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Lou Reed & John Cale - Songs for Drella Audio CD

A fair review of the Lou Reed & John Cale "Songs for Drella" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Lou Reed & John Cale reviews here, or go back to the Lou Reed & John Cale tabs.

Lou Reed & John Cale Band: Lou Reed & John Cale
Title: Songs for Drella
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-04-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Smalltown 2: Open House 3: Style It Takes 4: Work 5: Trouble With Classicists 6: Starlight 7: Faces and Names 8: Images 9: Slip Away (A Warning) 10: It Wasn't Me 11: I Believe 12: Nobody But You 13: Dream 14: Forever Changed 15: Hello It's Me

Great Biographical Music
Based on reality and myth surrounding Warhol the songs create a very intimate look at what life was like for the artist, and the people around him. Songs for Drella closely mirrors the life of Pop Artist Andy Warhol through the music of John Cale and Lou Reed.

The songs themselves are fantastic. They are very simple, and that simplicity creates a great background for the dynamic story that takes center stage, the life af the factory people. The songs speak of almost everything in warhol's life, from growing up in the outscurts of Philli, to being shot, all the major points in Warhol's life are transcribed into narrative, backed by the magnetic sounds of former Velvet Underground members Lou Reed and John Cale.

The work of Andy itself is hardly spoke of. No mention of Marilyns or soup cans, which I personnaly found to be a smart move. Those are the things we are most familiar with, so by spending more energy focused on the life of the artist, we can look later at the art with a more understanding eye.

"The most important thing is work"
Benjamin Divin 2009.


Moving sentiment, lukewarm music
I think it's to do with the instrumentation, but even after many years of trying hard, I still do not enjoy this album except for A Dream and Hello, It's Me. John Cale & Lou Reed being amongst my favourite artists of all time, it grieves me to report that I do not consider Drella to be amongst their best.

The first, spoken by John Cale, sounds like an excerpt from Warhol's diaries (although I'm not sure it really is) whilst the second is a very poignant and tender epilogue with a beautiful melody. The biographical lyrics of all the songs are quite moving, but somehow, something's missing. I am very pleased, though, that many other fans regard it highly.


One of the best hommages ever made
It always seemed to me that much of his work was pure hype, and the minority that really had some value remained unobserved by many of his followers. Let me just say that I am not a fan of Andy Warhol, nor I ever was. Nevertheless, one was almost obliged to be thrilled when talking about the times of Andy Warhol, Velvet Underground, The Doors and such. . . It was the peculiar time in history of twentieth century which is peculiar in itself. And every artist that lived in those times doesen't stop talking or thinking about them, and the ones that didn't pay hommage.

Lou Reed and John Cale belong to the first group. But this album is not hommage to entirety of time, it is an hommage to Andy Warhol. And it is quite a pice of work. Music here plays just as a background, not really taking any part in developing a story, story which is in itself amongst the best thing that Lou Reed has ever written. From opening Intro", trough Style it takes" all the way towards the Dream" this album is a masterpiece. But its reach does not reach so long.

As I have said, this is an hommage to Andy Warhol and as such this album will have no value amongst the people that didn't like him. But nevertheless one has to appreciate the sincerity and passion that one can find in lyrics. The manner in which songs are played are almost nihilistic in its own way, and experience with every new listening just grows and grows.

I never was a fan of Andy Warhol, nor did I become one after this album. But Lou Reed and John Cale remained there, in the narrow space of 'fandom' of my own. .


REMEMBERING ANDY WARHOL

A perfect fusion between the Lou Reed underground rock and the John Cale's classic and experimental style. Just an electric guitar, a piano and a viola are enough to draw the tracks' outlines of this work.
Some tracks are violent, some other are sad.
They all remember the Factory years.
.


Classic concept album from two musical greats
John Cale says in the sleeve notes - "Lou did all the work", but the collaboration is seamless. A stylish collection of songs that adds up to an elegant exploration of Andy Warhol's life and work. Lou Reed's affection for his long-time friend Andy Warhol shines through. A great addition to the classic album collection for fans of Lou Reed, John Cale _and_ Andy Warhol.


You can see a complete list of all Lou Reed & John Cale discography, or go back to the Lou Reed & John Cale tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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