nolamike
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Post by nolamike on Dec 10, 2020 16:16:33 GMT
Both Lennon and Reed started their careers fronting legendary, revolutionary bands... but after the breakup of those bands, each went on to have what might best be described as "frustrating" solo careers, with high points, but many, many low points. Overall, neither approached the consistent greatness exhibited in their prior bands, though Reed certainly had more commercial success than the Velvets ever did while they were together.
Obviously, Lennon's murder means his solo career was decades shorter than Lou's, so maybe this isn't an ideal comparison, but... who had the better solo career?
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god
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Post by ~ / % ? * on Dec 10, 2020 16:33:09 GMT
if only Lennon had Robert Quine in his band
and jettisoned the buffoon of murk, Spector
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 16:39:55 GMT
Couldn't care less about Robert Quine, but for me Lou Reed wrote more great, and more to the point distinctive, songs and had more interesting albums, even if he doesn't interest me much past 77. It's a pretty easy choice for me.
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rayge
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Post by rayge on Dec 10, 2020 16:40:11 GMT
In his solo career, Lennon had some tracks I enjoyed more than anything by the Beatles, while Lulu had very little to compare with the Velvets, and his last half-dozen or so albums, certainly from New York onwards, were just poor. I originally voted for Lou, but basically it's a tie, so I went for meh. Lou would probably have one if Lennon hadn't been killed, so didn't have the chance to produce his version of Moo of Kintyre or the Frog Chorus.
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rayge
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Post by rayge on Dec 10, 2020 16:40:34 GMT
the buffoon of murk, Spector Fuck off and die
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god
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Post by ~ / % ? * on Dec 10, 2020 16:45:38 GMT
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Post by ~ / % ? * on Dec 10, 2020 16:53:32 GMT
Couldn't care less about Robert Quine Would have been great with Sam Phillips at the board (instead of the buffoon of murk) and Quine, it would have been modern and timeless, having been robbed of none of its power, instead of the MOR Lennon shilled out.
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Post by oh oooh on Dec 10, 2020 17:01:35 GMT
So if I pit (my faves) Transformer against Plastic Ono Band, Lou wins, because his album is more fun - but it's less of an Artistic Statement (and there's lots of Bowie on it).
And I can't help but think about the fact that Lou was more of a prick.
Lou didn't do an 'Instant Karma' - or anything CLOSE. And sooooo many poor albums.
I think Lennon's last recordings are a tiny bit underrated by the serious rock crits.
Erm....I'll come back to it
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Post by daveythefatboy on Dec 10, 2020 17:09:35 GMT
Stack their best studio albums next to each other and compare:
Plastic Ono Band vs. Transformer Imagine vs. Coney Island Baby Walls & Bridges vs. Berlin Double Fantasy vs. New York Rock and Roll vs. The Blue Mask Milk and Honey vs. Street Hassle Somewhere in New York City vs. The Bells
I dunno. I think Lennon wins this pretty handily.
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Dec 10, 2020 17:11:14 GMT
It's Lou. Of course it is.
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Post by oh oooh on Dec 10, 2020 17:17:21 GMT
Stack their best studio albums next to each other and compare: Plastic Ono Band vs. Transformer Imagine vs. Coney Island Baby Walls & Bridges vs. Berlin Double Fantasy vs. New York Rock and Roll vs. The Blue Mask Milk and Honey vs. Street Hassle Somewhere in New York City vs. The Bells I dunno. I think Lennon wins this pretty handily. ah - the Matt Wilson method! I don't think that works particularly well, for myself anyway. It's all about personas and individual songs. And anyway, you know me - I choose
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Post by daveythefatboy on Dec 10, 2020 17:21:31 GMT
I hope someday you’ll join us, John!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 17:23:28 GMT
Milk and Honey vs. Street Hassle The title track alone beats anything on Milk and Honey.
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Post by daveythefatboy on Dec 10, 2020 17:28:30 GMT
Milk and Honey vs. Street Hassle The title track alone beats anything on Milk and Honey. Yeah. I’d probably agree. Lou arguably managed to do better than the posthumous leftover album.
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toomanyhatz
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Post by toomanyhatz on Dec 10, 2020 17:38:15 GMT
One revelatory album and several good but flawed ones (and a couple of bold experiments that fall flat but at least are bold) and, when looked at seriously, one of the best singles runs of the 70s (easily better than any other ex-Beatle - yes, I said it) vs. A mish-mosh of everything from inspired but flawed to "what the hell was he thinking?" with a grand total of one big hit (great in its own way but mostly in a "I can't believe they played that on the radio" way.
Yeah, it's Lennon, pretty easily. Reed has no answer for POB. Even his best work is, at best, 75% his. (The rest Bowie's, or Ezrin's, Or Quine's.)
I wouldn't have thought the undisputed leader of the Velvets would need a partner more than the guy whose entire image is based on a yin/yang relationship with a competitor/collaborator, but as I look at it, those are the facts.
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