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Originally Posted by Mortte Jousimo
I havenīt heard the whole record, but what Iīve heard it sound to me miserable. Lyrics may be great, but the way Lou "sings" them is miserable. I also like some music that I consider perverse, but I donīt think this is perverse. But of course everybody have own opionions about whatīs perverse.
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I suppose it's a question of where you're coming from. I don't imagine many dyed-in-the-wool Metallica fans are ever going to like Lulu. It's not really for them (not that metalheads can't/ don't listen to other things - I mean a specific, metal-centric perspective that's not interested in other things). I think Reed's singing is rough, but he's not in his 20s any more, and he's fucked himself up. He struggles to hold a note these days. But the inability to sing well doesn't mean he shouldn't. Everyone loved Cash's late records, and his voice is fucked there. But if you look at Lulu in a similar way to something like Jandek or David Tibet - two divisive voices if ever there were... - Reed isn't letting his physical limitations stopping him, he's actually using them - to emphasise the lyrics, to act with contrary melody to the (quite poppy) Metallica arrangements.
I don't mean perverse in terms of the lyrics, by the by - I'm a long way from thinking that S/m lyrics are interesting in themselves. I mean in terms of a few contingent things - getting a very boorish metal band playing very boorish arrangements over some very feminist lyrics; having very flat, standard metal riffs coupled with outré arrangements; Having a man in his late-60s singing from the perspective of a pre-teen girl. That sort of thing.
Regards what Derek said about actually listening to things - I think that's what I like about this record. A lot of the time a brief listen doesn't give you much more than an idea of some influences, a bit of how people structure things etc etc. What really surprised me about Lulu was how
ugly it seemed from the outset. Making a record that's immediately repulsive, rather than just insipid (say, Mumford and Sons) is quite an achievement. It is an ugly record, but that's an important aesthetic, and one that's definitely pretty shocking in 2011.
Regarding the 'SYG elect' comment - no-one here in the 'elect' (assuming you mean the top 20 or so posters) agrees with each other on anything. It's not a secret club, it's just a load of people talking shite. Some have talked more shite than others. I certainly don't agree with most people on most things, but I also don't care. It's a question of how you deal with disagreements, not a circle-jerk franchise.