How about this hyperbole in today's Independent on Reed: "Sinatra had played Algren’s novel’s taboo-smashing junkie in the film of The Man With the Golden Arm. Reed became him."

What a load of old  cobblers!

Reed had a traditional streak. Try working out the chords to the middle eight of "Sweet Jane" or "Lisa Says." Tin Pan Alley changes, almost.

Pros:

The Velvet Underground — all in all, huge.
The "secret" chord in "Sweet Jane"
Making the complex sound simple
Giving hope to crappy guitar players like me
Guitar solo in "I Heard Her Call My Name."

Cons:

Asshole
"Pretentious" doesn't even scratch the surface
Sounded like Katherine Hepburn in his later years
"The Original Wrapper." Ye Gods.
The album he did with Metallica.
Giving hope to crappy guitar players like me, still annoying people three decades later.

Last edited by Patrick (2013-10-28 06:22:09)

I'll take Manhattan in a garbage bag
With Latin written on it that says
"it's hard to give a shit these days"
Manhattan's sinking like a rock
Into the filthy Hudson what a shock
They wrote a book about it
They said it was like ancient Rome

Patrick, i guess you know that Lou was originally a tin pan alley / brill building/ jingle writer type. Not a bad foundation in my book. Carol king, Paul anka, Neil diamond...

This is one thread that I won't join because I know absolutely nothing of this guy - except that he sharply divided opinion on his talents.

Last edited by formby (2013-10-28 13:14:20)