Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Gross. Well executed, but disturbing. I get it - Lou Reed telling a story that didn't fit as a single song. Great musicians play on this, the Bob Erin production is very dramatic, everybody here bought in. So it succeeds in taking the listener into the dismal world of the people being depicted. No disrespect intended, but the sincerity of the delivery is chilling, the craftsmanship painstaking, and it reveals something about the artist. Like horror movies that are hyper-realistic. How do you conceive of and execute these disturbing images? What is in your head that makes you pass it off as entertainment, rather than a kind of off-label therapy? And everyone around you is saying "Yes! You should absolutely record and sell this to the public!" instead of: "Hey, Lou, are you okay?" Edgy, though. So if that's your thing, have fun with this.
I know very little about singing, but the singing on this album seemed awful. Every other part was good, though. If they weren't it'd be 0 stars.
Strange album dynamic. Doesn't flow well.
Idk if I was in the headspace for this one
Telling a sad story doesn’t make shit music any less shit
I did not massively love this. I thought it was going to be a live album which I was not looking forward to but it still wasn't good. Very on the nose lyrically which I always find so dull. Musically it was interesting enough. "Sad song" You can't just have your songs announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!
Still not a fan. Don’t get why he’s held up as an amazing songwriter. Like the US version of Leonard Cohen.
Nah, this ain't it bruv. 3/10
Really sad album. I was not a fan of the vocal performance. The delivery was kind of awkward. But you can tell that Lou put a lot of thought into this album and the production on The Kids is haunting.
Anyone for heroin cabaret? This wasn't really working for me. Did like a few songs (How do you think it feels, Sad Songs) but not enough to like here.
I was going to give this a 4 but then I realized that while this album makes plenty of impressions, it makes me feel bad. So I'm deducting one star from it because this shit is just too sad. The Kids is a phenomenal number though. Oh Jim as well. There's great songs but the ending gets me too strongly. I'm going to listen to Loaded to freshen up. (7/10, 3/5 on this scale) (Update: Bringing it down to a 2, it's just too damn sad)
There are a couple of moments in the back half of this, but even those (Sad Song, I'm looking at you) go on waaaaay too long. Two stars and Lou can thank me for them.
When I read that this was a concept album about a couple in the throes of addiction I was excited thinking I’d love the storytelling. Not exactly, it was flat and at times uncomfortable. The kids song triggered me hard. I do like how “dark” the album is and there were a couple of songs I’d listen to again on their own but I can confidently say I’ll likely never listen to this album in full again.
At least Transformer had some reasonably uplifting music to accompany the dark lyrics. This is just total and absolute darkness, like a black hole of music. Sucking all the enjoyment out of life track after track. I like The Velvet Underground and I like Lou Reed, but this is just soul destroying listening to this.
I've never been a huge fan of Lou Reed, I think he's kind of overrated but this album was not good, especially that weird ass kids song ugh! I was listening to that and it instantly made me want to stop listening lol I get why people say he's so good but I just never thought so 🤷
😬
Some of the music was nice. The voice - not so much.
Not as good as his other work. Doesn't have any standout songs. 2.5/5 Probably won't listen again
Ugh. Rock opera shit. "Et tu, Louté?"
Why are we repeatedly asked to listen to this atonal garbage. No woman would ever be allowed to put out an album with a voice like that.
Berlin is the third studio album from Lou Reed, who began his solo career after his time with the Velvet Underground. Berlin is a concept album; it is the story of a couple's struggles with drug abuse. The album was panned critically, and did find much commercial success. Over time, retrospective reviews have been increasingly positive. It is not clear why the album's reputation should improve. These are not particularly interesting songs, that wander past melodramatic into an "oddly contrived" space. Reed ends the album with "Sad Song," in which Reed repeats "Sad Song," over and over again. It's so stupid that the album lost a star for this song, alone.
I like his vocal delivery.
Ugh
Brutally depressing. Also getting tired of albums about heroin addiction.
point7.
Lou Reed is folk music for punks I suppose. This has pretty bleak subject material which didn't really resonate with me. It was tolerable, except for The Kids, which I really didn't enjoy.
This isn’t terrible, but this project is making me realize that I like the concept of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground more than I really like their music. 2.75
Kinda shite
Not as bad as I remember, but certainly not good.
4/10…art rock / glam rock
Not feeling it at all. One listen was enough
my rating might be more heavily weighted on the last song in this album but i feel like the vocals didn’t match the instrumentals very well. i was left wanting more a lot
Sad Reed is bad Reed.
Not a fan of this one. I felt like it was quite boring and I was not a fan of his voice.
tedious
Not really my jam. Bit depressing and disappointing
I could not imagine stepping into a vocal booth to lay down vocals over some really cool sounding backing tracks and instrumental performances and when I open my mouth to sing, I sound like I just ingested half a bottle of Xanax and I am trying to claw my way out of a haze. Yet that's what this album sounds like to me....for ten whole tracks....like....singing like that on purpose. It's just kind of perplexing. Maybe there's something I'm missing or just don't get. Cool instrumental performances. The singing made me feel numb, like listening to Ben Stein read the dictionary.
I liked his last one... this one was not so great. Pretty boring overall. Big meh.
This is pretty boring and I didn't really get into it.
Not a good album to listen to after a hard week. Lou is an advocate for the forgotten urban’s plight, which I respect, but I’d prefer this album if there were no vocals. His voice was just too jarring for me.
Rock, 1973 -> 2
Okay, but Reed's voice can be grating at times. Also this album felt a bit all over the place.
Annoying, then ok, then back to annoying again!
听不明白，有点不能确定这盘专辑的风格
This is so close to being a decent album but it's lacking something that I cannot put my finger on.
With a different singer this may have been an enjoyable album but alas......
Lou Reed is fortunate to have great musicians backing him up: Bob Ezrin, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Winwood, Michael & Randy Brecker and Tony Levin. But damn it, the vocals are just... terrible. I have never liked Lou Reed's vocals. He writes some pretty good lyrics, but the problem is he has to SING them. The only time I thought they were effective was at the beginning of "Caroline Says II", but it went on for too long. "Men Of Good Fortune" ended weird, I thought. I was expecting more of a fadeout. "How Do you Think It Feels..." great lyrics, but the delivery, ugh. "Sad Song" really had some great music backing him up, but dammit, Lou, find the melody. SOMEWHERE. It's just so... frustrating. NEXT.
Wow. I really did not like that. Lou Reed seems to speak to a subset of a generation that I am definitively not a part of and I find his smugness boring, annoying, and dated all at once. Giving it a courtesy point for the ripping guitar solo at the end of “How Do You Think It Feels”
Noped out of this when the kids started crying. And then I heard the kids in Oh Jim. Stick to the hits, Lou.
Whatever.
2.3
Never was a big fan of this one. It has some good moments and the concept is interesting, but it's so dreary and I don't find the songs strong enough to carry the album's replayability. Key tracks Caroline Says I How Do You Think It Feels
ho apprezzato la chitarra (sempre meno verso la fine), lui non ha una brutta voce trovo ma era sempre monotono diciamo. Musicalmente non mi ha colpito e sinceramente le parole non ho ascoltato molto ma il poco che ho capito erano argomenti che non mi interessavano molto..Non penso di riascoltarlo, forse molto più in là nella mia vita. L'ultima canzona mi è già piaciuta di più.
I do enjoy a good concept album telling a story but just couldn't really get into this one. Just felt really dreary and nothing really stood out to me.
In general, did not like Lou Reed's talk-singing style however not giving this album a 1 star because I enjoyed the music.
"Men of good fortune / Often cause empires to fall / While men of poor beginning / Often can't do anything at all." It's a concept album with a miserable bummer of a concept. I kind of like "Men of Good Fortune," quoted above, and several other songs at least have pieces I like. I almost rated this at a 1 because the subject matter sucks so bad, especially near the end, but listening back through it one last time I found more parts to like than I'd remembered.
I don't understand the appeal of Lou Reed. Only avoided a 1 because it's not the worst thing on the list. 2/5
I could really only think of bad things to say about Lou Reed's music so I'll just say nothing.
A bunch of Lou Reed songs I had never heard before. All decent, but not ones I would go back and listen to many more times.
Turns out I don't really love Lou Reed save for maybe 2 songs. This album did not do it for me at all.
4.5/10
2.5
An acquired taste. A bit depressing. For me, not as good as Transformer.
This ok but nothing that will move you. It’s 2.5 but Im gonna go down.
Exactly how I expected it to sound. ..
Not dreadful, but a bit annoying. I liked most of it, but not enough for me to add it to my library.
I tried but could just not get into this one. Might've just been the wrong day.
never really been a fan of lou reed, and this did nothing to change that. i have always found him kind of boring and thought he was vastly overrated.
Loses a star because of the goddamned baby.
This guys a communist
Not a Lou Reed fan
it was ok
I do love Lou Reed but this one wasn't my fave
It's honestly not bad, but there's something about it I can't shake. The crying child put me off it a bit. There's an air of cruel cynicism to it that I just don't care for.
Not horrible but not something I would listen to again. His vocals are constantly flat.
It’s quite a bad album. Not entirely sure of its purpose.
Idk. Seems like the dude is reveling in female misery.
I would have much preferred Perfect Day ten times in a row. And not the Lou Reed version, that celebrity one from the 90s.
I previously had no exposure to Lou Reed other than Walk on the Wild Side. Thought this album might be a bit weird, and it was, but I didn’t hate it. I don’t care much for his half-singing half-talking vocal style, but I guess that’s a big part what makes him Lou Reed. I might have to give it another listening, due to the story telling. Not really my thing, though.
This album could have been OK if it was sung by someone who could actually sing or at least enjoys singing. But it's not. The songs are better than on his other album on the list, Transformer, but the singing is just as awful. Favorite song: Lady Day
Lou Reed has always been very hit or miss for me and, unfortunately, this album didn’t hit home. A very sad and touching story throughout… but I found myself pretty zoned out while driving around.
Not a big Lou Reed fan.
So I listened to this a few days ago, and forgot that I had listened and what any of the songs were like. I relistened, and I think that I liked it, but it drifts from my mind like flour through a sieve. Favorite track: I think there was one called "How Do You Think It Feels"
cool
um... not for me
:S
Okay, so there are some weird songs, but a few other ones are pretty decent, so that slightly makes up those unenjoyable minutes and this is why I have decided to rate this slightly higher.
Man knows how to cultivate an atmosphere. … the same self gratification and ego as Dylan as it goes on though, everything about him … I do not like Lou Reed.
Well, that was depressing.
Miserable, which is understandable given the ‘concept’. But even the previously-wistful Caroline Says gets flattened out here. Interesting, but it does reinforce the perception that Reed wasn’t always a bundle of laughs. Transformer was so much more playful, and more meaningful for it. You need some light to appreciate the shade. That is lacking here.
An album from Smiling Lou that has somehow passed me by. I was looking forward to this, but ended up feeling a little let down. I quite liked the scummy cabaret feel, but felt it lacked the quality of songs to see it through. Marc and the Mambas did a far better cover of Caroline Says.
Not a horrible album but no idea what merits warrant it being on this list.
Mjaa 🤷🏼♂️ Det er ikke decideret dårligt, hvis vi ser bort fra lyden af grædende børn. Men det bliver heller aldrig godt.
Babies crying? I don’t need to hear that
I wish it was good like his other album
Really disappointed in this one. Pretty somber stuff.
Ok music, but for me not very interesting
Hard work for little reward. Found Caroline Says II good though.
Second song was alright. The rest were shite
That was a weird one, didn't go past the first few songs, but probably I should give it another chance in a different moment
I think I am allergic to this style if singing/talking the lyrics... which by the way I also don't find particularly interesting
i bet people really like this but it just doesn't do anything for me, baby crying drops it a star too
Pretty bad Lou album. I can see why this one was maligned at the time. 1.5/5
Samey
One of his slower albums, not my favorite
Just can't do Lou Reed. When I see his name appear as next up on here part of me lets out a little groan. Same as Nick Cave, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen. Can I just skip them all now please. Give them all 2* so they don't feel too put out.
STANDOUTS: No? the DARK subject matter interests me but...sonically? nothing unique. OVERALL: 2/5
He talks through his albums atonally. No memorable songs.
Crazy how much less I like this than the other Lou Reed within on this list.
all respect to lou reed i love the work he did with the velvet underground, but this album was really boring i found it hard to stay focused and it was a challenge for me to listen to the last 3 as they’re all over 5 minutes long.
This is more listenable than most Lou Reed stuff that I’ve heard but I still don’t like it and don’t understand the appeal
never got him tbh
This was around the point when someone should have taken Lou aside and told him to stop making music. This album does sneak in an extra star for creativity though. 1.5/5.0: Bad
they really heard this man gently whisper over light guitar strumming and called it an album to hear before you die
Not my cup of tea.
I like some Lou Reed albums (Transformer is (imho) good and New York is brilliant. This one however was a bit...er... 'odd' and not really to my taste - at least on the first couple of listens... Maybe if I re-visit it'll improve - but, tbh, I'm not sure I'm going to...
'Sad Song' the best track.
This little bitch won't shut about about some girl named Caroline. No body cares Lou! 2.5 stars
Kinda folky, kinda emo, kinda boring. Last song was pretty interesting. It felt like a happy and triumphant song even though it was a "sad song". Maybe something about the lady finally finding peace after razoring her arms? Probably could get a lot out of this album if I listened again and more in-depth, but overall not really doing anything for me.
Terrible vocals with stylistic choices that ruin decent songs
There was a time when I actively disliked Lou Reed's music. It inspired anger in me. Maybe not anger, but something strong and negative. That's no longer the case, at least not as I listened to Berlin, but I kept wondering, what was Lou Reed's compulsion to create music? He's like the opposite of auto-tune. He can take anything and make sound out of key and unmelodic. He sounds bored and uninspired... so why do it? I get about as much enjoyment listening to this as he sounds delivering it, which is to say, not much.
Not his best and I don't think it deserves to be on the list.
Not my speed…a little too beatnik for me
Heroin high music
I didn't like or dislike it. Never heard any of this before. It might be nice as background music for some other activity. Probably just not my thing.
I wasn't really feeling it to start from, but halfway through it got sleep inducing. The crying kid was the final nail in the coffin. (I guess I take back my comment on Cloud Nine by The Temptations) Okay, Sad Song is actually pretty good, but he could have done more with the chorus.
C'était très dépressif.
Sellainen olo, että tästä on tekemällä tehty koskettavuuteen pyrkivä levy? Se ei tavoittanut mua kuin aavistuksena. Ja kysyn: onko Caroline saysin tarkoitus keskustella Stephanie saysin kanssa tai olla sisarbiisi? Herää siis kysymyksiä tavoitteista, mikä ei ole ainakaan nyt superhyvä merkki. Mutta levyn tunnelma sopi harmaaseen päivään, pidin kokonaisuudesta siltä kantilta.
Uskottavat puitteet, mutta jotain puuttuu: tasalaatuisen kiinnostavat kappaleet. Aihepiiri ei ainakaan niitä korvaa.
I couldn’t get into this one, not my thing.
I guess it is important to some one. The main character seems like a nice guy. 2+*
This isn’t for me. It’s not bad, but Lou Reed just isn’t my jam.
Once that baby started crying, I had to stop listening. The most disappointing Lou Reed album.
I would have expected a better, more enjoyable album from Lou Reed.
I love The Velvet Underground, and I think Lou is a bit of a musical genius in that band. However, his solo work has just never done it for me. It flashes greatness but is so interspersed with just some weird ass and uber depressing vibes.
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.
Yawn inducing
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
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.
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.
Sigh. I had high hopes, I like Lou Reed, I think. I thought. Currently bored though. I enjoyed Berlin, and Caroline Says II.
Interesting idea as a concept album but quite a dreary and depressing listen. Won't be listening again
Pretty shitty.
Eh, a bit of a miss...
I like Lou Reed, but I don't like Lou Reed albums. There I said it.
Great music. Typical Reed poor voice.
pretty kewl? but also boring and depressing he doesn't really sing, he just talks oh wait it kinda gets worse 😕
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.
Didn’t really do much for me
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.
better than the other lou reed album but... 2
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.
Lou Reed really can’t sing
Sad lyrics dominated by Lou’s spoken word like singing. Not a big fan of this
Some real standouts amid a lot of dullness
hoo boy that was a depressing one
Could not finish it. Too depressing and the talk singing kindred of grated on my nerves.
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.
Self indulgent. A few interesting ideas for songs in there but needed someone to sort it out. A few good bass lines in there.
Lou Reed finally feels old :(
weird "story album". 1.6/5
Not sure I really like this
They all sound the same
Ugly Bob says II stars
I’m not a big Lou Reed fan. But this album is okay.
It was alright. Nothing to write home about.
Echt niet mijn ding - begrijp ook de praise van die mens niet echt - persoonlijk
Meh. It was okay. Maybe it's an album that grows on you with each listen.
Vet du hva, jeg føler jeg burde elske Lou Reed, men dette funka bare ikke helt for meg🤷♂️
Lou's music really just does nothing to grab me. Sorry guy. Favorite track: Oh Jim
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
Putting a crying baby in your album is cruel, who wants to hear that?
This one opened weird. Got sad.
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)
Little bit too depri for my taste
boring monotone with concepts which were fresh at the time and are not any longer.
I like Lou Reed, but this album didn't quite do it for me.
Some decent parts, but overall a hard album to listen to. Didn’t seem to have great production value or much vocal talent.
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.
Not my style. Some of the softer, later songs on the album appeals to me but many others dont click with me
This is a weird one. And not in a good way. Just bizarre.
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-
bad length men of good message
Not abjectly terrible, but I do not like this. I hope there's no more Lou Reed.
Do not love his voice at all. The songs too.
Eh
2.5 stars. This was ok. Singer songwriter early rock. Lyrics are full of heavy themes. Didn't have any big standout tracks.
adding a crying baby to the background of a song is never a strong musical decision
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.
Man, this was a tough listen. I had no connection to this and struggled at times to appreciate. 2/5
Zero good songs, but not annoying to listen to. Two stars.
I like some Lou Reed songs, guess they weren’t here tho
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, it’s decent Favourite song: Track 3 - Men of Good Fortune
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.
Dog
Was OK until thr last few tracks. Particularly depressing and not quite what I want to listen to tbh
it picks up a bit but just didn't feel it
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a really hit or miss album, unfortunately it’s a miss for me
I liked "How Do You Think It Feels". But the rest of the album felt unremarkable.
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.
Eh 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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...
Felt like I got bored very often. Not awful.
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.
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.
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
Not an ideal morning listen. Ok. Had its moments; but I won't be listening again in a hurry.
misery memoir, the album!
Such a sad album. Sounds like Spiritualized 30 years later
2.3 - decent but won’t be returning soon.
Some good riffs but overall very silly
Not his best work I must admit...
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'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
fairly boring
Didn’t really enjoy it
Thoroughly underwhelmed
Extremely unmemorable; I did listen to it, but I could not tell you anything about it.
Instrumentally pretty cool, but the vocals were grating after a couple songs
Just really can't get into it. Doesn't feel like an album that I need to listen to again.
Ay, qué feo.
Beetje saai, Lou.
Beetje zouteloos.
Lou Reed n'est pas l'artiste le plus facile d'approche. Je sais que les textes ont une très grande importance dans cet album et ça a dérangé beaucoup après le succès de Transformer, mais ce n'est pas la première chose que j'écoute, surtout dans une autre langue que le français. Il faudra que je réécoute pour ça. Côté musical, on est quand même dans du stock accessible si on compare à ce qu'il a fait par le passé. Les arrangements sont bien et quand même élaborés. Ce n'est pas un album de gros hits, mais c'est intéressant à écouter pour savoir ce que c'est.
Not great, he's done better.
On initial listen I was immediately comparing it to Transformer, which on a second listen is unfair - as you can tell Lou Reed wanted to do something different, a concept album, the tragedy tale of a couple's misadventures. Did I enjoy it? Some good songs on there, but overall, not really.
I like the fact that it's a concept album, but that is literally the only thing I like about this. I like Lou Reed's work with the velvet underground but I can't seem to get into his solo stuff.
He’s weird
Nah, not for me
Got bored. These songs aren't for me.
Kind of a low-fi Velvet Underground record, and not really my style.
Minimalist album, very underplayed. That said, I like the band. A niche album, not for me.
Awfully boring
I like the VU and everything but Lou Reed's solo work mostly leaves me cold. This is no different.
Kinda melancholy. Didn't love or hate. Just was. Prolly wouldn't listen again.
It's a pretty dark album we get from Lou Reed here. With what is essentially a concept album, with the telling of a couple's struggle with drug addiction and abuse. Best: Caroline Says I Worst: The Bed
While don’t necessarily dislike much of this album, there s also very little of it that caught my attention. You probably really need to be in the right frame of mind to listen to this and maybe I wasn’t - but overall I found it dull, tedious and I’m very unlikely to revisit
Dull and forgettable. A few nice moments but overall disappointed.
Tylsä
Mitäänsanomaton, soi taustalla läpi kuitenkin häiritsemättä.
There is better Lou
I guess this is a rock opera? It sounds like bad, on the nose poetry over simple guitar. I like the other Lou Reed I've heard but this is kind of tedious.
Just how I felt when listening to transformer, I’m just not a Lou Reed guy. I get it, I see why he’s important but it just doesn’t work for me. Should I give this album a higher score because I at least understand it’s cultural significance? Probably. Am I going to? Nah.
Eh
Very dark
Bit miserable
i never realised lou reed got affected by the terrible 70s amdram music bug that afflicted the best part of the decade. this will not be getting listened to again.
Got bored and just listened to velvet underground instead. Nothing special
Ahhh it's not great, is it? 🧑🦽
A very depressing listen.
songs felt repetitive and whiney
I listened to it twice to try and understand the hype. It just didn't do anything for me.
Live albums aren’t often great, this is no exception
Berlin?... More like Bore-lin.
I hope this is about drinking, I think Berlin is the city where I have drunk the most in a short period of time
Lou Reed is one of those guys who just talks in a sing songy voice over some occasionally catchy music. Not terrible, but not entirely my bag.
lou reed çok sevmem ama kötü bir albüm değil
An unholy mess
A very quirky alternative rock album from the early 70s with interesting instrumentals that draw the listener in. My biggest qualm with the album, however, is Lou Reed's style of singing, which is so rhythmically disjointed and melodically faint that it almost resembles spoken word. "The Kids" and "The Bed" are two songs that may have been better off as poems, however "Sad Song" ends the album with a very catchy and memorable, chorus-heavy feeling. Overall, this feels like an early David Bowie album if he had been American with much less energy.
I can appreciate how his sound on this album fit into the NYC landscape at the time. While there's moments of interest, I can't get into his vocal styling, unfortunately.
Lou leading the rude rebellion, but not a lot standing out for me. Must be one of those ‘minimum 7 listens to get into it’ type albums. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
I #respect Velvet Underground and Lou Reed’s contribution to music and the influence of so many of the bands I love. I don’t dislike this but it’s not for me. I’ll keep trying. The dish of a cooky deep voice guy is best served by Iggy Pop for this reviewer
Meh
Forgettable
nah man
I like a few of lou reeds songs but definitely not this album. Just found it kind of boring
I don't think I've heard a full Lou Reed album either. I do not mind the style, but there are way better Lou Reed songs IMO. Nothing really grabbed me here.
Meh
Pra uma premissa tão dramática o album foi calmo demais... Não gosto muito de música falada.
quaalude party
2/5
Not really sure what to say about this one. I had it on the background more than actively listening, Lou Reed is certainly a mood but I couldn’t listen to him all the time
Berlin is a weird song.
don't like this at all. I think it's lame. i'd give a more formal opinion but not really in the mood, i'm sure it's impressive but it kinda sucked in my subjective opinion