While I’m still in the beginning stages of my journey into Lou Reed’s discography, I’m growing more and more convinced that he saw himself as the poet laureate of the seedier side of life. He wasn’t afraid to write and sing about the prostitutes, drug addicts and practitioners of alternate lifestyles… and, while it sometimes isn’t the most comfortable stuff to listen to, he was able to convince you their stories were just as important to hear.

Transformer, Reed’s second post-Velvet Underground solo album, contains his best-known song “Walk On The Wild Side,” which encapsulates the alternative sides of life in just over four minutes… and, strangely enough, this isn’t the best song out of the 11 tracks contained therein. Some of these, honestly, are difficult to listen to, “Andy’s Chest” being one such example where certain bodily functions end up at different parts of the anatomy. (Get your head out of the gutter; think “nose” and “feet”.)

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I captured all the nuances of this album after a few listens. Hell, I’m certain there are people who have listened to it since it came out over 50 years ago that are still discovering things about it. But Reed – with more than a little help from David Bowie and Mick Ronson – is able to win over the listener, both with the stories and the performances. (And, if truth be told, Reed wasn’t a terrible singer.)

Where Transformer comes into its own isn’t on “Walk On The Wild Side”; it’s in songs like “Make Up,” “I’m So Free” and “Perfect Day” that the tales take on their own personalities, and make the album approachable on its own. There’s no denying that Bowie and Ronson’s contributions help… but, in the same vein, they do not overpower Reed’s work. If anything, they complement the scenarios that Reed presents, both in vocals and musical backing. This, then, is where Transformer succeeds.

Some people aren’t going to get Transformer on the first listen. They might not get it on the fiftieth, either. But Reed shows that it is worth investing 36 minutes or so to experience these stories. It’s a slight improvement over his debut effort, and deserves your attention.

Rating: B

User Rating: A-

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