Review of Lou Reed's "The Raven" (2003)

[@historywasunveiled2024]

Thank you for this, watching this as a 25 year old art student and feel very thankful for that differentiated and complex review

[@CalicoSilver]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your kind comment. Jeff

[@Nick-qf7vt]

This is one of Lou's albums I've yet to hear. I'd very much like to give it a listen; it sounds very interesting and I love Lou Reed's lyrics/poetry. I've never really connected with Poe, and that bothers me. On paper, I should absolutely love him, as I love literature from that era and I tend to like art on the "dark" side. Plus he was an inspiration to so many of my favourite writers, like HP Lovecraft.

[@CalicoSilver]

True, Nick. And Poe was very influential, also, to the French Symbolist poets that I love so much (Mallarme, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Rimbaud). Poe was one of the first poets/short-story writers whose work I really loved as a young person. Like I said in this video, I bet Lou and Edgar might’ve been friends if they lived at the same time. Haha! Thanks as always for your great comments. Jeff

[@gorvo31]

Hey Jeff, Well you certainly made the case for being one of those things that must be heard to be believed...or perhaps to believe it could be done in order to be fully heard even....? I like Poe and has been a long time since reading him. I like that image of you walking around while listening to this. The idea of Steve Buscemi reading/(singing!) on this sounds to really thicken the plot as well, so to speak. I feel that too, even not being a lyrics person for the most part; reading along as well as listening to really be immersed in what's being expressed. I know I really came to appreciate Joni Mitchell's lyrics that way. Definitely putting this on the list for an eventual listen. Thanks as always for sharing. -Carm

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Carm. It seems that this album is not known well nor liked even by most Lou Reed fans. I never hear anyone talk about it. I think this very late period of Lou’s output (this album and Lulu) are hard pills to swallow for many fans. And I certainly understand why many would not like these albums. But you know me - if I really like and trust an artist, I give their efforts every chance I can because usually I end up really enjoying them, even if there are things about them that might disturb me a bit. Or perhaps I am trying too hard. There’s that too. Haha!! Thanks again. Jeff

[@gavinbutler5219]

I ve always meant to check out this album I believe some albums sink in deep after you've lived with them for awhile.

[@CalicoSilver]

This is one of those albums that might not ever sink in, Gavin! Haha. But I still enjoy it…..about half the time anyway. 😉

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

Because of the length of the video man I had to pick the time I was going to watch it... I'm enjoying a few yuengling beers I thought I'd put this video on.. more comments to come as I watch...lol

[@CalicoSilver]

You’ll need more than a few Yuenglings to enjoy my rambling nonsense, Rod! 😉

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

@@CalicoSilver lol. I respect your recommendations I know you've got good taste in music, but I'm on a budget so this is one I won't hunt out but if ever see it in the wild and a good price maybe I'll pull the trigger. How are things going with you brother?

[@CalicoSilver]

@@happyhippythevinylguy Things are very challenging right now but I can’t (or shouldn’t) complain. I miss my carefree weeks in Knoxville and how it was before we started this miserable house hunting nightmare. I don’t even want a freaking house. Haha.

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

@@CalicoSilver bro take a day trip I know guys is high but come on down and chill out for a day. Your wife could have the couch you could have the love seat, or hell bring a tent..LoL

[@CalicoSilver]

@@happyhippythevinylguy I would love to see you again Rod. We are going to Florida for a week next week for a wedding and family visits. But I would love to go see you soon after that. Thanks for your kindness my friend.

[@jasoncatalano2070]

I own The Raven, and has it's brilliance and then it lagging and brilliance, like the song the only thing constantly changing is change and it's always for the worst... nice.. i play all the rock songs the most. It's a project so the flow is... difficult to achieve. I have the CD. Translating theater into song is difficult. It was an undertaking. It has it's brilliant songs. As a full listen, it's ..a project as well hehehe

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your comment. It is very nice to hear from people who have heard of Lou Reed’s “The Raven”, and especially from those who actually appreciate it and enjoy it.

[@jasoncatalano2070]

@CalicoSilver thanks man,..I imagine it's common. Yes, though, I bought the CD when released and treasure it.

[@stephenrostkoski837]

I don't know what it is about this album. I've heard parts of it, but that never prompted me to explore it further. Now, despite your excellent analysis, I still have no desire to hear it. I like Poe, I like Lou. Maybe the mix strikes me as too pretentious. Who knows, someday I may give it a try.

[@CalicoSilver]

Oh yeah, it is pretentious for sure. But pretentiousness is inherent in almost any artform, especially performing arts. So, as I tried to say in my video about the pendulum, I have to try to look past the gauze of pretentiousness that envelops most art, and sometimes I find a gem. Not always, though. Sometimes that gauze is just too thick, haha! Results definitely vary, depending on the person. Thanks, Stephen.

[@alexandervaneijken7741]

Sir, to begin with: I do not know the album and listening to your talk did not stimulate me to do so. I,ll explain. First of all,just like you I love (yes,love) poetry. But please ,please DO NOT put music to great poetry (I understand the impulse,but LEAVE it alone,Mr. Composer, the poem is perfectly able to do without you. So Mr. Reed leave the Raven Alone,it is melodious enough (nevermore nevermore) I disagree with you, Sir,that e.g. Bon Dylan is a great poet, I think he is a great songwriter and writes very memorable lines . It is however a different ,,metier,, and if there were a Nobel prize for outstanding songwriting , Dylan would be my number one contender. Authenticity is the key word here Or Do you BELIEVE the person . Afterthought The one really outstanding (thus my number one in ranking) album by Mr. Reed is ,,Berlin,, Have a nice day Sir

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for your honest and insightful comments, Alexander. I fully understand all that you are saying here. I too question whether such a project as Lou's "The Raven" should have been done the way it was done, or at all. But I've come to enjoy it for what it is (while also kinda holding my nose a bit, due to my hesitations with it all). As for setting music to poetry, I also understand what you mean there because great poetry is rarely if ever served well, and never enhanced, by setting it to music. But I have set many famous poems to music for my own poetry-memorization benefit - I have memorized many great poems for life because of my having set them to music (music which I'd NEVER perform for other people, because I only did so for my own memorization benefit). Memorization is the best way, I find, to internalize a great poem, and setting to music is the way I do it. Also, remember that in the past many poems were sung - that was how they were passed on from person to person before widespread printing was brought into the picture. But yes, I agree 100% with your thoughts on poetry and music. I am a lover of art song, or lieder, by the great composers....but I have never had a great art song actually enhance the poetry at all, NEVER. That is why I recommend to people that they READ the lyrics of great songwriter-poets. Which brings me to where we disagree: I do believe that a good portion of Dylan's lyrics are great poetry. Of course it is subjective, perhaps, but that is my conviction upon reading his lyrics for decades. At least I will say that I certainly deem him my favorite poet of our time.....even if not a good one in others' estimation. He is great to me. Haha! Thanks again for your fantastic comments - I really appreciate them! (And no, you would NOT like Lou's "The Raven", haha!) Cheers. Jeff