Sometimes, after listening to some of Lou Reed's solo material, even (what is, in my opinion) his masterpiece, Berlin, I find myself extremely tired. Some of his work is just exhausting to me, and that's the only way I can describe it. It's not a bad thing...just a lot to take in, between over-the-top production, menacing lyrics that grab you by the throat and don't let go, tragic operas, and terrifying character portraits. Let's just say that Lou Reed's music as a whole is not for the weak of heart. His early days in The Velvet Underground have always been, for me, a different entity all together; really, it's the Lou Reed that I identify the most with. It disheartens me to know that he would probably hate me for even attempting to review his work, knowing his absolute disgust for, and abuse towards, those involved in analyzing or writing about his work. However, I might go as far as saying that this album has more or less changed my life, and my perspective on music, so I'm writing this anyway.
This album, like all other Velvet Underground albums, is completely different from the every other album they did, and really quite different from a lot of what was popular at the time. It was, without a doubt, their most quiet, personal album, with Lou's most personal lyrics. Besides being made up of some killer songs, it's the minimal production, fits of spontaneous laughter audible throughout, delicate vocals by Reed, Doug Yule, and even Moe Tucker, and constant experimentation that make this album, in my opinion, the best that the band ever did. I'll try to express my love for without getting too sentimental. It's hard when you've held something so close to you for so long. We're trying.
A1) "Candy Says"
This could be it right here: my overall favorite song on the album. The fact that it's about Warhol "superstar", transgender Candy Darling, makes it even more heartbreaking. Anyone who suggests Lou was a heartless asshole has obviously never listened to this album. Doug Yule, who claimed he didn't know what he was singing about at the time, does a beautifully convincing job on the vocals. The instrumentation is gentle, making room for the lyrics, and don't even get me started on the "do, do-wahs" at the end; just sheer gorgeousness. For a while, I had this little arts and crafts thing on my wall that I made from magazine clippings that said, "What do you think I'd see if I could walk away from me?" I'm sorry now that I took it down. 5/5
A2) "What Goes On"
I'll warn you now: it's nothing like the Beatles song of the same name that has Ringo on lead vocals and it (in my opinion) the worst song on the otherwise impeccable Rubber Soul. This is a lot better. It's also one of the heavier tracks on the album. Along with just being a good rock song, it's also subtly experimental, taking two guitar solos, one dubbed over the other, and having them playing at the same time. The result is a headache-inducing, drone-like, sort of amazing guitar sound. I will also admit that this is constantly stuck in my head. I've discovered that there's no shame in succumbing to it. 4/5
A3) "Some Kinda Love"
I have a strange history with this song. The first time I heard it, I remember thinking, "Why does anyone like this? It's so boring! All it is is Lou muttering nonsense over some repetitive acoustic guitar." Ah, how young and foolish we all are at one time or another. The truth is, Lou's delivery makes the entire song. From the way he drawls "and of course, you're a boreeeee," in his native New York accent (as a fellow native New Yorker, I appreciate this), to the little "ooohs" he sicks in between random phrases, to the way you can hear the smile in his voice when he sings certain lines, I've come to like this song a lot. I sent it to a couple of different people on the day that gay marriage was made legal in all 50 states. It seemed to fit perfectly: "And no kinds of love/are better than others". 4.5/5
A4) "Pale Blue Eyes"
This song is easily the most popular song on the album, and I think I know why. It's repetitive, but there's a delicate, childlike quality to it that you don't get out of a whole lot of Velvet Underground songs, which could make it appealing to even someone who wasn't a VU fan. Lots of people have covered this, especially in the past few years in the wake of Lou's death, including one of my other songwriting heroes, Paul Simon, who was good friends with Mr. Reed. What sort of pissed me off about his live performance of the song, which otherwise was lovely, is that he cut out the entire last verse, which, for lack of a better term, is the whole punchline! If you ask me, it's the thing that makes the song uniquely Lou's; there always has to be a blemish in the world that appears to be perfect at first. If anything, it makes the song even more heartbreaking, and certainly more memorable than it would've been without. 4/5
A5) "Jesus"
I know I said "Candy Says" was my favorite song on this album, but this one always rivals it for me. I once read an article that described this song as "achingly ethereal", which might sound pretentious, but that's how it feels to me: completely blissful and calm, with a current of angst and sadness running underneath. If you've ever gone to sleep crying, and then woken up the next morning feeling serene and slightly less sad, but still sad nonetheless, that's what I think this sounds like. The delicate harmony vocals and wonderful guitar break are the perfect finishing touch to this masterpiece of a pop song, and this masterpiece of an album side. 5/5
B1) "Beginning to See the Light"
After that first, mostly acoustic, kind of sullen first side, it's a good idea to start off the second side with something fun. This song is not necessarily Lou's best songwriter, but he sounds like he's having the time of his life, as far as his playing and singing go; every "ALRIGHT!", "OOOOH!" and giggle is absolutely infectious. The line "There are problems in these times/But, woo!/None of them are mine!" should say it all. The "How does it feel..." outro is a nice touch, too. 4/5
B2) "I'm Set Free"
This is another one that I didn't completely get at first. I guess I thought it was boring or something, but now when I listen to it, it's kind of extraordinary. It sounds like freedom, plain and simple. The crescendos and decrescendos separating the verses from the choruses accent the mood perfectly. The sound of the guitar during the solo might've been what sold me; it cuts through all other sound, and the result is beautiful. The gentle backing vocals that start during the second verse are another subtle touch that just bring the song to the next level. Beautiful. 4.5/5
B3) "That's the Story of My Life"
If anything qualifies as filler on this album, it's this song. Not bad, but forgettable in general. 3/5
B4) "The Murder Mystery"
This experimental track often gets a lot of hate from fans, mostly the ones who think "Sister Ray" from White Light/White Heat are the end-all, be-all of anything VU ever did. I personally find this song far more interesting than that track, due to the ramblings that make up the lyrics, of which there are four sets, read or sung by each of the four members. This showed everyone who thought that the band would be nothing without John Cale that Reed hadn't completely lost his appetite for avant-garde experimentation. 4/5
B5) "After Hours"
Can you imagine this album being closed out by any other song? I certainly can't. Maureen Tucker has shared the story of this song's recording many a time, saying how nervous she was to sing by herself for the first time, and insisted she and Lou record together rather than overdubbing her voice later. Despite her nerves, Moe absolutely nails it in the most splintered, imperfect way. Lou said he never could've sung it himself, and I do agree that Maureen brings an extra element of childlike wonder to the song. It also helps that the song itself is lovely to begin with; I personally enjoy this one more than Moe's other, slightly more famous vocal on "I'm Sticking With You". It's really kind of beautiful in the strangest way, and I love it. 5/5
Final Grade: A
Thanks for reading!!! Comment what I should review next!!
No comments:
Post a Comment