growing up in public LP [Cutout]

Lou Reed | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl
• Format: Cutout
• Label: ARISTA
• ASIN: B001A4BIC4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,060 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

• Note: Cutouts are bargain-priced CDs that may have a "cut" or hole punched through the packaging. The CDs are new and unplayed, and they are covered by our standard returns policy for other CDs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rock 'n' Roll for Adults, February 12, 2008

By 

Mike B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Up in Public (Audio CD)

I own all of Lou Reed's albums, but this is my favorite and most played. While I love his tough guy persona exhibited on so many previous great albums, I feel he literally "grew-up" on this one. It's more personal and reflective than usual. He tackles adult themes with wit, charm, and his most dazzling lyrics ever. I'm not kidding. Try this on for size, from the opening song "How Do You Speak To An Angel":

"A son who is cursed with a harridan mother
Or a weak simpering father at best
Is raised to play out the timeless classical motives
Of filial love and incest"

Or this, from the brilliant title track:

"Some people are into sadistic pleasures
They whet your desires and drool in your ears
They're quasi-effeminate characters in love with oral gratification
They edify your integrities so they can play on your fears"

Not exactly moon/June rhymes, huh? While some of the songs are simpler in nature, most exhibit this kind of intelligent wordplay that's advanced even by Lou's normal high standards.

Before you think it all sounds pretentious - let me assure you it isn't. Along with his tribute album to Andy Warhol (the John Cale collaboration "Songs for Drella"), this is his most heartfelt recording.

Moreover, this thing rocks every bit as good as "Transformer", and he's still singing his songs - as opposed to "talking" them, which he started doing with the "New York" album and continues to do to this day. There's not a bad song here. I want to mention it also contains "The Power of Positive Drinking" - possibly the funniest thing he's ever written, and certainly among the best by anyone on this topic.

Like Graham Parker's "Struck by Lightning" CD, which announced the arrival of Parker growing up and contemplating adult themes - this is Lou's belated "coming of age" album. I can't recommend it highly enough.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This IS a great album, December 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Growing Up in Public (Audio CD)

I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews of this album, but I have to disagree with all of the negative ones. This is a great Lou Reed album. I would actually give it 4 1/2 stars but since that's not an option I chose five to counter all the negative ratings and help bring this one up a bit. It's full of great Lou Reed lyrics and the songs are amazing jazzy/rock arrangements that fit the lyrics perfectly and are full of memorable melodies. So, if you like Lou Reed don't hesitate to pick up this one. The only reason I can think that people would give it negative reviews is that they want Lou Reed to make the same album musically on every album he makes. The songs and lyrics are infectious and the lyrics aren't just mindless pop drivel but are for the most part a lot of deep introspecting on Reed's life and life in general. So find this one, you won't regret it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Growing Up" Grew On Me - 3 1/2 stars!, April 23, 2005

By 

Coleen "frankie-machine" (Down in the alley) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Growing Up in Public (Audio CD)

I used to think this was Lou's worst album, until I decided to listen to it "one last time" before I traded it away. Suddenly, it sounded GOOD. VERY good! Lou's vocals sounded sincere, the music wasn't as bland as I remembered it being, and I decided not to trade it after all! The cover has such a cool pic of Lou on it, too! Probably his best album cover. This isn't as good an album as "Rock n Roll Heart" or "Street Hassle" or "Blue Mask" or "The Bells", all from around the same era, but it's a worthwhile Lou Reed album and worth having. 3 1/2 stars!!!