The ‘Worst Album Ever Made’ Is Grossly Misunderstood
Can an album as endlessly fascinating, unique, and perplexing as Lou Reed and Metallica's Lulu really be considered one of the worst albums ever made? Derek McArthur argues for its artistic merits.
In the vast history of music, much of it is forgettable, making the search for the worst album feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Among contenders, Lou Reed and Metallica’s 2011 collaboration Lulu often appears to lead the race for the unwanted title.
This unexpected pairing brought together Reed, a groundbreaking songwriter and experimentalist nearing the end of his life, with Metallica, a legendary heavy metal band past its peak popularity. The collaboration was neither anticipated nor eagerly awaited.
Yet, there is something compelling and hard to articulate about this unusual fusion of artistic voices. Reed’s lyrics, recited in a brittle, fragile spoken word style, are among his most vivid and imaginative since his 1970s prime. Meanwhile, Metallica’s distorted power chords blend seamlessly as the perfect backdrop to themes exploring merciless love and self-destruction.
“Reed’s lyrics, delivered in a brittle and frail spoken word voice, had not been as potently imaginative and alive since his 1970s heyday, and the distorted power chords of Metallica work their way into becoming the perfect accompaniment to the substantive lyrical themes of compassionless love and self-destruction.”
Author’s summary: Lou Reed and Metallica’s Lulu challenges critical consensus by combining striking lyrical depth with powerful instrumentation, creating a work both confounding and captivating.