Search - Lou Reed :: Rock & Roll Heart

Funny thing about these reviews . . .

Rich Latta | Albuquerque, NM - Land of Entitlement | 07/20/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Most everyone on this forum seems to agree that this is not Reed's best work. But many of these reviewers point out one special song that stands out and it's often different from anyone else's favorite. That suggests to me that this album is worth checking out.



I would agree that the music itself is a bit pedestrian, sounding a bit like a run-of-the-mill, somewhat jazzy white-funk bar band at times. But it's still pretty enjoyable rock n' roll - certainly nothing objectionable in my book. I personally have *zero* problem with the lack of lyrics in "Banging on my Drum" which is just a fun rocker (even though I love songs that can enhance lyrics that truly have something to say as well). But I would agree with the reviewer that found "Ladies Pay" to be particularly poignant. My personal favorite here would be the wildest track - "Follow the Leader" - which dates back to the Velvet Underground days. There's a cool version of this song from the "Quine Tapes" (live bootlegs available on CD) that goes on forever. As mentioned elsewhere, "Temporary Thing" is another standout track and it has a great jittery-sort-of-nervous quality.



So clearly this is not the place for the Lou Reed novice to start (that, of course, would be with the Velvet Underground's music, specifically their debut THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO), but I would recommend ROCK N' ROLL HEART for anyone who can appreciate some nice, straight-up rock music for its own sake. But the first Lou Reed album I would recommend would have to be TRANSFORMER which, by the way, someone with talent and imagination ought to turn into a Broadway musical. Rock on!"

Lou During the 70's Punk Era

Coleen | Down in the alley | 04/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This came out during the reign of the Ramones and Sex Pistols and Lou didn't really try to compete with them (he'd done it all before) - this album sounds nothing like them, but it does ROCK!

His band sounds great, and there are some fine songs on here. His Arista years are supposedly pretty barren, but "Coney Island Baby", "Street Hassle", "Sally Can't Dance" all still hold up as great albums, and "Rock n Roll Heart", "Growin Up in Public and "The Bells" have great moments, too. Of those last 3, "Rock n Roll Heart" is EASILY the BEST!"