Metal Machine Music (1975)
The Ultimate Fuck You
Anyone who maintains they weren’t appalled upon first hearing this 4-sided series of squealing noise concoctions in 1975, would have to have been so knee-deep into the avant garde they’d have no reason for buying a Lou Reed album in the first place. Of course, since then, Metal Machine Music has been championed by the likes of Lester Bangs (who knew a good fuck you when he heard one) and noise merchants from Merzbow to Sonic Youth. Like most, I’ve never bothered to make it through all four sides at once, even on a self-dare. Though, I must admit, I’m finding these sonically recalibrated sheets of distorted, metallic, calliope-like guitar effects quite entertaining as I write this – even if, 15 minutes in, it’s causing a splitting headache. Funny enough, in the rock world, this concept had already been applied by Fripp & Eno for No Pussyfooting, two years earlier. The end result of F&E’s ambient series of tape manipulated guitar effects had the opposite effect of Reed’s teeth-gnasher, but the principle was the same. Whether Reed’s intention was to advance the science of noise, or simply to piss off his record company, you’ll have to ask Lou… when he’s feeling honest about it all. Personally? I’m all for it. Though, I seriously doubt I’ll listen to it ever again. So, then… can art even be art if it can’t be endured? You make the call. Either way, it’s a ballsy, obnoxious, thrilling, stupid, career-defying, funny and arrogant slap in the face to all who would analyze it, defend it, dissect it, believe it, trust it, like it or loathe it. That it’s out on Blue Ray, DVD and QUAD vinyl is, well… to be expected in this age of extremes.
Metal Machine Music, Part I (16:11)
Metal Machine Music, Part II (15:53)
Metal Machine Music, Part III (16:14)
Metal Machine Music, Part IV (15:56)
47 Comments
Wait…a QUAD vinyl reissue? I love it!
I knew there'd be at least one.
Actually, I purchased the vinyl and quad DVD versions, don't have blu-ray and don't believe in it. That said, the vinyl is actually a stereo mixdown of the quad version while the DVD and blu-ray are true quad. Unfortunately, none of it is really super high-end because the max quality on it is apparently 16 Bit, 48 khz. That's fine, but I expected higher quality for a DVD and blu-ray reissue. Also, no bonuses beyond the music. Nonetheless, had to have it and loving it to death!
OMG check out the page at loureed.com — for a mere $43 (+ tax, handling & shipping) you can get the 180 Gram Vinyl with Blu Ray Package!
Look, I was always curious but never willing to pony up 99 cents in the cut-out bin. So this'll do nicely. How much of it I actually listen to is another question. I have played Neil Young's Arc all the way through at least once. Possibly even twice.
Aw, c'mon, what guitarist with an electric guitar, an amp and a tape recorder hasn't made tapes like this at one time or another?
Lou just had the balls to release it!
And wasn't the original release on RCA's CLASSICAL label?
Okay, I just listened to the whole of side 1 that you have posted.
I think it turned my brain into tapioca.
I had this album back in the day and would put it on at the end of every month whenever I needed my housemates to cough up their portion of the rent. I've always tried to imagine what the mixdown session for this record was like (how many RCA engineers slashed their wrists etc.)
Ffffrrzzzzzzz, ssskkkkk, wubbitywubbitywubbity, bloooooopbloopbloop, rrrrrsssppp, chungachungachunga, schwing!
That's easy for you to say.
A friend of mine had this on 8 track tape back in the day. We'd drive around in his car listening to GRINDGRINDGRINDGRINDGRINDsilencesilenceKCHUNKsilencesilenceGRINDGRINDGRINDGRIND
I tried to download this, but all I get is this hideous noise. The file must be corrupted.
The dynamics shown on the mini player are hilarious. It's just a wall of full volume sound with little variation for 16 min. A wall of sound isn't necessarily a bad thing.
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>>> Anonymous said…
I tried to download this, but all I get is this hideous noise. The file must be corrupted.
HAHAHAHAHA….
Think of Sister Ray without the vocals and you get Metal machine Music. I didn't like Sister Ray, so I won't like this one….gonna give it a listen anyhow.
You're comparing it to something before even hearing it? You can't compare MMM to anything musical.
METALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEMUSICMEALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEMUSICMETALMACHINEM
This is what Lester Bangs original review in Creem Magazine looked like only 100 times longer! boboquisp
I gave it a listen.
Suddenly, my nephews making armpit-farts holds more appeal.
The problem with MMM was the attempt to sell it as a crossover rock album with the cheesy tour photos. To anyone familiar with 60's-70's "experimental music", such as Lamont Young, Terry Riley, Pauline Oliveras; MMM was not a weird shocking record. Now if you ignored the glam poses and read the text on the cover, you probably could have seen " no intruments" and "electronic instrumental composition." It made sense when I got it, a few months after release with a slit in the corner of the cover, it probably was not going to sound like "Switched On Bach" or Tomitas "Snowflakes." I think my first impression was. " yeah, it sounds like Sister Ray, without drums or vocals…slowed down…cool". It's interesting, now you can get the lo-fi amphilfied drone music John Cale was recording in the mid-sixties, which Lou certainly would have been familiar with:
http://www.amazon.com/New-York-1960s-Vol-Blindness/dp/B00005B4EK/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_lnk
Now the credit for the cover reads: Lou Reed/Acy Lehman. I 'd like to think Lou contributed the text on a couple typewritten sheets and the graphic designer guy is responsible for the photos and layout.
Let's not forget Metal Machine Music has now been scored for small orchestra by the German group Zeitkratzer
http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Machine-Music-Zeitkratzer/dp/B000RXYU42/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269892809&sr=1-2
and Lou's been out there gigging the album of late
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWV5wGRl-Jo&feature=relate
thank you very much for many wonderful visits to your blog…while dumpster diving on the digital highway
Tom Wheeler
Tom Wheeler….did you ever DJ at a small-town radio station in southern MN in the 80's?
I bought the eight track the week it came out. That weekend, it ended up in an illegal bonfire at Goat Rock near Bodega. I didn't understand it then. Listening to it today, I conclude that it is too much effort to "get it". I'd much rather enjoy the mental image of RCA executives putting this out on street date, then taking a bottle of liquor to a hiding place behind the couch. Must have been something.
So,although Lou has been pretentious before and since, I vote no on the artistic vision, yes on the "fuck you".
By the way the BONUS on the BONUS EDITION is that there are no extra tracks.
Open minds and open ears are good things, people. There are other kinds of music besides rock.
Ya, I'm sure you're listening to this album a lot bigsteveno. I don't enjoy this album, but that in no way implies that I didn't approach it with an open mind and an open ear.
Side three was always my favorite, but it also depended on my meds – I mean mood.
Emerson
oldpunks.com
Lou was always a bit of a moody lad I saw him in 77 my first gig! amazing with no connection with the audience whatsoever just a brief goodbye…. He invented a whole scene with the Underground I think we can let him have this one!…Let's have some more Lou Willard you seem to have a pretty good response rate on this album..6pt
I'm still waiting for the unplugged version.
This was always a fun one to put on at parties in the 70s. Thanks for the memories.
We used to use MMM to clear the neighborhood of its feral cat population.
It was a big Screw Ya, wasn't it? Precipitated his move to Arista, if I remember correctly.
The ONLY place I ever remember it being sold was this record shop in Chicago back around 1980. It was an import that had been marked down from 18 bucks to $1.99. Bought it and istantly recognized it for the rent buster that it was. This and The Shaggs could clear a room quick as shit back in the day.
Good stuff in the comments. What I find most interesting is that it still is quite contentious (35 YEARS after release)–Lou would, at the very least, probably like that.
worst album ever…hands down
Well, at the risk of sounding like the most pretentious dick in the boat, I have to say, no joke, I genuinely find this beautiful to listen to. Whenever the topic of the album comes up, I always describe it as "a cathedral of random drones." That's how I hear it, a shimmering cathedral, full of eternity and echo, packed wall to wall with crackling whirlwinds of beautiful light. (I warned ya!)
And I listen to it, start to finish, at least once or twice a year. It is easily, no contest, my favorite Lou item after the Velvets. I'm probably the only person alive who can be described as having "eagerly" bought the 25th anniversary edition. (But, yeah, I absolutely understand people recoiling in horror. You have to love the whole drone thing, which I do in spades.)
Sun Blindness Music is really gorgeous, too.
You didn't like Sister Ray!? Wash your mouth out with soap.
I'm listening to this thing while I'm reading all of the comments, and I'm laughing out loud, I swear to God. When is the 2 CD anniversary edition coming out, with the different re-mixes??quaAaAaAanNnNg-SccHHrrRReeEEeEEEEeE''''
Dave Navarro is a fan of this shit. Enough said
Now I want the Time/Life edition.
Hey, any messages for me? My answering machine's been on the fritz for ages. Sounds like shit when you try to play it back.
The fact that there are, to date, forty comments pretty much tells you all you need to know.
God knows that if Dave Navarro likes it, then we ALL must. Possibly the worst rationale I've ever heard.
Also the Rockband edition…
Johnny Kinkdom sez: Met Lou in 1987 and he said this album would one day be considered as important as his Velvets work. I laughed out loud. I guess Lou gets the last laugh. Still, it is included in my top 10 all time worst albums by people who should know better. I'd rather listen to Neil's ARC, and that is also on my worst list.
Kudos for laughing in his face.
Has anyone else noticed…
that playing with the balance reveals the left and right channels are isolated? It sounds like Mr. Reed recorded it in mono, and plastered a second pass onto the oposite channel, to make it better of course!
No, back to mono, Lou!
The playing time on MMM is worked out to the second. If you want complete separation between the two channels on a 12" vinyl record with no leakage the total playing time can't be any longer than 17 minutes. That's why it sounds like two separate tracks played together. People born in the CD age can't fully appreciate this. LOu was obviously a genius :-p
Just did a re-up and read through all the comments. What a riot. Thanks to all.