The collaboration of two of rock music biggest legends Lou Reed and Metallica is a conceptual album based on the highly controversial Lulu plays of the early 1900′s. The plays challenged the social and moral values of their time and its modern day musical equivalent the patience and ears of its listeners. A double album that plays for over ninety minutes it takes a few listens to appreciate it’s subtleties but once you understand the basic concept of the plays (happiness through excess or joy from sin) the intent of the musicians involved becomes much more profound.
Reed’s monotonous spoken word adaptations tell a story of sex, infidelity and death as Metallica’s doom laden riffs provide the rich musical sound-scape for the characters various highs and lows. More art rock than pop-rock, Lulu’s heavy social concepts don’t make for easy listening or back ground music but must be dissected before they can be appreciated. In relation to the artists involved, Lulu falls somewhere in-between Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music and Metallica’s St. Anger. In other words, it has its moments.
Lulu has already been described as the “worst album ever” and a “schizophrenic with a migraine but less melodic”. I must admit I almost joined it’s legion of haters the moment I saw Reed’s and Hetfield’s uber serious expression’s as well as Lars Ulrich’s pretentious pout on the disc’s back cover but I’m grateful I gave it a chance. Unlike many rock critic’s I can’t help admire their effort in bringing something different to the table, to take chances, big chances that don’t always succeed but provide a bumpy and interesting ride along the way. This conceptual album in the age of digital downloads is doing just that.
- JEFF LEASE