Back in June, Lou Reed was interviewed by NYmag about The Raven, a graphic-novel adaptation of his 2003 concept album, which in itself is already a total navel-examination because it which was derived from his own 2001 theater piece POEtry (inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe); but it does not stop there.
When asked about his new collaboration with Metallica, ‘Lulu’, this was his answer:
But the version of the Lulu music I did with Metallica is awe-inspiring. It’s maybe the best thing done by anyone, ever. It could create another planetary system. I’m not joking, and I’m not being egotistical.’
No, it’s not being egotistical at all, was he even serious when he said this?
I still haven’t listened to this album, Iman said yesterday he liked it despite the fact that Pitchfork gave it a 1.0, Rolling Stone did not like it much, and the critics were overall not good.
It does not matter, Reed thinks they have created a new planetary system, but it could have been worst and said they had laid a new universe.
Reed actually wrote songs for a stage version of Lulu, which inspired the record:
‘There are two stories Lulu’s based on, and I rewrote Lulu from the get-go, taking the original plot — mostly Earth Spirit, not Pandora’s Box — and followed it essentially from the point of view of Lulu and the various people who love her, until she gets involved with Jack the Ripper. The basics. So the Metallica version will have absolutely all of that and more. It’ll probably come out by November.’
[…]It’s the psyche of Poe, the great psychic marauder, applied to Lulu.’
Wow, does he think he is Poe’s reincarnation or something?