Search - Lou Reed :: Growing Up in Public

Rock 'n' Roll for Adults

Mike B. | 02/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own all of Lou Reed's albums, but this is my favorite and most played. While I love his tough guy persona exhibited on so many previous great albums, I feel he literally "grew-up" on this one. It's more personal and reflective than usual. He tackles adult themes with wit, charm, and his most dazzling lyrics ever. I'm not kidding. Try this on for size, from the opening song "How Do You Speak To An Angel":



"A son who is cursed with a harridan mother

Or a weak simpering father at best

Is raised to play out the timeless classical motives

Of filial love and incest"



Or this, from the brilliant title track:



"Some people are into sadistic pleasures

They whet your desires and drool in your ears

They're quasi-effeminate characters in love with oral gratification

They edify your integrities so they can play on your fears"



Not exactly moon/June rhymes, huh? While some of the songs are simpler in nature, most exhibit this kind of intelligent wordplay that's advanced even by Lou's normal high standards.



Before you think it all sounds pretentious - let me assure you it isn't. Along with his tribute album to Andy Warhol (the John Cale collaboration "Songs for Drella"), this is his most heartfelt recording.



Moreover, this thing rocks every bit as good as "Transformer", and he's still singing his songs - as opposed to "talking" them, which he started doing with the "New York" album and continues to do to this day. There's not a bad song here. I want to mention it also contains "The Power of Positive Drinking" - possibly the funniest thing he's ever written, and certainly among the best by anyone on this topic.



Like Graham Parker's "Struck by Lightning" CD, which announced the arrival of Parker growing up and contemplating adult themes - this is Lou's belated "coming of age" album. I can't recommend it highly enough.



"

Literate, radio friendly rock

Pieter | Johannesburg | 12/05/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not one of the critics' favourites, Growing Up In Public is a very literate Lou Reed album. The music tends towards mainstream radio rock, yet it contains great songs like the title track, Love Is Here To Stay and the very catchy Power Of Positive Drinking with its bouncy beat.



My other favorites include How Do You Speak To An Angel, My Old Man and Teach The Gifted Children with its poetic lyrics. The subject matter deals with relationships and the album has more of a warm, human feel than the decadence Reed is best appreciated for.



The style is not dissimilar to Legendary Hearts or New Sensations and the song quality is far above Mistrial. By any other standard than Reed's own, this is a good rock album that has stood the test of time very well. It's a must for fans.

"