Continuing our series of critics wrong-footed in real-time here is Rolling Stoner Stephen Davis with a terse dismissal of Lou Reed's Berlin.
Lou Reed
Berlin
Rolling Stone, December 20th 1973
by Stephen Davis
Lou Reed’s Berlin is a disaster, taking the listener into a distorted and degenerate demimonde of paranoia, schizophrenia, degradation, pill-induced violence and suicide. There are certain records that are so patently offensive that one wishes to take some kind of physical vengeance on the artists that perpetrate them. Reed’s only excuse for this kind of performance (which isn’t really performed as much as spoken and shouted over Bob Ezrin’s limp production) can only be that this was his last shot at a once-promising career. Goodbye, Lou.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mind you, I'm not really a fan of the album myself
Agree it's a disappointing album. Coney Island Baby is his best from this period, I think.
ReplyDeleteAnother of those reviews where the criticism could be refracted only slightly to read as a compliment. “Taking the listener into a distorted and degenerate demimonde of paranoia, schizophrenia, degradation, pill-induced violence and suicide” is exactly what Reed was going for.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Berlin is in that category of “masterpieces that I will never choose to listen to”. But every time I come across a track from it, I am shaken by how powerful it is.
For more “RS misses the point” fun, check out their review of The Hissing of Summer Lawns from January 1976.
Ha, that is funny - I actually have that one lined up next! It is really off-base.
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