Lou Reed

Lou Reed took a deep breath, decided not to try so hard and came up with one of his all-time best records. Breezy and warm intimate love songs give way to the increasingly unsettling S&M murder tale "Kicks" and the ragged, raging VU-style rockers "Nowhere At All" and "Leave Me Alone." Even in this exalted company, the majestic, aching title track rules the day. The respectable demo of "Coney Island Baby" (one of three), shows Reed was right to bring the session cats back in for one day.

At first it's gratifying to ascertain that he's trying harder, but very soon that old cheapjack ennui begins to poke through. Oddly, though, most of the cheap stuff is near the surface--the songs sound warmer when you listen close. And not even in his most lyrical moments with the Velvets has he let his soft side show as nakedly as it does on the title cut. (Grade - B+)