Lou Reed & Metallica - "Lulu" 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, 2011 (Warner Brothers)

Probably due that I'm a regular type of consumer, who follows a brand name, but eventually turn to other interests.  For sure that's within the category when it concerns the solo albums made by Lou Reed.   Like thousands, I have read the great disappointment or disapproval of Lou Reed hooking up with Metallica to make "Lulu."  Which is a work that is based on the German playwright Frank Wedekind's "Lulu" cycle: "Erdgeist" (Earth Spirit, 1895) and "Die Büchse der Pandora" (Pandora's Box, 1904).  The two works focused on the character Lulu, who a young dancer and sexually active in her social circle.  This work is considered to be the foundation for German decadence and expressionism in the early 20th century.  Visualize and captured on film by G. W. Pabst, starring the iconic, smart, and beautiful Louise Brooks.   Alban Berg also made and compose an opera on "Lulu" in 1937.   This is a no-brainer subject matter for Lou, but Metallica?  

"Lulu" had the worse reviews and comments from both Lou and especially from Metallica fans.  They say its vulgar, or over-long, or Lou just riding on his reputation.  The truth is "Lulu" by Lou and Metallica is a masterpiece.  Without a doubt, it is one of the great Lou Reed albums like "Berlin," Street Hassle," and "Transformer."  And that includes the Velvet Underground albums as well.  It's hard for me to analyze the sourness of the critics regarding this album, but I think they didn't really listen to the record; instead, they're just commenting on what they 'think' is a proper Lou album or not.  

"Lulu" is very much into your face with the sheer volume and intensity, as well as the length of all the songs on this double vinyl album.   The songs themselves are beautiful.  Metallica offers a wall of guitar riffing that's majestic as well as being close to a drone hypnotic sound.  The electronics that filters through the mix and layers of sound adds a dimension to the riffs that one can separate the textures, so for me, it's a recording that sounds different to me in each different listening experience. If one likes the riffing of "Sweet Jane" or "White Light White Heat," I can't imagine one not liking the exquisite "Iced Honey" or the intensity of "Dragon."  "Lulu" is very much an angry or aggressive aural experience.  In essence, it reminds me a bit of David Bowie's "Blackstar," or the later works of Scott Walker, where you get the impression of naked fury or acceptance of how things turned out.  The fact that this is Lou Reed's last album project is an interesting gift to the public before bowing out on this physical world.  "Lulu" is an emotional ride for me, and it may be due to my aging process, or just the nakedness of the anger that is so articulated in the mind and voice of Reed.  "Junior Dad" the last song on the album, is over 19 minutes long, and it is one of his best songs.  Reed is relentless in portraying the dad as a major disappointment.  One can see this as a personal statement about his relationship with his father, or a commentary on the role of the dad in our culture.  I suspect both.  If "Lulu" is a failure, I hope more artists will get to this level to deliver such 'disappointment," because I'm bored with the commercial music market these days.  "Lulu" is like a spring bath where one meditates on the evils of the world, and you get it out of one's system.   Art working at its best.  

* I also made commentary on Lou Reed and Metallica's "Lulu" on my "Tosh Talks" program.  You can see it here:  https://youtu.be/2-BqJGdjvVU

V.A. - "Oh! You Pretty Things - The Songs of David Bowie" CD, UK, (Castle Music) 2006

A well-thought out curated CD of music written by David Bowie, but performed by other artists.  Some directly under his influence or hand, and others dependably from the Glam King.   It's a great mixture of time periods of Bowie's music career being represented in this collection.  There is a focus on the early pre-glam, pre-fame Bowie, with songs like "Over The Wall We Go" by Oscar and The Beatstlakers' Silver Tree Top School For Boys" for example.   The only weird choice here is Lou Reed's "Wagon Wheel" which is a song produced by Bowie, but not written by Bowie, but by Lou.  I have to presume that the record company wanted a Lou recording on this compilation CD, but with respect to the theme of the album, it shouldn't be here. 

The picture you get from this collection is Bowie as a working songwriter in the mode of a Brills Buiding artist who presents songs to other artists.  So these are songs that Bowie wanted to be recorded or in high hopes of being huge or medium sized hits - but alas, that didn't happen.  The big surprise here is "Man Who Sold The World" performed by John Couger Mellencamp.  I never heard or realized that this recording existed before purchasing this CD.   On a listenable plane, this is a wonderful collection of music. It's another way of hearing Bowie, but the focus on him as a songwriter.  I personally like all the recordings on this CD.  It represents the Bowie magic quite well.