Reviews (page 4 of 13)
What on Earth can I say about this masterpiece that hasn't been said before, here or elsewhere? Nothing. I'm gonna review the reviews then. That will give us an inkling of what makes this album so popular for genuine music fans--after all, 3.75 *is* a pretty good score, is it not? Funny how a significant number of reviewers confessed they had a "bias" for *Transformer*. As if it was a dirty little secret they were only sharing now, decades after this record was released. My take about that word and its "guilty" undertones (because it's often that exact same word that's used, "bias") is that it fits with the sleazy, sexually promiscuous world depicted by some of *Transformer*'s songs. Like a kink of some sort. Other reviewers were quick to prone another aspect of that sexual world Lou Reed presents to us, i.e. all those innuendoes about the variety of gender and sexual orientations displayed in those songs (with direct references to all that in "Walk On The Wild Side"--oh my god, what a song, by the way!)."Forward-thinking", I believe one of the reviewers called those songs. Popular cuture is often the best way to open minds. And with *Transformer*, you *also* have great music to do that, which can't hurt. Which leads me to the impressive number of reviewers commenting on David Bowie and Mick Ronson's production. Of course the sonic flair of the two Brits is a *huge* part of the charm here, turning " Satellite Of Love" into a cousin of "Life On Mars?" (what an outro section, my god!) or a bunch of Velvet-Underground-flavoured, hard-rock-like compositions into glam-rock gems ("Vicious". "I'm So Free" , "Wagon Wheel" "Hangin' 'Round" ). Yet, make no mistake, large chunkss of *Transformer* are still very much American as well. That jazz double-bass and gospel-like choir on "Walk On The Wild Side". Or the Broadway accents on " Perfect Day" and the ones from New Orleans on "Goodnight Ladies"... Glam-rock and the world of the Velvet Underground had much in common, but they were also very different (rock'n'roll) animals. As such, they were not necessarily supposed to collide the way they did here. So it's nice that they did collide, and thet we can still catch the sparks that came out of that collision today. Right after *Transformer*, Lou Reed went to diametrically opposed aesthetics with Bob-Ezrin-produced "Berlin" (I haven't read a single reviewer mentioning that album, oddly enough, even though later *New York* has been mentioned a couple of times)."Berlin" surely is an acquired taste (I've grown to love it over the years), yet there's one thing most Lou Reed and Velvet Underground fans can agree about: It's nice that Lou Reed never attempted to record *Transformer 2*. Let robots and AIs do that, lol. *Transformer* was a commercial breakthrough for Lou, sure. But this wonderful record is also unique for more than commercial reasons, and for that bridge between London and NYC Reed, Bowie and Ronson built to make it happen. 5 stars, what else? Number of albums left to review: less than 500 (I've temporarily lost count) Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately (including this one, of course) Number of albums I *might* include: a quarter, approximately. Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter (many others are more important to me).
En ollut harmikseni kuunnellut tätä levyä koskaan kokonaan, mutta olipa erinomainen. Hauska, surullinen ja aikaansa edellä. Tekee sen verran mieli antaa tälle 5 että annetaan.
Lou Reed with some help from Bowie. Some really silly lyrics. And Perfect Day. Love this album.
This is a great album. I've always been a big Velvet Underground fan and a fan of Lou Reed in particular. It's also great to hear him in his element with Bowie producing and encouraging his instincts. Nearly every song on here is a standout to me, I've got to go with 5/5. Standout Tracks: Vicious, Andy's Chest, Perfect Day, Hangin' 'Round, Walk on the Wild Side, Make Up, Satellite of Love, Wagon Wheel, I'm So Free
This album has always been a big blind spot for me and I’m happy this list finally encouraged me to listen to it. These songs are Vicious; 5/5. Even the sleepy ones towards the end.
This was always an album that I knew by the singles, but never realized how good it was as a whole until now. in terms of producing other artists, this might be Bowie’s best. He’s got my guy Lou sounding like T. Rex and it rules; it’s a makeover that shouldn’t make sense but it does. Side note: I’m with mister tunes - perfect day sucks. Compared to everything else, it’s a stale song that just doesn’t work. While the glam compliments Lou, perfect day almost goes out of its way to make him sound bad. Unless it’s the version he did with Paravotti lmao that was hilarious
Glad I had the weekend to let this one bounce around and listen a few times! I’ve loved this album for a long time, but some of the kind of goofy/whimsical breaks and horn parts have always sat a little weird with me. After a couple listens (and a convincing argument from Allijah), I’ve gotta say, it’s grown on me. Lou Reed has a weird charm in his absolute sincerity, and this album is him as typical putting it all out in the open. Bowie’s production is a perfect match, and I fully believe this whole album is, in fact, great.
Thus is my favorite of all time. Lou Reed’s voice resonates so beautifully over these arrangements and the way everything fits together so nicely is in part due to the big man himself David Bowie (who also provided backup vocals in addition to producing this album). I love how Lou Reed sings with such intense sincerity about loving his tv, drag queens, NYC gossip, and having a nice day at the park. I genuinely think this is the best album ever written and I think the last 90 seconds of Satellite of Love are the best in all of music. That arrangement always blows me away. I think Andy’s chest is such a perfectly weird and cute tribute to Andy Warhol. I realize it’s not the most popular opinion but i also really like the closer and it brings me to a very specific place and feeling. Anyways I would give this album 100 stars if i could. it is perfect to me
Lou Reed <3
Wow!
I've got this. Haven't listened to it for ages, had forgotten just how good it is. Great album tracks go from good to outstanding. And contains the iconic walk on the wild side and perfect day.
What a talent 🙏
Lou Reed at his best. Perfect Day is one of my all time favorite songs, Satellite of Love is also great.
Completo
Why have I never heard this before? I love it!
As a guitar player I keep thinking I need my songs to be complex chord arrangements, and then I listen to Lou Reed and realise what a genius he is at simplistic songwriting. Perfect day has to be one of the prettiest songs I’ve ever listened to, and Walk on the Wild Side has maybe the most intriguing lyrics of any song I’ve ever listened to. 5 stars
Some great tracks on this one
The perfect mix of sleaze and sarcasm with kindness and gentleness. Embraces the cheese of glam rock and the 70s as fully as anyone (Satellite of Love) while injecting it with bites of understated darkness (Walk on the Wild Side). Lou Reed is probably one of the best examples of an extremely limited singer who succeeded by knowing exactly how to write for his voice. Love the weird mix of jazz and cabaret influences too. A fantastic album, up there with Ziggy Stardust at the peak of glam for me. Best song: Perfect Day
Great record. Lots of interesting material
Perfect Day.
Transformational transgressions from one of the coolest motherfuckers to ever do it.
Not a perfect album, but the hits carry the water here. Walk on the Wild Side, Perfect Day, Vicious, Satellite of Love, just great glam and pop songwriting. Just like with Bob Dylan, I’ll fight anybody who doesn’t like Lou Reed’s voice. Fun fact: this album was produced by David Bowie.
Most of the record holds its own with Walk on the Wild Side. Very solid album front to back. Lots of interesting music variation. Very Bowie-esque in many ways.
An all-time favorite album of mine.
10/10 Lou Reed is the GOAT while this might not be as ambitious or creative as the Velvet Underground, it still has that signature charm that makes all of Reed’s music so iconic and lovable
I lov lou
Awesome. Rating: 4.7
Hell yes
Wonderful record.
classic
♥️♥️
Great album, Bowie on production! Walk on the wild side. It’s an all timer
Lou reeds best album
Fantastic album. So many bangers. For being 36min, this is beyond power packed. Great flow from audio engineer with track layout. 5 TBz 1. Perfect Day 2. Walk On the Wild Side 3. Satellite of Love 4. Vicious 5. Wagon Wheel
Full of classic tracks
So many great tunes on here that really showed what rock music can do.
The most accessible Lou Reed album. Still dark and strange enough to appeal to VU fans but with the production help from David Bowie to make him appeal to the average listener. There's a reason songs from this album are still used in media to this day.
Still one of the best rock records.
Liked it.
esse foi por pelo menos um mes da minha vida o album que eu mais ouvia, eventualmente eu enjoei dele, mas isso não muda minha opinião sobre ele. otimas musicas com o estilo glam que era novo sucesso na epoca por causa do bowie. alguns dos arranjos de guitarra aqui são os melhores arranjos ja feitos. a poesia rebelde e imunda nova iorquina é um grande marco tambem nesse album. "when people say her feet smell they mean her nose" certamente o melhor do lou reed.
4.5
Start to finish brilliant album. Makes you feel mellow.
It's a shame this album ends on its most annoying song. Nevertheless, I'm going to take a walk on the wild side and rate it a 5 for the rest of the songs.
Drags itself over the 5* line, as half of the songs are fabulous and Bowie has never produced a clunker. Hangin' Round is my favorite, somehow, and the whole thing is kinda the evil twin of Hunky Dory
Goed album, paar echte klassiekers. 5*
Incredible album
Una pieza fina y suave para cualquier persona, muy bien digerible y con momentos muy suaves para relajar.
a classic. I love it.
Great
One of my all-time favourites. Particularly like Goodnight Ladies.
This is the type of shit I'd try and get up to nonstop if I could live in the 70s for a while
A classic for a reason
PREFS: TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN
This is what a 5 star album sounds like. I so wish that Lou had recorded more with Ronson/Bowie. Timeless record. An old school album that you play from start to finish.
- Heard this before - Probably prefer this to every VU album I've heard - Perfect 70s glam rock album - Fav songs: Satellite of Love, Perfect Day, Vicious
Incredible record
Always loved this, so more than a little biased. Great for walking on dreery days.
I think New York is better but this one is great
I loved this album in college, and Re listening only reminded me why. It’s hilarious, rollicking, and just a great groovy glam time.
this is almost bananas
An amazing album. "Vicious," "Andy's Chest," "Satellite of Love," and "Perfect Day" are probably my top tracks.
One of my all-time faves. I mean, any album produced by Bowie is guaranteed to be great, but this one has a special place in my heart. RIP Lou Reed.
Beautiful album, with two really good songs. A perfect day and walk on the wild side…
I didn't realize that my four favorite Lou Reed songs all came from the same magical album! (Not that there aren't others that I just haven't thought of.) And in addition to those four, I enjoyed the whole thing, discovering some new delights and the wonderfully prominent use of tuba. I listened several times today enjoying so many phrases both familiar and new each time.
What an excellent album! I know that I have heard it before, but now it has found a place in my library.
Have I really never listened to this before?! How is that possible? And how did I not know David Bowie produced this? Anyway, this is a fantastic fantastic album that more than lives up to the hype. I have heard several of the songs on this album before, but the songs I haven’t heard before are really fantastic too! This album feels fresh, if I heard it for the first time I couldn’t tell you when it was created. But I would tell you that I love it!
p264. 1972. 5 stars. Camp, sardonic glam rock classic. 50 years on and it still sounds terrific. Half a star deducted for suspect lyrics (Andy's Chest), but otherwise this is practically flawless.
I wrote last time that Lou Reed is very hit or miss for me. This album is the hit. So much great stuff here and Lou Reed at his finest.
A brilliant Bowie insprired album
My favorite Lou Reed album, still very Velvet underground like in many ways which is fabulous. Walk on the Wild side was my gateway song into the Velvet Underground when I heard in high school.
You can put me down for 5 stars on almost any Lou Reed. Maybe not his best (Velvet Underground is), but man, there are some great songs on here: Vicious, WotWS, Satellite of Love,…
I really really liked this album and the visuals it evoked. Lou Reed makes heroin sound like a really good time.
A true classic, every song is amazing.
El cénit de Lou Reed en solitari, que no és poca cosa. Reed amb ganes de reivindicar-se i David Bowie en estat d'inspiració màxima, què podia sortir malament? Una de les obres capitals dels '70 i una de les joies atemporals del rock com a génere
Fucking love it
Es genial Lou Reed y Transformer sin dudas un gran album
Already one of my favorite albums.
Fantastic songs.
I think I'm a carny fan, I really enjoy "Circus sounds" on an album. The other part that elevates this album is Lou Reed's vocal delivery.
I have always liked Lou Reed songs when I've run across them, but never listened to this famous album. It did not disappoint. Of course I love "Perfect Day" and "Walk on the Wild Side" but another standout is "Goodnight Ladies". This is a fun and perfectly composed album.
Totally seductive. Somehow he makes living on the wild side feel glamorous. I thought I’d get tired of his delivery which almost sounds bored, but it fits the music and lyrics well
Ту ту ту тудуп
Oh ya
This is one of my favs
Bellissimo e con 2 capolavori
Absolutely great!
I think Perfect Day is a perfect song. So bittersweet. The rest of the album is great as well.
lou reed’s best solo album, this is just excellent — it’s produced by bowie and mick ronson, and you can really tell, they combine with reed’s songwriting incredibly well.
LP
Clássico. Maravilhoso.
Lou Reed....what else is there to say
This is magnificent! I love every single song.
True understated genius.
Brilliant. Bowie's backing vocals on Satellite of Love provide one of rock's priceless moments.
9/10 Best Song - Perfect Day
Love Lou Reed. Perfect day, wak on the wild side
Great album, love lou Reed
Amo esse álbum <3
Glam rock, producido por david bowie, dos de los mejores temas de la historia y otros dos que se quedarán en tu cabeza al instante escuchadlo
Classic.
Amazing album. Very influential. I can hear why a lot of bands got inspired by his sound.
Classic album. Real good.
Liked it.
Una tras otra. Chingón
Love Lou Reed. It retains some of the sound of the Velvet Underground, and features some of his best songs.
Beautiful, just beautiful.
Classic
Such a great album! Love his singing style.
Glam, punk, camp, rock, great
Outstanding and massively influential
Fantastic!
love this album already - the music still feels fresh and vibrant
Nothing I didn't like on this album, and some all time greats, namely "Perfect Day" and "Walk on the Wild Side."
The songs, the arrangements the delivery are all amazing. It's totally understandable why this is considered a classic
nice
uno de los discos de la vida
Love it.
ваще крутой альбом, молодец
Vraiment excellent dans son genre. J’adore. 5
This album is so lovely
The songs themselves generally sound slow and nostalgic, but the lyrics are very charged with topics such as sexuality. It's an album that I like and might listen to once or twice but not very many more than that due to the uncomfortable element of the lyrics. I really like the songs, however, and they really hit the spot on a lower energy day. Favorite track: Satellite of Love
Vassar quads, aviators, Luci
This is the album my Dad would have made. Vicious is maybe the best first track I’ve ever heard - just in how it sets up the rest of the album. Blues, rockabilly, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, beatnick poetry - I heard it all in this one. Music a good, lyric are maybe even better. Great album
What’s left to say? Sublime … everytime … Hit me with a flower …
Banger
Done. Short. Good.
Really liked this. All the way through. 5 stars.
Very queer, excellent
Great Album.
One of my all time faves!
One of the greats. End of.
Way better than I thought it would be. Loved almost every song.
Really nice listen. Had some classic songs and some songs I wasn't familiar with, but all were enjoyable.
Wie selbstverständlich das anders sein sein kann, meine tiefe Verehrung für diesen Meilenstein, der auch 2021 noch frisch und anders klingt.
Sensual and flavourful
There is really nothing that needs to be said here. One of the greatest of all time
VICIOUSSSSS
Also in the NME list | I love this album
Speaking of loo reads. I was reading 'Being Freddie' by Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff whilst squeezing out the most painful, dark, foul smelling, Guinness shit yesterday. I must say, what a funny and articulate young man he is. To be a world class cricketer, who goes out on the lash at the drop of a ball, try your hand and boxing and they become a national tv treasure, you really have to hand it to the man. I bet he gets the Guinness shits a lot too. By jove, it was brutal, it felt like molten lava pouring out of my soul.
“Well you know what they say about honey bears, that’s when you shave off all their baby hairs you have a hairy minded pink bad bear.” Yeah I really like this album. Lots of bangers including “satellite of love” I didn’t realise that was Lou Reed
👌
could pick holes but it's just great music
Classic. I LOVE this album.
Perfect Day.
Lou Reed en estado puro.
Awesome
Great album, classic.
oh this is goooooooooood. the last one was so great i almost lost my head.
It’s all over the place and everything works out. Love it.
Perfect album
Well this was fancy af
This has been my favourite one we've had so far. I find it such an original album unlike anything else, even Velvet Underground. It's got some ultimate bangers on it.
Incredible from start to finish, the 70s had so many bangers. Perfect Day is one of my favourite songs of all time I think
5
Really nice! Another where I discovered - oh hey, he sings that song.
Mixed feelings about this one. Full of massive tunes but I’ve always found the lyrics to be a bit childish or sort of half though out. Don’t think I can give less than 5 stars though.
Awesome album. Heard it multiple timen and can't get enough.
Better than I would have expected. Had a thought his voice would be unappealing to listen to and I enjoyed this.
Made for a perfect day
I have listened to this album MANY times these past few months. Underrated, indeed.
A classic album. Reed's best collection of songs, in my opinion, combined with perfect balance of art-rock and pop.
fav songs: vicious perfect day walk on the wild side satellite of love goodnight ladies melodic, provocative, warm 80/100
Some of these songs have been with me my entire life and will continue to be. Others are duds, and the back half drags a bit. He does look like Frankenstein's monster on the cover.
he’ll teah
It's nice, but u need to hear it a couple of times, it has this old and comforting style, definitely not my vibe but I thinks it deserves hearing it
Tyckte det var bra,
#390/1001. Probably the best post Velvet Lou Reed album out there. I tried to listen to some of them but they were quite meh. Here we have 2 eternal classics, which is 2 more than most albums. His image and songs don't always match, but I guess that is part of the charm.
I thought I only knew Walk on the Wild Side but I actually know quite a few of these. Solid album.
Still trying to catchup Today I had the pleasure of Lou Reed - Transformer (1972) Great album. The 3 singles ( perfect day, walk on the wild side, satellite of love) are the best tracks. Loved the sax and other wind instruments. Lou in great voice at this stage of life. Standout track: Satellite of Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've always loved "Take a walk on the wild side" but first time listening to this in full. I dig it quite a bit! Usually I'm very turned off by singers that can't sing well but I don't know, his voice just works?
8.5/10
I like Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground a lot, but it’s not always what I’m in the mood for. This is such a strong album, my first time listening to it all the way through. Love the production by Bowie.
8 / 10
Good album. Terrible vocals. Recorded well
-has 3+ killer hits -beautifully produced -culturally relevant -great song writing (mostly-I’m looking at you, Vicious) -fun to listen to
gostei bastante, nunca tinha dado atenção pro transformer, fui surpreendido pra caralho música boa pra trabalhar na varanda num dia extremamente frio e trabalhar sentindo frio e usando um fone bizarramente caro que vc comprou pra isolar o máximo possível o som dos aviões
bom demais esse, hein. lou reed mandava DEMAIS na guitarrinha e a sonoridade setentista desse aqui é delícia demais. levemente a frente do tempo, né. lembra um pouco um bowie, né, mas eh doideira pq o lou (e o velvet underground) que influenciaram ele. enfim. bacana e tem o potencial de se tornar um grande escutado por aqui fun fact: tava ouvindo can i kick it - a tribe called quest ONTEM e quando começou "walk on the wild side" eu fiquei UAI MAS EU NAO COLOQUEI A TRIBE DE NOVO... e foi assim que eu descobri qual era o sample. bão demais.
A lot of good in this album
Really liked this!
One I've heard plenty of times before in my youth. All very pleasant. If ever an album belonged on this list, it is this. Nice to hear Bowie backing in Satellite of Love.
Lou Reed is great and this was a pretty fun listen! I don't think it's quite five star level though.
Geggjuð plata.
Glæsileg plata hjá honum
Þetta var gott. Held að ég splæsi í fjögur stirni.
This is good. The Bowie influence is obvious.
Nonostante non corrisponda ai miei generi preferiti, quest'album contiene dei capolavori innegabili.
Ah, this was such a firm favourite for a long time. I know it inside out. I'm still loving the sardonic NY vibes, the classy sleazy sparseness, some real bangers here with Walk on the Wildside, Satelite of Love, I'm so Free. It's kind of an amazing historical artifact maybe. Idk. I could happily never hear Perfect Day again... and some of the lyrics grate in ways they didn't used to. I still feel love for it.
Thumbs up
I love perfect day.
I really like this album. Great songs: "Vicious", "Perfect Day", "Walk on The Wild Side", or "Satellite of Love" (really enjoyed the live number by U2). It's clearly at least 4 stars. I thunk the second half is a bit weaker.
Lou is a true rock star. He sounds like he isn't trying but the songs are these great gritty experimental things. I think he maybe invents punk music on this one
- - Top 10
Excellent.
ta cool, pero no soy mamacuca
I really enjoyed this listen. I haven't listened to a lot of Lou Reed previously, but have always liked what I've heard. Another one that serves well as background noise, or as a focused listen.
Yo.
goodnight lou
8/10 - Phenomenal album. I figured I was going to like it, but having Bowie produce the album really escalated it. Great album.
I love this album. The end of the album doesn't quite hold up to the brilliance of the first half but nothing on here is bad. I love the VU so it makes sense that I would also enjoy his solo work. 8/10
Pretty good
great album, pretty fun!
Tenía muchas ganas de escuchar este álbum Saber que Lou Reed fue un artista de mucha influencia en su momento, aportó mucho con The Velvet Underground y como solista también Perfect Day on repeat, demasiado buena Es un rock interesante, se siente fresco, no es glam rock, es algo más groovy Y a la vez hay algunas otras piezas donde puede suavizar aún más sus instrumentos gracias a ese enfoque musical que pone acá Entiendo que tienes coros de Bowie, eso no es poca cosa! Me gustó que sus letras son claras y sencillas, eso hace mucho más disfrutable la canción por permitir entender el mensaje Habrán algunas que no destacan tanto, pero me parece que tiene mucha calidad en términos generales 3.7
This is a very warm and chill album with light, easy-going vibes that I really enjoyed. While listening I felt relaxed and engaged the whole way through. The rhythmic sounds are smooth and catchy without ever feeling forceful, giving the record a cool, laid-back groove. What stood out most to me is how interesting the themes are. Lou Reed tells little stories and character sketches throughout the album that keep you hooked. There’s a perfect balance between humor, sleaze, tenderness, and street-life observation that makes the whole thing feel alive and never boring. The production is excellent — it has that classic early 70s warmth while still sounding sharp. Overall, I liked Transformer very much. It’s one of Lou Reed’s most accessible and enjoyable records, and it holds up beautifully.
Pretty good
Jeg begynder vist endelig at kunne lide Lou Reed.
I am a 3.5 on this one. Great album from Lou, and I have Perfect Day going through my head on repeat now.
Lacks the musical edge of the Velvets (though there are moments where it is lurking in the background, threatening to come out) but there is a charming simplicity to some of the melodies (the reflected sliding notes in Walk on the Wild Side are so simple, yet highly memorable). The fact that he uses these simple melodies to continue his tales of drug addiction and encounters with various members of outré society also amuses me, particularly when the BBC used Perfect Day on face value as their signature tune for a massive ad campaign.
I like the simplicity of the songs, it helps his message come across way better. Hadn't heard most of these, was nice.
Lou’s voice is such a powerful thing. He’s a great writer when he wants to be, but even if he’s singing the most mundane pop lyrics his delivery can imbue them with layers of meaning — menace, detachment, ennui — that make them feel profound or affecting. Oft imitated never bested.
An album so good that I remember stealing it from my big sis..
Love Lou reed. Love his style. Can see me getting into this album more and more as time goes on. Love Vicious – perfect day – walk on the wild side – wagon wheel
I was ready to snark on this because Lou’s talk-singing, “prophet of the lost city” can get pretty eye-rolling. But he surprised me with a sense of humor! I think his later work really dived into the misery pool, but the lyrics on Transformer are playful and witty. “Perfect Day” and ”Walk on the Wild Side” are unbeatably cool. “NY Telephone Conversation” is funny, “Vicious” and “I’m So Free” really bounce. I really underrated this album in my mind, because I’d never really listened to it. Maybe we both just needed some time to find each other.
3.5
Very spoken word? Good beat though
This is the most familiar with an album I've been so far in this project. I know everyone loves "Walk on the Wild Side," and it's great, but "Satellite of Love" has been one of my favorites for such a long time. I'm still more a fan of the Velvet Underground than solo Lou Reed, but this is a great album.
I'd never really given Lou Reed a chance before this but this is actually great. The production is on point. It's funny hearing Walk on the Wild Side after hearing Can I Kick it? My favourites have been Perfect Day and Hangin' Round. This album has had a massive impact and even though I'm not a Velvet Underground fan, this was a great album. All the songs bring something to the table and it doesn't overstay its welcome, for me it's a 4.
I don't really like velvet underground so i thought i wouldnt like this, I've already heard Vicious and Walk On The Wild Side and they're alright. I enjoyed Perfect Day. New York Telephone is kinda They Might Be Giants-y. Overall the worst songs were a little boring but not offensive. I liked the bridge/chorus in Satellite Of Love. More of a 3.5, but 4 because of cultural influence
The hits are classics but underneath them, everything else is really great.
so good :)
Have not listened to much lou reed but this album was very welcoming and i enjoyed it very much!
4 stars for "Perfect Day" and "Walk on the Wild Side" alone....also bonus points that this isn't that album he made that was all static. Wouldn't be surprised to see that one show up on this list. 🙄
An underrated genius. His sound was unique and musically forward thinking!
Always liked VU - I probably listened to The Gift 500 times in college. Funny to me how Lou Reed becomes an icon with middling talent. Musically this is not a great album but he pulls it off. The songs I love I love, the test of the album is ok.
- Fun lyrics - Lou's delivery feels sarcastic at times and kinda deadpan - David Bowie helped produce it and does backing vocals on a few tracks I believe, as well as plays guitar. He adds a lot to the sound. A lot of good. - This album honestly feels like it could have came out yesterday. - Lou's style definitely influenced indie rock/alt rock and all that - It's a fun album I plan on revisiting. Grateful to have listened to it.
The first half of this album is a clear 5/5. Absolutely brilliant song-writing & an intriguing tone to the tracks result in hit after hit for the first 20 minutes. Vicious starts the album strong, but it’s Perfect Day & Walk On The Wild Side that are utterly phenomenal, timeless tracks. The rest of the album however is just okay for me. The quality of the music itself isn’t too bad, but the songs become less impactful and memorable for me. 8/10 feels like a fair score as a result.
Hm, spomnim se, da mi whatever the fuck je bil njegov album, k sm ga že dobila (Berlin), ni bil ful všeč. Let's see. S kle poznam vsaj 3 komade od prej & vse sm slišala absolutno prevečkrat. Ok, prvi, "Vicious", mi je dejansko kul. Reed še zmer ne zna pet, sicer. Ampak kle vsaj deluje? "Andy's Chest" je kinda funny? Pa kul? Po pa komad, k sm ga kot najstnica slišala miljonkrat, "Perfect Day". Tbh, še zmer a banger, ne smem gledat nanjga z najstniške perspektive. Besedilo od "Hangin' 'Round" mi je kinda butasto, k da bi ga napisal nek sveže pečen 20letnik, ne pa 30letni, odrasel Lou Reed. Ampak ok. Mogoč je bil pa mal a man child, who knows. Potem fakin "Walk On the Wild Side", banger. (Ta album mi je ful ljubši - to, da je Bowie producent tega in ne tud na Berlin je zihr naključje, an?) "Satellite of Love" je prou fin, pa še Bowie je na back vokalih. Zadnji štirje - so fajni? Zihr sm bla, da sm Berlinu dala dve, ampak očitno sm mu tri. Hm. I guess ni bil tok slab? Mi pa to vpliva na današnjo oceno.
it’s such a perfect day, I’m glad i’ve spent it with you bowie ya lo sabía, lou reed <3
3,5
Back to albums I haven't hear yet. This is a straight forward album, similar to his last album with the Velvet Underground. Really solid with a lot of great songs.
One of my favorites
They don't make em like Lou Reed anymore. Great song writer. New York cool with Canal Street grit. Dude is a legend and this is his best solo album. All the hits plus Hangin' Round and Perfect Day back to back. What's not to love about this record.
jako dobro, jako zabavno, vau. pustio ponovo odmah nakon što sam preslušo. premda sam neke pjesme znao otprije, s radija i iz sličnih konteksta (»walk on the wild side«, »perfect day«), čitav album je podjednako dobar, jako dobar
I like The Velvet Underground but I don't think I've ever listened to Lou Reed's solo stuff. Has a bit of a Leonard Cohen vibe to me. I dig it.
Have long listened to this album. Has been on many lists, a really fun record with caustic lyrics and great melodies.
Glam rock really fit Lou. With Bowie's and Ronson's help, Reed created a freewheeling, diverse album that showed his range. There's the biggie, of course, "Walk on the Wild Side," but a ton of other really good songs: "Andy's Chest, ""Perfect Day," "Satellite of Love," "New York City Conversation," that incorporate many different styles. He left Velvet Underground behind and forged his own style and sound on this one.
Effortlessly cool, with some of the best lyrics and hooks Reed ever wrote. My favorite has to be Perfect Day, but tons of bangers on this one. A little too much filler for me for the five star mark, but still one that I should listen to more often
I vacillate on this one - sometimes I think the oompah shit is annoying and sometimes I think it's great. Sometimes I love that it's got that Bowie vibe and sometimes I think that feels like it cuts some of the edginess. Ultimately though, it is an artifact, and a good one, and the hits are earworms, though it's never explained if he did manage to get his wallet back.
Favorite Track: Vicious
I bounced between 4 and 5 on this one. I really enjoy Lou Reed, his sound, his wit. I loved the stripped down instrumentation but still using eclectic horns or wood winds, and the full dixie band in the last track. Amazing this came in 1972, so far ahead of stuff from it's time. So why isn't it a 5? I don't know. It just feels lower.
Some good stuff on here and covers a variety of genres. Not every song reaches the greatness of a 5/5 album, but it should definitely be on a list like this.
An exceptionally patchy album, but the highs are very high
David Bowie had his hands in this and thusly, it's gorgeous. Not my favorite singing style or lyrics BUT I cannot deny it's beauty.
This album sounds like The Rocky Horror Show, but for straight people, which is ironic because the lyrics are actually quite gay. Reed's voice is very pleasant to the ear, and reminds me a little of Mick Jagger. There's actually a nice variation on this record, some glam rock, some lowkey rock and roll, even some jazzy elements.
I’m having a really hard time distilling my thoughts about this album. I thought the flat vocals would get old, but they didn’t. The album goes all over the place, musically. In a good way! And it’s weirdly cozy? I don’t know. I enjoyed it. But at the same time, it’s not calling for a relisten. 7/10 Quite Likeable
9/10
My first listen through of this a month ago didn’t click. Another listen and I think I can definitely dig it. I’m not a huge Lou Reed vocals fan but this is an undeniably good album.
I was kind of a sucker for this one
Enjoyed this influenced a lot
What great songwriting! Artfully constructed lyrics and delightful melodies.
A milestone in pop rock music, matching dark lyrics with soft tones
I dont know what more to say about this. Everything has been said. Its lou reed. Its got perfect day and walk on the wild side. All timers of all timers. The rest of it is great too. Vicious and satellite of love are highlights. And you might even know those "b" sides. Its just great music from a guy who wrote alot of great music. He defines this era in alot of ways. Its great. Im slightly more partial to the velvet underground but not by much. Just good classic shit
good album was very different what i expected but very enjoyable
well. We know how I feel about vaguely monotoned funny talky vibes. Andy’s mfin Chest? Sir. By her feet smelling they mean her NOSE! Which grew down to her toes. Also he loves singing about toes yes?
Pretty solid album but some of it just feels like hes ranting about nothing
que álbum gostoso <3
All Lou Reed did was write great little songs and exude pure coolness. More than half of the songs on here live on the very top shelf, and the few that don't are still perfectly fine. Nothing bad on here. A great album!
initially, i didn't fully resonate with this, but after listening to "perfect day", "hangin' round" and "walk on the wild side" i was able to fully grasp how good this music is. i really like the overall atmosphere of this album which was very layered yet specific - i don't really know how to describe it other than just thoroughly crafted. i didn't know much about reed's individual career prior to this record but i think i can now grasp why he is considered one of the greats
Album has two all-timers that can go unnamed. Simultaneously loved and hated his voice. Great lyrics and was just the right vibe for the moment. A STRONG 4
Bit random in places, but that sort of makes it better, couple well known tracks on there, might listen again...
Walk on the wild side Satellite of love Vicious
gay batman
fun, captivating album. Feels like cigarettes in the morning in the new city, when you're stressed about the job, but don't have your laptop with you so there's nothing to do about it other than chill.
I liked this one a lot. Walk on the wild side probably isn’t a go-to for me, but the album was consistently solid and a great listen.
New York counter culture at its finest. This album fills me with artists hanging out in New York lofts and putting the world to rights whilst being completely out of their heads. I really enjoy the laid back guitar and bass sound of this album. Big hits from this album are "Walk on the wild side", "Satalite of love" and "Perfect day". It still makes me smile, how many people have "Perfect day" at their wedding without knowing it is Lou Reed's description of taking heroin. Also one final observation. I feel like Iggy Pop is a speeded up Lou Reed. Or Lou Reed is a slowed down Iggy Pop. (3.800)
I was dreading this album, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The Velvet Underground has to be the least popular "important" band of all time. In other words, everyone who was in a band after 1970 owned their album - and literally no one else. But Lou is a standout on his own. His voice was designed for musical storytelling. While I like The Wild Side, I thought he was something of a one-hit wonder (yeah, I know something like 20 albums; name another song of his. I'll wait.) but there are several good tunes here. Influence 5. Quality 4. Intangibles 5. Hits 5. Not my bag, but not bad at all 3.
His second album. Rock / Arthur Rock. The production on this is fantastic, especially on Perfect Day, which is an obvious classic. The album as a whole is tight and concise. I can imagine Reed and Bowie had a lot of...ummm..fun making this album. Walk On The Wild Side is my favourite track.
Love Lou Reed!
5 star A side star but a couple of filler tracks on side B means i can only give this 4 instead of 5 stars. Can hear the Bowie input all over this.
Another great Lou Reed banger. Also one of the more progressive albums for its time. All-time classic
Not Lous best but an undeniably good record with a lot of smash hits on it. Big fan.
musically one of the best albums oat but sometimes his voice is so fucking jarring
Didnt know i would like Lou that much. Knew the banger songs. But the rest of the material ist strong as well.
La verdad es que este álbum me gustó muchísimo. No conocía al artista, así que fue mi primera experiencia con su música, y sinceramente me sorprendió para bien. Se nota bastante la influencia de David Bowie como productor, algo que claramente sumó mucho. En general, todas las canciones me parecieron muy lindas. Me encanta la presencia del piano en varios temas, y también hay algunos ritmos pegadizos que destacan mucho. Tengo varias favoritas, pero la que más me gustó fue "Perfect Day" (incluso me hizo acordar bastante a los Beatles). En conclusión, le doy un 9/10.
Wow. Immediately I want them to start singing about a short skirt and a long jacket. But that was 30 years later. And in that songdidn't ask someone to swallow razor blades. Yikes. This album was really interesting, and unique. It's weird, but I'd listen to it again and probably enjoy.
Glammed up by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, a great album, though not quite as amazing as Lou’s work with the Velvet Underground. Ronson’s guitar playing is terrific as always.
Few things instilled more fear in my heart than seeing Lou Reed described as “the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground” All jokes aside, this is so much better than the two Velvet Underground albums we’ve got it’s not even funny. The songs are actually written to be catchy and sound good. No offense to Andy Warhol but Bowie is a much much much better producer; I really liked Satellite of Love which I’d argue is more Bowie than Lou Reed. The album deals with a lot of the same themes Velvet Underground does, but the fact that it’s not ear grating conveys those themes so much more effectively There’s a couple songs on there that sound like the escaped the depths of his former band’s vault (New York Telephone Conversation stands out), which I kinda just had to endure. His vocals are also very hit or miss, where sometimes they work great and sometimes I think it’d sound better if there was a bit more oomph put into them Was pleasantly surprised by this one, though it’s still got just enough going against it to not put it too high on my list
Classic
Iconic
Epic as always
Classic
Conocia el album entero, joyaaa
I know that I’m partial to Lou Reed when I hear New York telephone conversation, which I suspect in other people I would think is a twee song, but find his version charming
Ok okkkkkk
1001 Albums Vol. 0030: Transformer ============================================================ Introduction: Well, this is certainly strange. I've heard of people literally generating albums from the same artist back-to-back, but fully clearing an artist with multiple albums on this site is definitely strange as well. To be fair, Lou Reed only has two albums...technically three if you count the one that someone added, but I digress....Actually...huh? I generated this album exactly fifteen albums later from my...fifteenth album....Basically, fifteen was Lou Reed, times fifteen by two to also get...Lou Reed....Strange. Alright, I'm done. I mean, that is kinda strange generation no doubt, but I'm going to focus on the actual album now. Alright, so, this album, Transformer by Lou Reed, was released in 1972 to...mixed reception. Some people praised it and instantly recognized it for its new and innovative style while others dismissed it as "terrible" or "lame". Yes, I pulled those quotes directly off of Google. They apparently were statements said by a Pop critic by the name of Ellen Willis. Never heard of her before but whatever. Anyway, this album would obviously go on to be loved by both casual listeners and critics in the years following its release. Now, just because this album is considered a masterpiece doesn't mean I am not afraid of...a few things. Firstly, even though this album is widely regarded today, there are a fair share of tracks which people still have pretty mixed receptions of even to this day. I feel like those tracks should be obvious to anyone who has listened to this album before, and I do believe I know those specific tracks myself, but I'll just leave them for the conclusion section. Now, that does undoubtedly mean that the highs of this album are...pretty damn high....You know which songs I'm talking about: Perfect Day, Walk On The Wild Side, the ones that everyone has heard and knows. It's unfortunate that much of the in between isn't nearly as well regarded. That being said, I know that this is regarded as Lou Reed's crowning achievement, and I did really like Berlin, so I'll most likely find this to be pretty enjoyable as well. Yes, I have heard some of this album before and am aware of the fact that Transformer and Berlin are pretty distinct in a lot of factors, (musical style, overall themes, production) but I still believe that I'll find this album to be pretty enjoyable regardless. It is kinda weird to hear how different the production is between this album and Berlin though due to the fact that Berlin would be released just a year after this one....Money can really take you far in music...and everything...but, if this truly is Lou Reed's crowning achievement, then this album will prove that brains can take you further. Let's just get into this and see ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 1: Vicious: 10/10 Track 2: Andy's Chest: 8/10 Track 3: Perfect Day: 11/10 Track 4: Hangin' 'Round: 9/10 Track 5: Walk On The Wild Side: 11/10 Track 6: Make Up: 8/10 Track 7: Satellite Of Love: 10/10 Track 8: Wagon Wheel: 7/10 Track 9: New York Telephone Conversation: 5/10 Track 10: I'm So Free: 8/10 Track 11: Goodnight Ladies: 7/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion: This was an extremely interesting album to listen to. I will say, I've never really understood Glam Rock all that well, so my individual track scores might be a bit off from what they...should be...not that I am everyone else are not entitled to their own opinion.,.I'm just saying. Either way, this was yet another extremely great album. The highs were some of the best material I've heard on this site so far and the lows were limited to a single track which was less than two minutes in length....Sounds pretty damn good to me. Now, what makes this album so great? Well...it's actually kinda hard to explain...at least for me it is. It's a very quirky album that is honestly kinda hard to get into or even...get upon hearing it for the first time. I mean, the lyrics are pretty strange at times, the music sounds pretty bland in certain places, and Lou Reed's voice is honestly...just not that energetic. He honestly still sounds pretty bored to me in some of the songs on the album, but that's besides the point. That being said, this is undoubtedly an album that grows on you the more you hear it. There are some songs on here...Perfect Day...that will connect with you almost instantly, but the majority will likely take a bit to fully appreciate. Some of the reasoning for that undoubtedly originates from this album's music. Glam Rock is obviously the central genre presented across the entire album, yet there is so much experimentation with blending other genres as well. Vicious blends Glam with Hard Rock elements, Goodnight Ladies is completely absent of any instrumentation signature of rock with the exception of drums, Satellite Of Love and Perfect Day experiment with the more grandiose side of Glam Rock, and so on. That's not to say that this experimentation is bad or poorly executed, I'm simply saying that it may be a bit jarring upon an initial listen to go from the ballad of Perfect Day to the Hard Rock of Hangin' 'Round. That being said, like much of this entire album, the diversity grows on you. The album isn't diverse like The Beatles' White Album or Jack White's Blunderbuss, however. It's definitely more diverse than some of the other albums I've generated so far, yet it still manages to maintain a central identity within its music. It's definitely less diverse than Berlin is. That's for sure. Now, that being said, Lou Reed still managed to maintain a pretty consistent quality in songwriting with all of these genres he blended together. Vicious and Hangin' 'Round proved he could write great Hard Rock and could find a guitarist who could shred at guitar, Goodnight Ladies proved he could write pretty good minimalist and progressive songs, and...the ballads...the best songs on the album...simply proved his overall ability as a great songwriter. It's honestly kinda a shame that Lou Reed didn't just try to write more ballads on this album. That may very well have made this album even better than it already is. I mean, Perfect Day literally has one of the best...just...releases of tension as the chorus kicks in that I've heard in any song. Just fantastic....Anyway, with as much praise as I've given this album's music so far, I also have to acknowledge some weaknesses. Wagon Wheel feels pretty unfocused in the direction it wants to go at times, New York Telephone Conversation is just...a strange song, Hangin' 'Round jams but doesn't do too much to evolve its music or lyrics across the entire song, and just basic petty stuff like that. There's no big flaw with this album's music across the entire listening experience, just a few things here and there that one has to acknowledge. At the end of the day, this album is just great, early 70's Glam Rock that brings other genres into the mix. You can't go wrong with that. Now, where this album especially manages to shine is within its lyrics and overall themes. Now, before I give praise to this album, I will admit that Bowie did it so much better in literally the same year, yet that was largely due to the fact that...you know...he became his character from his album...that transformation undoubtedly made Ziggy's story way more effective. That's not to undermine this album or what it was trying to accomplish...I'm simply pointing out that its impact wasn't as profound as it could have been. Basically...Bowie undoubtedly portrayed this album's message better. Anyway, this album has a very central theme around love, sexuality, identity, and simply attempts to challenge established cultural normality of the era. Songs like Walk On The Wild Side and Make Up portray gender transitioning, drag queens, giving oral sex, and other cultural taboos in a positive and embracing light. All of these subjects were extremely controversial or taboo at the time of this album's release, so hearing someone give support for these movements, especially in a way which could potentially reach mainstream, feels extremely daring and respectable. On top of this, Lou Reed manages to blend these serious songs with more touching, quirky, and enjoyable songs such as the love-filled Perfect Day, the bizarre Andy's Chest, and the kick-ass I'm So Free. There's simply just a nice lyrical blend of so much on here that makes this album feel thought-provoking yet easily accessible at the same time. Basically, and I don't mean this in a bad way, it didn't feel as if Lou Reed was risking committing career suicide like Bowie was the same year. Again, I don't mean that in a bad way. It undoubtedly took a lot of confidence to even include the more controversial songs on this release in the first place. I respect him for that....Anyway, the lyrics on this album are pretty-well written and poetic as well. In fact, these may just be some of the best lyrics I've heard from an album I've generated on this site yet. Obviously, Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde is better with its poetic lyrics, but this is up there as well. There were moments here where the lyrics felt very Bob Dylan-like in the way that they portrayed named characters in peculiar or taboo situations. It's just great. I wouldn't say that the lyrics were or are the main drive for someone to listen to this album, but they're certainly great and extremely well-written. Now, my biggest...well...actually I'm not entirely sure. I was going to say my biggest critique with this entire album is Lou Reed's voice...yet I'm not entirely sure anymore. I mean, he does a lot of talk-singing across the entire album...but it doesn't really sound all that bad with the rest of the instrumentation...or lyrics. I mean, his voice isn't that great at hitting the perfect notes at the perfect time, yet that's honestly not all that bad here. Alright, Lou Reed's voice is actually pretty good. I can definitely understand why some people may not like it, but it's not bad given the context of the album and its music. Now, with all that said, do I think that this album is better than Berlin? Well.......Yeah. It definitely is. Brains came out the winner over money in this scenario. That being said, I do find this album's weakest points to actually...be a bit weaker than Berlin's. I'm not just talking about New York Conversation either. From what I can remember about Berlin, most of the 8/10s on this album wouldn't beat the 8/10s on that album. Overall, Berlin was definitely the more consistent of the two. That being said, Berlin's highs were nowhere near this album's highs. Sad Song was the best song on Berlin and this album has four songs which are better....or tie it in quality as can be seen with Vicious. That being said, this is undoubtedly the superior album. There's simply so much here that helps propel this album above what Lou Reed would accomplish on Berlin. I'm reluctant to call this album a masterpiece as of now, but I believe I'll warm up to it even more as time goes on. ============================================================ Transformer: 9/10 Song Average: 8.5/10
Danke an de film perfect days dass er mich damals dezue bracht hett das album lose
Lou Reed da vibras de tío músico, que siempre está ligeramente pacheco pero la pasas bien con el
Better than expected! Simple but good.
Surprising more songs that I’ve heard before.
David Bowie produced this record, which won’t surprise any listeners who are familiar with Bowie’s productions. Bowie’s influence on the 70s is unmatched, what didn’t that guy have his hands in? I struggle to think about this as Glam Rock because "Perfect Day" and "Walk On the Wild Side" don't have the presence I associate with Glam acts like Slade, Kiss, Queen, Bowie, Elton John, etc etc etc... but I guess Glam was more aesthetic than musical, so I have to let that go. The album cover is giving a certain "Liza Minelli as a vampire" vibe that qualifies Lou for the genre.
used to own this on vinyl and found it in heavy rotation in my early 20s. the quintessential new york indie cool kid record, it still has a kind of swagger that only a heroin addict in new york could muster all these years later. but i think the soft and tender crooning on perfect day hits differently now, with years of love and adoration and longing behind me now. it’s also much more queer than i recall, even beyond walk on the wild side. lou reed, honorary trans woman?
Great record, I can imagine this being such an important record to many when it was released. I was presently surprised with the featuring of David bowie and there are song on this record that moved me. others feel like not as strong if I am honest. Still incredible though
7/10
7/10
Jättebra album! Klassiker som A Perfect Day, Walk on the wild side! Sjukt bra. Dessutom gillade jag Satellite of Love och Vicious lite extra. Albumet kom 1972 och jag har svårt att förstå att det är så länge sedan för detta låter nyare än så.
Im going to give this a 4 just because it is so much better than I expected. I'd really say 3.5 but big surprise
Wasn’t really in it till track 3 especially the outro Like track run in 5-7 Track 10 was good. Just an a 70 classic rock record that just doesn’t RING a bell to me that it does to. Others but I truly understand why. Solid 7
Quite good 3.7
Some of the songs drag (ha) a little but overall very enjoyable to listen to.
If only modern chasers were this musically talented
great. the instrumentals vary. the lyrics are just ok to boring at times on some songs but amazing on others -- drags it down to a 4 for me.