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Rating: THE REVIEW
In 1970, Lou Reed left the Velvet Underground just when, after years of anonymity, they began to experience a faint commercial success with "Loaded." Lou decided to return to his parents' home and even considered leaving the music world altogether, but, ironically, it was during this period that the myth of the Velvet Underground was born as they were significantly reassessed. At this point, Lou decided to attempt a solo career, and inevitably, great expectations revolved around his first record, which were largely disappointed: the album was a commercial flop and, even from an artistic point of view, it offered only a few gems, sinking into mediocrity.
"Lou Reed" consists of ten tracks, many of which stem, more or less directly, from the last recordings of the Velvet Underground. "I Can't Stand It" is an excellent, aggressive, and captivating track, but already the second track "Goin' Down", with its bland rhythm, turns out to be rather dull. The following "Walk And Talk It" is another energetic rock piece worth noting, while "Lisa Says" confirms how the album alternates decent moments with banal and disappointing ones. The best track is "Berlin" (which would be revisited the following year in the album of the same name), a ballad of rare beauty that contains the famous line: "In Berlin, by the wall/ you were five foot ten inches tall/ It was very nice/ candlelight and Dubonnet on ice/ We were in a small cafe/ you could hear the guitars play/ It was very nice/ it was paradise"
. Following are "I Love You", "Wild Child", "Love Makes You Feel", and "Ride Into The Sun" which are certainly not masterpieces, though pleasant and catchy. The album ends with the nondescript "Ocean", a mediocre and quite boring piece.
In conclusion, it is an album of historical value but fails to rise above mediocrity despite the presence of some excellent songs.
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Summary by Bot
Lou Reed's self-titled 1970 debut album followed his departure from the Velvet Underground amid growing reassessment of the band. Despite high expectations, it was commercially unsuccessful and artistically mixed. The album features a blend of energetic rock tracks and more forgettable ones. 'Berlin' stands out as a beautiful ballad. Overall, the album holds historical value but remains overshadowed by inconsistency.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
01 I Can't Stand It (02:37)
It's hard being a man
living in a garbage pail
My landlady called me up, ooohhh
she tried to hit me with a mop
I can't stand it anymore more
I can't stand it anymore more, oh
I can't stand it anymore more
But if Candy would just come back
it'd be all right
Yeah, if Candy would just come back
it would be all right, come on baby
I live with thirteen dead cats
a purple dog that wears spats
They're all out livin' in the hall
and I can't stand it anymore
I can't stand it anymore more
I can't stand it anymore more
I can't stand it anymore more
But if Candy would just come back
it'd be all right
Ooohhh, if Candy would just come back
it would be all right, be all right now
Ah, come on baby
I'm tired of living all alone
yeah, nobody ever calls me on the phone
But when, ah, things start getting bad, ah
I just play my music louder
I can't stand it anymore more
I can't stand it anymore more
I can't stand it anymore more
I can't stand it, I can't stand it, oh
I can't stand it, I can't stand it
I can't stand it, I can't stand it, no
I can't stand it, I can't stand it, oh
I can't stand it, I can't stand it
I can't stand it, I can't stand it
I can't stand it, I can't stand it
I can't stand it, I can't stand it
...
05 Berlin (05:16)
In Berlin, by the wall
you were five foot ten inches tall
It was very nice
candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
We were in a small cafe
you could hear the guitars play
It was very nice
it was paradise
You're right and I'm wrong
hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
Oh, you're right and I'm wrong
you know I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
One sweet day
In a small, small cafe
we could hear the guitars play
It was very nice
candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
Don't forget, hire a vet
he hasn't had that much fun yet
It was very nice
hey honey, it was paradise
You're right and I'm wrong
oh babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
You're right, oh, and I'm wrong
you know I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
One sweet day
One sweet day, one sweet day
oh, one sweet day
One sweet day, baby-baby, one sweet day
one sweet day, one sweet day
10 Ocean (05:06)
Here comes the ocean
and the waves down by the sea
Here comes the ocean
and the waves where have they been
Don't swim tonight my love, the sea is mad my love
it's known to drive men crazy
Malcolm has burned at sea, the castle it sits and reeks
the madness can make you hazy
But here come the waves
down by the shore
Washing the rocks that have been here
centuries or more
Down by the sea
Here come the ocean
and the waves down by the sea
Here comes the ocean
and the waves where have they been
Castles glowing at night, towers above out fright
warlocks decapitating
Malcolm he lives on hate, serve your brain on a plate
feasts on your mouth for dinner
But here come the waves
down by the sea
Washing the eyes of the men
who have died
Down by the sea
Here come the waves
Here come the waves
Here come the waves
Here come the waves
Lou Reed
Lou Reed (born Lewis Allan Reed, March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and founding member of the Velvet Underground. He had a long solo career noted for albums such as Transformer, Berlin and New York and for experimental works including Metal Machine Music.71 Reviews
