Waves Of Fear

UNCUT Magazine Presents The Ultimate Music Guide to LOU REED

Posted on by JL

25 May 2025

English glossy music monthly UNCUT presents another Ultimate Music Guide.
This time the late genial LOU REED is the focus of attention.

This 148-page deluxe edition celebrates 60 years of Lou’s mature songwriting.
Whether it was the influential sedition of his early work, his unexpected rebirth as
a pop star via the intervention of David Bowie, the adversarial, unexplained soundworld
of Metal Machine Music, through to Lulu, his album with Metallica and his last ambient works, his was a career to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Outside of the music there was clearly a lot going on. For all Laurie Anderson’s efforts
to posthumously rehabilitate Reed as a dog lover, Tai chi master and amateur watch repairer, loving partner, family member and electronics whiz, we’re still compelled
by the jaggedness of the man. The horrifying onstage schtick. The interviews that
make your blood run cold. It’s rage-filled, often misanthropic and it’s complicated.

These days, Lou’s archives (his tapes, his doo wop records, college accreditations, and clippings archive; his swords, but not his hats) are in the special collections department of New York Public Library. One of the most interesting artefacts to be discovered, however, may have been one of the first, found behind Lou’s work desk.

You can purchase a copy and have it sent to your home. Info HERE.

WAVES OF FEAR
(One of my Reed’s favs)

Happy 82 To The Late King Of New York City LOU REED

Posted on by JL

2 March 2024

David Bowie once called Lou Reed the King Of New York. He was that and much
more. A wayward, narcissistic genius in sound and vision. From the experimental
days of The Velvet Underground and mentor Andy Warhol, to his long solo career – spanning five decades – with ups and downs, with several masterly albums, and
multiple collaborations (with The Killers, Anthony Hegarty, Metallica, Gorillaz and more).

I saw him live (only) five times. Every show was a special experience. Today he would
have celebrated his 82th birthday. Lewis Allan Reed was born in Brooklyn, New York
on 2 March 1942. He passed away in 2013 due to a liver disease after a transplant.

To celebrate the late legend’s birthday I picked these three remarkable live moments.

– SWEET JANE –

– WAVES OF FEAR – –

– NEW SENSATIONS –

LOU REED: Website – Facebook – Discography

LOU REED – 11Th Album ‘THE BLUE MASK’ Came Out 40 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Back in time

24 February 2022

One of the greats of all time LOU REED ((March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013)
released his 11th album THE BLUE MASK 40 years ago today. One of his many unforgettable longplayers, lauded by fans and the press.

Rolling Stone wrote back then: “Lou Reed’s the Blue Mask is a great record, and
its genius is at once so simple and unusual that the only appropriate reaction is wonder.
Who expected anything like this from Reed at this late stage of the game? Even though the Velvet Underground, as critic Lester Bangs once remarked, “invented the Seventies,” Reed
had as much trouble as anyone else in trying to navigate the decade’s actuality. By its end,
he seemed to have just about removed himself from rock & roll for good.” Score: 5/5.


Back sleeve

I’ll always associate this grand LP with one of his most poignant, most disturbing
and most bewildering songs ever. A delirious goosebumps pièce de résistance tour
de force, lyrically and musically and  Reed’s  raging vocals are flabbergasting.

Lyrics

Waves of fear, attack in the night
Waves if revulsion, sickening sights
My heart’s nearly bursting, my chest’s choking tight

Waves of fear, waves of fear
Waves of fear, squat on the floor

Looking for some pill, the liquor is gone
Blood trips from my nose, I can barely breathe

Waves of fear, I’m too scared to leave
Waves of fear, waves of fear

I’m too afraid to use the phone
I’m too afraid to put the light on
I’m so afraid I’ve lost control
I’m suffocating without a word
Crazy with sweat, spittle on my jaw
What’s that funny noise, what’s that on the floor

Waves of fear, pulsing with death
I curse my tremors, I jump at my own step
I cringe at my terror, I hate my own smell
I know where I must be, I must be in hell

Waves of fear, waves of fear
Waves of fear, waves of fear.”

Full album version

Splendid (shorter) live version…

Full LP on Spotify…

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LOU REED: All Albums