I listened to Lou Reed.

No lie, this is one of the more beautiful takes on Lou I've ever read.

"Gutter rock? Oh, yeah."

I love that song, but I could totally see that. As near as I can figure, it's a tribute to a guy who went nuts and started hitting people with a stick, which Lou conflates with swords for some reason. But damned if I don't sing along at the top of my lungs every time.

The first third of New Sensations is in a similar vein. Then Lou gets to the title track at the end of side A and the last 2/3 of the album features some of his best work. It's a strange and wonderful record.

Speaking as a guy who owns the Perfect soundtrack on vinyl solely because that song is on it, I couldn't agree with you more.

Countercounterpoint: They both rule.

Someone hasn't heard the understated majesty of 1972's A Man of Value.

Oh, I see them, and I've written extensively about them myself. But the tone and timing of this list rub me all kinds of wrong ways.

I consider Lou's '70s albums uniformly marvelous, barring maybe Rock & Roll Heart, but I completely agree on Cale's likewise magnificent work being unjustly ignored. There's scarcely a misstep in the bunch.

There are things that we can't know
Maybe there's something over there
Some other world that we don't know about
I know you hate that mystic shit
It's just another way of seeing
The Sword of Damocles above your head

The point of this article is for us to click on it, comment angrily on it and share it indignantly on social media. It's how the internet works now, for better or for worse. No, fuck for better. This is purely for worse.

There's no bigger Lou Reed devotee than this gentleman, but even I admit there's plenty to mock about the guy. Posting this list right now, however, is pure clickbaitery. Way to Buzzfeed, AV Club.

Motherfuck this list. There are three or four valid entries here mixed in with a bunch of missed points and pedestrian opinions. Deriding the goddamn brilliance of "Like a Possum" singlehandedly disqualifies this piece from serious consideration.

Gosh, that sounds rough for you.

Jeez, and Coney Island Baby isn't even close to Lou's most depressing record.

I know it's frowned upon to promote one's own blogs and such in these
forums, but fuck it, Lou Reed's dead and I've been writing about what Lou Reed
means to me for most of my adult life. Rather than regurgitate it all here,
I'll just give you the links. Do with them as you will.

I believe that should also include:

Does "The Telltale Head" count?

Yeah, nothing is gonna get me to watch Dear Zachary either. And when I found out my wife was pregnant I made sure to read The Road right away because I knew I wouldn't be able to bear it afterward.