Tracks
- Berlin
- Lady Day
- Men of Good Fortune
- Caroline Says I
- How Do You Think It Feels
- Oh Jim
- Caroline Says II
- The Kids
- The Bed
- Sad Song
Berlin is an unsettling album. The music is rock, but it's got elements of chanson and cabaret. Many of the songs have orchestral support. It's a concept album and music establishes the mood of each song. The music is quite depressing, but there is a lot of melody.
The story is about two Americans lovers living in Berlin, Germany at the time of the Cold War. They are into sex and drugs. The man seems misogynistic and abusive toward the woman. The woman at some point tries to commit suicide. By the end of the album she ends up losing custody of her children because of her sexual promiscuity. I'm sure I've left out essential story elements. Like most concept albums, the songs work better telling discrete stories than with combining to create a coherent whole.
This album was hard to like at first, but the songs are catchy. The story isn't so disturbing until it's clear the woman has children. It's sad to think about kids growing up surround by parents who are so troubled. And despite all the bad things that come with living in that environment, I'm sure it's damn awful from a child's point of view to be taken away from his parents.
The album is worth listening to. I'm not sure if Lou Reed intended to make an album that realistically portrays such an awful side of life, but I think it's a rare gem that tries to be mature and honest about the world. For that reason I think it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list.
All the songs are good. The stand outs are Berlin, Lady Day, Men of Good Fortune, How Do You Think It Feels, Oh Jim, Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed and Sad Song.
★★★★★★★★★★
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