I don't know. I can't disagree with George's case for the superiority of this over other 21st century rock albums. But if they were really all that good, shouldn't they have been able to develop beyond their first album, at least for a LITTLE WHILE?
To immediately try answering my own question: Well, I guess it's possible. The Velvet Underground arguably never really developed beyond their first album either. But that album had the spirit of La Monte Young behind it. Maybe there's an analogous personality behind Arcade Fire, but I wouldn't know who. (There does seem to be, maybe, a kind of fairly new VIEWPOINT behind Funeral, now that George has me thinking about it - regardless of whether they actually invented it or got it from somebody else: Postmodernism's not-exactly-ironic-or-unironic appreciation for elements of cheesy pop music, but at the same time epic and earnest.)
In a way the VU did -- they just separated the aspects of their music to do so. "White Light/White Heat" took their experimental/"noise" side to the logical extreme, while "VU" showed Reed's growth as a pop songwriter. "Loaded" was the only "non-advancing" album, just a solid LP of great songs.
On that note, I predict that had they continued, we'd see pretty much every Lou Reed album that came out released as they exist now, just under the VU tag. So I wonder why he was so adamant about leaving.
Without paying much attention to the lyrics I didn't think much of this album after a couple of listens. But after reading lyrics I changed my opinion changed. It is a great combination of music and words.
I think this is one of your best reviews ever, George.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I can't disagree with George's case for the superiority of this over other 21st century rock albums. But if they were really all that good, shouldn't they have been able to develop beyond their first album, at least for a LITTLE WHILE?
ReplyDeleteTo immediately try answering my own question: Well, I guess it's possible. The Velvet Underground arguably never really developed beyond their first album either. But that album had the spirit of La Monte Young behind it. Maybe there's an analogous personality behind Arcade Fire, but I wouldn't know who. (There does seem to be, maybe, a kind of fairly new VIEWPOINT behind Funeral, now that George has me thinking about it - regardless of whether they actually invented it or got it from somebody else: Postmodernism's not-exactly-ironic-or-unironic appreciation for elements of cheesy pop music, but at the same time epic and earnest.)
DeleteIn a way the VU did -- they just separated the aspects of their music to do so. "White Light/White Heat" took their experimental/"noise" side to the logical extreme, while "VU" showed Reed's growth as a pop songwriter. "Loaded" was the only "non-advancing" album, just a solid LP of great songs.
DeleteOn that note, I predict that had they continued, we'd see pretty much every Lou Reed album that came out released as they exist now, just under the VU tag. So I wonder why he was so adamant about leaving.
Without paying much attention to the lyrics I didn't think much of this album after a couple of listens. But after reading lyrics I changed my opinion changed. It is a great combination of music and words.
ReplyDelete