opera about a doomed couple, Jim and Caroline, and addresses themes of drug use, prostitution, depression, domestic violence and suicide.” Well, here we go. My Dad mentioned he was going to need to give this one a deeper listen with headphones before putting a review in, and about halfway through my listening, I realized I was going to have to do the same - this is definitely not a “play in the background while doing work” kind of album. So, at night I popped my buds in and really dialed in, doing my best to follow along with the lyrics and story online, and I gotta say, even doing so, I don’t feel like this is the most structured or organized album I’ve heard, especially by rock opera standards. Supposedly half the songs here are repurposed outtakes from Lou’s Velvet days, and I think that kind of shows. It wasn’t until somewhere around Caroline Says I that the album started coming together for me, with the first true sense of narrative coming together in exploring Caroline’s cruel nature. While I don’t think the song itself was amazing by any means, what really sold me on the track was its contrast with Caroline Says II, which turns things around and explores Jim’s abusive tendencies, ultimately creating two complementary pieces that highlight the all-around toxicity and dysfunction plaguing the relationship. So, shoutout to Lou’s songwriting there. However, the true gut punch of the album is in the one-two combo of The Kids and The Bed, which, although probably far from Lou’s most deep or complex work lyrically, the relatively straightforward songwriting here is painfully effective, and it’s hard not to feel absolutely devastated by Caroline’s tragic ending. I had mixed feelings on the closer, Sad Song - though it honestly may have been my favorite song on the album musically, it just felt a bit too on the nose lyrically and thematically. This was a hard one for me to rate. As far as rock operas go, I don’t think this stands among the best, but when this album decides to throw an emotional punch, it hits hard. So while far from perfect, this was a memorable listen and I can’t say it was anything less than good. It’s no The Wall, but it is a nice reminder of the power of storytelling in music.
Pretty good album. I liked listening through the story. I can see why listening to an album that is so bluntly about such a uncomfortable topic might not be the most easy listening. Not exactly something I'd throw on. Could have been a bit more articulate with some of the lyrics
Not a fan
Well that was bleak! The age old story, boy meets girl, they fall on love and have children, boy abuses girl horribly, she leaves, he has her children taken away, she commits suicide, he pretends to be sad but makes it all about himself. Including the sounds of genuine children's crying. It's really very good. It's also really uncomfortable. Not least because it doesn't feel like it's stopped happening in the 50 years since. I think I like Lou Reed more than I did at the start of this process.
I hate every thing about Lou Reed. End of story.
I fking hate everything Lou Reed. Get bent with this drug-addled pompous mumbly dogshit. 1/10 0 stars.
Lou Reed is such a confounding one to deal with because, well, he is an awful singer. And yet...his extreme talent still makes him a fitting frontman. The arrangements on every one of his songs are simply stunning. I found myself enjoying this album much more than Transformer because the instrumentals are so, so good, and so is the songwriting. It's why How Do You Think It Feels is the biggest and best track on the album, but I felt similarly about Lady Day as well.
sånn halvveis
A good example of rock music done in a unique and interesting way. Kinda reminded me of a more rough-around-the-edges Bowie or something. Good stuff.
medio me duermo en vivo la vdd 6.5/10
Zero good songs, but not annoying to listen to. Two stars.
A few strange songs and often sad. But the lyrics are well written
I really like some Lou Reed stuff, this was just ok
I like some Lou Reed songs, guess they weren’t here tho
The band is good
This was very impressive. After listening to 2 albums from Velvet Underground, I had clear expectations for this one when I received it, but it was a surprise to note that the album goes in a completely different direction, and it's great. This was the first concept album that made me care about the characters. Of course, I've listened to some good concept albums (I received, I think, 4 or 5 on this list), but this one made me think about the characters and listen to the album like a fiction book or something like that.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, it’s decent Favourite song: Track 3 - Men of Good Fortune
Berlin is really interesting, musically it's not special but the content and story is captivating and the music then becomes a vehicle to tell it. Which is fine, not especially my style but I can respect it, 3.
This is astonishing. Such a harrowing story, told really well from start to finish, and one of those rare albums where it really peaks at the end. I don't quite know how it's so captivating, the guy can't sing particularly well, the music is pretty stripped back and relatively simplistic, but it captures the mood amazingly well and allows the lyrics to shine though. It's really hard work emotionally - it tells the story of a marriage breaking down because of infidelity, the husband abusing the wife, and the wife eventually killing herself. The most upbeat it gets (both musically and emotionally) is right at the end - talking about how the abusive now widower is freed to move on with his life by his wife's suicide - not exactly a happy ending but weirdly a little uplifting. Too many of the albums we've had have been way too easy to ignore or lose interest in, this one absolutely doesn't do that. 5/5.
Not for me It's a bit to slow to really kick off
Fairly dry, the mix can be a bit weird making the instruments a lot louder than they should be.
Well, that's just a mess. I'm generally here for Lou but this album is a hot mess. Some folks just shouldn't try their hands at concept albums. Probably most folks, honestly. Lou Reed falls into that group. This whole album feels forced as though the constraints of the concept limited his ability to create something actually enjoyable. What a mess. Shame.
Brilliant, although Reed is not the most empathize person
A true, full concept album. It's a well written and sad story about the ravages of addiction including ups and downs, all still smattered with Lou Reed's iconic NYC sound. It would be worth going back and trying to read through the lyrics or listening more consistently to the lyrics.
I was never all that impressed with Lou Reed. He always struck me as a wannabe whose reputation for being a bold innovator was unearned. The real genius behind the music of Velvet Underground was John Cale who had to drag Lou along to do the stranger things that VU did.
Dude's got good lyrics and a good voice, just traditionally good songs. The music portion didn't knock my socks off though.
Didn't love at first but it got good towards the end
Nice sad album where i never heard of any songs off it
Good album, i like lou reed a lot. Is probably his saddest album and stays difficult to really understand. Sad song is the last song but also the best song. Got compared with the feelies, with recommanded album crazy rithms. They sound more like the Velvet Underground. It s also a good album.
Dog
Was happy to listen but man that was depressing
Glam rock!!
4 Probably 3
+ captivating storytelling all the way through + spoken word / poetry elements elevates the first point further - monotone vocal performance --> less interesting. At times you wish for more raw emotion out of Lou. - lack of catchy riffs/basslines etc..
Did not like this one at all.
Was OK until thr last few tracks. Particularly depressing and not quite what I want to listen to tbh
Not my cup of tea 3
it picks up a bit but just didn't feel it
What a cheery start to the day. Thank goodness there are no bonus tracks. Not his most upbeat work. Read the wiki (and more) while listening to it this time, I already knew the album very well, but it makes more sense as a rock opera. Not sure it helps though. Lots of memorable moments, and definitely worth another listen, but not a feelgood album. Can't listen to the last 2:30 of the kids and the last minute of the bed is a challenge, ironically 'sad song' is a welcome relief. Arguably the cheeriest song on the album, 'sad song' is a bit sixth form poetry though.
Never liked Lou Reed - probably because of Lulu, but loved this album. A great story with beautiful rhythms.
Very good!
I'm only familiar with Lou Reed's solo work through a few of the hits on Transformer (and the reputation of Metal Machine Music) so this was a 'nice' chance to check out some of his work beyond the VU. I say 'nice' in quotation marks because this is one of the most deeply depressing albums I've ever listened to. The tale of two addicts who fall in and out of love, eventually settling on spitefully causing the other as much harm as possible in a pathetic and miserable state of codependence. Lyrically this record is incredible, the story being told only from Jim's perspective was an excellent choice not allowing the viewer to get the full story but instead filtering through an extremely human and sad lens not possible with a more objective viewpoint. Musically I was pleasantly surprised with how willing this record was to flirt with the theatrical, a lot of these tracks are very melodramatic sounding which can occasionally flirt with a comical tone but for the most part give off the air of being told a tale of woe by a drunken stranger you met in a bar (a tone that fits the subjects of this record perfectly) Overall I'd say this is a fantastic record that I'm sure will stick with me a long while after listening to it, an album at once theatrical and eccentric whilst remaining deeply moving and true to life. A balance I'm not sure many artists besides Lou Reed could manage to keep up. Highlights: Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed, Sad Song
Bleak as hell but surprising and quite good in parts.
3.5 pretty good, feel like his voice holds it back a bit, but I know he is iconic for a ton of people so trying to appreciate it for its uniqueness.
Well that was sad
actually loved this one
Very unique songwriting with Lou's distinctive singing style and guitar playing. Pretty dark and it's definitely not for everyone but I enjoyed it. Pretty solid 4/5.
Really enjoyed and was also nice just because it was wholly new to me
This is a depressing concept album but it was brilliantly presented. The variety of sounds on this one kept things interesting thru the heavy content. The strings, horns, organ transition from electric to acoustic on the same song at one point are all very well balanced, it’s great. Obviously the re-listenability of this one is hindered by the story of a couple in an abusive, drug riddled relationship oh and they have kids too! Fuck this is dark but I believe they hit the mark on what they were going for. I’m gonna go watch some puppy videos now. 4 stars
I think this is probably quite a great record actually but it was just too sad for me today. The babies crying/calling for mom was just over the top for this middle-aged dad. Tons of emotion but not much in the way of 'hummable' tunes.
I liked it better than I thought. Musically pretty expansive - Lou reed could never sing.
Not my jam
Life is too short and there's too much good happy music out there to put myself through more than 2 tracks of this shit
Concept album with some dark and sad themes. Enjoyable music with orchestra and choir.
A record I've never heard before, but seems familiar because of some recycled VU ideas. However, some of the newer ideas don't really work that well (The Kids, which is just too bleak). Lou Reed's speak/sing delivery doesn't bother me nearly as much as it does others.
I like a decent amount of this but there is not enough to keep me coming back repeatedly, unfortunately. Men of Good Fortune is good but like, corny? Like i love The Bed a bit but it's a little too heavy handed for me to ever revisit. Then some of them are just a little too bland rock song-ey for me. Idk. maybe it would change upon relisten. Sad song was prolly the best on the album.
Lou Reed's Berlin was critically panned and reviled upon its release. The album takes its cue from the track 'Berlin' on Lou Reed's first solo album and expands the story of the couple the song portrays. What follows is a shocking and tragic story of addiction, prostitution, abuse, suicide, and ultimately ambivalence. Mirroring his own disintegrating relationship, Berlin plunges to the depths of despair and anguish and leaves us struggling to find meaning in the pieces left behind. Musically, it is austere, full of a feeling of impending doom, and leaves us with the song 'Sad Song' sung in a major key further disorienting the listener. It is oppressive and brilliant, and I'm not quite sure how to feel about it yet.
Sparse, atmospheric, very, very heavy and very, very sad. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Caroline Says II Date listened: 25/02/23
Lou. Más lento de lo habitual. Un 4.
Precioso. Bastante triste. Pero precioso.
First time listening. From the get go, no question that this one is a grower. Lyrical content is pretty bleak. Production is a smidge over the top throughout. Didn't hate it, didn't love it.
Pretty boring l. Don't understand where the charm is
I like Lou Reed but jesus this was fucking depressing. I cried at the track with the children :(
I am not a Lou Reed guy. I fully expected to not like this album at all, but this is the first album that has connected the dots for me. This is the Lou Reed I can get behind.
Seems pretty good. Would have like to heard it more today, but overall I enjoyed it.
Swag… sku antagligen ha vari ännu bättre om ja sku lyssna på lyriken…
Went to Berlin last november and it was pretty swell, not sure what this guy is on about. Some great bass playing on this album though
Ballin
3.5
Not my fav of his, but good.
Felt like it was building to something and then never got there. Best track: Sad Song
This album is a unique listen. It's unconventional, raw, depressing, and isn't tied to any one sound or familiar template. I usually revisit this album once a year or so to get inspired and think outside the box musically. It's not perfect and there are some parts that are a little out there or straight up bad sounding, but as a whole it's a really cool album with a lot to say if you give it a chance. I love Lou Reed.
If ever I was asked the music equivalent to beige it would be this album. I really struggled and lost that struggle at times to pay attention to this, finding out the weather forecast for tomorrow was a much more gripping affair. I won't be returning.
Undeniably depressing subject matter. The kids crying at the end of “The Kids” was very disturbing. Nonetheless, it’s great art even if it’s not super pleasant art. There’s not really a bad track on there, musically, though for the sake of my personal happiness I’ll be avoiding listening to “The Kids” and “The Bed” ever again, even though I think “The Bed” is an exquisitely written track. Favourites were “How Do You Think It Feels”, “Oh Jim”, “Caroline Says II”, “Men of Good Fortune”, and, despite my desire to avoid hearing it again in the future, “The Bed”. Least favourites probably “The Kids” and “Caroline Says I”. Struggled between 4 and 5 stars for the rating on this one … but I think the artistry merits a 5 in the end. Maybe like a 4.75 on a more detailed scale…
This was just okay. I had never heard any of Reed’s music but have heard the name a lot so I guess I had higher expectations.
so depressing and dark…but beautiful music. favorite song was sad song
Listened Before? N Spectacular. I can't believe I've missed so much of Lou Reed in my life. This one and the previously reviewed album are both top-notch, and this one goes over the top since it's a rock opera too. A gem. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: The Kids
I love Lou but this isn't his best work.
I don't know how I feel about this. On the negative side, a lot of this feels too lose for my liking. Like he is making it up as he goes along. Also, as someone who has kids, hearing crying in a song is grating and I HATE it. It almost doesn't matter if the song is good, it's an auto turn off. The guitars and piano are very floaty. Not a lot of instrumentation. Which I can get down with. But there isn't much here for me.
Des choses intéressantes, mais ça ne vaut pas les meilleures heures du velvet. Ça reste assez anecdotique, parfois plutôt cool.
Love Lou Reed. This would fall under deep cuts for me. I think the standout stuff is the lyrics and the way he paints a picture with his words.
More accessible for sure.
This album should come with a disclaimer: Velvet Underground fetishists not welcome. There’s no trace of the trailblazing noise rock or even the glam stomp of Reed’s “Transformer” on this ambitious rock opera. It’s a radical departure in both form and style from his previous work - the instrumentation leans heavily into the brassy cabaret of early 20th century Berlin to narrate a bleak story of love, abuse and drug addiction (in that order). While the lugubrious subject matter ultimately turned away many listeners, Reed’s diegetic narration is straight to the point and carries a directness which can sometimes seem silly (and often funny!). The hopelessness and despair contrasted with the elaborate bravado of the music perpetuates an unsettling atmosphere throughout. This is rendered even more powerful by the reality of Reed’s own interaction with the depths of heroin dependence. It’s a proximity which can be uncomfortable at times. But since when was pop music supposed to be easy? The measure of great art is its ability to undermine the pre-existing status quo, and introduce a new perspective into the public consciousness. It’s dangerous, and on these terms this record is an incontestable triumph. On the other hand, to my ear some of these tracks overdo it a bit with the aforementioned production, and it results in a number of subpar Lou Reed songs at the end of the day. Nevertheless, this is an album that’s well worth coming to terms with. With an open-mind it rewards the listener with a devastating yet triumphant tale of resignation and defiance. I love it, warts and all. Best tracks: “How Do You Think It Feels” “Oh Jim” “The Kids” And the euphoric closer “Sad Song”
ну опять практически разговорный альбом) я пение люблю
Not great
There’s better examples of Lou Reed’s talent out there.
Recorded and released right after the success of the David Bowie-produced *Transformer*, Lou Reed's *Berlin* couldn't have been *more* of a 180-turn for those who had appreciated his former album. Not only is this a bleak tale about a couple going through the throes of physical abuse, drug addiction, prostitution and child neglect, but also, it's narrated from the point of view of the main abuser, which makes it a difficult and harrowing concept album to say the least. Obviously, the narrator is very unreliable here, so the hints he gives about his suicidal partner actually using him by proxy to destroy herself should be taken with a huge grain of salt. Cynicism and ambiguity abound throughout those dark lyrics, yet the latter also create a mesmerizing thread to help you go from one track to the next. Starting from a minor cut in one of his former recordings, Lou Reed here imagines the tragic fate of its cursed characters with a lot of vivid and striking details. *Berlin* is thus a very "literary" album, which probably triggered all those early criticisms about its depressing and "pretentious" nature. But in retrospect, a "Transformer, vol. 2" would have been far less interesting than what Reed offered us instead, even with such admittedly harsh lyrical contents. What early critics of *Berlin* also seemed to have missed is the fact that the record is actually worth your time if only for the music itself. Reed's wild card here was his producer, Bob Ezrin, mostly known at the time for his grandiose orchestral arrangements for Alice Cooper--ones he would refine a few years later with his legendary handling of production duties for Pink Floyd's *The Wall*. Listening to *Berlin*'s extraordinary closer "Sad Song", everyone who's ever enjoyed "Comfortably Numb" will be automatically be struck by the obvious connection between the two, with the string arpeggio in Lou Reed's song sounding very much like a wonderful draft of the one Ezrin would later pen for the Floyd. And what the producer brings to *Berlin*'s table is not only about orchestral strings: there's also a very dynamic feast of horns, woods and flutes throughout the record, along with soul-stirring guitar solos, slapping drum parts, and haunting background vocals (either gospel-inspired, as in "Caroline Says I", or drawing from the atonal and metaphysical experiments of György Ligeti for "The Bed"'s conclusion). Add to this a few delicate parts played on mellotron and piano by Ezrin himself, along with an impressive list of seasoned performers for all the other instruments (check it on wikipedia), and you certainly have an A+ production team to do justice to Lou Reed's usual melodic flair in those days... All the songs we've quoted up to now are the obvious highlights of this album, to which glorious music hall number "Lady Day" and rocker "How Do You Think It Feels" should be added as well. The first part of side 2 is a little less convincing, admittedly--and the absence of any genuine moment of levity in that LP probably adds to most listeners' fatigue by this point. But the two last tracks of the album--the slow, incredibly dark and despondent "The Bed", also particularly poignant and atmospheric, followed by the cynical yet totally epic closer that "Sad Song" is--easily make up for these potential flaws. Decades after its release, it is thus obvious that *Berlin* is not the debacle that rock critics said it was at the time. Sure, it's dragged by its own heavy weight once in a while, from the dark subject matter of its lyrics to its layered production displaying so many sophisticated arrangements, just like a pusher takes out different drugs from his coat to tempt an addict. Yet as "heavy" as this album is, rarely have trips to hell and back sounded so lush and enticing. It's probably because the devil usually lies in all the little details--and this whether that devil happens to live in Berlin, "Alaska", or anywhere else in the world... 4,5/5 then, here rounded up to 5/5. Number of albums left to review: 679 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 158 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 74 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 90
Critics labeled this a disaster when it was released. Sometimes they get it right the first time. Give Lou Reed credit. When he swings for the fences and misses, my word, he misses spectacularly.
Lou Reed seems to be one of the go-to's from the predictable and annoyingly limited roster of musicians this list repeatedly pulls from. Hence this is already the 3rd album with him that I've received, but admittedly it's the best one so far. Very impressive musical arrangements and performances, the jazz influences seeping through here and there, the proto-punk vibes, the dramatic rock-opera theatrics all contribute to the listening experience, even if thrown together somewhat haphazardly. Unfortunately Lou's monotone speak-singing does less than nothing for me. I award this 3 meters of Berlin wall for Lou to sit and listen to guitars by.. 🧱🧱🧱
Lou Reed is always amazing. Great album (minus the kids screaming).
While I love Lou Reed's attitude and vocals, something about how he brings the whole package together in his solo stuff never really does it for me and this is no exception. The songs are great and I really commend him for making it so heavy lyrically, its a pretty unrelenting album. But much like John Cale's solo work I kind of want him to commit to being a bit more experimental rather than packaging his music in a singer songwriter type fashion. I get the impression that I might be more into his later works which Wikipedia tells me he got more into ambient experimentation.
Reading up on this album, it's so odd seeing people say it's one of the most depressing albums ever made. Sure, the story itself is incredibly bleak - just the kind of gritty story that lou reed excells at - but the music on this thing is so hilariously made-for-theatre that is lessens the impact of the lyrics. I still really enjoy the music though, but I end up viewing it through the lens of cheesy rock opera rather than harsh dipiction of underprivileged domestic violence. It's both, I suppose, and only Lou could have such a juxpatosition and it still have any impact at all.
Maybe years of watching toks damaged my brain but I can't recognize this as music
It was pretty unremarkable. Why someone would add the sounds of babies crying and pestering children to music is beyond me. There were a couple snippets of interesting composition (the discordant choir into the fluttering wind ensemble at the end of "The Bed" was quite enthralling in my opinion). But, overall, I feel Lou Reed's ambition outpaces his ability, especially as a vocalist.
I like the flutes in the last song this was just a bad album
This one is kind of rough and gets rougher as you go along. The story is quite upsetting but absolutely emotionally compelling. I really loved the instrumentation. It's such an interesting way to weave together songs that had been done before ("Stephanie Says" becomes "Caroline Says") and I love the idea of following what happens after a lovely romantic vignette like "Berlin," even if it does go to such a dark place. I couldn't get myself to listen to "The Kids" again the second time through and had to skip it—not because it is a bad song, but because it is so difficult emotionally. This one gets you involved and sticks with you.
After the first listen, I thought that the album was interesting, but not one that I am likely to ever revisit. But as I listened again today, I became very captured by it all. I can now see spending much more time with this one.
Sometimes you hear and album that makes you say, "Holy cow, I need to recalibrate my rating scale." This, folks. This is what a 5-star album sounds like. From simple piano melodies to wailing electric guitar over sax and horns, the story packs a heavy emotional punch. I'm overwhelmed.
Amazing! Stopped what I was doing shortly after pressing play and just listened. Then listened to it again. And then again. Incredible. I’m loving every song on this album. Even though it is really heart-wrenching. Lou Reed knows how to explore some pretty dark places without making me question the artists feelings toward his subject. That’s something that I’ve grown weary of with some of the rap and hip hop artists that have been served up lately. This is the best new thing I’ve listened to in a long time. Absolutely perfect!
Pretty good for an old punk.
Almost skipped based on the first song and the album being a “concept album” Bleak story album, love the lyrics, a few songs a little too concept-y. But really not too bad 3.5
Disco tranquilo y con una instrumentación clásica en muchos temas que al principio me pareció aburrido pero que tiene mejores canciones de lo que esperaba. "Sad Song", "Oh Jim" y "Carolne Says II" merecen la pena.
Reminds me of some different voices / groups of classic rock. Simple voice. 3.5
Lou Reed isn't one to placate the listener's imagination. As the Bowie sprinkled, roughed up glam of Transformer became the de-facto go-to album, one would assume that he would gain more momentum by ploughing the same field and reaping more plentiful results. That's not how he worked. He made Berlin instead. Centering on the doomed couple Jim and Caroline, peaking at the harrowing and heartbreaking one-two punch of The Kids and The Bed, this uncompromising study of hopeless love is Lou at his most unforgiving and yet most empathetic. To hell with this not being what anyone wanting to hear in 1973, it is still gripping, unsettling and unrelenting almost fifty years on. Oh, what a feeling.
Langsom psykedelisk rock, ikke særlig opmuntrende
Echt goed zingen kan ons Lou niet en dat houdt me toch een beetje tegen om hier heel enthousiast van te worden. Voelt een beetje als huismerk Bowie, en met A-merk Bowie heb ik al niet veel. "Men of Good Fortune" vond ik wel aardig, maar het kan niet op tegen z'n grote hits. En dat geldt voor dit hele album eigenlijk. "Sad Song" is wel de perfecte afsluiter. 2 tot 3 sterren afhankelijk van hoe goed de rest van m'n dag verloopt.
I just do not care about Lou Reed. Boring album
Gaandeweg wordt de zingzeggende muziek steeds irritanter en nietszeggender, tot het punt dat er letterlijk een kind gaat jengelen. Even later zitten we in het spookhuis van de Efteling. Weer zo'n zogenaamde legende van de popmuziek die eigenlijk niks klaarmaakt.
Ik kom hier niet uit. Flarden vind ik verschrikkelijk. Andere flarden geweldig. Ik zie gelijk dat deze puzzelstukjes bij elkaar horen. Maar ik krijg ze zo uit mijn hoofd niet altijd aan elkaar gelegd. Dus wat moet ik hier nou weer mee? Vooruit, Lou. 3 sterren. Met je soundbites
Lekker vaag met fijne basloopjes en de rauwe stem van Lou Reed, doorleefd van het coke snuiven met Bowie en Iggy. Conceptalbums zijn vaak een beproeving voor het oor en voor velen zal dit wellicht ook zo voelen, maar dit bevalt me wel.
Paskaa kai...ajansa kiirtikoiden mukaan hehe.... SE ON USKOMATONTA MITEN HYVÄÄ TÄMÄ ON KOSKA 1973 ALBUMI.... 1972.. Ilmeisesti tehnyt myös albumin.. 1972 albumista oikeestaan kaikki top tracks spotifyssä.. ei löydy tätä 1973 albumia tarjolla edes suosituissa töissä.. Rolling Stones sano albumia disasteriksi.. Heh.. Myöhemmin top 300 albums of all time..
Idk, didn't bother me, didn't interest me either. Sad Song was kinda nice.
This is a really hit or miss album, unfortunately it’s a miss for me
I enjoyed this album! Lou Reed is an interesting artist, I know a lot of folks who love him and a lot that can't stand him. This record was interesting, the songs varied enough to keep things fresh and it all culminates in this very climactic ending with "Sad Song." I dug it.
Overall there is just something I like about Lou Reed, even if it's depressing he has a sense of humor in his music. I would have given this 4 stars, but the song "The Kids" loses a star for the sounds of children crying. It takes something with depressing subject matter, and makes it basically unlistenable, which kind of ruins the album on relisten. Still, "Berlin", "Lady Day", "How do you think it feels", and "Caroline Says II" are all great Lou Reed songs.
I liked "How Do You Think It Feels". But the rest of the album felt unremarkable.
Autant j'aime Lou Reed, autant cette album live est moen pour moi. Les 3 dernières chanson on complètement sauvé l'album pour moi. Mais je sui quand meme moins fan du Live. 3.15
Slightly pretentious and depressing rock opera about two drug addicts in Berlin. Best Tracks: How Do You Think It Feels; Caroline Says II; Sad Song
It was good but not my favorite. He is pretty amazing.
Not entirely my cup of tea. It's got some good and catchy pieces, but the overall atmosphere is far too melancholic for my tastes. Considering its a concept album about a heroin addicted couple as parents, that's unsurprising.
Grand, saved one song.
Wow I really liked this more than expected! 3.5 stars, but rounding down because it was pretty sleepy in some parts.
90% bummer, more interesting than good. 'Sad Song' shows at least it's self aware. Exciting moments, far too much bleak mumbling and kid screaming.
Ekkert uppáhald en alveg fínt.
Not his best album I've listened to. I thought this was about average, not anything amazing.
Eh not for me.
Not for me
My rating got lower the more I listened to it. I settled on 2 stars, because there's worse Lou Reed out there.
Estilo personal y único de un gran cantautor, con buenas melodías, ritmos lentos y fácilmente escuchable
Cooool liked men of good fortune and Caroline 😜
I really liked this album from the first I heard it, which was a really long time ago, as I became a Lou Reed fan boy in my mid-teens. Still think it’s great. The music has a lot of depth at repeated listens and lyrically it has more of a narrative arc than 8 out of 10 “concept” albums.
Boy, I like Lou Reed - I even saw Heart of a Dog because it was about Lou and Laurie Anderson's dog - and I couldn't enjoy this album. Maybe the poetry was just too deep and I was not focused enough. Or it was because the music seemed so dull? I'd say stick with Blue Mask, Transformer, and anything Velvet Underground. ....But then again I guess it deserves another listen, maybe a dark room with headphones.
It was fine.
I like Lou, I love Transformer! Berlin missed the mark for me and really only Lady Day standing out as a good listen. Album is a 2 for me.
Lou. Más lento de lo habitual. Un 4.
gorgeous
Torn on this one. Listened to it twice, has some high points but a lot of lows. High 2 is my conclusion.
It’s giving Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors, Rocky Horror Picture Show. The inner theater kid in me didn’t find this half bad. Unfortunately we can’t let that kid win.
fine
Bellissima voce, come sempre.
One of Lou Reed's best works, including his VU days. Only not 5 stars because "Kids" is such a difficult thing to listen to...
Lou at his best
I was a bit hesitant with this, but it is a fine piece of work. Of course the narrative issues are difficult but done with a fine touch. Very much enjoyed listening to this.
While I actually truly enjoy some of the instrumentals and song structuring, I think that Lou Reed's particular brand of talk-singing is plain horrible. Some of his songwriting and influence throughout his career was admirable, but I really don't like him as a singer and performer. This was the first time I listened to one of his albums in full and it only cemented my opinions of him.
Love it, always loved it
I wish I could say I loved this record like I've seen other people love it, but something about this album and The Velvet Underground & Nico make me feel guilty for not enjoying them as much as others do. By no means do I dislike either album, but I'm just struggling to see what makes other people value them so highly. Favorite tracks: Sad Song, Men of Good Fortune 6/10
I wasn't a fan when I first listen to this album years ago and still cannot get into it. I love the Velvet Underground but there's really on few Lou Reed albums I really like and this is not one of them.
Look, I love Lou Reed, but this felt like over self-indulgence or a lack of editing. Not a fan of most of the record. I’m sure they were very pleased with themselves for making it, but much of it is just… too much. Caroline Says II is good. Kid is really good until the actual kids come in. I don’t want to hear babies crying when I’m listening to music. Nope. I was sad that Sad Song didn’t end 3 minutes earlier.
Glad i listened to it. Probably won't listen to it again.
I like Lou Reed, but this was my least favorite of his solo stuff that I listened to. Some of it was interesting, but a lot of it was, unfortunately, forgettable.
The album has some nice piano and drums parts. The album's story and themes are somewhat interesting and forward for its time. But Reed's style is not appealing to me. To me, he is just a mediocre Bowie.
Veldig veldig bra! Gotta like that early alternative
1/5. Not a very enjoyable album. Boring and uninteresting.
A heartbreaking album, this. There aren't many albums like this for me, ones that I both love and fear. This is one of those albums I listen to and am grateful for my Lady's mantle to hide in while listening. This album is basically the chronicle of a couple falling in love over drugs and falling apart through the abuse of said drugs, the abuse of each other, prostitution, the disintegration of their family, and eventually suicide by one partner, while the surviving partner, though sad, sees the suicide as a necessary escape and relief. oh oh oh oh oh oh oh what a feeling!
His deadpan singing, while lacking excitement, actually allows him to better be execute lyrically his rock opera than say how Tommy by The Who was done. You don’t need supplementary notes to know what the story is. The music especially picks up as the music goes on into the second half and leaves a very proper album for listening.
Interesting album, very reminiscent of Tom Waits or Nick Cave. Liked the raspy voice, slow performance of the vocals in combination with the guitar play
Mid. The world would be the exact same if this weren't made.
Dark concept album. At times great music, occasionally moments of real emotional connection, but also lots of moments of annoyance or disconnection for me . I keep thinking I must be missing something.
I never liked this album &, even though I’ve owned it for decades, I haven’t played it for that long either. Released in October 1973, it was bookended by the only 2 Lou Reed albums I was ever passionate about - Transformer(released November’72), the album that made him famous & Rock’n’Roll Animal (recorded live December’73 & released February ‘74). These are great records. Not sure what Berlin is. There’s nothing wrong with the band and a lot of Lou’s music is beautiful, but I can’t stand the vocal delivery. And the same was true when I saw him live - first at the Hordern Pavlova in July1975 and ten years later at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle. His bands on both occasions were great, but he just wasn’t engaging. At both concerts, the opening bands stole the shows for me - in ‘75 it was a Kiwi band I’d never heard of - Split Enz - and ten years later it was a band I was very fond of - the Hoodoo Gurus. Anyway, I’ve given Berlin another listen and discovered that there are a couple of songs on it that I do enjoy - How Do You Think It Feels & Sad Song. Apart from that, it leaves me cold, although, as I said, the music is often terrific.
So, my mate Dave and I have this game we play called "World's Worst Dinner Party", where you have to nominate the six absolute worst guests you can think of (living or dead), who would be the most unpleasant people to spend time with. The only rule of "World's Worst Dinner Party" is the Lou Reed Perpetual Chair. It is presumed that any list of worst possible dinner party guests must always include Lou Reed. Arrogant, angry, impatient, bleak and humourless. I am massive fan of the Velvet Underground and (some of) his solo material. His "high IQ, low technique rock and roll" (to quote his NY Times obit) is the template for much of the music I love. Great musician, but awful human being (may he rest in peace). I know of the cult of this album. It has a dedicated fanbase who have long championed this album, despite its poor initial reviews. I have tried a couple of times over the past 30 years to get into this album, but this is just way too bleak. Apparently, producer Bob Ezrin told Lou that he thought his songs always had great story beginnings, but the stories never had endings. So Lou took his previously recorded song 'Berlin' and extended it out to a sort-of rock opera that tells the story of Jim and Caroline, drug addicts who descend into violence and destitution until their children are taken away and Caroline commits suicide. Well. hell, that is probably the predictable and inevitable endpoint of a Lou Reed story, but it is hard to listen to. Ezrin's operatic production style (honed on Alice Cooper records, and eventually reaching its peak in The Wall) amps up the drama to frankly unbearable levels. The crying children at the end of "The Kids" is much too much for me to take (not helped by the possibly apocryphal story of how it was achieved: https://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/09/unusual_recordi.html ). I appreciate the art of this album, but I never want to listen to it again.
Wow. One of the most depressing albums I’ve ever heard, but still it’s a story told in such a brutal way the pain is almost beautiful. Great performances by Reed and all the players. The writing is absolutely stunning. But so sad. Wow.
Well that was a bit of a downer. Favorite: Berlin
Expected more from a Reed solo project given his work as part of the Underground. The narrative components are fine, but the surrounding instrumentals are just... there? The melodies aren't compelling and none of the instrumental choices grab the listener's attention, which is disappointing given the distinctly unique tracks Lou would orchestrate with VU.
Just like the last Lou Reed album I got, it just isn't working for me outside of velvet underground. His voice is just so boring compared to the great production and dark lyrics on most of the songs.
Prior to this i have never heard of Lou Reed and not aware of his connection with VU but so i was looking for some different with this new listen. Halfway in the tracklist there’s some good and bad things. The tracks have some good storytelling especially with the Caroline says tracks and the psychedelic influence is definitely there and can be heard. But some of the tracks are very forgettable such as Lady Day. Caroline Say 2 was one of the best songs on the record with its storytelling from Reed and sombre vocals and vibes. The Kids started so well with its sobering lyrics but had to skip when the kids started crying just automatically put me off the track. The last two tracks, The Bed and Sad Song were an okay down end to the album however doesn’t stop the fact that this album wasn’t really my cup of tea but still have some decent tracks. 3/5
Back when Lou Reed was still actively channeling the softer side of tVU into his solo projects, he pumped out a beast of an infectious pop-rock album with just enough curious experimental production choices sprinkled around to hint at all the madness he would go on to create later in his career.
Lou Reed you are literally evil for making me listen to this
Berlin- introduction to characters… don't know how l feel about concept albums Lady day- wasn't compelling to me Men of good fortune - quite a cynical take Caroline says I- despite rhyming vial with vile, I still quite like this song👍 How do you think it feels - the come here mama refrains are quite off putting but the instrumental is a bop Oh Jim - this is an interesting song, a dialogue in two parts👍 Caroline says Ii - Caroline is not having a good time👍 The kids- not the children crying lool i can't take this seriously The bed - Jesus Christ this is grim Sad song - and everybody lived unhappily ever after... This album was just not for me 2/5
This is awful.
Average
3.4
Ok for Lou Reed. Not too cringe.
Loved the vocals on this
This album feels like a really great EP. I like all the songs that have that great orchestra backing them, the others, not so much.
Classic dadcore
This is my shit right here
not very memorable 1.5
"How Do You Think It Feels" was my favorite, but "Berlin" was good as well. Lou Reed, like Springsteen, is hit-or-miss with me. I recognize the great songwriting, but the delivery doesn't always hit the mark for me. Regardless of my personal opinions on him, I think that most people who say they like Lou Reed do so because they think it makes them appear "deep". Just a thought...
Good I likey
Felt like I got bored very often. Not awful.
i’ve always loved lou reed. this seemed like a great one but v sad, just didn’t want to put myself in that headspace today so i didn’t finish. first couple of songs were good tho - gonna test again today and see if i’m negative 🤞🏼 hopefully i’ll be able to go to school tomorrow
09/12/2022 Bruh….just finished listening to this in studio and what the fuck. I will never be listening to this album again. It’s so ridiculously depressing. The Kids is just heartwrenching for no good reason. As fucked up as this sounds, this sounds like the music that would be the soundtrack for a movie for the virgin suicides or one of those extremely bleak and hopeless movies. Saw that Bob Ezrin was connected to this and then it all made sense. (The Wall by Pink Floyd says hello). End of the night update: can’t see why anyone would voluntarily listen to this album. This shit is glorified trauma porn, seriously. Idc if I’m being dramatic, this shit put me in a dark and down mood for the rest of the day. — Got back in from SA this morning. Went straight to school. Studio is going slow today. Feeling really frustrated with my pavilion design, but am praying that I will get it all figured out in the coming days.
I enjoyed this one alot. Very jazzy
Fine.
favorite song: sad song
This one was garbage. 1/5
Love a concept album and this has all the coolness you'd expect. Caroline says is a great tune
This story is depressing as hell, but I do love a good story. I'd revisit about half of the album just based on musicality, so not too bad. Here's where I wish 3.5 was a thing because 3 isn't right but 4 isn't either.
Very mixed feelings about this album. When I was distracted it was ok as background music, but not very noticeable. When you listen to it properly, it's pretty, but also utterly depressing. The Bed is very beautiful, but also quite messed up. Might listen again if I feel like sobbing.
Did not enjoy or even find beautiful, really. I still stand by my opinion/rule that no song should ever have a child crying in it.
The first time I heard this album, I thought it was a grim, sad depressing record. I had this on 8-track and the only player was in our windowless, cargo van and when the song, The Kid played, I swear to god I thought there was an actually baby crying inside the van. A haunting song, this didn't help my option of the album at the time. Fast forward 40 years or so, I would put this in the category of Lou Reed's better album, as he's released a handful of duds, sprinkled in with some classics. I wouldn't say it's a classic, but my option of the record has softened and it's definitely more listenable than it was then. It's actually quite good! The 8-track is long gone, all the 8-tracks were stolen when the van was broken into, but I did buy it on vinyl, so I'm not too heartbroken.
very soothing album! that said, it’s very very slow. i’d really need to be in a certain mood to listen again.
Here's my Rod theory. It's always easier to forgive the later lapses of an act you got to know when they were great, than work backwards from an act you first had to hear on the radio when they were awful and put that aside when considering their earlier and clearly superior work. And so it is here. While I can appreciate this is a good album, I can never disassociate that voice from the crimes of the late 70s and 80s. Do You Think I'm Sexy, Baby Jane, Young Turks and so on. So sorry Rod for the music it's three stars, for the vocals it can only ever be one.
Not bad. But not for me.
Nice
Eugh this really didn't appeal to me. I found some of them just irritating and so many songs about troubled women being sex workers, drug addicts, suicidal. Just a drag for me... sorry Lou
I really like Lou Reed, his voice is great and his stuff is always so unique. Didn't really know this album despite being one of his big ones. Not as good as Transformer but still good
Not an ideal morning listen. Ok. Had its moments; but I won't be listening again in a hurry.
Grim Teutonic sleaze .
misery memoir, the album!
liked his intentions, style, made me blue, sometimes repetitive in a way I wasn’t a fan of
Meh
What more can I say...tranquil. Another incredibly influential artist.
I thought this album was awesome
Such a sad album. Sounds like Spiritualized 30 years later
2.3 - decent but won’t be returning soon.
This was a new Lou Reed entry to me - but loved it - same cheery tone musically as Transformer but with a deeper and darker intellectual seedy underbelly lyrically - the characters are real and fully dimensional and the outlook is 30 years ahead of its time. And emotionally Lou takes you down quite some sorrowful alleyways - it’s an artful record.
22nd August 2022 Listened throughout the day while working from home and watched United Liverpool in the evening. Took a while for me to warm into this and wasn’t until the last couple of songs that it felt like he sounded like Lou Reed to me but maybe that’s because I associate him with the Velvet Underground so much. Not his fault.
Para tirarse en el sofá pero variadito.
Sad song Caroline ii
best i've heard from lou, this album bangs
Some good riffs but overall very silly
I'm assuming it's not a hot take that I like Lou with Velvet Underground a lot more than his solo career that's been pretty all over the place qualitywise. This is enjoyable, and I use the term loosely because it's a downer of an album if you pay attention to the lyrics. He has better stuff, he has a lot worse stuff. It's worth a listen. A 3.5 I'm bumping up to a 4.
4.5
It just sounds epic. Listened for the first time only a few months back. Couldn't believe I'd left it so long. I would watch the imaginary stage show that all these songs are taken from, and have a good cry, I'm sure. The Kids is a real tough listen.
Sad Song is really good
Well the baby crying and the kid screaming "Mum!" was very disconcerting but I liked most of it
Thé Americanized version of Bowie crossed with Leonard Cohen. One of a kind and equally minimal and lush simultaneously. I particularly love the unexpected turns of images, music and vocals. “Sad Song” starts with beautiful strings and why this song hasn’t exploded onto a cinematic soundtrack is an opportunity waiting to happen.
Heard before: not entirely Very cinematic, mainly good. Some questionable lyric choices. Sounded very cinematic. Lou Reed is best when he’s not trying to be experimental to be honest - he’s not good at it.
When something is new and revolutionary, it can later feel like a melodramatic imitation. The Kids and Sad Song seem self-indulgent in that “look everybody at where I’m willing to go” way. That diminishes the shine on a rather solid, mellow album.
I like Lou Reed's slower stuff like Men Of Good Fortune.
5.0 + Lou Reed set out to create a novel-like album and to me this reads like "Thérèse Raquin" by Emile Zola. He offers us an unflinching look at the insanity of drug addiction - we hear children crying out for "mommy" ("The Kids"), delve into messy sexual liaisons ("Oh, Jim"), feel the humiliation ("How Do You Think It Feels") and witness the violence ("Caroline Says II"). Listening to this record, I can almost inhale the stench of these NYC hovels and see the grime on the counters and walls.
Not his best work I must admit...
Classic Lou Reed album. I am sticking to general consensus here and rate this album as his best one. "Berlin", "Transformer", "Street Hassle" and "New York" are all 5-star albums.
Still a very impressive album.
The way the lyrics are delivered ruins the flow of the songs. It feels like the texts are prose instead of poetry.
Mellow. Starting to grow on me. Not much my style
Some people just exude coolness. Lou Reed is one of those people. I feel like I should hate this album. It is depressing, but it's not a style I usually like... But it's so fucking good!
Always loved The Velvet Underground, but never listened to Lou Reed's solo albums. Enjoying the horns. Love the transition from How Do You Think It Feels to Oh Jim. Fucking hell this album is gut wrenching. Ending the album with The Kids, The Bed and Sad Song really fucked me up. Overall I appreciate the musical significance of Lou's music, however I wouldn't add any of these songs to my playlists.
I enjoyed this album. Big fan of the orchestral backings.
not my favorite Lou Reed, Still Great.
We're getting sad with Lou Reed. Nice!
eh. 2, but catchy for 3.
Great album! Lou Reed is an amazing song writer and the musical talent is insane!
I gave "Transformer" only 4 stars, so here it has to be the same
Sad af. Need to look into the lyrics more to get the full gist of what the tracks mean.
The closest thing to a true rock opera I've heard. Story is very easy to follow with clear lyrics and basic yet tragic concepts of domestic violence, drug abuse, prostitution, corruption, and suicide. Personal and emotional. The sound is more acoustic-driven but follows his glam rock sound from Transformer with gospel and baroque influences. Reed follows his usual performance, which is fine except when the songs go for so long. But I found the music itself to be fairly boring. There are cool effects like the angelic synths of "The Bed" or the bright ensemble of "Sad Day." Songs are too focused on the storytelling that it doesn't pay enough attention to the melody. The guitar riffs I heard suck, and sometimes the lyrics suffer, but they can work quite poetically. I can see why "Caroline Says II" is the most covered song. Honestly, I'd listen to this again if I wanted to watch a movie with my eyes closed. If you think about it as an art piece rather than a rock or folk album, your perception of it will be higher.
How do you think it feels is a tune. Bit weird this album. Almost spoken word over a 70s Bowie style. Could be a musical. A depressing musical.
Beautiful Sad album, even better than magic and Loss
Loved how the cripplingly depressing lyrical content was offset by the beautiful and mostly upbeat arrangements.
6/10. I am fond of concept albums, but the songwriting, especially when it came to rhyming, could be so predictable that it just made the album feel a bit pointless. Like, say something original about your life being ruined by drug addiction in Berlin, I already know that shit's sad
Honestly a bit lacking in lyrical quality and very sleepy. I still enjoyed a lot of the music. 7/10
Berlin is Lou Reed's third solo album, and it's also a tragic rock opera concept album telling a story about a couple's struggle with drug abuse/addiction. The dark lyrics can be heavy at times, but some of the album's tracks' beats are too infectious to forget about. This is an interesting concept album, but the music doesn't disappoint.
Kolejny Lou Reed na liscie w kolejnosci chronologicznej pojawia z Berlinem z 1973, ktory jest czyms atakujacym w sztuke wyzsza, wiec nie ma tutaj latwosci odsluchu jak u Transformera i zabiegow Bowiego jesli chodzi o produkcje, bo nagrywany byl w skladzie Lou na wokalach i gitarce, w tym wypadku na akustyku i poteznej ekipie muzykow sesyjnych, zaopatrzonych glownie w instrumenty srednio rokowe, wiec klawisze beda pianinowe czy organowe, trumpety, saksy, puzony, znajdzie sie jakis synth na traku lub dwoch i elektrykowe gitary, ale jednak plyta ma charakter mocno akustyczny, a odsluchem lekkim z pewnoscia nie jest, bo jest to cos na ksztalt rokowej opery, ktora jest dramatem pary ukochanych i znienawidzonych osob i ich dramatycznych walkach problemami, wszelakimi, bo od narktykow w naduzywanie przemocy, czy sutenerstwo po utrate dzieckow i samobojstwa, wiec zycia cud na 10 trakach i 49 minutach, jakos nie moglem sie wczuc w ten odsluch, czy moze on ma byc tak szorstki i odpychajacy, wokalnie pan Reed jest nie do poznania tutaj w porownaniu do Transformera czy czasow Velvetowego podziemia, malo jest tutaj spiewania i radosnego chorkowania, a wiecej prostej liryki rzucanej do akompaniamentu instrumentalnego, na plejke dodam traka men of good fortune, ktory jest niby banalny w swojej prostocie, ale tak jak cala plyta swietnie sie zestarzala pod wzgledem lirczym i w dalszym ciagu watki na niej poruszane sa aktualne, ale jednak nie jest to moj ulubiony krazek w dyskografii pana Reeda
I've heard this a few times and never got into it, which is a shame as I like Lou Reed. Downbeat and doesn't really hold my attention
Lou reed does it again the madman
I wanted to like it but the production was a little rough around the edges and I didn’t think the lyrics were as compelling as other Lou reed songs
i really enjoyed the instrumentation here, which imo made up for some weak lyrics from lou reed.
Depressing
fairly boring
Low key... I kinda love Lou Reed (as long as he's not making an album with Metallica). Not quite on the level as his iconic album, but this is damn good.
This was pleasant, but nothing more.
Not as good as Transformer but still solid. I like Lou Reed’s vocals so that helps.
Didn’t really enjoy it
legalzinho mas achei que seria mais empolgante
Mostly solid but unremarkable throughout, but the last couple songs are kind of annoying. I absolutely do not want to hear whining children when listening to music, thank you very much.
Don’t mind Lou Reed but nothing to write home about.
Thoroughly underwhelmed
I'm liking Lady Day. But I feel like this isn't necessarily the best of Lou Reed. Caroline Says and How Do You Think it Feels also decent. Oh Jim also is pretty good. Okay, actually getting into the second half of the album more than the first--Caroline II basically is just Stephanie Says, but slowed down, but it's a great song so I'm willing to overlook it. I like Sad Song a lot too.
Extremely unmemorable; I did listen to it, but I could not tell you anything about it.
Took a couple listens, but really liked it.
Good musicianship from the stellar band. Bit overly sad and depressing towards the end. Better than expected, but not going to be playing in the future. 3 for music, but 2 for overall enjoyability.
I've always thought of myself as a bit of Lou Reed fan but this is the only album I've listened to in full so it looks like I have a nice journey of discovery ahead of me. Faves: The Kids, Sad Song
Oooo, I like this one. Dark and intriguing to me. I'll come back to it to listen better to the lyrics, but musically I found it rather engaging.
Oh, this was great - I've mainly listed to "Transformer" before, but this is much more consistent in tone and quality. I definitely want to revisit it more. Fave track - "The Bed", maybe? There's one hell of a suckerpunch in the lyrics...
Instrumentally pretty cool, but the vocals were grating after a couple songs
very cool concept album
Just really can't get into it. Doesn't feel like an album that I need to listen to again.
An interesting listen, where Lou Reed's poet conversationalist approach makes the songs compelling without them necessarily being catchy. They are sparse, but do well with a dark tone and style. Lou Reed does "cool" well.
Ay, qué feo.