Did you know that Metallica and Lou Reed just released an album together called “Lulu?” And that they just released a video of the song “The View” directed by Darren Aaronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, Black Swan)? It’s true. And if you watch the entire video, you’ll understand the title of this blog entry:
This album has a horrible rating on iTunes. And I have to say, the first time I listened to this song, I almost broke out laughing at the absurdity of it. But that’s because I was thinking of it as a Metallica album, with Lou Reed as a guest vocalist/collaborator.
Really, Lulu is a Lou Reed concept album for which Metallica is the backup band. And when you look at it that way, it completely changes one’s perspective. Suddenly, it’s not a wonky Metallica album, but it’s a Lou Reed record with the tightest backing group he’s ever used. And Lou Reed has always made uncommercial, bizarre, eclectic, experimental records.
I still haven’t decided if I like this or not, but think of this as a Lou Reed album with Metallica as the guest, I’m looking at it in the context of his discography, not theirs, and it makes more sense—and frankly, sounds better than a lot of his more esoteric stuff.
