Arguably the least regarded Lou Reed album, Mistrial just seems to receive indifference from most people. It doesn't upset anyone, like Metal Machine Music did, nor does it excite audiences in the way that Transformer did.
Mistrial consists of ten average songs, played competently, sung ok, ... Read review
Advantages: a couple of decent songs Disadvantages: too much avearge material and average production
...least regarded Lou Reed album, Mistrial just seems to receive indifference from most people. It doesn't upset anyone, like Metal Machine Music did, nor does it excite audiences in the way that Transformer did.
Mistrial consists of ten average songs, played competently, sung ok, and produced ok. And that's about it. There's nothing that really stands out, the resolutely 1986 production utilises very basic drum machines for the first and last ... ...upfront, but hollow and lacking in substance.
The ttle track at least features a cracking melody, but Mama's Got A Lover, whilst not a bad song, sounds like a bad Lloyd Cole copy. A rather bizarre achievment sounds like a bad copy of someone who sounds like a bad copy of Lou Reed.
"Video Violence" has a sparky sound but the oh so obvious lyrics are a drag, (athough the similarly hectoring "Don't Hurt A Woman" works ... more
Arguably the least regarded Lou Reed album, Mistrial just seems to receive indifference from most people. It doesn't upset anyone, like Metal Machine Music did, nor does it excite audiences in the way that Transformer did. Mistrial consists of ten average songs, played competently, sung ok, and produced ok. And that's about it. There's nothing that really stands out, the resolutely 1986 production utilises very basic drum machines for the first and last time in Lou's history, and everything sounds rather boomy and upfront, but hollow and lacking in substance. The ttle track at least features a cracking melody, but Mama's Got A Lover, whilst not a bad song, sounds like a bad Lloyd Cole copy. A rather bizarre achievment sounds like a bad copy of someone who sounds like a bad copy of Lou Reed. "Video Violence" has a sparky sound but the oh so obvious lyrics are a drag, (athough the similarly hectoring "Don't Hurt A Woman" works surprisingly well) and "The Original Wrapper" might have been funny for Lou (and he played this in concert for years!) but is a real bore for the listener. Fortunately the album ends on a high note - "Tell It To Your Heart" includes some lovely keening guitar and a delightful melody. If you are Lou Reed fan than this is worth getting for the few high points. If you are a Lou newbie then get all the other albums first! And the cover is rubbish too.
Personnel: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar); Eddie Martinez (guitar); Fernando Saunders (guitar, piano, bass synthesizer, bass, drum programming, percussion, background vocals); Rick Bell (tenor saxophone); J.T. Lewis (drums); Sammy Merendino (percussion, drum programming); Jim Carroll (background vocals). Engineers: David Greenberg, Bruce Lampcov. Recorded at the Power Station, New York.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Mistrial
2.
No Money Down
3.
Outside
4.
Don't Hurt A Woman
5.
Video Violence
6.
Spit It Out
7.
Original Wrapper
8.
Mama's Got A Lover
9.
I Remember You
10.
Tell It To Your Heart
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
28/10/2005
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