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The Raven
 
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The Raven [Limited Edition]

~ Lou Reed
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
Price: £16.48 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Audio CD (3 Feb 2003)
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Format: Limited Edition
  • Label: Wea
  • ASIN: B00007BKGM
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 26,717 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Disc: 1
1. Conqueror Worm
2. Overture
3. Old Poe
4. Prologue (Ligiea)
5. Edgar Allen Poe
6. Valley Of Unrest
7. Call On Me - Reed, Lou & Laurie Anderson
8. City In The Sea/Shadow
9. Thousand Departed Friends
10. Change
See all 36 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Broadway Song - Reed, Lou & Steve Buscemi
2. Tell Tale Heart
3. Blind Rage
4. Tell Tale Heart
5. Burning Embers
6. Imp Of The Perverse
7. Vanishing Act
8. Cask
9. Guilty
10. Guilty - Reed, Lou & Ornette Coleman
See all 21 tracks on this disc

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Lou Reed has never been one to shirk from an ambitious project, and The Raven is no exception. It consists of readings from the dark poems of Edgar Allen Poe, interspersed with songs of traditional structure (and similar subject matter) and sometimes revisits Reed's previous work ("Perfect Day" for instance)--often with the help of a range of collaborators from the world of music (David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Ornette Coleman) and film (Steve Buscemi, Willem Defoe). Opening with a dramatic monologue delivered over a backdrop of seething guitars, it's reminiscent of the unlistenable tosh of his Metal Machine Music. The atmospherics work though, and it serves as a fitting intro--or perhaps an ominous portent--of things to come.

Any reservations are quickly washed away by the glorious New York brass of "Overture" and the autumnally maudlin "Prologue". In fact, The Raven is among Reed's most affecting work to date--strings, saxophones and horns all combine with Reed's restrained guitar to produce a strikingly effective and aurally pleasing atmosphere. Elsewhere, this contrasts with more typically Reed songs, such as the rattle of "Edgar Allen Poe". With Poe's words embodying much which is close to Reed's heart (obsession, paranoia, self destruction), it's easy to see what attracted him to the project. As a concept album, it doesn't work as well as 1991's New York--partly because more people have experienced the dark and dirty underworld of NYC than the dark and dirty underworld of Edgar Allen Poe, but mostly because the songs on offer aren't as good. That said, this is a beautiful record and, for a change, a worthwhile diversion from rock's norm. --Ben Johncock



CD Description

Lou Reed's epic homage to the work of gothic horror writer Edgar Allen Poe is a sprawling 2CD collection of music and poetry, featuring spoken word passages performed by such renowned actors as Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Amanda Plummer, and contributions from the likes of David Bowie, Laurie Anderson and Ornette Coleman. Dark and sinister, Reed has attempted to replicate the mood of Poe's work in the music.

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars But music should be challenging...., 25 Feb 2003
By Taliesin_ttlg (Lancashire, UK) - See all my reviews
  
Lou Reed's "The Raven" is an album that listeners will either love or hate... and by the five stars printed at the head of this review I think you can guess my reaction.

However this is not an introduction to Edgar Allan Poe (perhaps you should try the Alan Parson's Projects album, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination"), this is Lou Reed trying to capture the feeling, the dark emotion, that fills Poe's prose and poetry.

This is Lou Reed recreating Poe. Take the title track. "The Raven" is not Poe's seminal poem read over music. Reed has rewritten the poem, modernised it and tried to make it relevant to the 21st Century. Listen to the track, feel how familiar it is, and then listen to it again with the original poem in hand.

This album is challenging... to my way of thinking much like the way Scott Walker's "Tilt" was challenging, and like that album the rewards are bountiful. Indeed the re-recording of "Perfect Day" is almost "Tilt" like in it's haunting beauty.

Reed has juxtaposed American gothic with rock and roll and created a fantastic album. It will take several sittings to get the most out of this album, and each time you listen it will be hard work. But music should be challenging, after all.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Change, 9 Feb 2003
Lou Reed is not pretentious. Lou Reed is Lou Reed. You hear his voice and you know it is him. He has been creating innovative music for about 40 years.
With 'The Raven', he again offers us something completely original; snippets of literature read by some very talented actors set to brooding electronic music and interspersed by great songs.
If you were excited about another Lou Reed album, another good 12 songs, well here they are, from the gravelly rock of 'Edgar Allen Poe', 'Change', 'Blind Rage' to the delicate beauty of 'Vanishing Act' and the utterly gorgeous 'Who am I'.
But as well as good songs, 'The Raven' also offers the intriguing addition of drama; Willem Defoe, Steve Buscemi, Amanda Plummer, Elizabeth Ashley, captivatingly reciting dark, passionate and witty lines from an author who Lou Reed clearly respects and identifies with.
The result is interesting, exciting, beautiful and artistic. And why not? Lou Reed is an artist, not someone who churns out radio friendly hits.
Lou Reed has always pushed through doors and added an alternative to the face of popular music. And yet he still retains the same distinctive style; that voice, that ability to swing between aggressive rock and heart-pricking beauty.
He has his mark. And I think its a superb one and 'The Raven' keeps it going. Long live his creativity and gift for change.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry in Motion, 5 Feb 2003
By A Customer
I wrote a review a couple of weeks ago, not realising that The Raven came out in Gemany a week before it did in the UK. So it wasn't published. But now, after having had the albums for over a week, I can tell you right now that I am still listening to it and still discovering new moments of brilliance. The Raven is a masterpiece, but it takes time and patience to discover its brilliance. I've read favourable reviews in papers like the Guardian and not so favourable reviews in magazines like NME. So what does that tell you? Yes, you do need to be an adult to appreciate and understand this concept. I was lucky enough to see the musical Poe-try, on which the Raven is based almost entirely, so I have a head's start. But if you have just bought the album, savour some immediate moments of magic in Burning Embers, Who Am I? and Guardian Angel. The rest will follow. It has been a while since I have fallen so much in love with one of Lou's albums, but this is in my heart along with Berlin, Blue Mask, Street Hassle and the delightful caberet of Take No Prisoners. Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore this immense artist.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it or regret it!
What a fantastic CD! I don't know much about Lou Reed- except Perfect Day and Walk on the Wild Side, but I know a lot about Poe and Reed has captured him perfectly. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2003 by DM Webster

4.0 out of 5 stars It ain't no Transformer
For those 6th form students wishing for another Transformer or people who thought all Reed's work was as melodic as Perfect Day, you will be in for a shock. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2003 by Ward-Minter

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretentious, Lou?
Sorry, Lou, you let me down with this. I know your intentions are honourable, but I can't take your intellectual pose seriously after this. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2003 by simontesler

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretension, thy name be Lou
In many ways, “The Raven”, Reed’s 2003 album, is the ex-Velvet's most ambitious work to date. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2003 by thomasbirch2

4.0 out of 5 stars Scary, vivid and interesting.
A serious mixture of material here, I was not sure what to expect ... something based on the readings of Edgar Allen Poe (EAP). Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2003 by R. Hallett

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