LOU REED EUROPEAN TOUR 2005
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Pernod time
- On the wild side
- Posts: 167
- Joined: 10 Sep 2004 13:39
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Doctor Bob
- Head held high
- Posts: 275
- Joined: 24 Mar 2004 07:32
Interesting posts re Lou's recent output, Jim-Jim and HF. Here's my 26 dollars' worth:
I rarely listen to the Raven although I love 'Who am I' (a song that demonstrates the personal existential anguish of the Rock Poet set to a mean 3 chord hook as well as any in my opinion) and there's other stuff thats cool on there-well, I'm thinking of the track 'Burning Embers' which is a cool Tom Waits/Dr John style voodoo blues and unexpected from Lou. However overall the records doesn't particularly do it for me. But aren't we making the mistake of wanting Lou to churn out stories of seamy urban goings on against the backdrop of the Hudson River? Much as Lou is great at that, he's been doing it so well and for so long that I think its important to put yourself in his position and appreciate that for him to stay creative 37 years after the VU&N he might find it more fulfilling to indulge in a big overblown rock-drama exploration of Poe...after all what is Reed without his literary background (similarly to what Patti Smith would amount to without William Blake!)-that's not to say that we should pretend to love that output for the sake of it-but just to accept that it has its place within the context of the artist, which is how I think of it...
As for the Tai Chi artist onstage-I don't think it works on any level. It doesn't fit the music, or the mood, or the lyrics or anything else. Except that I've met and seen Lou several times in the past few years and he is looking so great, really great shape, full of energy and repeatedly touring. The he claims he owes to Master Ren and if that is the effect Tai Chi has on Lou, then I think I can find it in my heart to allow him the artistic indiscretion of incorporating it on stage, even if I agree its not so cool. Again, I guess I'm trying to take things into perspective within the context of the artist...
But the main thing I disagree with Jim-Jim with is the passing comment about 'Ecstasy' being a middling album with a few good tracks. I think 'Ecstasy' is a really powerful album with really solid grooves and really honest and raw lyrics, incorporating more than its fair share of sheer lyrical genius and a really great production ethic which marries Lou's audiophile obsessions with raw rock n roll exceitement value. That's just my opinion though-we're all different aren't we-I mean Lou keeps harping on about the great lyrics and production and great guitar playing on the title track of 'The Blue Mask' but I find that song pretty dire on all those same levels!
However I am a big fan of all of Lou's albums from 'New York' onwards, with the exceptions of the Raven which I discussed above, and Set the Twilight Reeling which I thought was good but not amazing. 'Drella' deserves special mention as I rate it very highly indeed.
Lastly, I think we all agree with Jim-Jim's unifying statement: Lets hope the Sanctuary debut is as breathtaking as we know Lou is capable of producing!
And thanks for listening!
I rarely listen to the Raven although I love 'Who am I' (a song that demonstrates the personal existential anguish of the Rock Poet set to a mean 3 chord hook as well as any in my opinion) and there's other stuff thats cool on there-well, I'm thinking of the track 'Burning Embers' which is a cool Tom Waits/Dr John style voodoo blues and unexpected from Lou. However overall the records doesn't particularly do it for me. But aren't we making the mistake of wanting Lou to churn out stories of seamy urban goings on against the backdrop of the Hudson River? Much as Lou is great at that, he's been doing it so well and for so long that I think its important to put yourself in his position and appreciate that for him to stay creative 37 years after the VU&N he might find it more fulfilling to indulge in a big overblown rock-drama exploration of Poe...after all what is Reed without his literary background (similarly to what Patti Smith would amount to without William Blake!)-that's not to say that we should pretend to love that output for the sake of it-but just to accept that it has its place within the context of the artist, which is how I think of it...
As for the Tai Chi artist onstage-I don't think it works on any level. It doesn't fit the music, or the mood, or the lyrics or anything else. Except that I've met and seen Lou several times in the past few years and he is looking so great, really great shape, full of energy and repeatedly touring. The he claims he owes to Master Ren and if that is the effect Tai Chi has on Lou, then I think I can find it in my heart to allow him the artistic indiscretion of incorporating it on stage, even if I agree its not so cool. Again, I guess I'm trying to take things into perspective within the context of the artist...
But the main thing I disagree with Jim-Jim with is the passing comment about 'Ecstasy' being a middling album with a few good tracks. I think 'Ecstasy' is a really powerful album with really solid grooves and really honest and raw lyrics, incorporating more than its fair share of sheer lyrical genius and a really great production ethic which marries Lou's audiophile obsessions with raw rock n roll exceitement value. That's just my opinion though-we're all different aren't we-I mean Lou keeps harping on about the great lyrics and production and great guitar playing on the title track of 'The Blue Mask' but I find that song pretty dire on all those same levels!
However I am a big fan of all of Lou's albums from 'New York' onwards, with the exceptions of the Raven which I discussed above, and Set the Twilight Reeling which I thought was good but not amazing. 'Drella' deserves special mention as I rate it very highly indeed.
Lastly, I think we all agree with Jim-Jim's unifying statement: Lets hope the Sanctuary debut is as breathtaking as we know Lou is capable of producing!
And thanks for listening!