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After the best part of a decade spent adrift of past glories, Lou Reed looked to his immediate environment for inspiration and produced with his most acclaimed work since The Velvet Underground disbanded. The narrator of songs such as "Sunset Boulevard" and "Good Evening Mr Waldheim" though, couldn't be more different to the drug-addled nihilist who wrote "Waiting For The Man". In New York, drugs are still part of everyday life, but Reed's spleen is targeted at the forces responsible for such social malaise--none of which would matter, of course, were it not for the stripped down garage sound which substantially loosens the mood. Doubters may suggest we be spared from another reformed rebel turned concerned parent, but if there's anything objectionable about New York, it's the regrettable mullet hairstyle sported by its author--a far greater crime than any that recur in his lyrics. --Peter Paphides
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By nm1270
Format:Audio CD
Seventeen years on from his most acclaimed work-'Transformer' and Lou Reed turns his attention to the sleazier side of his hometown to find inspiration for his fifteenth solo studio album.
He writes in his liner notes that 'New York' should be taken in one sitting as if it were a film or play and after listening it's not difficult to see why.From beginning to end you are taken on a musical tour through the drug fuelled,crime ridden and destitute streets of the Big Apples' less attractive suburbs.
The album kicks off with Reed's '1-2-3-4' counting in the opening bars of 'Romeo Had Juliet' with it's dark,twisted lyrics-'Caught between the twisted stars,the plotted lines,the faulty map that brought Columbus to New York'.The musical pace slows down with 'Halloween Parade (AIDS)' and then leads into arguably the finest song on the album-the perverse yet mesmeric 'Dirty Blvd'.With it's dirty guitar riff and hollow snare drum it's a tale of Pedro,a young kid with nine siblings who live in a squalid squat and are beaten by their father.Dion Dimucci appears on backing vocals.
The reality of child abuse continues on 'Endless Cycle' despite the georgeous musicianship.'There Is No Time' rocks along vibrantly while the subdued 'Last Great American Whale' is poignant in it's subject-the destruction of our natural environment and fellow creatures.Lou also vents his spleen and attacks TV evangelists('Good Evening Mr Waldheim'),politicians('Strawman')and the treatment of Vietnam veterans as in 'Xmas In February'-'Sam stares at the Vietnam wall,it's been a while now that he's home,his wife and kid have left,he's unemployed,he's a reminder of the war that wasn't won'.
Genius a much overused word but it comes close to describing the lyrics on this album.... Read more ›
He writes in his liner notes that 'New York' should be taken in one sitting as if it were a film or play and after listening it's not difficult to see why.From beginning to end you are taken on a musical tour through the drug fuelled,crime ridden and destitute streets of the Big Apples' less attractive suburbs.
The album kicks off with Reed's '1-2-3-4' counting in the opening bars of 'Romeo Had Juliet' with it's dark,twisted lyrics-'Caught between the twisted stars,the plotted lines,the faulty map that brought Columbus to New York'.The musical pace slows down with 'Halloween Parade (AIDS)' and then leads into arguably the finest song on the album-the perverse yet mesmeric 'Dirty Blvd'.With it's dirty guitar riff and hollow snare drum it's a tale of Pedro,a young kid with nine siblings who live in a squalid squat and are beaten by their father.Dion Dimucci appears on backing vocals.
The reality of child abuse continues on 'Endless Cycle' despite the georgeous musicianship.'There Is No Time' rocks along vibrantly while the subdued 'Last Great American Whale' is poignant in it's subject-the destruction of our natural environment and fellow creatures.Lou also vents his spleen and attacks TV evangelists('Good Evening Mr Waldheim'),politicians('Strawman')and the treatment of Vietnam veterans as in 'Xmas In February'-'Sam stares at the Vietnam wall,it's been a while now that he's home,his wife and kid have left,he's unemployed,he's a reminder of the war that wasn't won'.
Genius a much overused word but it comes close to describing the lyrics on this album.... Read more ›
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
The whole idea of Lou Reed's art is captured in this snippet of the liner notes regarding this album: "It's meant to be listened to in one 58 minute (14 songs!) sitting as though it were a book or a movie." There is exactly one reason Reed has only had one hit in his 35-year career: He's an artist. His albums contain blissfully funny rock-songs, yes, but there's also the kind of Nicole Blackmannish deadly seriousness in some of their lyrics, that makes you forever unable to not listen to them once you've started. Reed's self-appointed mission is to elevate rock music to an art form in the league of literature and painting, and "New York" is the closest he's gotten yet. Going against the liner notes, if there's only one song you hear from this album it should be Beginning of A Great Adventure, which is the best treatment of becoming a father I've ever heard. But, honestly, once you've got the album (and you should get it if you have any interest in rock becoming more than simple entertainment) you ought to do as Lou says and listen to it all. It's well worth it.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Lou Reed closed out the 80's with his best album in a long time, not only is it art but it is street art.
When I say that I mean the tales of "New York" that Mr Reed has woven about the life on the mean streets of one of the world's capitals come across as so real as to create the smells and sounds of what he is singing about.
The delivery that Mr Reed can't really be called singing, it's more like talking in pitch. The wordplay that is used to great effect here is like a modern day "Mickey Spillane" or "Raymond Chandler" novel. As always Lou has a swipe at the America society with humour and intelligence that is his trade mark.
This album is both well produced and played and will be around a long time for people who like their music with a sting in the tale, so do your self a favour and buy it and buy it NOW...
When I say that I mean the tales of "New York" that Mr Reed has woven about the life on the mean streets of one of the world's capitals come across as so real as to create the smells and sounds of what he is singing about.
The delivery that Mr Reed can't really be called singing, it's more like talking in pitch. The wordplay that is used to great effect here is like a modern day "Mickey Spillane" or "Raymond Chandler" novel. As always Lou has a swipe at the America society with humour and intelligence that is his trade mark.
This album is both well produced and played and will be around a long time for people who like their music with a sting in the tale, so do your self a favour and buy it and buy it NOW...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The genre of LP as graphic novel is superbly realised in this recording. The songs are poignant and colourful. The portrait of New York at a moment in time is crystal clear - ugly, beautiful, bolshy, aggressive. But for me the best thing on hearing it all again after a leave of absence, is the superb playing and the disarmingly unfussy recording. Just some guys with guitars paying their fingers off. Hugely recommended to anyone who ever visited New York, enjoyed a Lou Reed song or played a guitar. So nearly everyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Cornell
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
New York is a real story- it is every stone unturned and raw hurt exposed in a musical narrative that is Lou at his very best. Dirty Boulevard does not in any sense celebrate the scene yet seems to give it an emotive and painful slant that creates sympathy for Pedro and the other characters. Last Great American Whale matches Dylan for any masterful story told in a song and ends abruptly that leaves you almost numb. Romeo has Juliette is classic raw love that works well for me.
Good Evening Mr Waldheim and Pontiff how are you?- beautiful, cutting and Lou's drawl has never been better. love this album and love Lou's observatory, cynical, drawling stance on life- he is the ultimate storyteller.
Good Evening Mr Waldheim and Pontiff how are you?- beautiful, cutting and Lou's drawl has never been better. love this album and love Lou's observatory, cynical, drawling stance on life- he is the ultimate storyteller.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After the great BERLIN, Lou Reed returned to a guitar and bass-based format for NEW YORK, his most accomplished achievement since the days of the Velvet Underground. Moving, intelligent, and often very funny.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where are these sentiments in music these days?
I had this on vinyl back in the day. I was in Germany recently and heard it played in a cool pub, came home and bought it straight away. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Eugene Brosnan
5.0 out of 5 stars
The (Angry) Urban Poet
This 1989 masterpiece from Brooklyn's finest is (certainly for 1989) something of a blast from the past, representing as it does one of the most virulent 'protest albums' I can... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Keith M
4.0 out of 5 stars
Grungy NYC Underworld
Latter day Lou reed Classic - A Return to form and as good as much earlier works - Gives you a feeling of what it must be like to be on the streets of New York City.
Published 7 months ago by TBC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favourite Lou Reed solo album (apart from maybe Transformer)
Far less singing, far more spoken word, but considering Reed's age when this album was produced, it's better this way. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rufus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic songwriting genius.
This is a stone-cold classic album that everyone should own. From the beginning to the end, it's a great ride. Personal faves? Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mild Dill Hotpot
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lou Does What He Does Best.. At Last
Most people have heard of Lou Reed, they may not know why until you sing, "Do -te-do-te-do-do-do-do-do" at them. The aforementioned refrain of course is from Walk On The Wild Side. Read more
Published on 1 May 2011 by Nick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neo-classic album
How this album receives less than 5 stars from some reviewers is beyond me. But then again, when reading through the 'less-than-5-star'-reviews it becomes obvious that some... Read more
Published on 21 April 2007 by TheDreamSyndicate
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lou shows his his social and environmental side
New York represents the moment Lou Reed successfully honed his songwriting craft to deliver arguably his most consistent album. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2006 by Jervis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Game of Two Halves
If it were not possible to turn a record off after you'd started listening to it, this record would be worth two stars. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2003 by O. Buxton
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