Reviews (page 5 of 13)
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.
Plz don’t let me down
produced by Bowie, glam. wild side and perfect day and satellite of love stand out. semms kind of queer coded at times
You know how some albums you just desperately want to love? It seems immoral and wrong not to love them? This is one of those. It has some unbelievable highs, and on paper it seems like everything should be perfect, but it’s never fully landed with two feet for me, in spite of many tries. I still love how Lou appreciates the value of life on the fringes, and those unbelievable highs I was talking about are enough to drag Transformer up to a 4 from a 3, but barely.
3.5 really
lekker!!
me gusto mucho, muy buenas vibras. por momentos me hizo sentir que estaba en una peli vieja y me divirtio eso.
É um album bem divertido
Great opener in Vicious. Perfect Day is a beautiful song too. Walk on the Wild Side is the ubiquitous classic from the album. I'm so free is another great one. Overall excellent album!
Mis canciones favoritas fueron las con vientos y cuerdas
Lou Reeds singing takes some getting used to, but once you do I think this album is great. The two biggest songs on this album, Walk on the Wildside and Perfect day are truly incredible songs. Perfect day always reminds me of my best days when I was severely depressed. Having fleeting good moments with an overwhelming cloud of dread just on the horizon. Meanwhile Walk on the Wildside is, of course, a hugely important countercultural anthem. It's a messy and perhaps imperfect look at the queer community of the time, but in that I think it resonated even harder at the time and still today. It also has probably the most number of trans people individually mentioned in a song that I know of, which is pretty laudable for 1972. On the otherhand the term "little girl" to refer to a woman has not exactly aged and sometimes the Bowie production gets to the point where I'm wondering whether I'm listening to a lite-bowie album because Lou Reed is clearly channelling him on some of these songs. I do really like Hangin' 'Round though! Gnerally I thought the songs I hadn't heard before on here were somewhere between pretty good and just okay.
I really enjoyed Reed's glam phase in the early 70s. Mick Ronson & David Bowie put this record together well.
Never listend before. I Liked it. But would not listen much again.
Franchement album vraiment agréable à écouter. J'ai d'abord eu peur que le style reste dans sa zone de confort avec des morceaux de folk simples et assez peu travaillés mais ça n'a pas été le cas. Franchement c'est ce que j'ai préféré, je trouve que l'album offre une plutôt bonne diversité avec des parties dominées par le piano vraiment cool comme sur le deuxième son, des envolées aux niveaux de la voix qui font sortir du style "Bob Dylan" classique et un peu barbant, et des morceaux plus minimalistes comme "Satellite of Love". En résumé, c'est une bonne surprise qui a su dépasser mes attentes
Interesting album with some wierd songs and bunch of great ones. The vibe and sound was spot on and I enjoyed listening to this one. I have to admit that I had heard of Lou Reed but didn't know that he was behind Perfect Day and Take a Walk On The Wildside. Solid album that I might listen to again. 3,5/5 that I'll round to 4.
Reminds me of my dad, all songs I grew up hearing. It's a good album!
It is simply a great album. If there's anything to criticize, it's probably the slight drop in quality between the "classics" and the deep cuts, but that is about it.
There's a fine line between gorgeous slacker poetry and underbaked stream-of-consciousness that needed another pass. Songwriters like Stephen Malkmus, Cameron Winter, and Mr. Reed thrive in this space. And it's hard to quantify when it hits or doesn't. They don't seem to care either way. "You're so vicious" as a hook never jived with me. (I feel the same way about "big green boat/big green coat.") But if anyone in rock history had enough swagger to sell lines like that, it's Lou. And it makes the rest of this record, especially with all-time classics like "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Perfect Day," easier to buy into. In fact, I'm second guessing myself. Maybe it's all just brilliant. I sure like listening to it either way.
album solido y entretenido: 4/5 cancion fav: Perfect Day
Solid, a bit less of the bits that you find in preferred Lou songs.
Pretty stellar Side A, all the songs range from great to fantastic. "Wild Side" is absolutely great, and "Vicious" and "Perfect Day" are also wonderful. Side B has some great songs too, it's just that "Telephone Conversation" and "Goodbye Ladies" don't really do enough for me and take me out of the whole experience. Minus thoae two songs though? This album rules.
It's wild that more people don't talk about how influential Lou Reed was. He had a mirror on the true counter-culture.
I enjoyed this a lot
eita surpresa boa!!! eu gostei de praticamente todas as faixas. redondinho e uma delicia de ouvir, interessante como esse álbum produzido pelo bowie me encantou mais do que os albuns do próprio bowie que já saiu pra mim.
I was dreading this when it came up. The only time I’ve ever listened to Lou Reed was the album he did with Metallica which I detest. This however I really enjoyed. Perfect Day in particular was a brilliant song. I’d only ever heard cover versions or parody’s of it before. Top Track - Perfect Day
Another top album.
Good album with some great tracks
“Walk on the Wild Side” and “Satellite of Love” are great songs off this album by Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed.
Any album containing Perfect Day, Walk on the Wild Side and Satellite of Love is always gonna be a strong album and this does not disappoint.
This was really enjoyable. I think I have listened to Transformer in the past, but it didn't really leave an impression, however this play, while I was continuously trying to pay attention, was different. Away from the (great) famous tracks, I really enjoyed New York Telephone Conversation and Goodnight Ladies for their general weirdness. Plus the latter is a piano and tuba song, which I very much appreciate. And I have always loved Satellite of Love. I think this would be a 3.5 for me, but I'm rounding up because it's better than a 3. 4/5
The quintessential Lou Reed solo release
Não é um forte 4/5 mas é um bom álbum. Algumas músicas gostei bastante e outras nem por isso.
Sloppy in a cool and comfortable kind of way, and not nearly as pretentious as VU. I can dig it.
Lou Reed really got up one day and made one of the best Glam Rock album of all time. I'm usually not a big fan of this guy, but this one is great!
My favorite album in Lou Reed's career. A kind of sarcastic glam rock with catchy moments and a more playful delivery for him than his usual stuff. Love that one!
pretty good, kinda whimsical. didnt listen intently, just passively i liked it
I have heard this before and I own it. I’ve listened to this within the past few months. It’s got a few of my favorite Lou songs on it including Walk On the Wild Side - first heard this on the really lazy sample/semi cover that marky mark and the funky bunch did and then as the better sample on Can I Kick It by Tribe Called Quest, before finally hearing an edited down version on classic rock radio. Most of the songs are bangers except for the ones with tuba, nothing against the noble tuba, but the songs that incorporate it are either lacking or have that throwback cabaret style that was popular at the time but just doesn’t hit it for me. Still, it’s one of my favorite Lou Reed solo albums, at least in the top 3.
while it's no metal machine music, this album is pretty good too. "walk on the wild side" and "satellite of love" are some highlights. this "wagon wheel" is superior to the 'hootie' version, which i was surprised to learn was actually co-written by bob zimmerman.
You can really feel Bowie’s strong influence. I wish I had heard it for the first time. “Perfect Day” is just perfect. 8/10
Some all time classic tracks and an all round decent album
4.
pretty funny, this one is. two teletubbies ass songs is a bit much tho 4.5/5
Ironically, I'd probably given this a 5 if I weren't sick of Walk On the Wild Side. Lots of excellent songs here.
If there’s something this generator has taught me to appreciate, it’s the Velvet Underground and associated acts, and Transformer feels like the perfect next step. It’s got that cool, grimy confidence, but it’s also weirdly warm in spots. The songs are sharp without trying too hard, and the whole thing just has a vibe that sticks. “Walk on the Wild Side” and “Perfect Day are both great, and “Satellite of Love” is one of those songs you can catch yourself humming later. Favorite song: Perfect Day
4/5 - I listened to this twice and I'll play it again. Shouldn't have taken me this long to listen to the whole thing, as I have no prejudice against talk-singing in rock, and Reed is one of the originals. Bowie's production works for me here, and I didn't even mind the tuba.
I was familiar with some of the songs but I've never listened to the album start to finish in its entirety. I can see why it's a classic. I can imagine how it'd be more nostalgic if I'd grown up listening to it. I'm not sure it'll be in my solid rotation though. Great to be familiar with it for reference during social connections, trivia, etc.
Very fun:) I can imagine it playing with Queen and Bowie. First intro to him outside of velvet underground. I consistently liked the odd numebered songs more than the even.
4/5 Was this album better than yesterday’s album, Virgin Suicides by Air? No.
8/10 - soft rock
Grande album pieno di hit
Well this is just brilliant. It’s probably not quite a 5 but a solid 4.5 for me as a couple of the tracks are so so… Satellite of love remains one of my all time favourite songs.
Ah yes, Lou Reed. I knew his music before getting suggested this album. Never been a big fan, but have nothing against him, either. Only problem with this album is that, musically, it's more of the same Velvet Underground, just maybe a bit less transgressive. Don't know what it was like live, or how it was produced, though, people say David Bowie was involved in the production. Don't know, don't care.
I get that everyone probably comes to this as a series of singles or just via other culture (Perfect Day via soundtracks etc) but there’s so much good stuff on this. Vicious a great opener. Really enjoyed I’m So Free. Satellite of Love quite affecting. Two well known ones are obviously brilliant.
Welp, I have avoided Lou Reed my whole life because I always hated "Walk on the Wild Side" and I never liked Velvet Underground. But I listened to it. It was AMAZING. Every song was unique. Every song was a piece of art. So many genres, strange lyrics, strange music. It was very cool.
I don't think I've ever heard the full album, though I do seem to recall hearing/reading that this was one of his better solo albums; I'm familiar with 3 of the 11 songs (Vicious; Walk/Wild Side; Satellite). I think I'll give this one 4 stars, which is higher than I expected. I've long liked The Velvet Underground, but always sort of shied away from Lou Reed's solo work, partly because of his ("singing") voice, but also maybe a little because he seemed kind of . . . dark and scary. I think, in a small way, he colored how I thought about New York City, when I lived there (1983-87); he seemed like a quintessential New Yorker. My first exposure to Lou Reed, I think, was hearing "Walk on the Wild Side" on the radio (released November 1972, a few months after we moved to Jacksonville); I think even my 10-year-old self was a little surprised that it was played on the radio, but the song was (and is) undeniably cool and catchy. So, regarding the other 8 songs (that were not familiar to me - although 1 or 2 of them did sound a little familiar), I'd again say: a bit better than I expected, with an impressive variety of styles, and a good overall sound. And the singing voice, while slightly off-putting, wasn't really a big problem. So, yeah, not a 5 (for me, anyway - though I'm sure it is for a lot of people), but not a 3, either, so 4 it is (for me). P.S. After listening a second time to the songs I didn't know previously, I liked them overall maybe slightly less, so would probaby go for 3.5, if that were an option, but still choose a 4 over a 3.
não sou uma grande fã do Lou Reed mas esse álbum até que é bem bom. (ouvi na quarta-feria, dia 11 de fevereiro de 2026)
7/10
Didn't zone out alot. Usually upbeat music. Know 1 song prior to listening the album already. Alot about ladies
What a wild album (pun not intended) that could have both an incredible song like Perfect Day and then whatever the hell New York Telephone Conversation is
Classic album, didn't know all the songs but enjoyed and reminded me of listening to music with my dad.
Nice, starting the week off weird. I remember listening to Perfect Day a lot in undergrad. It somehow succeeds in sounding both depressing and uplifting.
Lekkere hitjes en goei fillers, maar niet alles top
This is a really good album. You can feel the David Bowie influence. A lot more tuba than I was expecting. But to be fair, I wasn't really expecting any tuba.
Several classics on here that are just great; Perfect Day the standout obviously. Some of the tracks had fairly laughable lyrics. An enjoyable listen, sneaks into four stars.
4.5
No. 100 Definitely got Bowie vibes before reading that he produced it. Really liked the album.
walking around listening to walk on the wild side made me feel like i was in a commercial highlights: Vicious
Mer varierat än väntat, flera hitar, bra känsla och attityd!
Genomgående trevligt, och hitsen höjer det helt klart ett snäpp!
Inte helt min stil, men ändå flera bangers och överlag väldigt najs. Känner mig generös.
Mycket trevligt!
The first domino in a series of events that trigger the rise of Michael Cera in the mid-2000's.
This may be my favorite Lou Reed album so far. Walk on is a classic of course but I also like Perfect.
Is it weird that I prefer Berlin? Some of the lyrics on this album are terrible. Great singles though.
Some absolutely sublime songwriting on here, plus the Bowie and Ronson refresh of Reed’s sound. Doesn’t quite all land, but spectacular when it does.
finding out david bowie produced this was the most unsurprising thing ever. dope af. rip lou reed he wouldve loved blue hair and pronounce
It’s not a perfect album, but it’s undeniable how many great and influential songs there are on here. Many of my favorite from the era. It’s original, transgressive, and music that won’t get old. He was way ahead of his time in so many ways. Top songs: Perfect Day, Andy’s Chest, Walk on the Wild Side, Satellite of Love
Album je fin, lagan, sve u svemu okej
he plays guitar while i sing lou reed što bi lepo rekla lana del rey
Hubiera sido perfecto si no trajera Andys chest u-U
Some of the lyrics are a bit silly, but the gigantic anthems make up for it
Quite enjoyed that.
Sardonic
滑らかでソフトなポップロックでけっこう好み。 Metal Machine Musicしか聞いてなくてごめん。
I really enjoyed this album. The songs were either fairly catchy and/or memorable. My one complaint is that it was really short.
I like his quiet, late night-sounding rock. So chic, New York, and transgressive. Perfect Day will always remind me of that movie. I really like the last song, a paragon of the genre of last songs. There’s enough in the middle/towards the end that I’m meh about to take it down a star, but plenty to elevate it beyond 3.
More like 3.5-4 range. Obviously some classics but a few weak tracks
great album! one more for the collection.. 01/21/2026
Lou Reed is often painted as a prickly, John Lennon type, but musically this is pure McCartney juxtaposed with frank descriptions of sex, drugs, and self-loathing. Nice to hear him at a time where he was able to consistently keep pitch, too.
Harry, mark and john
Considered a classic, and for good reason. 4/5
I love walk on the wild side
Probably need more Lou Reed in my life. Solid album.
Gostei muito! Já tinha ouvido falar do Lou Reed e conhecia (mesmo sem saber) uma de suas músicas. O único ponto negativo do album é que eu tive que pesquisar para entender as letras, pois elas fazem referências a pessoas reais e eventos reais do circulo social do cantor. De todas as músicas, acho que Perfect Day foi a minha preferida.
This was a solid album. I liked the guitar parts in the first few songs plus I'm So Free. Vicious was prob my favorite. This albums kinda like what I would imagine the average 20 year old White dude would listen to in the 70s. Walk on the Wild Side is pretty cool too, kind of unexpected. And Goodnight Ladies is a nice ending. Overall, maybe a 6.5/10
Nunca he sido tan fan de Lou, pero después de revistar este álbum creo que puedo escuchar más de su discografía
8.5/10
Fun, quirky album Favs- Walk on the wild side, Perfect day, Vicious Worst- New York telephone conversation
Solid 70s vibe. This isn't something I would listen to on my own or its entirety except for in this setting. Its 'ok' for me? I like it but would I listen to the whole album again? Probably not.
The name Lou Reed sounds familiar but I cannot recall any of his music so I am excited to listen to it. Right off the bat, track 1 sounds very similar to Pavement. I like this sound a lot so hopefully it is consistent throughout the album. It has a very 90's sound considering it was released in 1972. Track 2 reminds me of the Violent Femmes with the kind of monotonous singing. I like it. I just discovered he was a member of The Velvet Underground, which is why the name sounds so familiar to me. That makes a lot of sense as to why his sound is also very familiar. Track 3 is different from the first two tracks, with more musical vocals and a lyrical sound. I am enjoying this. Track 4 is quite the switch up from track 3 as it is very upbeat. I am really liking this album so far. Tracks 4 and 5 were okay, I do not have much to say about them except that I am surprised track 5 is his most popular song. I feel like tracks 1 and 3 were much better. Track 6 was a little strange lyrically but it was a good song. Track 7 is very interesting, probably the most interesting song yet which is nice. I am on the last track right now and overall this album has been really good, but definitely not 5 stars. I have been trying to go off just my first instinct for ratings, so I will give this one 4 stars.
Lyrics good. Take a Look at the wild Side bekannter Song.
Really enjoyed this, having only been familiar with Walk On The Wild Side previously. Some songs were definitely a bit of a drag, but overall a very lovely listen.
Eleven songs in 36 minutes, lots of short & sweet. Lou at his best.
Lou MF Reed. that’s all.
Love this record. Such a classic.
Really pleasing on the ears and musically sound :>.
3.5
Take a walk on the wild side! Love this album.
This was great. This is the Lou read I've always expected. Really good.
This hit me like a flower.
1. Vicious=6/10 2. Andys chest=7/10 3. Perfect day=8/10 4. Hangin’’Round=7/10 5. Walk on the wild side=8/10 6. Make up=8/10 7. Satellite of love=7/10 8. Wagon wheel=7/10 9. New York telephone conversation=7/10 10. I’m so free=7/10 11. Goodnight ladies=8/10 Overall=7.5/10
Listening session: january 3nd, while taking a shower and getting ready in the morning Listened to before: have listened to some tracks on this album but not to the entire album Thoughts: don’t think I would listen to this on a daily basis but it’s a great album Favourite tracks: Perfect Day, Satellite of Love, I’m so Free
Lou Reed sounds like if Bob Dylan had a harder sound. I like it. A few lines that are a bit racist. Overall I’d listen to a few songs again.
- his voice sounds like john mulaney rock lobster i love it - vicious has a nice build methinks very fun - andy's chest weirdly reminds me of DJOs new album and def paul mccartney & magical mystery tour - perfect day so somber so sullen love it - HAY HUNNAYYY TAKE A Walk on da wyylll side - make up i like the tuba - satellite of love miiiiight be my fav oh my god this song so inspired lana ohhhhh my goooooooood - new york telephone conversation is soooo fucking mccartney i love it - goodnight ladies ugh so good love
easy! a Sagittarius baby
Already listened and loved
pretty fire. don’t listen to 70s glam rock that often, but i’ll definitely revisit this at some point. 4/5
Very much enjoyed
Way better than I expected. Never listened to anything besides the hits.
Awh so this is who signs all these songs
fav songs Perfect Day 8/10 Walk on the Wild Side - (CAN I KICK IT!!!!! ) 9/10 New York Telephone Conversation ( I only like this one cause its oddly memorable ) 6/10 Overall, I give this album like a 7/10, I don't think slow, older, sing-songy albums like this are my style 100% but i'm glad I gave it a shot
Good tracks and a nice chill vibe with real heart
This was a good album
Walk on the wild sample for can I kick it? Cool album, I liked vicious, hangin round, goodnight ladies. Would listen again!
As much as a good handful of the lyrics are dated, especially the whole song of Walk On The Wild Side, this album is a near perfect masterpiece. The songwriting of Lou Reed and his dead pan voice is not for everyone and I can get behind and understand that, while I can also acknowledge he's one of the best to do it. It's on MANY "greatest albums of all time" lists for a very good reason.
Never heared solo Lou Reed, always wondered what he did after VU (and before Metallica). Well, some nice glam / pop rock here. Some fillers are here, but even here they are quite enjoyable. Turns out he can be a good songwriter and compose music without earfuckery. Will surely return to it eventually.
чудовий альбом, він водночас звучить інтимно і глем-роково
This one is pretty consistent, but for me, a lot of the songs blend together, there's not necessarily anything I'd be racing to revisit, other than the stand outs of Perfect Day and Wild Side, both of which have endured for a reason. Reed's story telling and lyricism is really solid, and I really enjoyed the use of the Tuba on Goodnight Ladies & Make Up, it created a bit of a point of difference. Make Up is an interesting one, it's so cool to hear a song about a homosexual relationship from this era, despite it being heavily coded, the fact that it features on a release of this magnitude, from this era, is incredible.
This is the Lou Reed experience. At moments you’re in shock at the brilliance of a given song, the next you’re asking yourself how full of shit this guy is. How full of shit am I? Why is he singing like that? And on and on. Bowie producing helped greatly, if nothing more than for the street cred. I feel you can hear it distinctly on Satellite of Love.
Seano nailed this one. Lou reed is equal pAbttrdgmmthkloomkgfvbkklp🤗🤗🤗🤗🤥😮😴. My daughter took my phone and put in the last sentence but actually kinda nailed it
I’d never listened to this one all the way through and only knew the hits. Glad I’ve changed that.
Vicious. You hit me with a flower. You do it every hour. Lou Reed's second album could've been more aptly titled Transformed, you know? Bowie and Ronson quietly re-wire the record, surely pushing it into more fluid territory. It's a record flirting with greatness. Or does it land just shy of greatness for you? Could be that it's smooth, oddly exposed, and slightly ridiculous, like a shaved Honey Bear? And then you know what they say: you have a hairy-minded pink bare bear. There is a lot to Transformer I appreciate. The lyrics, certainly. The production that frames Reed's humor and weariness in a cleaner, more deliberate light. All those easy mid-tempo rockers that manage to maintain momentum within the album and not bore me like they usually do. And the ballads like Perfect Day, they elevate the album and keep me hanging on.
Lou Reed was what I needed today. I’m surprised by how much I truly enjoyed this album. I think he was a bit before his time. Mixing genres and sounds and bringing up raising questions that led to a more open and collaborative music scene.
Sublime - unpolished and often straying into performance art... but undeniably catchy and connecting in unexpected ways.
Reed's vibe is so dark and edgy that it's easy to miss the innocence and even joy in his work, but I caught it listening to this album. This is a guy whose world is probably darker than I'd want to live in, but it's honest, and he wants the same things we all do -- and he loves rock and roll.
- very clash-esque - i think this is more a sign of my current mental state, but all i could think of whilst listening was “BYLER” - i really enjoyed it but ill prolly have to give it a few more listens to REALLY get it yk (no complaints here)
I love the begging of the album. The whole thing has the right amount of absurdity.
Good and decent, with powerful messages interleaved into the songs.
Ok so not everything on this album is a hit. Perfect day and walk on the wild side are timeless classics. But it has just the right amount of Ronson guitar sprinkled in and the good Bowie-isms that give it a glam sheen but still its own thing. Music was made differently back then... Someone offers you to take the songs you wrote and put them in a whole different genre.
Another great classic, two of the best songs ever made, Walk on the wild side and perfect day. Wotws is attached to a very stong memory, I was maybe 16yo in a huge swiss chalet for new years eve with some of my parent's friends. There was a record player and I put this album, then the song played and I was just amazed and really surprised my the sax at the end of the song, truly beautiful, I was like, that's music. Even if I found the lyrics a bit to focus on women, come on Lou, life is a bigger picture than wanted to put your pipi in some poupous.
Cool! Has a song of generation
Some excellent songs and some terrible songs. 3.5 rounded up.
a good rock n roller kind of sing and songwriter gem. Lou Reed's most famous/some of the best of his solo discography shows up on this one.
Really grew on me as I listened through. Obviously some absolute classics on here. Great songwriting and quirkiness throughout. Took a little while to settle to his voice but will be listening through a second time now I have found my feet with him. Yeh, growing on me the more I listen and appreciate all the quirks and originality.
Toll
Transformer is Lou Reed’s second album after he left The Velvet Underground, and it's an extension of that band's varied vibe and street sensibility. The best tracks for me are "Vicious," "Andy's Chest," and "Hangin' 'Round." “Walk on the Wild Side." This is an unusual and even unfortunate song to be Lou Reed’s most recognizable, as it’s a stylistic outlier. Not my favorite, actually. But, it does capture the commitment Reed had in VU and as a solo artist to tell stories of the underground. This is a 4/5 album from a noteworthy artist. He probably peaked when he was in The Velvet Underground, meaning before anybody knew who he was! But we do now. Good album.
I am not sure what I expected from a Lou Reed solo effort (his 2nd, I think), but I didn’t expect the theatrical side to be so strong. Still, this is a fabulous album. It is very recognizable, but at the same time there is a lot of experimentation that is quirky, playful, odd, and some almost clamoring for stage production. While some of the content is a little saucy for me, we find Reed at his experimental best. For me, side one is most enjoyable and most accessible. I imagine that if you can embrace side two, you’ll rate this a five.
(listened before, like it)
Discazo. Simple pero efectivo. Todos temazos. Mezcla géneros pero todos a su estilo. 8/10
I think the album is weaker after Satellite of Love, barring the jazzy Goodnight Ladies, but the first half is so good that this was never getting a middling review. Perfect Day is one of the greatest songs ever, this album is a 4.
J'aime bien l'ambiance. La fin est moins bonne que le début
# Album Name: Transformer # Artist: Lou Reed # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Theres some real highs and lows on this album. Two absolutely massive tracks though. Overall an enjoyable album. Didnt quite hit the highs I hoped throughout though. # Top Tunes: Vicious / perfect day / walk on the wild side # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Incredible that Lou Reed could go from The Velvet Underground to writing some of the finest 70s pop-rock tracks around.
Lou Reed goes mainstream? Yes, and it works like a charm. Really amazing stuff, full of catchy melodies that even a vocalist with such a limited range like Reed can make work. He speak-singing style add a sort of sexiness that these songs would otherwise be lacking. It truly does sound like Lou Reed and the Spiders from Mars! Key tracks: Vicious Perfect Day Hangin' Round Walk on the Wild Side Satellite of Love
Mooi album! Ik kende 2 liedjes van dit album, maar op zich is het hele album heel mooi. Er zitten ook echt verschillende vibes bij, maar dat maakt het net leuker te luisteren. Ondertussen las ik een beetje over de betekenis van de nummers en zag dat ze vaak te maken hadden met Andy Warhol en zijn Factory, terwijl ze in conflict waren. Ook voor die tijd een heel 'alternatieve' kijk op de wereld, dat zal ook wel eens de reden zijn waarom hij en Bowie elkaar konden aanvullen in de muziek/ klankkleur en lyrics.
Not my favorite Lou Reed record, but it’s still a Lou Reed record! And for my money, he's still one of the best writers ever to turn his attention to rock and roll. I like Transformer, but the songs are a little underfed for me and I miss his distinctive, occasionally corrosive guitar tone. Too much Bowie/Ronson for me. I prefer underdog albums like Coney Island Baby and New York, but I won't turn the volume down if you put this one on.
not gonna lie to you, i liked it
Quite liked this. Different sound, not quite rock, experimenal, good sounds.
Probably my favorite glam rock album, though admittedly that's not saying much. Better than WL/WH or Loaded, but worse than the two self-titled Velvet Underground albums. For the most part it works as a fun rock album, but I've got no real need for "Walk on the Wild Side". If I want poorly-aged trans songs, I'll listen to "Lola", and if I want that bassline, I'll listen to "Can I Kick It".
A very chill and enjoyable listen
Sometimes the inability to sing doesn’t hold you back
Not my favourite by reed
My first Lou Reed listening experience was actually a lot more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. I definitely had a preconceived notion of what this album was going to sound like and I was wrong and I'm glad I was. You can hear the Bowie influence in the melodies he chooses to sing as well as the overall vibe of many of the songs. He's not trying to sound like a Bowie clone in any way, but the sound of Lou Reed with a David Bowie filter on it is a sound I can get behind.
Man I love this album. I listened to it a lot during my life. It’s just a bunch of of Reed’s super cool narratives of New York and its art scene. Music is pretty simplistic but he does throw some curveballs like the trombone on Make Up. The songs are great and super varied, with a production that is airy and roomy and lets the songwriting shine. I’m debating four and five. Let’s do four.
I've heard some Velvet Underground and it wasn't for me, so I tiptoed into this project, but this is so much better. I can instantly appreciate the Bowie production, but what really gets me is how without Warhol, this album wouldn't have been half as good as it is. Andy is such a killer muse. Not really my favorite music producer. This project feels like American '60s rock with Bowie influences and eclectic Warhol ideas. Even though it might sound a little dated, it holds up real good half a century later. I wouldn't mind a copy in my collection, I could also live without it. 3.7/5
Listened to this recently for the first time in years. A classic for sure, as good as early Velvets? Nope. Still though, exceptional. 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: No: 30/119 (24%) Will I get? Already have a couple
Vicious - 5/5 Andy's Chest - 5/5 Perfect Day - 5/5 Hangin' 'Round - 4/5 Walk on the Wild Side - 5/5 Make Up - 4/5 Satellite of Love - 5/5 Wagon Wheel - 4/5 New York Telephone Conversation - 3/5 I'm So Free - 4/5 Goodnight Ladies - 3/5 Average score: 4.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really enjoyed.
Good to listen to. Lyrics strange, sometimes funny.
This one lands right in that sweet spot where weird, clever, and stylish all overlap. Lou Reed has never been what you’d call a “good” singer in any traditional sense, but somehow his talk-sing, half-shrug delivery works better here than it has any right to. It’s like he bends the entire album around his voice instead of trying to bend himself to the songs, and the whole thing ends up feeling intentional, even cool. The big tracks are undeniable. “Walk on the Wild Side” is one of those songs that feels like it’s always existed, and “Perfect Day” hits that strange emotional tension only Reed can summon: tender, ironic, and unsettling all at once. But what really surprised me were the deep cuts. The tuba drop on “Make Up” is the kind of off-kilter choice Tom Waits might pull — grimy, theatrical, oddly perfect — and “Goodnight Ladies” is a fantastic closer, all horns and late-night swagger, like the band is sweeping the floor around you as the lights come up. It’s not a flawless album, but it’s a fascinating one, full of personality and sharp writing. Reed commits to every eccentric choice, and Bowie and Ronson’s glam production somehow ties it all together without sanding down the edges. Not quite a five for me, but a rock-solid classic that I’m glad to have fully absorbed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rv/g
Another album that I have listened to a little Over the years and when it’s on, I like it. Lou reed is without a doubt so important to music and this album is great. But I already know I won’t listen to this for another 2 years. Doesn’t mean it’s not great, it’s though.
Some fantastic songs. Elements of others throwback to the Velvet Underground who I also like.
Loved Lou’s stylish vibe
Some of his best
Already a great album that I like... But listening again
Such a solid album
This album made me feel things I can't describe. I don't know how much I liked it but I can't help but give it credit for that. 8/10
Hehe
Solid album with some great songs. Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson and you can tell. Has a similar sound to Bowie’s albums at the time (Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane). Favorite tracks include Vicious, Perfect Day, Walk on the Wild Side, Satellite of Love, Wagon Wheel, I’m So Free.
His greatest hits?
Idk man, the best so far
Impressive classic that I already knew. Most of the songs on there are absolute gems, it is concise, has scope and ambition, different sounds and some good writing. I just have some reservations concerning the themes that at times can be a bit repetitive (ok you horny I get it)and I do think it is absolutely front loaded with mega hits and the end does suffer a bit in comparison.
Great album some Bat shit crazy lyrics though.
I enjoy his stuff. He loves to layer on sounds and meaning into his work that hits me. His storytelling in this is superb. Perfect Day is a prime example of it. You feel the lyrics, same with Hanging Around. Walk on the Wild side is the breakout, it could be that I remember this getting radio play even in the 80's shows it stands the test of time. Great album.
A glam classic. Needs time and attention for optimal listening. Sleazy.
delle tracce che adoro, come perfect day e walk on the wild side
"I wonder what it would sound like if Lou Reed made The White Album?"
Some catchy, punky rock songs with that classic raw Lou Reed vocal. But it's tough to rate this 5 stars after listening to Velvet Underground days ago.
Faves: Satellite of Love, Vicious
**Lou Reed – *Transformer* (1972)** _In-depth review: lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, pros & cons_ --- ### 1. **Lyrics – Street-poet as pop-culture anthropologist** Lou Reed’s writing on *Transformer* is a **tightrope between deadpan camp and bruised sincerity**. - “**Walk on the Wild Side**” turns five Warhol “superstars” (Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, etc.) into three-minute comic-strip myths, complete with racially-coded bass-slides and punch-line oral sex. It was **the first Top-40 hit to speak openly about race, drag, and queer sex**—and it still feels subversive because Reed delivers it like a bored tour-guide who refuses to moralize . - “**Perfect Day**” is either a love song to heroin, to a person, or to the moment when the two become indistinguishable. The string arrangement (Bowie/Ronson) tricks the ear into “pretty,” but the lyric’s final couplet—“You’re going to reap just what you sow”—plants a moral shiv. - Lesser-known cuts keep the same double vision. “**Make Up**” satirizes cosmetic femininity while clearly loving the ritual; “**Andy’s Chest**” sprays surreal one-liners (“You know I’m so horny I can’t get my tongue unfurled”) that read like Pop-art captions; “**New York Telephone Conversation**” lampoons gossip culture in the cadence of a bored housewife on Quaaludes. **Verdict:** Reed’s flat, conversational delivery lets the words sit in your lap. The jokes, threats, and confessions all arrive with the same shrug, which makes the emotional sucker-punches land harder. --- ### 2. **Music – Glam varnish on NYC grit** Musically *Transformer* is **Reed’s most accessible solo set**, but accessibility here is a **production choice**, not a creative surrender. - **Glam-rock chassis:** Mick Ronson’s guitars are T-Rex’d-out—glittery crunch on “Vicious,” syrupy sustain on “Satellite of Love.” - **Music-hall flourishes:** Tuba bass-line in “Make Up,” bar-room piano on “Goodnight Ladies,” Bowie’s falsetto counter-hooks—the album **winks at British cabaret** while retaining Reed’s urban seediness. - **Rhythm-section discipline:** Herbie Flowers’ bass (especially that **legendary chromatic slide** opening “Walk on the Wild Side”) gives the record its jazz-tinted spine; the drums are dry, close-mic’d, almost proto-punk in their refusal to swing . - **Hidden avant-gardism:** The layered drones under “I’m So Free,” the telephone-filtered vocals on “NY Telephone Conversation,” or the **string quartet drop** into “Perfect Day” show the same ear for **textural disruption** Reed honed in the Velvet Underground. **Verdict:** The songs **sound** like straightforward pop until you notice the odd bar-counts, the sudden mute-button mixes, the way guitar feedback is **treated like a backing vocal**. It’s **art-rock wearing platform boots**. --- ### 3. **Production – Bowie & Ronson’s star-dust filter** David Bowie and Mick Ronson were at **peak Ziggy-mania** when they entered Trident Studios with Reed. Their brief: **make Lou commercial without sanding off the danger**. - **Vocals forward, but hollowed:** Reed’s voice is double-tracked, lightly compressed, and **floated on top** rather than embedded; this creates the **detached narrator** effect that lets lurid content slip past radio censors . - **Glam sheen vs. street ambience:** Ronson **overdrives guitars** but leaves acoustic room-reverb on hand-claps and backing vocals, so **Chelsea hotel grit** co-exists with **Carnaby-Street gloss**. - **Orchestration as sarcasm:** The **Disney-esque strings** on “Perfect Day” or the **tacky ballroom piano** on “Goodnight Ladies” are **mixed so sweetly they become ironic**, underscoring Reed’s lyrical ambivalence. **Criticism:** Some listeners feel the **production homogenizes** Reed’s earlier rawness; Robert Christgau called the album “effete… stripped to inessentials” . There’s truth here—**“Vicious”** would bite harder without the glitter—yet the **tension** between Reed’s deadpan and Bowie’s theatrics is precisely what gives *Transformer* its queer-camp frisson. --- ### 4. **Themes – Glamour, gender, voyeurism, addiction** - **Queer visibility:** Released in Nov 1972, the same month Bowie declared himself gay on Melody Maker, *Transformer* **soundtracks a moment** when gender fluidity stepped from underground clubs into the suburban hi-fi. - **Urban voyeurism:** Reed **doesn’t judge** his subjects; he **catalogues** them—trans sex-workers, drug buddies, telephone gossips—turning **New York’s demi-monde** into a **comic-book pantheon**. - **Addiction as romance:** “Perfect Day” and “Wagon Wheel” treat **getting high** like a date-night; the moral hangover is present but never sermonized. - **Fame & self-mythology:** Songs name-check Andy Warhol, the Factory, and Reed’s own reputation (“You know me, I’m so free”)—**Transformer** is partly Reed’s **instruction manual on how to turn notoriety into pop art**. --- ### 5. **Influence – The ripple effect** - **Pop culture:** “Walk on the Wild Side” bass-line has been **sampled** (Marky Mark, Tribe Called Quest), **covered** (M. Ward, Duran Duran), and **licensed** to sell everything from **PlayStation** to **LGBT tourism**—a rare case of corporate media **paying to queer the pitch**. - **Punk & post-punk:** The **dry drum sound**, street-narrative lyrics, and **detached vocal** were **blueprints** for everyone from **Television** to **Joy Division**; Reed’s **“I’m So Free”** is basically a **proto-power-pop** template. - **Alt-cabaret & art-pop:** Tori Amos, Rufus Wainwright, Antony & the Johnsons, and **Héloïse Letissier (Christine & the Queens)** all cite *Transformer* as proof that **intimate confession and camp theatricality** can share a stage. - **Queer rock canon:** Alongside Bowie’s *Ziggy* and *Hunky Dory*, *Transformer* **legitimized gender-non-conforming narratives** in rock’s top-40—an impact still measured in **LGBTQ+ visibility** decades later . --- ### 6. **Pros & Cons – The quick balance sheet** | PROS | CONS | |------|------| | Contains **three unimpeachable classics** (“Walk on the Wild Side,” “Perfect Day,” “Satellite of Love”) plus **deep-cut gems** (“Andy’s Chest,” “I’m So Free”) that **never flag on melody** . | **Filler quotient:** “Hangin’ Round” and “Wagon Wheel” are **rollicking but lightweight**; some critics find **half the album forgettable** after the hits . | | **Lyrics** that **normalize queer life, sex-work, drugs** without sermon or sensationalism—**still radical in 2025** . | Reed’s **limited vocal range** can feel **monotone across eleven tracks**; if you don’t buy the **talk-sing charisma**, the album **drags** . | | **Bowie/Ronson production** gives **gloss without sanitizing**; orchestral touches add **ironic glamour**. | Production **dates the record** to glam-era 1972; **over-driven guitars and cabaret flourishes** can scan as **cartoonish** to ears bred on punk minimalism . | | **Cohesive persona:** every song contributes to a **unified portrait** of Lou-as-flaneur, **urban poet laureate** of the forbidden. | **Not as musically adventurous** as *Berlin* or as **raw** as *Velvet Underground*; some fans miss the **noise quotient** and **existential dread** of earlier work . | | **Historical import:** **First openly queer Top-40 hit**, **template for art-pop** and **punk detachment**—**cultural footprint outweighs any sonic quibble**. | If you demand **vocal virtuosity** or **prog-level complexity**, *Transformer* will feel **under-powered** and **over-hyped** . | --- ### 7. **Bottom line** *Transformer* is **not Lou Reed’s most experimental hour**, but it is his **most perfectly framed**. Bowie and Ronson’s **glam filter** turns street-reportage into **pop art**, while Reed’s **stone-cold conversational lyrics** make **gender-fluid, drug-tinged vignettes** feel as **everyday** as a phone call. The album’s **influence on punk, queer rock, and alt-cabaret** is incalculable, and its **best songs** remain **untouchable standards** half a century on. Accept the **occasional filler** and the **period-production sheen**, and *Transformer* still **opens a door to the wild side**—no apologies, no safety net, just **Lou Reed lighting a cigarette and telling you how it really is**.
Some great moments on this record but a few stinkers. Almost perfect but not quite
Walk On The Wild Side is still the best track from this album
Lou Reed possui uma das minhas vozes preferidas de todo o Rock, eu adoro a forma com que ele entrega seus vocais. A produção de David Bowie complementa brilhantemente o estilo lírico e vocal de Reed, é um casamento feito no paraíso. Não sou um cara que costuma prestar atenção em letras, mas no caso de Transformer, é impossível não notar as cenas que Reed constroi em cada uma de suas canções. São todas pura poesia beat, entregues com a voz agridoce do cantor, e tudo ornamentado lindamente pela produção mínima e de ótimo gosto. Infelizmente, acho este disco um pouco desbalanceado. Seu primeiro lado é infalível, mas não acho o mesmo do segundo lado. Acho que ele se perde um pouco chegando perto do final, infelizmente. Ainda assim é um ótimo disco, mas há uma faixa ou outra que não me conquistam completamente. Dito isso, continua sendo um fantástico álbum. O que não me surpreende considerando o trabalho de Lou Reed com o Velvet Underground, e a minha infinita apreciação da década de 1970. 4.5/5
I enjoy the Lou Reed voice. The simplistic music that's just decent rock and roll. Love that Bowie produced this.
It’s a very good album, but not as amazing as the hype would have you think. Then again, we should all take hypes with a pinch of salt. 4/5
Best Lou solo album.
I had no idea Perfect Day was by Lou Reed. Such an amazing song! Immediate flash-back to Trainspotting. Walk on the Wild Side is another I have heard and remember listening to with my dad.
Some of the best songs you’ll even listen to but let down by a couple.
Mostly enjoyed. Not sure too many of these would be written now but enjoyed. ‘Goodnight ladies’ is a strong finish.
Perfect Day is just really good. Walk on the Wild Side also talks respectfully about matters that used to be, and maybe still are, very much taboo, and is at the same time a very fun song
Extremely enjoyable album. I don’t think there was a song I didn’t like. Lou Reed’s got such a dry and deadpan voice that’s almost offputting at times, it really makes his solo music and his work with the Velvet Underground so distinct. The production’s also very good and varied on this.
A classic
This was good, but it didn’t hit hard enough. I had very high expectations for this one and the Bowie production shows, but I’d rather take at least 3 other Velvet Underground albums over this one if I was looking for some Lou Reed. I’ll give it a low 4 because I’m pretentious.
Transformer manages to break the mold and serve as a biting insight into social issues still plaguing us today
Car with katherine
This is the "big" Lou Reed album. Makes sense – it's aggressively VU-ish right from the opener. Vicious is an excellent start: it's fast, groovy, has a fantastic distorted guitar line, and (of course) includes Reed's deadpan vocal that emulates Dylan and early Bowie. Satellite of Love is in the conversation for one of Reed's finest creations. Again, intensely Bowie-esque; it wouldn't be at all out of place on Ziggy Stardust. Perfect Day continues the conversation: it's genuinely a really strong track, beating out nearly all VU tracks (as compositions) as though they never existed. Who would've thought a gritty proto-punk proto-rapper whose main focus is realist, street-smart poetry could compose such a beautiful ballad? I really like the strings, piano, soft drumming... everything about it. This is the album's strongest track. Perhaps surprisingly, I hadn't heard Walk On the Wild Side before today. It's strong – but not top-3 (on the album) material. The sax solo is cool but a little out of place for the style Reed's going for. The two-chord progression also gets old really quickly. Seeing a track called New York Telephone Conversation is definitely cause for concern. Fortunately, it's essentially an early-70s campy piano track, even complete with the high-pitched, out-of-tune vocal harmony. Very charming, but probably the weakest song of the bunch. Though it did make me realise: this album doesn't have much going on musically. Half the appeal is knowing that the likes of Lou Reed (and other rock/underground/glam giants of the era) are involved. "But she never lost her head / Even when she was giving head / She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"" Dang. I love how shamelessly blunt Lou Reed's lyrics can be. This one's right up there with Heroin and The Gift. 4/5 Key tracks: Vicious, Perfect Day, Satellite of Love
Unique Lou reed. Always fun.
I dont know why I had never listened to this. 8/10
Wow i actually love this record! Of course I’d seen the cover before but I guess I just never came around to actually checking it out. While the instrumentals are quit simple, it does strike a nostalgic string and it feels so warm and fuzzy. The lyrics are such a creative way of talking about theme’s like love and loneliness. Maybe it just also hit me at the right time, but this was a pleasant surprise!!
Take a long time to appreciate this. Now I like the down-to-earth approach of his solo albums. It's very fun to listen to, have different moods through the album. The lyrics have something very unique that engage you in the storytelling. Very interesting and simple at the same time.
I know this album is high rated but I was only digging take a walk on the wild side. A few others where good at times but lost momentum
Kaikin puolin kelpo teos. Ei olis varmaan luu riidiäkään hirveesti tullut kuunneltua ilman tätä ”haastetta”. Levyllä sopivasti erilaisia biisejä ja Reedin välittyi tuli hienosti läpi
Ihan hyvä levy, sopivasti vaihtelua ja mukavaa seiskytluvun rokkia. Tältä levyltä olikin tuttuja jo Perfect Day ja Walk On the Wild Side. Tää on tällanen aika sopiva nelosen levy.
Tässä oli kyllä pari sen verran hyvää biisiä ja muutenkin ihan mukava meininki, että on melkeen nelonen täräytettävä.
Noniin Yrtsi, miltä meno nyt maistuu? Tän ostin joskus seedeenä svämp myysikistä ja tuli kuuneltuukin kohtalaisesti ja ihailtua kansikuvissa olevaa kaveria, jolla oli tiukassa farkussa banaani lahkeessa. Albuumina tää lukeutuu varmaan johonkin glam-rokin lähdeteoksiin tms. Ihan hyvii veisuja täynnä ja sellasia kunnon ikivihreitäkin. Vahvaa tekemistä ilmeisesti täysmulkero äijältä. Ei nyt sillain mitään mullistavaa tai todellista eteen_näyttäjää, joten ihan ei täysii pisteitä pysty antaan. Kuitenkin heleppo nelkkukelkku. Metal Machine Musicia sitten vaan oottelemaan, jos vaikka joku kuratoija on pikkuhönössä keksinyt, että tää pitäs kyl kaikkien kuulla ennen alakertaan siirtymistä.
Noniin Yrtsi, miltä meno maistuu? Eipä ollut tästäkään Yrtsin meininkien lisäksi tuttuja biisejä entuudestaan kuin Perfect Day, molemmat kyllä pirun kovia kappaleita! Muuten vähän ehkä hajuton ja mauton levy, mutta plussaa siitä että on sopivan mittainen, eikä tuolla nyt mitään varsinaisesti paskoja biisejä ole seassa yhtään. Muutamasta biisistä (erityisesti Satellite of Love) tuli aika paljon Ziggy Stardustin aikainen Bowie mieleen. Tai no, tämähän oli ennen sitä, joten kai Bowiesta tulee sitten tämä mieleen. Itseasiassa kaikissa menobiiseissä olin kuulevinani Mick Ronsonin kitarasaundia, eli olisiko tämä levy ollut vähän niinkuin suunnannäyttäjä glamrock-meininkeihin? Tykkään kyllä tuosta pintaan tuodusta Lou Reedin laiskasta laulusta. Tämä olisi viikko sitten ollut kirpparilla vinyylinä kahdeksalla eurolla, nyt vähän semisti harmittaa etten ostanut. Sen verran tullut nyt kolmea ja kahta tähteä annettua, että annetaan ihan vastavoimana tälle neljä tähteä, ja yritetään ottaa reissu uudestaan sille kirpparille missä tämä oli vinskana.
produceret af bla david bowie. Gammel frontmand fra velvet underground. åbenbart tekster om byens tabere og lidt tørt osv. Det er sgu da meget fedt. Del af en scene hvor the factory og andy warhol tog del, som var meget præget af drag, hustlere og perfomance kunstnere. Fortæller om folk der ikke passer ind, deraf også queer og LGQBGTSDFLA miljø som var atypisk for sin tid. SYnes det er fedt at støtte op om mennesker der ikke føler de passer ind. Gælder både seksualitet men også bare generelt hvordan man opfatter verden og ens sted i den. Det er glamrock, art rock og singersong writer og en smule proto-punk? har svært ved at se proto-punk delen selv, men den er der åbenbart. også lang tid siden jeg har haft et punk album. Tror måske det er teksterne og så minimalisme i instrumenter som spiller ind her. Jeg synes det er godt. jeg elsker jo det teatralske i glam rocken og lyden af det. Kan godt lide bowie og kan godt lide T-rex f.eks.
Okay so I didn't love it at first. It was too abrasive, loud and pointed for me at the moment in time. And then i listened again. I don't know this type of music: its familiar. And I really liked some of the songs: perfect day or good night ladies. I love how intentional the piano feels. I like the humour in the lyrics here and there! I keep thinking he is saying fishes in the vicious song and it's so funny. But i still can't get over the voice. He seems like he's reading to me always!
Mr Velvet Underground. Jak odpalałem, to nie wiedziałem, że to ziomek z VU, ale po jednej nutce się zorientowałem. Przychylni powiedzieliby, że to duchowy spadkobierca VU, złośliwi, że kopiuj-wklej. I obie strony by miały rację. Wiele utworów było bardzo podobnych do konkretnych piosenek VU i nawet układ albumu był zbliżony, ze skocznym otwarciem ("Vicious" - "What Goes On", nawet riffy są bardzo podobne), romantyczną odą w pierwszej połowie ("Perfect Day", zdecydowanie jeden z moich ulubionych utworów, klimatem zbliżony do "Pale Blue Eyes"), eksperymentalnym kawałkiem w 2/3 krążka i goofy utworem o stylistyce zupełnie odmiennej od całej reszty na końcu ("Goodnight Ladies", które kojarzyło mi się z "After Hours"). I pewnie jakbym poświęcił temu trochę więcej czasu, to znalazłbym jeszcze więcej podobieństw. Jedynym przesunięciem względem VU jest zrobienie kroku w stronę subwersji i pikanterii, a odjęcie eksperymentalnej i art-rockowej warstwy. Taki skręt w stronę wizerunku rockmana. Jednak już patrząc na ten album jako kompletny stand-alone - ma dużą słuchalność, jest naprawdę fun i to po prostu kawał dobrej muzyki. Na pewno będę wracał.
Glamowy sen Lou Reeda o Nowym Jorku. Świetna płyta, produkcja Bowiego, mocne 4.
Can't believe this is the same guy that did Mambo #5. What range he's got (jk jk)
Always enjoyable
I liked this! I hadn't heard much Lou Reed before and dug it
Take a Walk on The Wild Side is an underrated song that deserves more praise. Rest of the album was good. Nice pick for a Friday!
Really enjoyed this album - much, much more than Berlin. Reed is batting a thousand on side one; "Vicious," "Andy's Chest" (apparently written to cheer up Andy Warhol after someone shot him in the chest), "Perfect Day," "Hangin' 'Round," and "Walk on the Wild Side" are all great. I don't like side two quite as much (the quirky "New York Telephone Conversation" is fun though). I'd have considered rating this a 5 if there was a little more power on side two. Reed looks like Frankenstein's Monster on the album cover. Just an observation, not a criticism.
A classic album and work of art curated by a personal soul. “Walk On The Wild Side” and “Perfect Days”, the two most popular songs on the album, got the love they deserved—for they, as well as the rest, were way ahead of their time. We need more artists like Lou Reed today.
Love the vibe, the general casual-ness and I hear threads of this style all throughout modern indie. Songwriting and arranging are very strong, and the guitar work is great (Mick Ronson?). HATE Lou's vocals
Did you know this dude's parents forced him to get electric shock 'therapy' as a kid
Thank you Mr Reed for inventing being awkward cool I promise I will not try and abuse your vision for my own disgusting ends FOUR STARS
almost infantile, yet enjoable
Obviously iconic album, as is this Earthern legend. However, when I hear Lou Reed, I want to listen to the velvet Underground. Love them. Mal
7/10
Kick ass Bowie produced Lou Reed album. Lou trying to make you uncomfortable with the subject matter in his songs. His spoken word singing in some parts isn't his best but the music is killer.
such a good opening track
My only experience with Lou Reed's music up to this point in time is having heard the album 'The Velvet Underground' before, so I was going absolutely blind and I didn't know what to expect of it when listening to this for the first time (I didn't even know 'Walk on the Wild Side' was in this record). So it seems like Lou Reed decided to depart from the psychedelic rock scene and lean towards the glam rock sound with the help of David Bowie in both the production and the songs as backing vocals, acoustic guitar and keyboards. And honestly, he did an incredible job. I found this album to be extremely likeable thanks to the rich instrumentation, his charming voice and the interesting lyrics, Fantastic album. Not perfect (some of the latests songs are a bit weak), but still incredible.
Fun listen! some good tunes. can i kick it "walk on the wild side" was fun
You gotta smoke a cigarette in a back alley while listening to this one. Or literally take a walk on the wild side.
Love the quirky lyrics in particular
Klassikko, tää ollu vahvasti kuuntelulistalla pitkään -A
Couple of iconic songs in Perfect Day & Wild Side. You can definitely hear the Bowie influence on the album. Some of the songs are a little drab. Not really an album I would return to and re-listen in its entirety.
very chill
Not that wild anymore!
This is the same guy that made Lulu
Love this!!!!! Such a classic
Hits are genius. The other tracks…..are a chore
I totally get why it's so revered, but as an album...meh. I think I like Lou Reed as a concept more than I like most of his output. This probably has the greatest concentration of songs of his I like - Perfect Day and Satellite of Live are great, WOTWS is iconic, Vicious is groovy enough...but I just don't vibe with his more cabaret type things. Really, this is a 3 to me - not appalling, just OK - but those 3 really 4 songs push it to a 4. Just.
Very good album. Lou is very talented and his music is fun and different.
Better than I thought
Familiar songs placed in album context can def ehar bowie in it was really chill and enjoyable.
Like, very good. So groovy wtf.
Delightfully bizarre and very entertaining.
Not one mention of the All Spark??!
Can see why so many of my favorite rock artists cite Lou Reed as a major influence
sort of hit or miss for me but the best songs are sooo good. Pretty basic but my favs are walk on the wild side and perfect day. These are actually accurate unlike the belle and Sebastian album 😭
Lou Reed’s lyrics and guitar work fit on some tracks, but can also be slightly clunky/abrasive at times. The songs it clicks on are super great, like Perfect Day and Walk on the Wild Side. This album sounds and feels a lot like his previous stuff with the Velvet Underground. Standout tracks: Perfect Day, Walk On the Wild Side, Hangin’ ‘Round
I liked this. I've heard a couple of songs, but didn't know the artist at all
Lots of really good stuff here. The album as a whole didn’t quite get to a 5 for me. Regardless it deserves a spot on this list. I was happy to have listened to this.
Great
Очень интесный альбом! Музыка такая с одной стороны энергичная, а с другой, мягкая. 8 из 10.
This was great - a very enjoyable listen. Fantastic, interesting songs. An album I know I should have listened to prior and now I’m very glad I did.