I think it’s important to start this review off by saying “I get it.” I get what this album is trying to do. I get that it serves as a precursor to a lot of genres and sonic adventures that would follow, and that it serves as one of rock ‘n roll’s most influential albums. I get that Lou Reed crafted “poetry” that talked about controversial topics, and that was like… groovy.That being said, it’s one thing to “get” an album, and another thing to want to return to it, to want to dig into the album more for the sake of coming to a deeper appreciation or for recurring enjoyment. After listening to this album (I did struggle through it not only once but twice) I can confidently say that this is the first album on this list that I really didn’t enjoy, found to be grating, and do not wish to engage with repeated listens to get to that deeper level of appreciation (because I do genuinely believe that there is very little to be considered redemptive about this album).
From an album that is as widely heralded as one of the single greatest pieces of art of all time, I was surprised at how juvenile it sounds. Lou Reed’s lyrics read like the attempts at poetry of a freshman in college. The instrumentation is bland most times and, at its worst, actually unbearable. Guitar solos/ rhythmic work are some of the most embarrassing attempts at musicianship I’ve ever heard pressed to wax. The only redemptive quality could be Nico’s singing, but moments like that are few and unable to carry the lack of talent/ poor quality of artistry possessed by the rest of the band. I suppose the attempts at dissonance are successful in the sense that they make the listener want to turn the song off (and this is coming from someone who has listened to and appreciated plenty of noise rock, thank you very much). This album is the epitome of the phrase “you just don’t get it”, a phrase used to dismiss anyone’s attempt to say that it, to put it bluntly, sucks. I wanted to like this album, I really did, but no amount of historical context or forced intellectualism can save this album from itself. I would not willingly return to this album. I would not recommend this album to anyone. I know this album exists and I’ve wasted enough time trying to articulate how irrationally angry this album makes me. This one’s a rotten banana.
My rating: 1.5/5.
The Word and The Song 