Understanding Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music: How it Came to Be
The year was 1975, and Lou Reed had just released Metal Machine Music, an experimental double album that would become one of the most polarizing works in his entire discography. Critics panned it, the general public didn’t know what to make of it, and even some of Reed’s own band members questioned whether he had lost his mind.
So how did Metal Machine Music come to be? To fully understand its origins, we must first look back at Reed’s early career with The Velvet Underground. As the band’s primary songwriter and guitarist, Reed was no stranger to pushing musical boundaries. Tracks like “Sister Ray” and “Heroin” were unapologetic in their exploration of darker subject matter and experimental soundscapes.
After leaving The Velvet Underground in 1970, Reed embarked on a successful solo career that included hits like “Walk on the Wild Side.” However, by the mid-70s, he found himself growing increasingly disillusioned with the music industry. He felt constrained by record label executives who wanted him to keep churning out commercially viable hits.
Metal Machine Music can be seen as Reed’s defiant response to this pressure. In essence, it is a noise album – four sides of abrasive guitar feedback and distortion with little structure or melody to speak of. To most listeners, it sounds like nothing but chaos.
But dig deeper into Metal Machine Music and you’ll begin to uncover some fascinating textures and patterns within the noise. There are moments when chords can be discerned amidst the screeching – fleeting glimpses of melody hidden amongst the disorder.
Reed himself once described Metal Machine Music as a reflection of his frustration with contemporary society: “I wanted to make something so uncompromising that it would force people to confront their feelings about art.” In many ways, he succeeded – even if that confrontation came in the form of universal condemnation from critics and confusion from fans.
In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for Metal Machine Music as a groundbreaking work of noise music. Other artists like Sonic Youth and Merzbow have cited the album as a major influence on their own sound.
So next time you’re feeling adventurous, give Metal Machine Music a spin – but be prepared for an unforgettable, challenging experience.
Lou Reed – Metal Machine Music: Step by Step Guide to the Experimental Album
Lou Reed has been known to push the boundaries of music since his time with The Velvet Underground. However, in 1975 he released an album that took experimentation to a whole new level: Metal Machine Music.
At first listen, Metal Machine Music may seem like nothing more than a chaotic mess of noise. But for those willing to dig deeper and explore its intricacies, it is a fascinating feat of sonic exploration.
So let’s break it down step by step and discover the secrets of Metal Machine Music:
Step 1: The Setup
Metal Machine Music was recorded using guitar feedback and various electronic effects. In order to achieve the specific sounds that Lou Reed wanted, he used multiple amps and microphones placed in different positions around the room.
Step 2: The Structure
The album consists of four sides (or tracks, if you’re listening digitally), each roughly 16 minutes long. Each side is a continuous piece with no discernible structure or melody.
Step 3: The Sound
The sound on Metal Machine Music is abrasive and unrelenting. It’s not for the faint-hearted and could easily drive someone crazy. But there is a certain beauty in the chaos; as you listen more closely you start to pick up on intricate patterns within the noise.
Step 4: The Controversy
Upon its release, many critics dismissed Metal Machine Music as nothing more than an indulgent joke. Some even accused Reed of purposefully trying to sabotage his own career. However, other critics saw it as an avant-garde masterpiece ahead of its time.
Step 5: The Influence
Despite all the controversy surrounding it, Metal Machine Music has proved influential over time – inspiring musicians such as Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor who called the album “a really bold statement… something where somebody just said ‘fuck it,’ pushed all their chips into one spot on the table and closed their eyes.”
In conclusion, Metal Machine Music is not an easy listen or for everyone, but it remains a fascinating experiment in sound and a bold statement of artistic freedom.
FAQs about Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music
Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music is an interesting and enigmatic album that has garnered both criticism and admiration from music enthusiasts. Released in 1975, the album was a significant departure from the musician’s previous work, with its avant-garde noise-rock sound eliciting mixed reactions from listeners.
Over the years, many have been drawn to this intriguing album, with some considering it a masterpiece of experimental music while others simply cannot understand its appeal. To help shed light on this iconic piece of music history, we’ve put together some frequently asked questions about Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music:
Q: What is Metal Machine Music all about?
A: The answer to this question is simple yet complex: Metal Machine Music is about experimentation. Lou Reed created it as a way to explore and push the boundaries between different genres and types of sounds. The result was a sonic landscape filled with distorted guitar feedbacks and screeching noises that can be jarring or captivating depending on who’s listening.
Q: Was this planned as a musical masterpiece or just an elaborate prank?
A: This remains up for interpretation because Reed himself never explicitly stated his intentions regarding Metal Machine Music. Some insist that he created it as part of an elaborate rebellion against RCA Records after being disappointed with commercial performances of his previous albums. Others speculate that he wanted to experiment with soundscapes similar to John Cage and other experimental composers but within rock music.
Q: Is there any hidden meaning or symbolism behind Metal Machine Music?
A: Unlike his other works where lyrics could further explain meaning beyond the soundscapes – there are no lyrics in Metal Machine Music; just pure unadulterated noise mostly composed by recording guitar feedback loops arising from guitar amplifiers without any formative structure. However, fans have found their own meanings in interpreting the hypnotic (or headache-inducing) sounds for their artistic value alone.
Q: What do people say about Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music?
A: This is highly considered a polarizing album. Some called it “the greatest album ever recorded”. On the other hand, some critics called it “a painful listen,” and even suggested that the only ones who would enjoy it are those interested in torturing themselves with noise.
Q: If someone is curious about Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music, where should they start listening?
A: Listening to Metal Machine Music for the first time can be an intense experience that requires concentration and sometimes outright persistence. Starting by looking into more accessible later-era Lou Reed music like “Coney Island Baby”, “Transformer” or “New York” might be more revealing since elements of his soundscapes can be heard throughout these works.
In conclusion, almost fifty years after its release, Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music continues to intrigue and challenge listeners with its uncompromising approach to experimental music. Whether you love or loathe this album -you cannot deny its influence on rock music especially in more contemporary genres such as noise-rock, metal soundscapes, post-punk or hardcore. It remains a testament to Reed’s pioneering spirit and vision in both music innovation and even creative rebellion against the industry norms.
Top 5 Facts you Need to Know about Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music
Lou Reed, the legendary American musician and songwriter, is known for pushing boundaries in the rock music world. However, his 1975 album, Metal Machine Music, stands out as one of his most controversial works. The album’s unrelenting wall of feedback noise has sparked debate among fans and critics alike. In this blog post, we’ll explore five facts you need to know about Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music.
1. The Album Was Initially a Joke
Lou Reed once described Metal Machine Music as the “greatest joke” he ever played on his record company. After the success of his previous album Sally Can’t Dance, Reed was given complete artistic freedom for his next project. So he decided to create an album entirely composed of guitar feedback loops that lasted over an hour – no vocals or recognizable melodies could be found on it.
Reed and producer Bob Ezrin recorded hours of screeching guitar noise until they had what they felt was enough material for a double LP set. When RCA executives heard the completed work, they were outraged that Lou would release such an unconventional piece of music under their label.
2. It Virtually Ended His Contract with RCA Records
Metal Machine Music was not what Lou Reed’s record company had in mind when they gave him creative control over his next project . When he turned in four sides worth of non-stop feedback noise; it caused quite a commotion within the music industry at large – getting banned from several radio stations just days after its release.
As anticipated by Lou and Bob before recording began; RCA sent letters to retail shops across America demanding their unsold copies back upon discovering there wouldn’t be any reasonable way to promote or sell them off properly considering listeners wouldn’t catch any apparent tunes or melodies outsource from the haphazard collection sounds captured through countless amplifiers spread across a New York soundstage someone who picked up this record would have had no idea what on earth Reed was trying to deliver, and soon his label lost hope altogether in this wild project; it virtually destroyed their relationship.
3. Despite Its Controversy, Fans Still Celebrate its Genius
Despite its controversial reception and history, Metal Machine Music has gained a cult following with musicians and noise enthusiasts alike. The album’s relentless drone electric guitar sounds have piqued the interest of musical radicals seeking unconventional expression in music.
Reed is often praised for producing an album that sounds like nothing else that came before it (or after), also acknowledging the reversal of usual procedures when putting together a record such as sequencing tracklists or mastering them so they will sound as good on different sound systems – creating instead an experiment with few rules limitations except for the ones dictated by technology itself At one point Reed said it harnessed what he called “the sea of electromagnetic radiation” — which was rather fitting considering how chaotic every minute of Metal Machine Music turned out to be!
4. It Influenced the Development of Noise Rock
It’s said that; It’ll introduced noise rock into our mainstream consciousness. A genre birthed around the same era as punk rock burst onto the music scene nationally not too long before 1980s-1990s, characterized by heavy feedback chains across distorted guitars over pounding rhythmic sections shuffling between tribal drum beats distant vocal reverberations.
Metal Machine Music played a key role in pioneering this style with its experimental use of amplification equipment while urging listeners to move away from predictable melodies & song structures towards visceral responses without any direct lyrical content attached to automatically dictate their thoughts.
5. Its Legacy Continues to Inspire Experimental Artists Today
In conclusion, while Lou Reed’s album may seem unlistenable for many reasons—including a reputation earned over time from various listeners who felt burned after buying copies back when they first went on sale—many people continue enjoying extracting value from thrashing against walls sound-wise where conventional boundaries would have ceased their music from becoming something more drastic and transformative, with fresh senses of this creative approach appearing in seemingly unrelated genres.
Examples include industrial; gravitating towards a darker realm of distorted sound manipulation with electronic sounds cycles overlaid by loose percussion or what is being called noise – which seems like an appropriate label for the completely untamed signals that loom around Reed’s album. 2020 marked 45 years since it was released, too!
Analyzing Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music: A Critical Review
Lou Reed’s 1975 album Metal Machine Music was a turning point in the musician’s career. Originally intended to be an experimental work, Reed stated that it “was not meant for normal people” and indeed, it received mixed reviews upon its release. Many critics labeled the album as cacophonous noise, while others praised it for its innovation and daring approach to music composition. Here we are going to analyze Lou Reed’s masterpiece- Metal Machine Music: A Critical Review.
On first listen, Metal Machine Music is a sonic assault on one’s senses with almost no melody or structure discernable throughout the four sides of the double LP. The tracks consist primarily of layers of guitar feedback and distortion played at varying frequencies and intensities. However, upon closer examination, there exists an underlying pattern or structure within this seemingly chaotic soundscape – a definite ebb and flow.
At times, the album feels like a sonic trip through space as if we’re floating amidst cosmic debris attempting to navigate through celestial white noise. At other times, it feels like industrial machinery processing raw materials into some unknown end product. These moments giving way to sudden bursts of excruciatingly shrill shrieks or deep mechanical hums cutting us off from any grounding sense almost completely.
One could argue that Metal Machine Music was created solely out of a desire to push boundaries – to see how far one could take sound manipulation before it became unbearable for human ears. And yet, there are various elements within the album that suggest otherwise; namely its meditative qualities.
Throughout each track on this record lies an expansiveness that draws you in as much as it engulfs you – repetition plays a key part in this process with ethereal sounds frequently cycling together until almost reaching hypnotic levels inducing listeners into trance-like states helping them sink deeper into their own experience within the vast abyss created by Lou Reed’s uncompromising vision.
Despite common misconceptions surrounding this seminal record, its musical principles of exploration and experimentation still resonate with modern audiences nearly five decades later. Metal Machine Music may be perceived as a difficult listen for those not prepared to embark on a challenging sonic journey. However, it remains an essential listen for anyone interested in understanding the creative potential of sound manipulations when pushed to their absolute limits.
In conclusion, Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music is a true masterpiece that continues to inspire and provoke audiences today. It represents a form of experimental music that has paved the way to daring explorations in avant-garde music pushing beyond industry standards, carving out raw new pathways into our collective listening experiences. Its chaos resonates in the deepest crevasses of our minds, constantly pulling and shifting all while maintaining its structure making it something truly awe-inspiring even after all these years.
Why Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music is a Game-Changer in the World of Experimental music
Lou Reed’s 1975 release Metal Machine Music is a masterpiece in the world of experimental music. It’s not only a game-changer within the genre, but it has also influenced countless musicians and artists across various genres even till date.
At first glance, Metal Machine Music seems like an intentionally abrasive, four-sided album composed entirely of noise. On closer inspection, however, there’s much more to Lou Reed’s creation than meets the ear. As a precursor to industrial music and noise rock that would dominate alternative rock decades later, Metal Machine Music was not just ahead of its time – it broke new ground altogether.
The recording features two guitars – one electric and one acoustic – played through multiple effects pedals while being fed into different channels simultaneously creating an ominous wall of sound effect throughout all four tracks. The noise generated throughout Metal Machine Music is almost deafening at times; an overwhelming sonic maze that envelops you with its intensity.
One aspect that makes this album so unique is how it defies traditional song structures. There are no verses or choruses here; instead, Reed builds his tracks around layered guitar loops which mutate before your very ears into intricate patterns that grow increasingly complex as each successive layer is added on top of the last. This creates a soundscape where each listener could have their own unique experience depending on how they engage with the album.
Moreover, Lou reed’s statement “My week beats your year” comes into play as he recorded hours’ worth of these intense guitar drones only to include some in Metal Machine Music making it an ever-lasting musician’s manifesto alongside established works such as John Cage’s 4’33”.
In addition to influencing whole sub-genres like Industrial and Noise Rock , bands ranging from Sonic Youth to Swans point to this iconic release as having informed their style significantly. Even Paul McCartney noted that Lou Reed’s creativity inspired him whilst David Bowie considered himself indebted enough towards Don’t Touch That Dial and German bassist Holger Czukay infused his solo project with the approach Lou Reed displayed on Metal Machine Music.
Therefore, Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music remains a landmark in music history as its experimental nature transcends time and inspires musicians across different genres. It stands out as a warning for those of us who love rock and roll when experimenting is also quintessential like traditional techniques in keeping an artist’s legacy alive.