One way to learn to appreciate Lou Reed is to realize he was extremely literary. His express goal was to combine the rock/soul music he loved so much with a for

One way to learn to appreciate Lou Reed is to realize he was extremely literary. His express goal was to combine the rock/soul music he loved so much with a form of poetry you don't hear often in other artists. Leonard Cohen would be a notable exception. Read the opening stanza of "Rome had Juliette" Caught between the twisted stars the plotted lines the faulty map that brought Columbus to New York Betwixt between the east and west he called upon her wearing a leather vest, the earth squealed and shuddered to a halt [...] I could hit that light with one good arm behind my back said little Joey Diaz He contrasts intricate word smithy with blunt harsh statements. Read "ecstasy" then listen to the song. Read Street Hassle, then listen to it. I showed my friend the lyrics to Baton Rouge last night at a Lou Reed tribute in NYC after we had just heard it and she teared up for 10 minutes. She claims to not really be that interested in lyrics. Then for context on something like metal machine music, understand that people like Xenakis were exploring those ideas too. Pure tone and noise with no concern for meter or key. He really was a visionary. Source: I was a friend and collaborator with Lou Reed for many years.