The Jukebox Rebel

Complementing Lou Reed (guitar, vocals) are ex-Voidoid Robert Quine (guitar), Fernando Saunders (bass, backing vocals) and Doane Perry (drums). For me, the great appeal of this set is the refusal to drift into that session-rock vibe; whilst the template is fairly chilled and relatively safe, the strength lies in the subtle licks and tricks throughout, from the sinister-prettiness of “The Gun” to the punk-blues of the “title-track” and the protopunk glam of “Waves Of Fear”. The latter, almost buckling under the weight of the paranoia, finds our man in top lyrical form: “Crazy with sweat, spittle on my jaw, What's that funny noise, what's that on the floor, Waves of fear, pulsing with death, I curse my tremors, I jump at my own step, I cringe at my terror, I hate my own smell, I know where I must be, I must be in hell.” The album's a slow burner, but the pay-off is there for the patient. Not quite 1972s “Transformer” as the cover would have you believe, but certainly up there with “Berlin” (1973) and “Street Hassle” (1978).

The Jukebox Rebel
04–Apr–2011

A1	[05:25] Lou Reed - My House (Lou Reed) Songwriter
A2	[04:57] Lou Reed - Women (Lou Reed) Songwriter
A3	[02:33] Lou Reed - Underneath The Bottle (Lou Reed) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A4	[03:41] Lou Reed - The Gun (Lou Reed) Moodcore
A5	[05:06] Lou Reed - The Blue Mask (Lou Reed) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B1	[03:12] Lou Reed - Average Guy (Lou Reed) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2	[03:06] Lou Reed - The Heroine (Lou Reed) Songwriter
B3	[04:11] Lou Reed - Waves Of Fear (Lou Reed) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B4	[04:08] Lou Reed - The Day John Kennedy Died (Lou Reed) Songwriter
B5	[04:47] Lou Reed - Heavenly Arms (Lou Reed) Songwriter

ratings by TJR