RIP Lou Reed
10-27-13, 07:16 PM
#29
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: RIP Lou Reed
Count me as another who never really cared all that much about Lou Reed and his music - solo, or with the Velvet Underground. That said, there is absolutely no question he was a highly influential musical genius/innovator, on par with the likes of Bob Dylan as great American artists. The man may be gone, but he'll leave behind a legacy that will endure. R.I.P. Lou.
10-27-13, 07:32 PM
#30
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: RIP Lou Reed
Never smart/cool enough to "get" Lou Reed, but I always was appreciative of what he represented. For a guy who's stuff I was never into, I feel like his death hit me pretty hard, the greats are moving on.
10-27-13, 10:03 PM
#31
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Re: RIP Lou Reed
I wasn't crazy about Lou Reed's solo stuff, but his work with the Velvet Underground is really timeless and influential stuff. You hear bits of VU in just about ever "alternative" band that really matters.
If you don't have their "best of" compilation, I can't recommend it highly enough.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nkumhBVPGdg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Rest in peace Lou, and thank you.
If you don't have their "best of" compilation, I can't recommend it highly enough.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nkumhBVPGdg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Rest in peace Lou, and thank you.
10-27-13, 10:52 PM
#32
Banned by request
Re: RIP Lou Reed
I would say that his solo career is almost as important as his VU material. There would be no Sonic Youth without Metal Machine Music, and he practically wrote the book on how to keep your music interesting into old age.
10-27-13, 11:25 PM
#33
Re: RIP Lou Reed
RIP to a music legend. I feel obligated to post in this topic as I just discovered VU maybe six months ago. Just bought VU&N on a whim after browsing Rolling Stones top 500 rock albums of all time. Gave it a listen and it literally changed almost my whole perspective on music. Only other two bands to do this for me where the White Stripes and The Who.
10-28-13, 12:04 AM
#34
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: RIP Lou Reed
to a true genius.
10-28-13, 12:18 AM
#35
Suspended
Re: RIP Lou Reed
That's a neat trick. I wonder if I can get to Prague by Monday night?
Here's the full article, by the way:
http://www.businessinsider.com/lou-r...munism-2013-10
10-28-13, 03:40 AM
#36
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Re: RIP Lou Reed
RIP to a music legend. I feel obligated to post in this topic as I just discovered VU maybe six months ago. Just bought VU&N on a whim after browsing Rolling Stones top 500 rock albums of all time. Gave it a listen and it literally changed almost my whole perspective on music. Only other two bands to do this for me where the White Stripes and The Who.
It's a shame that Velvet Underground's music is not played along with Zep, Stones, Beatles on classic rock radio (well, radio is not exactly flourishing, but still). They definitely have some rough tunes in sound and lyric, but there are plenty of flat out great rock and roll tunes that will always stand the test of time.
10-28-13, 09:09 AM
#37
Re: RIP Lou Reed
I like the quote from Lou where he basically says "no one would be making a big deal about what I write about if it was in a movie or novel". Very true.
The Kids
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because she was making it with sisters and brothers
And everyone else, all of the others
Like cheap officers who would stand there and flirt in front of me
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because of the things that they heard she had done
The black Air Force sergeant was not the first one
And all of the drugs she took, every one, every one
And I am the Water Boy, the real game's not over here
But my heart is overflowin' anyway
I'm just a tired man, no words to say
But since she lost her daughter
It's her eyes that fill with water
And I am much happier this way
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because number on was the girl friend from Paris
The things that they did - ah - they didn't have to ask us
And then the Welshman from India, who came here to stay
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because of the things she did in the streets
In the alleys and bars, no she couldn't be beat
That miserable rotten slut couldn't turn anyone away
I am the Water Boy, the real game's not over here
But my heart is overflowin' anyway
I'm just a tired man, no words to say
But since she lost her daughter
It's her eyes that fill with water
And I am much happier this way
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because she was making it with sisters and brothers
And everyone else, all of the others
Like cheap officers who would stand there and flirt in front of me
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because of the things that they heard she had done
The black Air Force sergeant was not the first one
And all of the drugs she took, every one, every one
And I am the Water Boy, the real game's not over here
But my heart is overflowin' anyway
I'm just a tired man, no words to say
But since she lost her daughter
It's her eyes that fill with water
And I am much happier this way
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because number on was the girl friend from Paris
The things that they did - ah - they didn't have to ask us
And then the Welshman from India, who came here to stay
They're taking her children away
Because they said she was not a good mother
They're taking her children away
Because of the things she did in the streets
In the alleys and bars, no she couldn't be beat
That miserable rotten slut couldn't turn anyone away
I am the Water Boy, the real game's not over here
But my heart is overflowin' anyway
I'm just a tired man, no words to say
But since she lost her daughter
It's her eyes that fill with water
And I am much happier this way
10-28-13, 09:40 AM
#40
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10-28-13, 10:20 AM
#41
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: RIP Lou Reed
RIP.
I liked and respect Lou Reed but didn't fetishize him to the degree that most people with my musical tastes do. Lou Reed always seemed a little too obviously and self satisfied downtown junkie cool to me. I get it that he basically invented that particular persona but later in his career it became more than a little calculated.
VU was pure genius for all four albums but Nico, John Cale and later Doug Yule all played key roles on those albums. Reed lost a lot when that band broke up. Bowie shaped him up a little in his early solo career but most of it was overrated crap.
Overall, if I'm looking for vintage urban dirt, I'll take the neanderthal stomp of The Stooges or the cheap nasty trash of the The New York Dolls. Both were hugely inspired by VU but lacked the pretention.
I liked and respect Lou Reed but didn't fetishize him to the degree that most people with my musical tastes do. Lou Reed always seemed a little too obviously and self satisfied downtown junkie cool to me. I get it that he basically invented that particular persona but later in his career it became more than a little calculated.
VU was pure genius for all four albums but Nico, John Cale and later Doug Yule all played key roles on those albums. Reed lost a lot when that band broke up. Bowie shaped him up a little in his early solo career but most of it was overrated crap.
Overall, if I'm looking for vintage urban dirt, I'll take the neanderthal stomp of The Stooges or the cheap nasty trash of the The New York Dolls. Both were hugely inspired by VU but lacked the pretention.
10-28-13, 10:38 AM
#42
Banned by request
Re: RIP Lou Reed
I wish I could have a career that was a 10th as brilliant, important, insightful, and influential as Lou Reed's "overrated crap".
That's not to say everything he touched was gold, far for from it. But his best stuff is as good and as necessary as the VU material.
That's not to say everything he touched was gold, far for from it. But his best stuff is as good and as necessary as the VU material.
Last edited by Supermallet; 10-28-13 at 11:00 AM.
10-28-13, 11:34 AM
#44
Re: RIP Lou Reed
If you're interested in checking out some of Lou Reed's music, here are some particularly accessible albums that might make for a good introduction:
The Velvet Underground (self-titled third album, not the same as The Velvet Underground and Nico)
The Velvet Underground: Loaded
Transformer (has "Perfect Day" and "Walk On The Wild Side")
Coney Island Baby
The Blue Mask
New York
The Velvet Underground (self-titled third album, not the same as The Velvet Underground and Nico)
The Velvet Underground: Loaded
Transformer (has "Perfect Day" and "Walk On The Wild Side")
Coney Island Baby
The Blue Mask
New York
New Sensations is another good one. But c'mon, Berlin? Holy shit. As far as suicidal listens go, a masterpiece.
And that strum. Every time I hear that strum, that fast strum, (you know the one I'm talking about if you are a Velvets fan) in other people's songs, I see Lou smiling in my mind.
Last edited by CRM114; 10-28-13 at 11:39 AM.
10-28-13, 11:46 AM
#45
Banned by request
Re: RIP Lou Reed
The self-titled solo album is on Spotify. Also, I know a lot of people rag on it, but Sally Can't Dance is better than it's reputation would lead you to believe.
10-28-13, 11:48 AM
#46
Re: RIP Lou Reed
I don't believe Lou's solo career was ever highly rated from Transformer to The Blue Mask. It's like calling Dylan's 68-74 period overrated crap. It's in the eye of the beholder.
10-28-13, 12:08 PM
#47
Banned by request
Re: RIP Lou Reed
I was listening to Loaded last night, and I don't know if the songs are still billed this way, but on my vinyl copy, they're listed as being written by "The Velvet Underground" and all of the musician except Moe Tucker are credit with "song composition".
10-28-13, 12:17 PM
#48
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: RIP Lou Reed
I know on later Reed albums (mostly live) Sweet Jane, Pale Blue Eyes, Rock And Roll and others were always just credited as Lou Reed. I think it is kind of like with Radiohead, it always says written by Radiohead but I think for legal reasons the actual writer does hold the rights.
10-28-13, 12:19 PM
#49
Banned by request
Re: RIP Lou Reed
Everything I've read about Loaded suggested that Lou did write all the songs, but I'm just pointing out how someone might think otherwise.
10-28-13, 01:12 PM
#50
Re: RIP Lou Reed
But for the record:
Reed also felt snubbed by being listed third in the credits on the album; and by the large photo of Yule playing piano; and by all the songwriting credits improperly going to the band, rather than Reed himself. Newer releases have satisfied many of Reed's concerns — he now is properly acknowledged as the sole songwriter for the album; he is listed at the top of the band line-up and, since the 1995 box set Peel Slowly and See, another mix is available, restoring "Sweet Jane", "Rock & Roll" and "New Age" to the full-length versions Reed had originally penned. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loaded_...erground_album)