Transformer

3.9/5

I enjoyed this more than I expected. Though he drones on with the vocals at points, the instrumentation is great enough for the tone and overall mood. Though the album had many tracks that were just average for me, it was a very cohesive project. Overall score-Light 6

I like it well enough. Shit gets a little too weird for me at times, but it’s an overall interesting album.

While I am not the biggest Lou Reed or Velvet Underground fan, I didn't find anything wrong with this album. I enjoyed the variety of style and for a Reed project the musicianship was high.

Transformer was a good album, had catchy beats and the singing is pleasing, however it is unfortunately just a little boring compared to stuff I usually listen to. I would maybe put it on in the background if i was hanging with some friends, but I doubt I will actively again. Standout songs are Vicious, Perfect day, and Take a walk on the wild side, with Perfect day probably being my favorite.

Transformer has some great songs, but also enough middling ones to bring its overall quality down. "Perfect Day" is beautifully insincere and detached, "Walk on the Wild Side" has tons of swagger, and "Satellite of Love" is a tender ballad with a jarring bridge. Much of the rest puts a glam rock spin on the choppy rock Reed made in the Velvet Underground, with sometimes confounding results. While Vicious recalls Bowie's best work, "Andy's Chest" is spoiled by distractingly nonsensical lyrics. Overall, the glam stuff never feels as loose as the rest of the genre. And while I typically like Reed's deadpan style, it gets annoying on "New York Telephone Conversation" (most of the second half of this is pretty inessential). There are some good elements here, but it doesn't quite come together.

Much more enjoyable musically than the Velvet Underground albums I have listened to. Always been a fan of Walk on the Wild Side so I was very curious what other songs would be on an album with a weird track like that one. Turns out its a bunch of weird songs with soft rock/ Bowie influenced style and that's great. I want to spend more time with the lyrics and let them simmer in my head but for now I'll stick with what stood out to me, Vicious, Perfect Day, Satellite of Love, I'm So Free.

Very good

I like Lou Reed, and there are some good tracks, but overall too hit or miss for me.

I wouldn't say Im the biggest Velvet Underground fan, but I do enjoy the lyricism and soft nature of most of the tunes. This album was similar and I had a nice time. Interesting dude.

seems to be a chill-soft rock album pushing weird lyrics of the 70s. Definitely feels like I'm hopping into a stoners time capsule lol

Soundtrack para tus 30s o algo así

It was alright. I don’t know that I would listen to it again but it had some interesting moments. Can’t say I’ve heard tuba played on a rock album before; I also enjoyed the jazz/ show tune influences throughout. Singing was fine but the delivery was lack luster, that’s probably the charm but I just didn’t care for it.

Produced by Bowie, Lou reed’s second solo album definitely shows the influence. The vocal production is very Bowie with the dreamy overdubbed delay sound, and the mixture of piano and rock is too. “Hangin around”, “perfect day”, and “satellite of love” also particularly sound like Bowie songs from both production and lyrical standpoints. Lou will show up again later I’m sure with the velvet underground, but this is a very accessible 70s pop cut that I hear lots of later influence in. Its funny, clever, weird, and sexual all at the same time, I get why it’s remembered fondly. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good album, but never quite understood why it was considered so great.

goodnight ladies me gusto mucho y bueno perfect day tmb pero es un clásico

fun!

Walk On the Wild Side underlines the significance this album had on rock music. Unfortunately, the vocals were pretty much just talking instead of actual singing. I don't typically like rounding up purely based on its influence, but the album feels important enough and its best single feels successful enough to be nothing less than a 3.

I last listened to this about 25 years ago. It’s aged better than me. Upbeat but if you listen to the lyrics there is real depth. Lou has such a distinctive voice. A great album.

Not really my thing too slow and a bit boring. Like a few of the hits, some I didn’t know he sang 2/5

Will I get canceled if I say this album is very average? Cancel me… 3.0

Meh

Alright

Post-Velvets what can you do? Bring on Bowie and Ronson of course. I love the glam guitar chug of Vicious and Hanging Around, and the melodic minimal pop of Walk on the Wild Side or even Perfect Day, but some of this is too cute or not great. Still, post-Velvets, what can you do?

Snarky and cooler than cool. Lou Reed being himself and channeling early 70s New York.

Interesting sound. Some tracks stood out.

Man, this is a tough one. This album has one of the finest songs ever written (Perfect Day), but for me, has some pretty filler songs too. The Bowie and Robson effect clearly elevate it and stamp it's place in history. But it still feels a bit over rated in general. A good album, that is touched by greatness perhaps?

283/1089 getting the idea pretty quickly that this is fine/good but just not for me Walk on the Wild Side is one i’ve heard in some part before and it’s still really good, the bass is just so warm and welcoming. i can hear Life is Strange and Haim in here so clearly just realised i had it on shuffle somehow, well… that’s annoying but easily sorted it’s a decent album, i think it existing led to similar music that i prefer so i’m grateful for it even if i don’t love a lot of it faves: Walk on the Wild Side is GREAT, Satellite of Love is also v good 54/100

Початок був прикольний, а потім таке собі. Все занадто подібне.

Iha kiva 3/5

Album was nice, no song was anything amazing, but they all sound good

it's kind of gung-ho in a heroin way honestly find it mildly disgusting ? not in a bad way but i don't particularly enjoy it - reminds me of a coffee with 5 sugars (enjoyed best when stoned, in withdrawal, or 13 years old)

ok ladny ten typ

6/10 This is the Lou Reed album that people always cite as his best solo work, so it’s an intriguing prospect. Glancing at the track list, there are a couple of obvious classics in there, but plenty that I’m unfamiliar with to get my teeth into. One of the most obvious standouts here is the guitar work of Mick Ronson who, within months of recording Ziggy Stardust, had seemingly carried his entire recording chain more or less as-was, straight into the studio with Lou Reed and carried on working. The guitar work is fantastic, but the fact that there are a bunch of tracks on here that sound like outtakes from the Ziggy Stardust sessions does make it sound a little derivative. And when you’re replacing the enigmatic, charismatic delivery of David Bowie with the everyman, folksy vocals of Lou Reed, it does sort of pale in comparison. While the glam rock stuff on here is decent enough, but hardly spectacular, the highlights are really the areas where he dips into a more stripped back style, with Perfect Day, Walk On The Wild Side and Satellite Of Love. It’s here that his folksy delivery, ear for a melody and approach to both every day life and counter-culture collide into some really special pieces of music. But that’s the strange thing about this album for me. While there are moments of excellence, there are also moments that are incredibly odd. Not odd in a “breaking the boundaries of sound” way like Velvet Underground, but odd in a “why are you recording music hall songs on your glam rock album?” way. It’s a really strange set of choices, almost like he’d had the ideas for three albums, written 3-4 tracks for each, run out of steam and then just lumped them together onto one record. Every single bit of it is competently delivered, the playing is all excellent, the production is great, with some interesting and quirky choices that help elevate the work in places and get out of the way to let the music do the talking in others. But it just feels slightly weird and unbalanced. Lou Reed has always been regarded as a pioneer and innovator, so it seems very strange to me that this, his most lauded album, contains such derivative, if well executed, work. The outsider folk anthems are absolutely fantastic, but aside from that, it’s all just a bit meh. Which is a massive shame. Vicious - There’s something quite endearing about this, despite the fact that it’s quite rhythmically flat. And by that, I mean that one of the key parts of the drum beat sounds exactly like a metronome that ticks its way through the whole song. It also doesn’t really offer much structural range or development. Some of the more experimental sonic edges to it add extra depth and I quite like his laissez faire vocal delivery, but it’s not necessarily the most interesting of tracks. Andy's Chest - I quite like the groove to this. It has a bit more development and interest to its structure and blends swagger well with the folksy delivery that Reed sings with. I noticed it a little in the opener, but Mick Ronson’s guitar is so obviously him here that it sounds like he’s literally just finished tracking for Ziggy Stardust and then recorded this through the same recording setup. There are some great moments in the production, like the “rock, rock” vocal in the outro. Nice to hear Bowie on backing vocals too. I enjoyed this one and it was pretty good, but it’s also put me in the mood to listen to Ziggy Stardust now. Perfect Day - This is a really beautiful and subtle pop song. The use of a minor key set against the lyrical content gives it a really wistful air of nostalgia, with the brief lift into major tonality during the choruses giving that edge of hope. It’s very simple, but that’s part of why it works so well. His everyman vocal delivery helps to give this more power too, I think. It has been over-covered and overplayed, but it’s a great song. Hangin' Round - More incredibly obvious Mick Ronson guitar here. Tonally, this is really cool and definitely leans heavily into Bowie’s glam rock sound of the time. Unfortunately, that is somewhat to it’s detriment, because this sounds so Ziggy-era Bowie that it sounds almost like it could have been a track that wasn’t quite good enough for Bowie, sung by someone who, while his voice works for some things, doesn’t have the musical control and charisma to really connect with this like the man himself. But it’s still a good song. Walk On The Wild Side - The dual bass lines in this are iconic. It’s a brilliant counter-culture anthem, discussing characters that even today are on the fringes of society. The production choices, particularly the backing vocals gradually pushing forward in the mix and having the reverb removed as it happens are really cool. Again, it’s a pretty simple track, but it packs in a lot of feeling and power and is a classic for a reason. Make Up - This is a bit more plodding and almost has an edge of music hall about it. It’s a little quirky and fun, but it feels a bit lacking in musical substance, almost feeling a bit like a novelty song, with the tuba bass line really not helping. I don’t dislike it, but it it’s also just too throwaway for me. Satellite Of Love - The piano playing and production here are lovely, and I think the pre-chorus is excellent. It’s got a delightful edge of quirkiness to it and the messing around with instrumentation and production styles in places gives it extra depth and quality. The lazy swagger to the groove is great too. Another solid track. Wagon Wheel - Now we’re leaning into a bit of a T-Rex sound for the guitar. There are some really cool moments in this, but it feels a tad disorganised and rambling, getting a little bit lost when it goes off piste. It’s weird, because it’s not bad, but it feels both unfocused and, at its core, musically underdeveloped at the same time. Strange. Again, it’s still decent, but not a highlight either. New York Telephone Conversation - Similarly to Make Up, this is almost music hall in sound and just feels a bit weird, but not in a good way. I'm So Free - Here come’s Ronson’s Ziggy guitar work again. There’s a great groove to this and it’s a solid glam track, but as I’ve mentioned before, I’m not entirely convinced that Reed’s vocal style works with this type of clean and harmonically tight material and it feels like it could have been a better track done by Bowie or Bolan. The actual track itself is pretty decent, if unspectacular compared to the very best of glam. Goodnight Ladies - To close out the album we get a reprise of sorts to Make Up. It’s quite meandering and, even though the jazzy bits are quite cool, it feels a very odd stylistic choice. I don’t really understand these tracks as they fell like a pastiche of variety music from 60 odd years prior. Very strange and a little bit pointless.

Muy americano

One of my all time problems with Lou is that I just don’t believe him. We’re listening to a guy who hates himself while styling himself as the coolest guy alive, but tripping all over it because he hates himself and definitely hates you, too. But, fantastic songwriter and had Bowie handled more than production, etc, and made this his own record and used Lou as a co-songwriter off and on for the next 30 years, we could’ve had quite a run. Great ATCQ sample.

Stuff of legends. Hadn’t heard the whole thing before. Some better than the others but I enjoyed it

he can’t sing and some of his lyrics are dodgy but this album is great overall. Proof that he was wasted in the velvet underground.

I haven’t heard much Lou Reed but I enjoyed his album Berlin. I think this is the one before and I imagine it’s alot more accessible. 3.6/5.0

Chill ass album to play golf too. Nothing crazy or special and pretty forgettable but it was a nice listen Fav Song: Walk On The Wild Side 6.5/10

A couple of GOATs on here. Never been the biggest fan. Enjoyable.

Wish this did more for me.

I love his voice and I love walk on the wild side but this was so so for me. I think it’s an important album but not my favorite.

I liked it, interesting guy!

The hits carried the misses.

5/10

I’ve never been a fan of the Velvet Underground or Lou Reed. I didn’t hate this, but I’m not coming away with new favourites. 3/5

Lou Reed is verrry very popular in the office, and with most of the songs I now understand why. Sometimes the speak-singing shtick really drives me up the wall, though (goes for everyone not just Reed).

One of those classic albums that does NOT sound like the cover. You'd expect some rock, but then you get Walk On The Wild Side - a pretty chilled out song - and Perfect Day which is pretty much a ballad (not to say these aren't great songs). Rest of the album is alright, but it just can't compare to the best of Velvet Underground Bit shocked that this came out in 1972 actually, I kind of had it pegged as an 80s album for some reason?

Heard perfect day like 100 times already, and walk on the wild side is obvs a tune The rest of the album could grow on me but doesn’t seem anything all that special either 3.5

Lou Reed's second solo album, released on 1972. Very much Lou Reed, definitely less velvety and a little more overground. Probably the two most recognizable songs were Perfect Day and Walk On The Wild Side. Perfect Day mostly because it was used in Trainspotting and other films. Wild Side stands out for just how OUT THERE this song was. I realized as I heard this that it used to get radio play, and that I haven't heard it on the radio in years. I also remember getting in trouble as a kid for singing the lyrics, lyrics I clearly had NO IDEA as to their meaning. Other than that, mostly meh.

I was going to say this album sounded good, but then I heard Walk on the Wild Side and decided I hate that song and it ruined the rest of the album for me. It sounds good, but at the same time it sounds bad, it's hard to explain.

My enjoyment of this album shifted a lot during my listen with some very high highs and very meh lows. Reed's voice leans monotone in quite a few tracks, which made them a bit boring, but that's not always the case. Sometimes, in songs like Wagon Wheel, it's far more exciting and dynamic. Plus, the most well-known song on the album, Walk On the Wild Side, is one of the worst offenders of the monotone sound and manages to not be all that bad because of the lyrics and guitar. I wouldn't describe this as my favorite kind of album to listen to, but I did feel it was properly balanced and was moderately enjoyable.

Top Songs: Perfect Day I'm So Free

Bangers: walk on the wild side of life, perfect day. Okay: satellite of love, NY telephone conversation

Una onda particular, no esta mal, tampoco me enloquecio. Un sonido medio brit para ser americano

Toisella sooloalbumillaan Lou Reed pääsi pois The Velvet Undergroundin varjosta ja tuottajina toimineet David Bowie ja hänen silloinen kitaristinsa Mick Ronson toivat Reedin uuden yleisön tietoisuuteen. Transformer-levyltä löytyykin Reedin tunnetuimmat kappaleet Walk on the Wild Side, Satellite of Love ja Trainspotting-elokuvassa ikimuistoisesti käytetty Perfect Day. Edelleenkään en ole Lou Reedin iso fani, vaikkakin hänen merkityksensä rock-musiikille onkin kiistaton. Harvat lauloivat 70-luvulla huumeiden käytöstä, homoista ja transsukupuolisista yhtä avoimesti kuin Reed. Ronsonin kitara ja Bowien taustalaulut tuovat eloa kappaleisiin, mutta Reedin lauluääni on vain niin ankea, että en osaa täysin nauttia tästä levystä.

Le ponemos un 6

I love the Velvet Underground and David Bowie, but I can’t make myself love Lou Reed.

Huh, this wasn't horrible. Track I liked: perfect day. Make up reminded me of tv girl. Would I revisit this: nah.

Just a nice one

prima, beetje vaag soms

There's this strange synergy between Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie; they shared each other's sounds, they shared each others asses, they shared each other's needles, and they always had terrible album covers. Sometimes they made good music too, but that's by the by. Transformer has much of the glam sound of the time, Bowie pops up, and yes, its a truly terrible album cover. But it has some good music. As we all know, Glam was recently proven to be the worst sub-genre of Rock, so that's a point removed from the score. Reed's vocals don't suit the genre, so that's another point off. Perfect Day is great, the lyrics are solid, and the album is trangressive enough to piss off conservative and religious rypes, so that's two points to the good. The best moments in this album are those that step away from the Glam and back towards The Velvet Underground. It's either a three or a four, depending on my mood. Absolutely not a five. Actually, it's definitely a three.

it’s fine

Not very golden, but yet had good guitar instrumentals. Could you be a good inspiration to upcoming instrumental guitarists

The purveyor of rock documenting the seedy side of life again captures its vibe well but what does that mean for the rest of us?

Didn’t change me.

Eh

Favorite Song: Vicious

It was ok, still not really sure what all the fuss is about with Lou Reed though

Good but strange

the other week on bluesky june posted about how she met a trans woman that didn't enjoy lou reed and how that set us back 10 years, which everyone wrongfully assumed was me, however i am setting us back at least another 5 years i guess. i really do not like his voice. he's doing his best david bowie impression, and even with bowie producing this, i can't say i'm a fan of his voice. it's broadly unpleasant, especially every time he says 'little girl' on a track like "make up" which gave me the ick. yes yes yes, that track and "walk on the wild side" are really important for how ahead of the curve they are to have the novel concept of loving a trans woman (waow!) in 1972 and in [current year], don't get me wrong. he gets points for every pronoun, i just don't particularly enjoy listening to most of this. apologies for the continued lack of rights, everyone.

I enjoyed this way more than his other album on the list.

It’s alright. Don’t hate it, don’t love it

Dude just shut up for like 5 seconds

My expectations based on the album cover were very wrong, in a good way mostly. Instrumentals were nice, singing kind of went back and forth for me. Kind of a talker/singer. Anyways, I enjoyed this.

Perfect Day is a great song.

2.75. I just don’t think I like Lou Reed that much. Perfect Day is good

Liked: Vicious, Perfect Day, Make Up, I'm So Free

Okay

Perfect Day a banger, sadly not repeated on rest of the album. Pretty decent though

Alright Lou, some ok songs here

Enjoyed this one. Walk on the Wild Side is a classic.

Having had next to no feelings about The Velvet Underground album that previously came up, and having decided I don’t like Lou Reed, I anticipated I would dislike this. Yet again, I did not. I don’t really like Reed’s voice, but the songs on this were largely enjoyable. I had forgotten how wonderful a song “Perfect Day” is, and “Walk on the Wild Side” is a classic (even if, lyrically, it doesn’t hold up the best to a modern ear). The rest was all quite good, if a bit silly and a bit bonkers in places. If I could give it a 3.5, I would, but it’s not a 4* for me. Even if I do feel a bit miserly.

2.5 - I thought I would hate this based on what I heard in the documentary from a few years ago. Not bad.

Nice to hear the album containing some of Lou Reed's biggest hits. I did not know it was produced by Mick Ronson and David Bowie, but I'm glad it was.

great

Uno de los tipos más sobrevalorados del mundo. No sabe tocar. No sabe cantar. Pero nos tenemos que comer que es alguien importante. Este disco no está mal. Lo soportan dos o tres canciones decentes y la enorme "perfect day".

not my music, cant really get into him, maybe couple of songs, not on this album though

I would put that at a 3. It has its strengths and I do appreciate the nature of how early this album gives neutral/positive rep to communities that were even more marginalized in 1972. David Bowie producing checks out, I hear it all over the album. Perfect Day was a nice track and Goodnight Ladies is cute as well, though it'd be less so if I got even a hint of unauthenticity from it. Some of the album is dull and lacking in energy, maybe as a result of Lou Reed's singing style. It works in some places, I think the aforementioned two songs are quite good with that deadpan delivery. But some places it falls flat, any up-tempo song pretty much. I wouldn't rush to turn any of this off, but I'm not rushing to put it on either. I like some of the things I heard, and the rest wasn't grating, although tracks 7-10 are kinda sluggish. I guess it'd be a 2 if it didn't have some mysterious charm that I can't put my finger on. Maybe I'm charmed that the unique vocal of Lou Reed and Bowie's production work "find a way" through what would otherwise be a slog. I think a hard 3 is appropriate. Couldn't get through Wild Side without doing Can I Kick It and now I hope the next album is Tribe.

Vicious: I think I am unwell. I managed to misread this as: "Vicarious". As in, the song by TOOL. I think that's about all I can think of to write about this. Andy's Chest: Who is Andy, and why did we dedicate an either song to his chest? Perfect Day: I wish I could go to the zoo. Hangin' 'Round: Harry Du Bois was not a rich, young man who would've become a priest. Walk on the Wild Side: There definitely is a joke I can make here, but I think the lyrics speak for themselves. I can see why people like this, I think it's not for me. It's like Wonderwall by Oasis: so many that I know love it, but I just don't see it. And it's probably because I grew up in a metalhead family and have an older sibling that introduced me to much more louder and rebellious music than this slow song about this, that, and the other. Make Up: I don't think I'm a slick little girl. I am trans fuck who's out of the closet and on the regular flips off their bigoted father and likes Wolverine. Satellite of Love: Somewhere out there, there's a Starman, waiting for us in the sky. And we're using the Satellite of Love to find him. Wagon Wheel: I want to one day own a cheese wheel. New York Telephone Conversation: idk what to write here. New York rats are really big and fat. This sounds like something you'd hear children sing while playing skipping rope. I'm So Free: me when weekend or something. Idk, another one I can't think of anything funny to write. Goodnight Ladies: what I say to my pc set up after I turn them off and go collapse in my bed at 2:53 am

faces: vidious; walk; sattelite wagon

So, I've heard Lou Reed did a lot of drugs around the time of this record. That figures. It's fine - some classic tracks in here, but sometimes I was losing the vocals in the mix, and a lot of the lyrics were just odd for the sake of it, which I found offputting. Good to have heard it all the way through, though.

Pretty pretty good songs over here

Wanted this to be better. Lotta weird or boring songs

Your usual 70s blend of absolute classics and bang average filler. Bowie & Ronson do a great job on production.

Obviously at it's best it has some iconic songs but otherwise I think it was just an OK album.

Lou Reed. Tuttu nimi muta en olisi osannut nimetä yhtään herran biisiä. No nyt osaan. Eka biisi Vicious oli vähän, että mitä ihmeellistä tässä on. Mutta sitten levy pääsi liikkeelle ja tässä on hyviä biisejä yksi toisensa perään. Reedin ääni on tunnistettava ja taas kerran soittotaito ja dynamiikka (rummuissa varsinkin) ihan tajutonta. Positiivinen yllätys ja ymmärrän kyllä, miksi Perfect day ja Walk on the wild side on valtavia hittejä. Hyvä levy, ei kuitenkaan ominta musamakua, joten tuskin kovin usein tulee tähän palattua. Olen iloinen, että tuli kuunneltua tämäkin levy. 3/5

Listen

I could quickly put a triple album together of Lou Reed / VU songs that I love. They're spread a little thinly on this one, although Satellite of Love is one of my favorites.

A couple of great songs, an ok album.

2.6/5 I listen to an artist named Adam Green and I always thought he was a quirky dude with the way he sang and arranged his songs. After listening to Lou Reed for the first time, I now realise Adam Green must be a massive fan of Reed because they have the same style and quirks. I didn't mind this album on the first listen despite the weirdness so I might have to listen to more Lou Reed music.

Pretty solid

The 3 classic tracks on here are great. There are one or two others worth a listen. The piano and bass work is excellent. Some of the tracks, including the opener, feel like fillers and (the first track) feels like an amateur demo - not great musicianship. It's OK, but I would just listen to the big hitter tracks.

2/17 Was okay

I liked this album but still feel as though it’s a bit of a let down on first listen

Controversial take but it think this album is overrated. Velvets is much better, later Lou is much better. Feels like a less well sung Bowie album.

I guess I wasn't really in the mood for these slow songs. Besides Walk on the wild side (bangerrr), it didn't do much for me.

I like most of Lou Reed's stuff. this is by far is best album. Great songs like "Walk on the Wild Side", "Satellite of Love" and "Perfect Day" are my favorites. Produced by David Bowie (and you can tell his influence on the album).

I hear early bowie and dylan ( without the twang). This coupled with his classic walk on the wild side, made for an enjoyable alblum.

I didn't think I was going to like it because the style is very casual and silly at times, but I found myself enjoying side 2 for the same reasons that I love "Perfect Day": it's genuine and human, which makes it disarming even to the most cold, critical gaze. Not my typical go-to, but worth a listen, I thought. Also it works much better as group listening than myopically metered through headphones.

I liked this more than the Banana album, but I feel like the worst part of this Lou Reed album is actually Lou Reed.

cool for the time

I like this but don’t love it. Never connected with this one.

I bought this album on CD when i was about 18 as it was continually referenced by the indie bands that i loved as a seminal album. When i listened then i found it pretty underwhelming and didnt understand the hype. An opportunity to revisit it 25 years later was very interesting. A couple of listens through and it appears my music taste and appreciation skills have not changed. I can see some very good songs and i can see jow it influenced music to come, but i dont think it deserves much of a relisten. Lou's voice is really weak and the album is patchy at best. I think their alternative image may have caught the zeitgeist of the time to elevate their legend.

Pretty fun. Very silly

Slightly disappointing, considering how some people go on about this album. I liked Perfect Day and that's about it. I will admit that it's a definite improvement over The Velvet Underground and Nico album I had to listen to for this project.

5.5/10

Lou Reed’s Transformer is a pretty good album. Only song I knew before listening was Walk On the Wild Side which is by far the highlight of the album. It was a solid album overall and it was enjoyable

some real highlights from this one, but the middle tracks just dont hit

I don't quite get Lou Reed's “Transformer”. It wants to be a dark album, but it doesn't really deliver. His biggest hit, “Walk on the Wild Side”, doesn't really grab me because, apart from the lyrics, there's not much to it. “Perfect Day” has potential, but it doesn't sound very depressing, just slightly melancholic, which lightens the mood compared to the other songs and therefore doesn't contribute to the gloom. Overall, it has something of Johnny Cash about it, but without his charisma—and since charisma was everything for Johnny Cash, that doesn't leave much. Actually a two-star album but I give it a third one for detached coolness and the early glam rock vibes.

Opened strong so I thought I would've loved it more than I did. Perhaps a second to marinate and listen again will change my opinion but rn...

Some problematic lyrics. Not quite my vibe I think.

Such a mixed bag of an album. Includes some of the best and worst songs I’ve ever heard. So it goes with Lou Reed. The influence this had on a lot of bands I like can’t be questioned though, so it’s an album I appreciate rather than enjoy.

I do like this album - lovely music to have on in the background but nothing I would really connect to

It’s more talking than singing and this project has revealed to me that I find that style of performance very greeting. Did not enjoy. (Edit: Oh! Walk on the Wild Side! I know this song)

it's decent, i think? the vocal styling is not particularly to my taste, at least in this sort of quantity, but there's good individual tracks for sure.

Nice

tired of listening to the same albums from this progressive era, i don’t think they have aged too well. found this album to be mixed with highs and lows; could mostly tolerate lou reeds voice. the best song imo is perfect day, it has a timeless feel to it that walk on the wild side does not. this song is this album’s saving grace. 3 stars

vicious is a little goofy but it’s pretty good andy’s chest is also very random, second song in and i can already tell this guy is pretty goofy with the lyrics but he has a nice voice. reminds me a tad bit of bowie perfect day is pretty good, i like the message behind it hanging round is fire, favorite so far for sure. music is on point walk on the wild side is so good it’s great, just everything about it. think the first three songs must’ve been experimental because they were really goofy make up is good, i like the message and it sounds familiar satellite of love and wagon wheel are decent i suppose new york telephone conversation is pretty good, not too much to say goodnight ladies is fire i’m so free is also fire and i like the lyrics i think my favorite song off of this album is 🥁 🥁… hangin round

Yeah, it’s decent. You can hear a little bit of punk in there. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? Not really.

Good

I really appreciate the story-telling in Walk on the Wild Side. I remember listening to this album in high School or college for the first time and feeling really cool LOL. I'd like to appreciate more the impact Lou Reed had on creating new types of music like punk and alternative. I know people have said that Lou was more of an "observer" or reporter of the subcultures of drug use, transgender exploration etc. in New York, but I'm not sure how I feel about the morally ambiguous message and content of the songs or even the deadpan delivery/tone. The whole album sounds sarcastic to me, which is especially obvious in the song Make Up as an example. I don't know if sarcasm is the intention but either way it doesn't impress me the way that it used to when I was younger. The music certainly doesn't uplift or inspire me but maybe if I learn to appreciate the music more for what it is and the impact it had I would get more enjoyment from it. I think out of curiosity I will listen to it again and also try to learn more about the inspiration and impact of it.

Not my type of music but enjoyed it more than the other metal bands ive had so far

solid - very good rock hooks and really enjoyable to listen to!

raw, quirky and a little chaotic

Trippy and vibey!

Nothing on this album except for Walk On the Wild Side is as good as what he did with the Velvet Underground.

Would have given a 4 if not for New York Telephone Conversation Fave track: Perfect day

Vicious - 7/10 Andy’s Chest - 5/10 Perfect Day - 7/10 (liked the ending) Hagin’ ‘Round -5/10 Walk On The Wild Side - 8/10 Make Up - 4/10 (the horn just doesn’t do it for me) Satellite of Love - 5/10 Wagon Wheel -6/10 (a little catchy) New York Telephone Conversation - 1/10 (annoying) I’m So Free - 4/10 Goodnight Ladies - 2/10 (too slow) Overall Rating: 5/10 Definitely an acquired taste for sure…

Not bad, not amazing

Fair amount of forgettable tracks, but the good ones are very good.

Best - Vicious Worst - Hangin Round

First few on the album were good.

It was alright. I knew Walk on the Wild Side of course, but not sure I'd heard any of the others.

I don't know, it feels like it lost the thing that made VU work. But it does have the biggest recognizeable songs of his solo career. 3/5

Good I liked the songs earlier on better then the later one the new york telephone conversation kinda annoyed me and there was also a ballad i didn't like. Overall the songwriting was very interesting but im unsure if i would return to this.

Ну нормально

Absolutely fine.

Alright x

I understand that the album is technically impressive from a musical standpoint. But I found the songs to be uninteresting and boring. It grew on me a little bit upon the second and third listen. Not something I see myself going back to much.

This album smirks. It doesn’t smile and it doesn’t frown. It’s just kind of there. Gives a sort of urban big city feel, a bit grungy. I’d like this album more if I was the chronic school misfit, but I wasn’t, so I’m giving it 3/5

loved Perfect Day sm

Siin on päääris mõjukaid lugusid, aga ka sellist lahjemat kraami, kus mulle tundub, et Lou päris ei laula, vaid lihtsalt jutustab ja see vokaal kuidagi kergelt häirib. Muidu on kuulatav kraam, vahepeal paneb ta nilbustega üle. 3.2/5

Pretty chill, not entirely my vibe but I might have to sit with it a while.

First listen, I was like “yeah this rules.” By the 5th (bc no Sat/Sun albu), I was not as enthused. The hits are great, but a couple songs just ruin the whole thing. Also that bridge in “Satellite of Love” is duuuuuuuumb.

Another easy listening album. Not bad, not special either.

Couple of listens and there’s some interesting stuff in there. Wildside of course and the upbeat stuff I liked like Satellite. Overall meh though

This had great potential. A few really good tracks, and some so so ones bring it down to a 3/5 for me. Not enough to get me wanting to listen to the whole thing again.

Entiendo el hype pero no es algo que escucharía en mi día día. Satellite of love a bop mi favorita

Pretty good but it's reputation seems to be only be there because of it being a predecessor to other cultures.

3⭐️ enjoyed reading about how Bowie produced this album! feel like there are some really enjoyable songs and some that I wouldn’t listen to again. songs I already knew: walk on the wild side fave new one(s): satellite of love

More straightforward than I had expected. Some good songs for sure.

Liked the musicality and instruments and overall sound. The lyrics gave me the creeps sometimes... don't know if it's because it's from a different era or if I just didn't understand them.

it’s very slow and consistent, not really for me

honestly I have nothing much to say. liked hearing this album for the first time and the addition of tuba and sax was also nice. good vocals that I enjoyed listening to. -favourite track: WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

kinda giving cabaret vibes a bit

Sanullim do this better Highlights: Vicious Walk on the Wild Side Wagon Wheel

I see the appeal to some people but to me it didn't stand out very much. I enjoyed songs like walk on the wild side and satelite of love but found songs like make up unsettling.

Pink Moon was overall fine for me. Out of the entire album, I genuinely enjoyed about three songs. Folk music isn’t really my genre, and it’s not something I would normally choose to listen to on my own. Because of that, parts of the album didn’t connect with me on like a musical way. That said, the lyricism stood out. Nick Drake’s writing is very intentional. I could feel what he was trying to express in each song. Even when I didn’t love the sound, the emotions came through, and I found myself relating to the lyrics on many tracks. Every song felt meaningful and the album definitely made me feel something, which I value.

Is okey i like it

Vicious, Perfect Day, Walkin on the Wild Side are quite nice As someone really enjoys rock in general because of how it can bring out hidden joy and emotions, this was a great into album to a legend I did even know. Strong 3.8/5.

Heel leuk

Not that bad

Good, but not for me! The talk singing got tiring after a while. Perfect Day and Wild Side are objectively great though.

I had never really dug into Lou Reed's work in the past. I knew the inevitable "Walk on the Wild Side", of course, and I was aware of the Velvet Underground as a seminal force in early alternative rock, but hadn't actually listened to much of it. Listening to this album has convinced me that Lou Reed is much like Bob Dylan. This is partly because he's an extremely influential musician whose echoes are still being heard in music decades later, but mostly because he's a gifted songwriter and fantastic lyricist who is hampered by a profound inability to sing. Unlike Dylan, Reed has a very mellifluous voice, but he can't hit a pitch to save his life. Songs like "Walk on the Wild Side" and "New York Telephone Conversation" cover this up by being more conversational, but then we come to songs like "Satellite of Love" and "I'm So Free" where he's singing alongside some really excellent harmony vocals, and his lead lines are just kind of...stuck in there wherever. The production (by David Bowie, no less!) is stellar, and the music is sublime - even the quirky choices (like replacing bass with a tuba) work. I just wish Reed wasn't tone-deaf...although, given that this was the highly experimental New York of 1972, that may have been the point.

Twas ok. Not my personal taste but definitely fitting for the time it was released.

I was happy to see this album. I've been wanting to explore Lou Reed's music, specifically Velvet Underground. For me, this is a good introductory album for his work. It has the classic "Walk on the Wild Side." The line "...and the colored girls go..." always made me uncomfortable and now that I'm older, I really don't like it at all, but there's more to that song which is still good. I wish he had re-recorded it and changed that line or just let it out completely. The song simultaneously raises issues that were taboo at the time and needed to be said, and is reductive of the backup singers. Mentioning the ethnicity but not saying anything more goes nowhere. There's no stance other than the possibility of holding onto dated prejudice trope. That said, there were a couple of other standouts, "Perfect Day," "Vicious," and to some degree, "Make Up." The other songs are okay.

Lou Reed takes everything he did for the Velvet Underground and expands on it on Transformer. Reed sing-talks, and actually sings, over familiar themes of night life, danger, but also new ones like love. With David Bowie's encouragement, Reed shows what he's capable of by trying a few different styles, most of which work out. The lyricism ranges from inspired, to silly nonsense, but Reed can even mostly sell the stilly poetry, too. Unfortunately, the album suffers from being frontloaded. Most of the experiements that don't quite hit are on the back end. A revitalized Lou is good for You Highlights: "Viscious", "Perfect Day", "Walk On The Wild Side", Bowie's backing vocals on "Satellite of Love".

viscous - was moving my hips to this one!! andy’s chest is so 70s i love + the guitar perfect day - ok keeeeyz. also lyrics i like all the different instruments NY telephone conversation was worst song lol i saved a few songs

Knew about 3 songs. I didn't hate it but none of the songs stood out to me.

Liked the sound.

Eccentric glam pop/rock album that very clearly shows Bowie's production influence. Solid A side, significantly weaker B side. Decent listening overall. Top tracks: Andy's Chest, Perfect Day, Walk On the Wild Side

Transformer Lou Reed - Now, I love lou Reed, and this is an album where the highs are so so high, but some of the tracks i think fall a little bit short. - I love dry wit in writing and this is apparent in a lot of the songs - Lou Reed ur cool and don’t let anyone tell u otherwise - I would rate it 4 because of what it means to me, but genuine rating i think three at the moment Favourite: Always and forever Perfect Day. couldn’t listen to it today otherwise i’ll cry. Lots of memories to that song oml

I feel like this album some good songs and some filler ones. If it had a few more songs I really enjoyed, I’m sure I’d be a 4.

6 out of 10? Not sure it was my mood for the day

My enjoyment of this album shifted a lot during my listen with some very high highs and very meh lows. Reed's voice leans monotone in quite a few tracks, which made them a bit boring, but that's not always the case. Sometimes, in songs like Wagon Wheel, it's far more exciting and dynamic. Plus, the most well-known song on the album, Walk On the Wild Side, is one of the worst offenders of the monotone sound and manages to not be all that bad because of the lyrics and guitar. I wouldn't describe this as my favorite kind of album to listen to, but I did feel it was properly balanced and was moderately enjoyable.

walk on the wild side is super cool, but the rest is kinda meh

Loved it

3.5

Pop hits from a kind of weird guy. Listening to Berlin through this list earlier on gave me new appreciation for Lou Reed. He definitely feels like a unique and avant gard poet artist to me now. This now feels so fresh and poppy in comparison. There are some absolute classics. It's all very listenable. It's not that it lacks depth at all, but I think I enjoyed my foray into weird lou a little bit more

Because Lou Reed’s unique vocals, this kind of feels like The Velvet Underground without most of the weirdness of The Velvet Underground, which was the whole point. Some songs were pretty enjoyable, but I can’t say I have a lot of feelings about this album as a whole. Pretty good but nothing groundbreaking. 7/10

Iconic album, transformer feels like an album where directly inspired blues rock transitions into something more contemporary

Sisältää Lou Reedin tunnetuimmat biisit. Varhaista glam rokkia, en osaa paremminkaan kuvata tätä vaikka glam ei oo eka sana mikä mieleen tulee. Parhaat: Walk On The Wild Side, Perfect Day, Vicious

All goes a bit teddy bears picnic for my liking

I've heard many Lou Reed songs, but have never taken on an album from front to back. Honestly was a bit repetitive.

Surprisingly musical theatre-y? Like Chicago. But indie? And rocky? Lil jig to the beat. Liked it. Probably a grower

Very relaxing. Very rocky. I enjoyed some of the songs, it reminded me of how simple songwriting and producing used to be back in those days. It felt raw and real, not superficial or commercial, which I really appreciated. The type of album that definitely didn’t need music videos but rather, a focused ear. I enjoyed it as a first album to discover.

100 ALBUMS DOWN A BAJILLION TO GOOOOOO. Queer American who loves watching television. Just @ me next time.

It's a good album, one can hear Bowie's work as a producer.

Spoken word but not bad? Idk

It was okay, very mellow but not my kind of music.

I can see why I only know the singles. I think Bowie and Ronson were trying to make Lou Reed British.

Fun album, definitely showing its age though. Back in 1972 there were only 2 guitar tones

Parts of this I really enjoyed, especially the first half. But towards the end I was just a bit confused, especially with New York Telephone Conversation- what was going on there?

Tossing up between 3 and 4. I really like Walk on the Wild Side, and I really like Lou Reed's voice, but I felt like a lot of this album could basically be some Velvet Underground b-sides.

Very Lou Reed-y, very Velvet Underground adjacent, but a bit more New York-y, somehow.

I've never liked Lou Reed, this album is no exception. I made an exception for the one he did with MetallicA as I'm a huge 'tallicA fan. There are a few tracks on this one I'm familiar with, but I don't much like those either. Skipped a few tracks. I can't deny his legendary status, whether I understand it or not, so it gets a 3.

Not really my thing, but I get it.

An artist my dad listens to so I have heard some songs that way. He has a nice voice but the music isn't really my taste. That being said some individual songs on this album are great and I already have them on playlists before this.

Some great samples came from this record, none of which are necessarily Lou Reed’s voice. I don’t hate it but I don’t know how much I’ll come back to it.

Transformer is an album i have some very odd opinions on. On the surface, it is one that is pretty solid as the guitars are snappy, the vocals work well with the songs, the trumpets and saxophones are cool and the album is pretty well produced. However, there are some odd little things that i don't really like here. The lyrics are not something i really enjoy, especially in Andy's Chest and the album overall just has this really sleazy vibe which i just don't like. I'm not sure the main thing that is giving the album this but it's still there and i'm still not a fan of that. I still think its a solid album but i feel like i wanna like this album a bit more than i do. Best Song: I'm So Free Worst Song: Andy's Chest

Not really for me, got a little bored while listening. Liked it much more after another listen, explored some topics lyrically that were abead of its time

It was alright 3/5

Wait, “Perfect Day” was Lou Reed? Plot twist.

Turns out I’m familiar with more Lou Reed songs, that I didn’t realize were Lou Reed, than I was aware of… could have done without the new familiarization with most of the others.

I'm in the 3 camp, it was decent, just not on my playlist

Pretty great - I could listen to his voice for a long while

Soa exatamente como um álbum produzido pelo Bowie. É bom e tem ápices altíssimos, mas eu continuo não sendo um grande fã dessa coisa meio glam.

Not what I was expecting but pretty good

Classic Lou - not much to argue with.

Good wee calming album. Lowkey and understated without becoming forgettable

comptines pour enfants qui mettent des carrés dans des ronds

confuse, perfect day un 5, goodnight ladies, qu'est ce que j'ecoute

Some absolute classics on this one, but some that aren't. For me, Lou Reed's voice only works for some songs, and several of these are ones that just don't work for me. Tops: "Walk On the Wild Side", "Perfect Day", "Vicious"

Right now I am enjoying the early 70s glam era. Lou Reed is not one of my favorites from this glittery time, but this album has its fun moments, and you can definitely hear the Bowie influence on a few tracks.

It's OK. Couple good songs, otherwise background noise.

New York Telephone Conversation - raar lied

interesting album, a couple of songs I recognized

Low energy vocalist

Meh.

Instrumentals, lyrics, and flow are good. Vocals lack, but doesn’t kill the whole experience.

Cozy album to wind down. Nothing particularly exciting, but now I know what “glam rock” is.

Quite uneven. Although that's not necessarily Lou's fault. Some bits suffer because of overexposure. I don't think I ever need to hear Perfect Day or Walk On The Wild Side ever again. Other bits suffer because of fairly typical Seventies silliness. The last three songs are quite terrible (not really a fan of Make Up either to be honest. I don't think Lou Reed and a parping tuba is a winning combination). And then you're left with about half an album. Half a pretty good glamrock album - and Vicious is a terrific opener - but still just half an album.

His best songs are great but there always a few that don't do it for me

Kinda like a bad Pavement record, vibed with some songs and hated others

No standouts, a few big names, 3

Started off kinda emo. There was one song that sounded like a children's song. Overall didn't hate it.

classic. kinda more of a "beat poetry over funky bowie tunes" album than anything else, which it turns out isnt all hits. Perfect Day still whips, favorite song is probably Andy's Chest, or just the outro to Satellite of Love

Rating: 6/10 We get our first rock classic in our project and it’s one I haven’t personally listened to in full. Of course we probably all know at least of the big ones, Walk on the Wild Side, Perfect Day, Satellite of Love, Vicious. But it’s also inconsistent to me outside of the great highlight tracks. Adding this to my library though

Cool vibes. 5 bamboo reeds out of 10 lizard wizards

important but i dont enjoy it that much

Her e d jo masse bangers! IIITS SUCHH A PERFECT DAAAY AND I WANT TO SPEND IT WITH YOUUUU!! og walk on the wild side e jo sampla i can i kick it, som eg har hørt masse på:) Beste sang: Perfect Day

There's a few pockets of great music in here but they are few and far between. I like Velvet Underground but this was not really for me. 3 stars for that bass in Walk On The Wild Side, the last minute of Perfect Day and the guitar toan on I'm So Free

Generally happy to listen to Lou Reed. Fairly typical of what I understand to be the Lou Reed sound.

I don't like Bowie and so I didn't like this

Tuntuu et nää biisit jää jotenki kesken. Rakentuu ja rakentuu mutta ei kuitenkaan kasva ja jää tylsäksi. Oisin ehkä voinut tykätä tästä mut oli vaan jotenki laimea, vaikka hyviäkin biisejä oli.

Some classics on here.

Nah. I like Lou’s Velvets era work but I don’t see the appeal really here. Given how well regarded this record is I was kinda surprised. There’s moments that the Bowie/Ronson rockers kinda pop but there’s also a bunch of skips. My impression this album is greatly overrated.

2 or so good songs on here

Love perfect day and wild side but kind of lost me on the rest. 3.5

Really enjoy "perfect day".

Had listened to this in the 500 Rolling Stone list. Was surprised it is all in my Liked list on Spotify. Some questionable lyrics in places, when viewed through a modern lens, but enjoyable.

3/5. Perfect day is iconic, the rest is pretty okay

I know that he was very influential and brought a whole new perspective to rock and roll, but I was never much impressed by his music.

Perfect Day

*Vicious: not bad, it's a cool vibe. like David Bowie x Viagra Boys. the lyrics are so straightforward that it kind of makes me laugh e.g. "You're not the kind of person that I'd even want to meet" Andy's Chest: what the hell is this dude talkin about *Perfect Day: I dig this one. it has the earnestness you need for a love ballad like this, his voice sounds great too Hangin' 'Round: it's alright. it definitely is a song. Walk On The Wild Side: this one's okay, I think the lyrics are interesting but it's not really my thing sonically. the casual spoken word thing is always a tough sell for me. also the GIRLS OF COLOR go do-do-do-do-do-do, it's 2025 Make Up: kinda gay Satellite of Love: this album is just boring me to death unfortunately. the last minute or so is pretty cool though. Wagon Wheel: watusi. one of the better songs on here I guess New York Telephone Conversation: musical theater moment I'm So Free: it's fine Goodnight Ladies: monsters inc. theme song I feel like there's literally a million albums that sound like this, I just don't understand why this one is especially important or influential. didn't leave that much of an impression on me, although I dig the openly queer lyrics on a couple songs, we love to see a little transgression. it's not bad but it's just not a sound I find particularly enjoyable so there's not really any way around that. __ SCORE: 5/10 ADDED TO PLAYLIST: Vicious, Perfect Day

Enjoyed

kind a abop

Im sorry but I just don’t like this as much as I probably should. I Like those involved, like the production and glam sound of 72 and it has at least 2 all time classic songs that to be fair get it on this list no problem. But the problem for me is the actual main component Mr Reed. When he’s at the top of his game he is absolutely A1, up there, but his drop off for me is massive, and when he drops a notch that famed wit for me starts sounding snarky and not in a good way, and musically he can get so clunky. I like this just don’t really like. 3.5 Star

It has some very good songs, but it doesn't quite satisfy me completely. "Vicious" and "Walk On the Wild Side" are good. Something's missing for the album as a whole to feel truly wonderful.

He sings out of tune and his guitar playing is basic. Velvet Underground is better.

Aluksi aattelin että karmeeta paskaa, mutta viikon breikin jälkeen kuuntelin jälkimmäisen puoliskon ja tämähän on ihan humoristista ja letkeää meininkiä. Varmaan vaatisi samat päihteet kuin Lou että pääsisi todella sisälle tähän, mutta laitetaan nyt selväpäisenä kuitenkin kolkki!

Jotenkin ei napannut, muttei kehtaa liikaa haukkuakaan

Couple of hits but the album itself didn't do much for me to be honest.

Lou Reed charms but does not transform

I can appreciate what Lou Reed has done for modern pop music, but it's just not my bag.

The start of Glam Rock essentially. Walk on the Wild Side and Satellite of Love are the most recognizable songs in Lou Reed’s catalog and are easily standouts on an average album. Hangin’ Around and Goodnight Ladies were some deeper cut favorites. Recognized the Bowie influence immediately. Was unaware that the album was produced by Bowie and Mick Ronson. Since I am reviewing these albums collectively. I’m giving it a three. Great songs hidden amongst some lesser tracks.

Kinda folky

I didn’t enjoy as much as I feel I should’ve

perfect day ! upbeat - good classic not an everyday listen though

Музыка: 7/10 Разнообразие: 6/10 Тематика и вайб: 7/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 5/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 7/10 Итог: 6.4

Creative lyrics, but I don't get it.

I guess I was expecting too much from this album because this wasn't as good as I thought I was gonna be. I was already familar with the classic songs on here (especially Perfect Day it's a perfect song ffs) but the rest of the album just isn't up to par. The majority of this album was interesting and enthralling but the rest of it was lackadaisical. Like the end track for example it was such a weak finisher (or maybe it was subverting expectations?). For the positives (as to not be so damn negative) Lou's singing stayed consistent throughout the album and the vibes equally as good. The production kept things interesting for the most part so I'm grateful for that. Cozy, melancholy, and eccentric. Overall, pretty good! Top 4: Vicious, Perfect Day (peak), Walk On The Wild Side, and Satellite Of Love Worst: Goodnight Ladies (sleeper) 3.25-3.75/5

aardig

better than the last lou red.

fun when you can tell an album was added to this list for one specific song from it, and woke tom petty here doesn't disappoint. 3/5

Just ok. 2 decent songs and thats it...

It's alright, but I find it all pretty samey. Even the popular tracks don't really stand out that much to me.

Not a fan.

Not what I'd usually listen to or enjoy much, but good album within its genre

Good album . Was surprised how many tracks i knew .

Overrated but well done

6/10… glam rock

Classic

I feel like I am missing something with this album. It seems to be widely loved and appreciated, but I couldn't get to that point myself. I listened to this album three times and felt unsatisfied. I think Lou Reed's voice isn't for me. When I found myself enjoying the gritty guitar or the piano, I was brought out of it by the playful and unserious lyrics and Lou's voice.

You're So Vicious 1001 Albums Generator 112 (09/05/2025) Lou Reed is another one of those classic rock guys that I just never got into. I'm not a big fan of The Velvet Underground, so I guess I just had no reason to check out his solo work. Imagine my shock when I find out that (i) I actually do know one of the songs on this album and (ii) David Bowie produced this album and he played guitar on the song that I knew. Listening to Transformer, the Bowie influence in the sound is obvious. It's got that artsy glam rock sound about it that Bowie was also doing throughout this time. The album opens strong with Vicious, Andy's Chest, and Perfect Day all showcasing different strengths of Transformer. Vicious is almost punk-like, Andy's Chest is poppy and glamy, and Perfect Day is a nice ballad. Of course, Walk on the Wild Side is an absolute classic and has managed to live a second life as the primary sample in A Tribe Caled Quest's Can I Kick It? as well as HAIM's hit Summer Girl. Unfortunately, the second half of Transformer is full of some musical indulgences that do not work very well. The most egregious examples of this are New York Telephone Conversation and the satirical Goodnight Ladies. While I understand what Reed was doing here in leaning into his theatrical tendencies, I think it brings the quality down. There are also a couple of more forgettable songs like Hangin' Round and Make Up that just don't stand up to everything else going on here. Transformer is pretty decent overall - somewhere around a 3.5/5, which I will round down to a 3. Favs: Vicious Walk on the Wild Side Wagon Wheel Least Fav: Goodnight Ladies

favs: - perfect day - satellite of love

Out oof all the velvet underground rejects lou reed is the only one with talent. At that this has one iconic song. The rest are tolerable.

I liked every other song. I dig the proto punk, but wish Lou Reed didn’t sing like he’s in a Doo-Whop band at a sock hop.

Interesting enough for me to not hate it, not good enough for me to like it

Standout Songs: Vicious Perfect Day Satellite of Love Wagon Wheel Not bad, although I think Lou’s voice is very monotonous and sounds nearly the same in every song. Musically it’s really good, lyrically it’s okay (my only critique is he talks about sex quite a bit). Overall a decent album but probably not one I will return to.

Favorite track- perfect day

3.0 - Ok

Hmm... while 'Transformer' is far better than 'The Velvet Underground', it still feels just kinda OK to me. 'Walk on the Wild Side' is obviously a classic, but as it has been for other entries throughout this challenge, a killer single doesn't make the entire album "must hear". That said, I do appreciate Lou's songwriting and the inspiration he's given other artists. It's just that, unfortunately for Lou, I've grown up with Duran Duran's cover of 'Perfect Day' and Eurythmics' cover of 'Satellite of Love', and as is often the case, I prefer the familiarity of the versions that are already etched into my brain - even if they aren't the originals. Side note: 'Vicious' might have been a keeper for me, but I couldn't stop hearing Steppenwolf's 'Magic Carpet Ride' (which, again, is a better song than what Lou's offering here).

It's good, if not overrated like anything related to The Velvet Underground. Thanks for contributing the bassline to "Can I Kick It" by A Tribe Called Quest

I’ve never listened to a Velvet Underground album or a Lou Reed solo release. I definitely found myself tapping my toes from the opening track ‘Vicious’. There were a couple others that caught my attention as well. I hadn’t heard ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ in a while, and that doesn’t really need anything else said about it. I was ready to lump this album in with others who have a talk-sing style - Leonard Cohen in particular, Dylan a little bit, though I suppose in his case it’s just a group of folks who don’t have great singing voices, but Lou Reed and his songs stands apart from them a bit. This album certainly belongs on this list.

I think the songs that are good are classics & there’s a few skippable tracks

One of Lou Reed’s better efforts.

Un álbum agradable de escuchar, con una clara influencia de David Bowie desde la producción del mismo. Con excepción de algunos temas sobresalientes como "Perfect Day", "Walk On The Wild Side" y "Satellite Of Love" no me parece una obra muy relevante. Continúa con la línea de The Velvet Underground, pero con una mejor calidad de producción y grabación.