Posts Tagged “Music Monday”
Lou Reed seems a bit upset in the opening and title track for his 1986 album Mistrial. It almost seems a reaction to the mediocre reception his albums have been getting. he has his two guitars, bass and drums formula down at this point and in the opening number his anger and frustration comes through…
Opening with “I Love You Suzanne” the album New Sansations is one of Lou Reed’s more underrated offerings. A very upbeat number sets the tone for what is probably one of the most uncharacteristic albums in Lou Reed’s catalog. “I Love You Suzanne” is one of my favorite Lou Reed songs because it is so…
There are a lot of shorter songs on Legendary Hearts. Of the eleven songs, only one clocks in at over 6 minutes, with four under 3 minutes and six between 3 and 4 minutes in length. Did returning to his previous record label do something to Lou Reed? His previous album, as well as this…
The Blue Mask was released in 1982, and opens with “My House” a typical Lou Reed story song told in the first person. It is difficult to tell just how autobiographical this song is, but by name checking his then-wife Sylvia, one suspects the lyrics were indeed inspired by some real-life event. She is named…
Musically this album starts out… upbeat? What is this? Growing Up In Public was Lou Reed’s album written, recorded and released at the dawn of the Reagan era. 1980 saw a cultural shift, and Lou Reed was shifting as well. The opening number “How Do You Speak To An Angel?” is about the uncertainty of…
This morning’s spin class was a themed ride, and I was going to be going regardless, but this certainly seemed like a fun theme that I was looking forward to. The set list started out with The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited” and it was a solid selection to kick things off. “It’s Raining Men”…
After the success of Street Hassle, Lou Reed went back to the studio and found himself in a collaborative mood. The opening number “Stupid Man” was co-written with Nils Lofgren, who would a few years later join the E Street Band, furthering the connection between Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen. The second song is a…
The concert kicks off with a strong rendition of “Sweet Jane” originally performed by Reed’s previous outfit The Velvet underground before he embarked on his solo career. What makes this version interesting to hear is how it varies in its lyrical content. Reed is in a very good mood apparently and ad-libs quite a bit…
Feeling confident with his new record contract Lou Reed decided to start experimenting in the studio. Not with his songs, but with the actual recording. His second album for his new label, Arista, was a binaural recording. This is a method meant to create a stereo effect during the recording process. I won’t go into…
After the debacle regarding Metal Machine Music and fulfilling his contract, Lou Reed got a new contract at a different label. Switching from RCA to Arista (both now under the ownership of Sony acting as the same label) Lou Reed got to work on a new record. Rock & Roll Heart was released the same…