Search And Destroy: Lou Reed

Destroy: "His next one" has generally proven to be the correct answer.

Search: White Light, White Heat(!) Destroy: New York. Eeesh.

Bonus Search: I'm always on the lookout for a vinyl copy of Metal Machine Music, naturally.

Destroy: The live album _Take No Prisoners_ is also very funny, but only the first time through. After that's it's extremely annoying.

As for "Live in Italy" this is simply Lou's best live album, featuring the classic Quine/Saunders/Maher lineup.

Never trust anyone who might be definable as a 'hero'...

Bill

Destroy: My Love is Chemical (not as bad as hot hips, but it was already taken)

Metal Machine Music was a total Fuck you to the record company, critics and consumers. Rock N Roll suicide. He believed his best work (Berlin) was overlooked while his worst was popular. So to get revenge he decided to make an album truly bad. The concept, cover and joke deserve a 10 out of 10. "My week beats your year." - classic.

Even at his worst (Mistrial), he had a great video of a robot tearing off the latex "flesh" from its face. Magic and Loss can strain one patience but there are truly beautiful moments on that album. Also not a big fan of Growing up in Public, Legendary Hearts, Rock N Roll Heart.

Disco Mystic off of the Bells is great. you can laugh and get down at the same time.

BTW, Ecstacy is BRILLIANT... cover to cover... It should be the Number One record of the decade.

'Berlin'

Oh, almost fell asleep with just that :

'Berlin'

Anyways...'Berlin' is (in my humble opinion) easily one of Lou's greatest achievements. Side two (in particular) is truly near flawless. And that in and of itself deserves attention from any serious rock/pop music listeners ears.

Those ARE my "true" reasons. As I stated, I was beyond tired and kept it short and sweet (as opposed to my near rants in previous posts). Anyways, "near flawless" is to mean whatever it means to each and every individual, obviously. What is a "flaw" to me may not be to you (and vice versa), of course.

Anyways, in this particular case (Lou Reed 'Berlin'): "near flawless" would mean (to me, of course) the fact that Lou was able to put on wax (record) the entire second side (other than the final track) in a near (seeing as everything has flaws, regardless of ones individual definition, nothing is perfect - doesn't exist, not in my mind anyways) flawless manner. The expressions sought (or seemingly sought - since you're clearly one for games of silly semantics) after on side two are expressed as well as I (the listener) could have hoped for them to be expressed. Which I (personally, of course) can not say the same for side one (which is riddled with flaws, in my opinion).

Hope that helps. If not, don't expect another reprise.

Now, it's only fair that YOU (sir) further elaborate on your VERY scantily written response to the original question: Search and Destroy-Lou Reed (of course, I chose to focus my response on 'Berlin'...you don't have to, though - in case you were not aware of this).

*By the way, rock (along with anything/everything else in life) isn't MEANT to be "flawed" nor "flawless". It is whatever the individual views it to be (reality is...that there isn't a concrete reality - dig?).

*Also, a part of Lou's appeal IS that he and his music, etc, are "flawed" (opinion depending of course, Mr. Semantic...or...is that Mr. Grainofsalt).

I don't get much out of "Berlin" - it's got my favourite LR song on though ("Sad Song") which seems to crystallise the exhaustion and frustration of the rest of the record nicely, and move beyond the squalid specifics of the rest of the album (which are OK in a short- story way but don't move me) to something more universal. But I'm a sucker for the universal.

Anyways.

However, from what I gather and/or feel: Side two (again, I'll just stick with the half that I, personally, prefer) is just complete and utter despair and helplessness (which you've, I'm sure, already figured out). From the fact that violence can no longer control the situation nor can drugs on "Caroline Says II" to having kids being taken away to his loss of control of his gal in "The Kids" to the suicide in "The Bed" to the final cut "Sad Song" ending (appropriately, though this is my least favorite of the second side, it's still a fine track) with the male lead of the album dealing with his over-all "railroading" (or his dealing with the truth of his gal not measuring up to his wants/needs/wishes/whatever) - which probably means that he, himself, is simply not facing the facts about himself (Lou?).

Just a life (lives, actually) completely and utterly spun (not spinning, but already spun) out of any semblance of control. Which some of us (unfortunately) can relate to, on some level, such depths of darkness or human suffering. Which is what I meant by "near flawless expression". To/for me, side two just hits the deepest-darkness moments in life right on the head (bullseye) - as far as the expression or feeling. Albeit ULTRA dark moments (which, luckily, most of us have to take in a more abstract sense in order to relate to).

But, yea...see I'm just the opposite of you - I very much prefer the short story details (whether in song or literature, etc). Regardless of how downright unbearable they may be (such is the case on side two, in particular).

Well, I know that my galfriend can't freakin stand the album. She just couldn't take the amount of hatred and misery she felt from it. Which I find somewhat liberating in some odd (maybe even perverse) way.

I tht I did Reed already: can't find it here, musta been on another thread.
SO: metal machine music = ok by me; the rest = ok by me, but I wouldn't agitate to impede their destruction by Xtian fundie vinyl- pyre.

Don't stop digging through these ancient threads!! Don't even slow down!! I wuv to see what piffle I wuz dropping back in the day (= May).

Studio - Magic & Loss. Lou doesn't lose his humour on this one. Very, very touching lyrics. For the subject adequate minimal low-key instrumentation.

N.B. I guess this was the first S&D. Rather short I think. Btw I just found out (but you probably all know) that "Search & Destroy" was a song on "Raw Power" by The Stooges.

Destroy: The Bells. Not only is his voice incredibly wavery and flatulent on this one. I dare anyone to truly "get down" to "Disco Mystic". Unless they meant suffer immediate depression.

Oh, and if you really wanna Search, just get the box set. A listenable survey of a chap I'm too young and too unworshipping of NYC to appreciate beyond those sweet, sweet Velvets.

Tripple destroy: Metal Machine Music.

$25 at the Django's in Portland, Oregon a few weeks ago.

You, of course, need the 4 VU studio albums and Live: 1969.

All of his live albums that I've heard are pretty desolate.

horrible album art i'm afraid

Basically any albums with fretless bassist Fernando Saunders are great. His '80s and '90s work is overlooked.

I discovered Lou through "New York," so that will probably always be my favorite solo album. After that, probably Berlin, Transformer, and this "Master Class" bootleg (with Little Jimmy Scott) that I really need to Torrent one of these days.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/06/lou_reed_talks_his_new_radio_s.html

what a dumbass

dude are you nuts, "What are you, a fucking asshole?" is one of the all-time great interview answers

classic

classic asshole

lou reed, a real classhole

but seriously, J0hn D, you should def. try to work "What are you, a fucking asshole?" into any future interviews you do.

I have no idea lol.

Only in the evening.

Well then. (Ignore the title, these are 1965 demos.)

https://loureed.bandcamp.com/album/words-music-may-1985

Reminding me that Life of a Dog is a wonderful Laurie album (some say the film is not so hot, but I haven't seen it). Lou gets walkies as well.

The world needed a version of Waiting for the Man with a harmonica solo.

A bonus 7-inch, housed in its own unique die-cut picture sleeve and manufactured at Third Man Record Pressing includes the only vinyl release of six previously-unreleased bonus tracks providing a never-before-seen glimpse into Reed’s formative years, including early demos, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and a doo-wop serenade recorded in 1958 when the legendary singer-songwriter was just sixteen years old. An accompanying saddle-stitched, die-cut 28-page book features lyrics, archival photos, and liner notes Also included is an archival reproduction of a rarely-seen letter, written by Reed to his college professor and poet, Delmore Schwartz, circa 1964. The set includes a CD containing the complete audio from the package, housed in a die-cut jacket.

this previously unreleased collection of songs—penned by a young Lou Reed, recorded to tape with the help of future bandmate John Cale, and mailed to himself as a “poor man’s copyright”—remained sealed in its original envelope and unopened for nearly 50 years.

lmao when that harmonica solo comes in, incredible

Velvet Underground Trainspotting Question

discussed here too

Hal Willner one of the producers listed below, so this has been in the works a while,wonder what he did. Guess the podcast might be worth checking out? (I suspect this whole thing might be more interesting historically than musically, like some of the Beatles demos: "Yep, that's a really early version alright, can see why they thought it needed more work, ho-hum.") Judging also by those earliest demos on Peel Slowly and See.

Featuring contributions from Reed’s future bandmate, John Cale, Words & Music, May 1965 presents in their entirety the earliest-known recordings of such historic songs as “Heroin,” “I’m Waiting for the Man,” and “Pale Blue Eyes”—all of which Reed would eventually record and make indelibly influential with The Velvet Underground. Also included are several more previously-unreleased compositions that offer additional insight into Reed’s creative process and early influences. Produced by Laurie Anderson, Don Fleming, Jason Stern, Hal Willner, and Matt Sullivan, the album features newly-remastered audio from the original tapes by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer, John Baldwin. Rounding out the package are new liner notes from acclaimed journalist and author, Greil Marcus, plus in-depth archival notes from Don Fleming and Jason Stern, who oversee the Lou Reed Archive.

To help celebrate the release, Light in the Attic will also invite listeners to intimately experience Words & Music through a podcast hosted by TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe. In partnership with Little Everywhere and Ruinous Media, this special program will feature exclusive audio, archival materials, and interviews with many of the album's participants. Available on all podcast platforms on August 26th.

A coworker told a story last night about an incident (years ago) in which their wife was fawning over someone's dog on the street ("Oh, what a cute dog!," petting it profusely, etc.) – then as they walked away, they noticed that the dog owner was Lou.

― subject matter expert (morrisp),

Thought you were going to say "The dog was Lou."

Rock 'n roll animal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/06/arts/music/lou-reed-caught-between-the-twisted-stars.html

Love the cassette from his archive that has "Eagles One Of These Nights" scratched out on the label.

ha, yes

It was research for writing and recording "Crazy Feelin'" on Coney Island Baby.

DON: There was always much more to our music than what met the eye or ear. Beyond the smooth surface lurked a heart of darkness, observing and reporting about all the dirty dealings on the West Coast. So naturally there was a feeling of kinship--and perhaps a little competition--with Lou Reed, who had the East Coast wrapped up in that department.

GLENN: The one I couldn't get over was Metal Machine Music...I just knew we could top that! So one weekend over at La Fontaine, we cleared out the den, rolled in the Marshalls, and busted out every acoustic guitar they had available at S.I.R. Things were going well until Linda [Ronstadt] called and invited out to see a production of Plaza Suite. Next thing I know, we're doing Don's Hotel thing as our next album instead of Cool Winds, Acoustic Waves.

DON: Well, yeah.

Lol

A coworker told a story last night about an incident (years ago) in which their wife was fawning over someone's dog on the street ("Oh, what a cute dog!," petting it profusely, etc.) – then as they walked away, they noticed that the dog owner was Lou.

― subject matter expert (morrisp),

Thought you were going to say "The dog was Lou."

The dog was Iggy

That’s what I was figuring.

"New" Lou! Trigger warning: Tai-chi!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz4irXJFc4c

Guessing this is a "Mistrial"-era demo

hell yeah, hopefully a preview of a multi-disc Mistrial deluxe edition.

Me: "Man I would kill for a 'Take No Prisoners' box!"

Don Flemming: "Next best thing, Mistrial outtake about Tai-Chi!"

Assuming this is more book tie-in then taste of things to come

Haha yeah, they were probably like "now or never to release this one!"

My phone woke me up at 3 AM with an alert about this so at least the algorithm works

this mf spittin fr

"tai is very pret-tay"
tai chi is very slooow
tai chi can make you healthy
and sexier, you know"

"I wanna be black belt!"

#IKnow

I sometimes feel a little guilty about my own Lou Tai-Chi fatigue so it makes me feel a little less alone in this to see others expressing something similar.

He missed out not making this song the single from Hudson River Meditations.

i actually think hudson river meditations is good for kind of zone out ambient

How'd it take me so long to get to Live in Italy? This is great!

Quinefest

Absolutely.

FWIW, this concert video is worth getting - again, with Lou, Quine, Saunders and Maher, I think in support of The Blue Mask at the Bottom Line in NYC. One of my favorites, and before things went sour between Lou and Quine:

https://www.discogs.com/master/613485-Lou-Reed-A-Night-With-Lou-Reed

Probably my favorite official live release from Lou's solo career, and even if you buy the DVD new, it's priced fairly low.

My 18yo son has been on a comprehensive solo Lou dive during the past week. He was already fully versed in VU. So far the primary effect is he went out and bought a vinyl copy of Street Hassle.

good move

What does he think about I Want To Be Black?

My 13 year old daughter loves Transformer and asked if she could borrow my CD copy. I handed her Metal Machine Music and told her that it was made around the same time and to let me know what she thinks. I heard it squalling from her room for about five minutes and then she came back with a confused look and told me that the CD was messed up.

hahaha

What does he think about I Want To Be Black?

We had a whole conversation about it, that it's about a white fantasy of "blackness," but also that it's more than a little problematic and definitely wouldn't fly in 2023. He mostly skips it when it comes on because he's appropriately ambivalent about it.

Also he loves Metal Machine Music, but I expected that because he's kind of a harsh noise fanatic/connoisseur.

oh that's right isn't he the one that's into like Merzbow and Hijokaidan and such?

Yep. These days he's into super extreme contemporary stuff, things you can only order on cassette. I appreciate his enthusiasm even if I don't share it. (I was initially a little worried about the whole white supremacist side of noise, but instead he's found what seems like a really tight-knit queer-friendly scene. Lou would approve.)

I'm afraid to ask, but what's the white supremacist side of noise? Is it something that's catching on?

https://jeanhugueskabuiku.substack.com/p/about-vatican-shadow-link-with-the

(that link was re: yr 1st question, answer to the second is "not any more than in metal, maybe less"

I am playing the first Lou Reed LP, LOU REED.

It's good.

Thanks sleeve. Disturbing stuff, hopefully more journalists will call it out.

I didn't know about those connections and I wrote a lengthy profile on Fernow for The Wire in 2011. Pissed me off quite a bit to find out.

Yeah I was bummed because while my exposure to that musical world is very dilettantish, I actually like Vatican Shadow and saw him perform once.

I mean it goes back to Boyd Rice/Non, Whitehouse etc