Daily Jam - Goodnight Ladies

I vividly remember where i was when i found out Lou Reed had died.  I was at the annual Texas Book Festival held in downtown Austin, in front of the Capitol building at 11th and Congress where a lot of the tents are set up.  For some reason, HEB had a giant (possibly inflatable) shopping cart on site.  Everything felt surreal.  And the first song to pop into my head was the closing track from 1972's "Transformer," the jazzy and baroque "Goodnight Ladies."  It's in my head now.  Let's put it in yours.  Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Femme Fatale

It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I got in to The Velvet Underground (eternal gratitude to my dormmate for making it happen). I was aware of them, knew some of Lou Reed’s solo work, and understood how important and influential they were, but had never really sat down to absorb any of it. Then my roommate brought home The Velvet Underground and Nico and everything changed.

That album’s a masterpiece, and it’s probably not even their best record (Loaded possibly?), but it’s mix of pop and noise and poetry, along with Reed’s New York swagger, Nico’s icy croon, and Andy Warhol kitsch makes for an absolute monument of sound, a record that naturally didn’t sell, but that affected everything that came after.

At any given moment, I have a different favorite song from the album, but the one that really grabbed a hold of me first was the Nico sung “Femme Fatale,” a kind of quirky little nugget that felt like a detached version of ‘60s pop music. It somehow manages to be warm and glowing and cold and aloof all at the same time, and like the rest of that wonderful record, led me to extended works of Reed and Cale and Nico.

Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Luna Covers Lou Reed and David Bowie

Yesterday Luna dropped two new cover tunes into the ether, and they're both wonderful.  Check out the faithful takes on Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love" and David Bowie's "Starman" below, and download both of them here from Double Feature Records.

Daily Jam - I'm Set Free

I feel another Velvet Underground spell coming over me.  No choice but to go with the flow.  Here's "I'm Set Free," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Lisa Says

When i was in college and started to explore a lot of old music that i'd never paid much attention to, i have to admit that the early Lou Reed stuff was absolutely revelatory.  Here's one of my favorites, "Lisa Says," our Daily Jam.

Why am i so shy?

Daily Jam - Satellite of Love

It's the last day of September, which means things are going to start getting spooky around here tomorrow.  So let's end the month with some Lou Reed.  Here's "Satellite of Love," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Sweet Jane

As big a fan of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground as i am, you gotta admit when a cover is better than the original.  And Cowboy Junkies' take on "Sweet Jane" is and always has been positively sublime.  Check it out below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Caroline Says II

Man, i am tired today.  Here's some Lou Reed.  Listen to "Caroline Says II" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Femme Fatale

It seems i always circle back around the Velvet Underground eventually.  Here they are with Nico and "Femme Fatale," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Candy Says

I really wish i could go back in time and see The Velvet Underground perform.  But don't we all?  Anyway, here's "Candy Says," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Berlin

Lou Reed's "Berlin" is one of those great, unsung albums that maybe never quite got its due.  Reed was working on a whole different level on that record and it can be a transcendent listen from start to finish if you let it.  Listen to the jazzy, lounge-ish, and contemplative album opening title track below, our Daily Jam...

RIP Lou Reed

Super bummed out today that Lou Reed passed away at the age of 71.  I haven't read anything regarding a cause yet, but he was suffering from liver problems.  So, RIP to rock and roll legend.  Listen to "Sad Song" from Lou's (arguably) best record "Berlin" below.

(On a side note, it's super apparent that my brother and i are related, as we both went immediately to this song.)



Might as well follow that up with The Velvet Underground's "I Found a Reason" from "Loaded."


RIP Lou Reed