release date: Apr. 1986
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,58]
producer: Lou Reed, Fernando Saunders
label: RCA Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 3. "Outside" - 9. "I Remember You" - 10. "Tell It to Your Heart" (2,5 / 5)
14th studio album by Lou Reed follows two years after New Sensations (Apr. 1984), and it's simply one of his least favourable albums in his long career. The production side is poor with excessive bass and drums - a bit late, but even Lou made his bad 1980s typical sound. The previous album New Sensations already showcased his interest for incorporating new musical influences, which was a bit of a mixed bag but this is just bad. Lou Reed albums have often been either hits or misses, and this surely falls in the latter half as one of his poorest efforts. He makes use of synths and drum programming in a strange mix of pop / rock, new wave, and with elements from r&b, funk, and rap [!] (track #7 "The Original Wrapper" - another low point), which doesn't work (at all). Actually, I don't think, I have ever listened the whole album through in one take.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Chicago Tribune 2,5 / 5 stars ]
