Lou Reed’s perfect blight on London
I just got hold of a copy of Lou Reed’s 1997 live album “Perfect Night In London” and I am almost in tears. Who authorised the release of this piece of shit?
Is the drummer drunk? Is the guitar tech deaf? Does the soundman hold a grudge? Where the monitors lent to the puppet show?
If that isn’t enough that Reed chooses to spit out his songs like he’s impatiently reading from a VCR manual while his old dad tries to set the timer, his band is so horendously out of time and out of tune, it’s painful. You’d be forgiven for mistaking the harmony singers for hecklers.
In the sleeve notes Lou rambles on about “amplified purity”. Honestly? I’d rather listen to the Velvet’s Live at Max’s Kansas City, recorded on Bridget Polk’s battered portable tape recorder, than this hi-fi record of a calamitous night in London.
Please, I’m begging, I’m a huge Lou Reed fan, someone say something to redeem this travesty for me.
UPDATE: Okay, there is a pretty nifty version “Sex With Your Parents”.
Comments
| 4 August, 2008, 9:01 pm |
And now the 10,000 dollar question:
What are you listening to it on? The clips sound ok through the old Arcam amp I have connected to the computer.
| 4 August, 2008, 9:06 pm |
“What are you listening to it on? The clips sound ok through the old Arcam amp I have connected to the computer.”
Oh, the sound quality is awesomely clear. It’s just that the playing is so sloppy and the mix so bad you wished it wasn’t.
| 5 August, 2008, 1:19 am |
He’s coasting. He’s phoning it in. It’s over. Has been for 30 years.
| 5 August, 2008, 6:07 am |
“He’s phoning it in… Has been for 30 years.”
True. Live, he sounds completely bored with his songs, particularly the oldies. Perhaps he should stop playing them, or learn to hide it better.
| 5 August, 2008, 10:38 am |
It’s sad, because his run of albums from New York in ‘89 was really good, compelling material. A creative renaissance. ‘The Raven’, of course, is a puzzling mess.
| 5 August, 2008, 10:43 am |
you think this is bad; have you heard the reformed velvet underground stuff from the early 90s?
| 5 August, 2008, 11:01 am |
“you think this is bad; have you heard the reformed velvet underground stuff from the early 90s?”
I admit to liking that reunion album, flawed though it was. I liked the new song ‘Coyote’, and I thought Cale’s vocals were especially good. Reed was less impressive. I think he can’t be arsed to actually *sing* anymore. But admittedly there was a lot of sentimentality involved. It did not live up to the promise that ‘Songs for Drella’ hinted at.
| 5 August, 2008, 11:49 am |
Why bother, when you can get the remastered version of Rock’n Roll Animal -
| 5 August, 2008, 11:54 am |
“Why bother, when you can get the remastered version of Rock’n Roll Animal”
Other than completism for its own sake, that’s very good advice.
| 6 August, 2008, 1:05 am |
Haven’t heard it but I was listening to the Street Hassle album earlier. Had to repeat the title rack a number of times - I’d forgotten how brilliant it was - and I’d forgotten about Bruce Springsteen’s sexy mumbled vocals towards the end. Of the later stuff that I know I really like The Raven album (it’s a grower) as well as some of Magic and Loss (great title - Sword of Damocles favourite track).
He can release crap until he gives up/dies - he’s done enough of worth already.
| 7 August, 2008, 6:30 pm |
For fuck’s sakes it was 1977 and you’re complaining about how bad they’re playing!?
You obviously never checked out CBGB’s back in the 70s
Is the drummer drunk?
Is the pope Catholic?
Is the guitar tech deaf?
Just stoned.
Does the soundman hold a grudge?
No, he just can’t hold his booze.
Really eh? Lou Reid?
I’m surprised people your age had even heard of him.
All I know is that back in ‘77 I wasn’t gushing on about Glen Miller.
| 8 August, 2008, 12:12 am |
“For fuck’s sakes it was 1977 and you’re complaining about how bad they’re playing!?”
It was nineteen NINETY-seven!!
| 8 August, 2008, 10:19 am |
I saw the Velvet Underground at Glastonbury in 1993 and couldn’t believe how boring they were until I remembered I’d never liked the Velvet Underground, which explained it. Brian Eno famously said that although hardly anyone bought their first album, almost everyone that did went on to form a band. He ought to have added that in almost all cases it was a very dreary indie band.
| 8 August, 2008, 3:01 pm |
It was nineteen NINETY-seven!!
Some drugs can keep ya high for up to 20 years.
| 8 August, 2008, 3:14 pm |
“Some drugs can keep ya high for up to 20 years.”
I’ll remember to go easy on you in future. 
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