Lewis Allan Reed, March 2, 1942 - October 27, 2013

For me it's Lou Reed. More than the Beatles, Dylan, Zeppelin, The Who, Neil Young, or the Stones, it's Lou who has stood the tallest of the rockers from the classic era. It's Lou who wrote my favorite songs, who had the coolest way of singing, and who played guitar in a way that spoke to me.
His passing acted like a final exclamation point to a sprawling life. It's nice to hear what other people thought of the man and the artist. There are lots of opinions and remembrances out there -- here are some of the interesting ones. Let me know what you think. -- Jonathan

Monday, December 16, 2013

Jeffrey Novack: "Top 10 things about Lou Reed that everyone else seems to be overlooking"

I don't know Jeffrey Novack, but it's a very personal -- and great --  top ten list of Lou Reed's accomplishments.  Well worth a read.  This terrifying Mullet is included on the list.
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/12/jeffrey_novak_r.html

Friday, December 6, 2013

Time.com: Celeb Tweets about Lou Reed

De Blasio weighs in.  Classy.
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/27/best-celebrity-twitter-tributes-to-rock-rebel-lou-reed/

James Wolcott: Lou Reed Rising. A republished essay

Reprint of a cool Village Voice essay by James Wolcott from 1976 about Lou Reed and the New York scene.  It's only 6 years after the Velvets disbanded, but 1976 that was just another time.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/doubleday/lou-reed-rising-dfcu

Times of Israel: Lou Reed -- Jew

Lou Reed was Jewish.  Not a great piece, but covers a side that most pieces overlooked.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/lou-reeds-contradictory-jewishness/

Yahoo Music: Lou Reed: The Most Cited Influence in Rock ‘n’ Roll?

Yes!  The Most Cited Influence in Rock ‘n’ Roll!  Lots of good context about Reed's influence and some cool covers.  I didn't know Page & Plant did I'm Waiting for the The Man.  I'd like to hear that.

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/lou-reed-most-cited-influence-rock-n-roll-234749432.html

The New Yorker Blog: Tao of Lou -- humor

A funny piece about how to apply Lou to your daily life:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/shouts/2013/10/the-tao-of-lou.html?intcid=obnetwork

The New Yorker Blog: Sasha Frere Jones remembers Lou

He used I'll be your mirror as a way of proposing marriage.  Pretty sweet.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sashafrerejones/2013/10/postscript-lou-reed-obit.html

The Economist's Poetic Obit

Very nicely written.  Anonymous -- but certainly a fan:
 http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/21588844-lou-reed-songwriter-and-musician-died-october-27th-aged-71-walk-wild-side