Metal Machine Music: Unappreciated or justly ignored?

It isn't feedback going on for an hour. I don't even know why I'm defending it, I don't even like it that much, there's just so many misconceptions around it.

 

Don't read my comment at a criticism. It's all part of the work. It does not feel like he thought about this idea for ten years or developed the ideas in it like those before him. He also recorded quite a short piece and then repeated it and folded it in. Doesn't sound like took too long. All part of the idea.

 

Ok, it's not exactly feedback going on for an hour. Let's say it's a collage of drones, perhaps.

 

Of course he didn't think about for 10 years, he's a rock and roller!

 

People are so hung up about the 'statement' that its merits in the genre of noise music recording are often ignored. I've listened to it many times and consider it a groundbreaking, pioneering work although the whole thing is far too much to take in one sitting.

Lou was serious about it and took care to make it. The liner notes and photo layout of the album are obviously not meant to be taken seriously and that does confuse the matter somewhat. But Lou was a pop artist and this is a deliberate excursion into the art... just like Sister Ray said

 

I dig it, but then I'm that guy who'll stop and listen intently to a refrigerator that's making an interesting noise.

To me, Lou's intent is beside the point. MMM exists in the world and it doesn't care if you get it or play it or think about it.

 

I've always viewed MMM as Lou's musical attempt at a Warhol film. "Like watching a dude sleep for 5 hours? Take a listen to this." Also I'd say it is both unappreciated and justifiable ignored.

 

You and me both.

 

Don't tell me you also enjoy Le Noise... another candidate to worst album ever

 

LOL that is like comparing apples and submarines

 

Yes, I agree with you. If we wanted to bring Neil into this conversation, we should mention this:

 

That still has actual sung melodies on it, haha

 

Well, I happen to think it's maybe in his top 10

 

I think Electronic Sound is much more musical than MMM.

 

While I respect it... I'm not a big fan of it....
But, while you're all here, what did you think of
"The Stone: Issue Three"?

 

Never heard it. Any Top 40 hits I'd recognize?

 

Count on Lou to provoke and challenge and insult and inspire, often in the same breath.
It's full of contradictions, but Reed wouldn't have revisited it if it didn't have any meaning for him.
Easy listening it's not, but give him credit for a big artistic F you.

 

Strangely, yesterday was the first time I've ever been able to get through the whole thing. Immediately after hearing about the DOJ's amicus brief suggesting that LGBT rights were not protected by the Civil Rights Act, something in my bitterness said "Metal Machine Music".

In another odd fashion, I think that, if played at an adequate volume, it can almost act as appropriately galvanizing ambient music to work by (ditto the latter drone-oriented half of "Junior Dad" off "Lulu")

 

You say that as if it's some kind of recommendation. One is a bunch of aimless irrelevant doodling on a Moog that no-one is interested in listening to, one is still provoking arguments 40 years on. Lou wins that one... to couch that in the sort of competitive language Beatles fanatics like to indulge in. Not even sure why you're comparing them, they're not remotely similar.

 

I actually like the short excerpt found on the Between Thought and Expression box set. But that's about as much as I can take.

 

Over-appreciated, surely.

It's an expensive joke by Reed, played upon his record company. I don't care what he said subsequently.

The excerpt on the box set is all you need.

It's interesting for anecdotal value in the Reed/RCA story. Beyond that...Emperor's new clothes.

 

I think it' s poo poo.

 

Over the years, I was surprised how much more musical MMM had become. But then musicality isn't everything, anyway.

Not sure why we are comparing what Harrison did with MMM, though? Two different fish in two different barrels. Not even both fish, for that matter.

 

I love Lou Reed's music but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone for any reason other than "novelty". I would much rather try to turn someone onto his music.

 

It would get no respect from anyone if it weren't Lou Reed.