Lou Reed - 'Animal Serenade' (EMI)
3/5
By: Toby L
'So, I thought I'd explain to you how you make a career out of three chords...'
Lou Reed's influence has been unquestionable, just as his years of excess have. These are the vocals and words of a fighter, the reverberations and songs of an institution - someone that's faced the brink, survived, returned to 'normality', and left in an aftermath a slew of songs both solo and with The Velvet Underground that will long resonate and touch after his passing.
Frustratingly at times, so experienced and radical is our performer, songs such as an opening 'Small Town' are stopped continually for interjections both insightful - 'Every f**king note you hear is us - right in front of you... Live...' - yet annoying.
But, fortunately, for the avid fan, this double-disc set caught live of Reed and band in Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre from 2003 is packed to the rafters with VU favourites - a perennial, closing 'Heroin', a longing, ten-minute rendition of 'Venus In Furs' and the shimmering 'All Tomorrow's Parties' - and a whole cascading of stripped-back, intimate and quietly moving numbers which kick off the performance - namely, the soulful 'Tell It To Your Heart' and piano/bass-tinged build-ups of 'Men Of Good Fortune'.
Coupled with strings at intermittent bursts, unanimous audience approval (just listen to the roars after a guitar-solo in the steely 'How Do You Think It Feels') and the dark, newer likes of 'The Raven', compositions seldom wane in their intensity, while always prove lengthy, introspective and welcomingly stark. Reed himself crackles along with fitting ringleader showmanship, and though this all far from scales the lofty, muso heights of previous live-opus 'Rock 'N' Roll Animal', 'Animal Serenade' still puts forth a leg-end both infatuated with the tune and diligent experimentation in equal, riveting measure.
And that's all without the sound of a 'Perfect Day' or 'Take A Walk On The Wild Side' anywhere. Now, that's a testimony.
Artists in this article: Lou Reed
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