Lou Reed (1) (1942–2013)

I read Lou's lyrics like poetry, because that's what they are: touching, affecting, harrowing, sardonic poems. He has some "Yeah, Baby!" lyrics, of course, but mostly he poured himself into his compositions with a brutally beautiful honesty.

I read them through while listening to Lou's albums, which deepened my appreciation. I know most of his words by rote, they come out of me without thinking, but sitting mindfully with his thoughts and feelings, embedded in his music, was a more intense show more experience.

Magic and loss 🖤 show less

I've been a fan of Lou Reed since the mid-80's. He was known - to put it politely - as difficult. Yet, I also heard stories of how gentle, funny, and warm he could be. This book reveals all of that: Lou the brutish jerk, Lou the sweetheart, and most of all, Lou the passionate practitioner. Lou felt that his devotion to Tai Chi saved his life when he left his days of drug and drink behind him. Only music held his interest as much as the martial arts did.

This book is the completion of a show more project Lou started in the early 2000's, but couldn't complete before his death. His longtime partner, musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson, devoted herselt to completing the book and getting it out into the world. To do so, she gathered reminiscences from friends, other artists (Iggy Pop, Wim Winders, members of Metallica, and others), Buddhist teacher Mingyur Rinpoche, other friends that Lou encountered during his Tai Chi journey, and his revered teacher, Master Ren GuangYi.

The result is a loving, compelling tribute to Lou's indefatigable spirit, his love of Tai Chi, and his deep desire to be as healthy as possible: healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. Up against liver disease, diabetes, arthritis, and a body worn down by years of substance abuse, Lou went all in with Tai Chi as a way to work with his pain and live as fully as he could.

How convincing are the stories? I just ordered two books on Tai Chi and have started doing it with the help of a video series available on Gaia.

And here's the verdict on Lou, the man: was he abrasive and rude? Yes...and the next minute, he could be kind and gentle. He was aware of it, he was working on it, and his anger was often perpetuated by a rigorous liver treatment he was on. He felt Tai Chi was the best way he could work with his most difficult emotions. I'd also say that Laurie Anderson brought out the best in him. Her love for Lou shines through this book. She is a radiant gift, to Lou and to all who encounter her work and spirit.

I learned a lot from this book: about Lou, Laurie, Tai Chi, and the martial arts. I recommend it if any of these topics are of interest to you. show less

Artist's book of photographs by Lou Reed. Issued in two inset volumes with smaller volume housed into die-cut hole in larger volumes. Both volumes housed in printed slipcase. "Like everything else I do my photos are about emotion. I'm interested in causing and recording emotion through action and interactive sequence; the sequence is meant to tell a story of sorts, a dream. I am a lyricist, and my feeling for rhythm and song dictates that these photos not be titled or in any other way show more impinged by the written word. The visuals speak for themselves in their relationships and theme, and I have no interest in the where and when of it all. These dreams exist through the viewfinder of the camera and express a reality seen only through a lens but experienced by us all in every moment of puzzlement in waking life." --Lou Reed show less

By turns beautiful and disturbing, Lou Reed has adapted the poems and stories of Edgar Allan Poe as a musical, presented here as a book of lyrical poetry and prose. The illustrations by Mattotti are by turns dream-like and nightmarish, in both stark monochromes and vividly febrile colour.

This is the first time I've seen Mattotti's artwork, so I can't compare it to any of his others, but as an isolated example I have to say he's able to brilliantly express Reed/Poe at both their most wistful show more and most morbid.

Whether you're a fan of Reed, Poe or Mattotti, I don't see where you can go wrong with this book. show less