11.11
By Denny Spinks – General Manager/Producer: All Things Metal
It amazes me how people who say they love new music and hope their favorite bands step out of the box and do something different. They then turn around and complain that it doesn’t sound like the band they are fans of. My suggestion would be to quit your bitching and Thank “The Metal Council” that there are those out there willing to think out of the box.
Just so we can get the editorial reviews from Amazon out of the way, “Highly anticipated 2011 two CD collaboration between Rock legend Lou Reed and the Heavy Metal monolith that is Metallica. Lulu was inspired by German expressionist writer Frank Wedekind’s plays Earth Spirit and Pandora’s Box, which tell a story of a young abused dancer’s life and relationships and are now collectively known as the “Lulu Plays.” Originally the lyrics and musical landscape were sketched out by Lou for a theatrical production in Berlin, but after coming together with the ‘Tallica boys for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts in New York in 2009 all guilty parties knew they wanted to make more music together. Lou was inspired enough by that performance to recently ask the band to join him in taking his theatrical Lulu piece to the next level and so starting in early May of this year they were all camped out recording at HQ studios in Northern California, bringing us to today and 10 complete songs.”
With that being said and hopefully you have paid attention and know that this is NOT a “Metallica” record. This has been expressed in more than one interview I have seen. I would happen to agree. It is a Lou Reed record! Now that we have gotten that out the way, let’s talk about LULU.
Brandenburg Gate is probably one of my favorite tracks on this collaboration. I love how the music compliments the frail voice of Reed. I would agree that at times the vocals of Reed don’t fit with the music but in some ways, that is what I like about it. To be honest the music is as solid as ever. I think Metallica did a really great job in creating some that in time will be called some of their best.
As I listen to LULU, I feel like I am thrown back in time during German Expressionism during the 1920s–1930s. For me, this album has more emotion than I get from the normal albums I listen to. This album grabs you, sucks you in and doesn’t let go. Don’t expect those narrow minded billboard suits fool you. This is a concept album that is more than just a single. If you truly want to listen to something different and off the wall and make you think WTF are these guys doing, then go and get this album. If you are looking for something to bitch about, well, maybe you should buy this also. We don’t care what you think anyway! I recommend getting this album for the sole reason is that when you look back at this album; you will know that this really is a piece of art.
