•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
After the great successes of the early '70s, Lou Reed was riding high and at the peak of commercial success. In 1974, he released "Sally Can't Dance", an album that doesn't quite hold up to its predecessors but still maintains a more than respectable level.
On first listen, the album immediately appears inconsistent as it contains some predominantly commercial tracks (for example, "Sally Can't Dance", a classic hit) reminiscent of the "Transformer" era, and others more serious that even touch on Lou Reed's own biographical events: "Kill Your Sons" speaks of the conflictual relationship with his parents and recalls the electroshock sessions he underwent in his adolescence.
The standout pieces of the album only reveal themselves on a more in-depth listen: "Ennui", which at first might seem boring, is a little gem where Reed, now in his thirties, looks at life with a good dose of defeatism ("everything made me feel aware/ Ah, you're getting old/ you're doing things/ you're losing your hair"
), "Billy" is an acoustic masterpiece of disarming cynicism, and the aforementioned "Kill Your Sons". "Baby Face" and "Ride Sally Ride", with their subdued tones, recall that world of vice and transgression so dear to the author and keep the album at a good qualitative level. The only off-note, the cheerful "Animal Language" seems at least out of place, if only for the chorus in which Reed indulges in frankly embarrassing animalistic sounds.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
Lou Reed's 1974 album Sally Can't Dance follows his early 70s success with a blend of commercial and serious tracks. While not as strong as previous works, it features notable songs like 'Kill Your Sons' and 'Ennui.' The album shows a mix of influences ranging from hits reminiscent of 'Transformer' to personal and darker themes. Some tracks stand out upon deeper listening, although the album's overall inconsistency is evident, with 'Animal Language' appearing out of place.
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
