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Review
In many ways Metallica have for a long time been not one, but two bands. In the summer months they are the world’s premiere full-blooded rock act, content to bask at such locations as Yankee Stadium in the legacy afforded them by albums such as Master of Puppets and songs like Enter Sandman. But as a corollary to this there exists a group whose creative heart beats daring and strong. The Bay Area quartet first met Lou Reed – a man whose own artistic pursuits have for decades been captured on releases both excellent and execrable – when both parties were part of the class of 2009 inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The five men got talking and decided to make an album. Perhaps it’s a good job Bette Midler wasn’t being honoured that day.
Although, in truth, this is not quite as startling an album as its billing may suggest. Inspired by a series of demos prepared by Reed for a musical production of two plays by the 19th century German dramatist Frank Wedekind – which in itself offers a clue that this is no Back in Black – Lulu adheres to both of the parties’ core instincts: on the part of Metallica there is an elongated and thoughtful, not to mention breathlessly heavy, musical spine; while Lou Reed’s atonal and monochromatic vocals lay with deliberate ill-ease atop it all, like an oil slick on an ocean.
At 90 minutes in length, Lulu is no light snack. The overall effect of the album is one of claustrophobia, of an unsettling and relentless assault that is more artistic instillation than rock opera. These are the aspects of the album that will take time to bed-in, in order that the jarring nature of much of this work will acclimatise itself to the listener’s ear. But even allowing for this it seems clear that this collaboration adheres to a careful and deliberate design. Following the avalanche of oppression that precedes it, Lulu’s denouement comes in the form of the 19-minute Junior Dad, a track with a groove of such gloriously hypnotic power that its effect is akin to being rescued after months trapped in a pothole.
Much advance word of Lou Reed and Metallica’s excursion has been one of bewilderment and dismissal. It may well be, though, that in the fullness of time this is an album that is given the praise it deserves. --Ian Winwood
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Product Description
STANDARD EDITION : 2011 debut collaboration between the rock'n'roll icon & metal heavyweight champions!
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In a weird way Lulu is a good reminder of what rock actually is. This record is completely devoid of "good" taste. It thrashes and chugs and shouts. A lot of Metallica fans are adamant that it also sucks. A lot of Lou Reed fans are equally adamant that it's an embarrassment. Throw in various talking heads from late night arts review shows and the message is clear. Don't try anything different, make records for niche markets, be that for metal fans or the coffee table crowd and above all show some dignity.
What I like about this record is what a lot of people dislike about it. Reed's voice is too frail for Metallica's huge crunch. The result is that it sounds unstable, loose, like Metallica just jamming some riffs. You can hear them as an unpolished honest to god band, rather than as a recording unit or stadium act. In other words, to me at least, it rocks in the truest sense of the word. Lou's voice just sits on top, croaking away lyrics that work with the unholy maelstrom the band kicks up. Ultimately, it's the part of Metallica that isn't a corporate entity, the part of the band that was influenced by hardcore punk and doesn't care about its reputation. Contrary to popular misconception, I also think Lulu is every bit as much, if not more, Metallica as it is Lou Reed. Anyway, I think it rocks.
What I like about this record is what a lot of people dislike about it. Reed's voice is too frail for Metallica's huge crunch. The result is that it sounds unstable, loose, like Metallica just jamming some riffs. You can hear them as an unpolished honest to god band, rather than as a recording unit or stadium act. In other words, to me at least, it rocks in the truest sense of the word. Lou's voice just sits on top, croaking away lyrics that work with the unholy maelstrom the band kicks up. Ultimately, it's the part of Metallica that isn't a corporate entity, the part of the band that was influenced by hardcore punk and doesn't care about its reputation. Contrary to popular misconception, I also think Lulu is every bit as much, if not more, Metallica as it is Lou Reed. Anyway, I think it rocks.
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Honestly its not for the want of trying, three straight listens in a row (each 87 minutes passed very slowly), a copy in the car and headphones. Clearly there are many Amazon reviewers out there who love this and respect for that. But in this humble abode this CD is in real danger of becoming the most expensive coffee coaster of modern times. In 1967 Lou Reed wrote lines which stunned Andy Warhol and which energised thousands of aspiring musicians to to start bands. Remember "Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather/Whiplash girlchild in the dark/Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him/Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart"? Can this be the same poet who today writes "I'm a woman who likes men, a little dog with a puny body and tiny dick, I AM A TABLE".
For the record Metallica are genius, their Black Album should be worshipped at the shrine of rock music. Lou Reeds career equally is an exemplar of uncompromising brilliance with the occasional large misstep but honestly "Metal Machine Music" is better than Lulu. In the last analysis this whole bloated mess collapses in on itself in the 19 minute finale of the truly horrible "Junior Dad" where you wish Nicolas Parsons would intervene and just shout "repetition". One positive note emerges from "Lulu" namely that Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead must now relinquish their long held title of the worst collaboration in rock music history.
For the record Metallica are genius, their Black Album should be worshipped at the shrine of rock music. Lou Reeds career equally is an exemplar of uncompromising brilliance with the occasional large misstep but honestly "Metal Machine Music" is better than Lulu. In the last analysis this whole bloated mess collapses in on itself in the 19 minute finale of the truly horrible "Junior Dad" where you wish Nicolas Parsons would intervene and just shout "repetition". One positive note emerges from "Lulu" namely that Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead must now relinquish their long held title of the worst collaboration in rock music history.
22 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It is a tough album to get into. More so if you bought it with any subjective expectations as to what you're getting. I think a lot of people saw it as a new Metallica album, featuring Lou Reed. Indeed it's the other way around. It is not a new Metallica album, but a Lou Reed & Metallica album. Forget Death Magnetic (fantastic, by the way), because you're not doing anyone a service by comparing it to Lulu.
If you're a close-minded hardcore Metallica listener (if you think I mean hardcore Metallica listeners are close-minded, read it again) you will be disappointed. If you are a music appreciator, an art appreciator, and a Lou Reed and Metallica appreciator, you will need to buy this.
There have been terrible criticisms of the singing, that in some parts of some songs it's out of sync and out of place with the music accompanying it. The whole experience, however, is a tight package of creativity, based on lyrics written by Reed for the play Lulu. I can't stress it enough that this album is something separate the known sphere of Metallica productions, and that is the main thing listeners need to understand and even get past to appreciate this as a music album.
My favourites, after listening to the whole album twice, are Pumping Blood, Iced Honey, Cheat On Me and Junior Dad. The latter two take me back to Velvet Underground's creepy ambient, nearly static croon. I'd even dare to say that Junior Dad is my very favourite piece on this album. I like it even with "those stupid violins that go on for NINE F***ING MINUTES!". Just beautiful atmosphere, great lyrics.
If you're a close-minded hardcore Metallica listener (if you think I mean hardcore Metallica listeners are close-minded, read it again) you will be disappointed. If you are a music appreciator, an art appreciator, and a Lou Reed and Metallica appreciator, you will need to buy this.
There have been terrible criticisms of the singing, that in some parts of some songs it's out of sync and out of place with the music accompanying it. The whole experience, however, is a tight package of creativity, based on lyrics written by Reed for the play Lulu. I can't stress it enough that this album is something separate the known sphere of Metallica productions, and that is the main thing listeners need to understand and even get past to appreciate this as a music album.
My favourites, after listening to the whole album twice, are Pumping Blood, Iced Honey, Cheat On Me and Junior Dad. The latter two take me back to Velvet Underground's creepy ambient, nearly static croon. I'd even dare to say that Junior Dad is my very favourite piece on this album. I like it even with "those stupid violins that go on for NINE F***ING MINUTES!". Just beautiful atmosphere, great lyrics.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
LUTALLICA
Firstly, I love lou and i love metallica. When you take 2 massive artists and collaborate they will always be open to critisism. Read more
Published 1 month ago by tecetdrummer
Deep and Inspirational
A friend of mine recommended this. I firstly listened to it on you tube and was surpised and very interested to listen more of this collaboration and the merging of two diffenrent... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rav
masterclass in menace
James Hetfield's vocal prowess was never Metallica's USP, and nor his lyrics, so kudos to hom for letting Lou Reed growl through this sprawling misery of an album. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Daniel Dalton
Metallica get weird
If you think Metallica's last decent album was Master of puppets, you'll probably not like this. If you think the black album is their best one, you'll probably hate this. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Big Rich
File under comedy?
First of all, let me say that I own and enjoy many Metallica and some Lou Reed albums.
Also, I have thrown away some Metallica and many Lou Reed albums. Read more
Also, I have thrown away some Metallica and many Lou Reed albums. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Arch
Not a Metallica album, they have changed the record...
This is not a Metallica album, it is a collaboration with Lou Reed laying down the vocals and Metallica providing the backup. Ok, so we have got that out of the way. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Johnny London
Who Won?
Not heard this album yet and doubt if it's going to be one I consider wasting an hour of my life over. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Fred Bear
rock for grown-ups
Despite all the grandiose claims Lou & Metallica kept making before its release, the overwelming UK reviews suggested that this was a piece of misjudged folly. Read more
Published 3 months ago by R J Irregular
YOU ARE ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF SUCKINESS
Recently I saw a little video clip of Metallica playing the Kinks classic "All Day And All Of The Night" or as Metallica would have you believe " Horl derhayarghgh and horl of the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. A. Kelly
For fans of Lou Reed only
My word there are a lot of Metallica fans still out there for some reason. Despite not coming up with anything recently another "Master of Puppets" is expected each time. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Eric Blair
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