"The Blue Mask" is often hailed by critics and fans alike as one of Lou Reed's greatest achievements, and it is deserving of the considerable praise. The disc contains some of Reed's most brutally honest writing in a concise set of songs exploring all aspects of human frailty - good, bad and ugly.

"My House", "Women" and "Heavenly Arms" are inspiring tributes: the former to Reed's mentor Delmore Schwartz; the latter to Reed's then-wife, Sylvia Morales. "Underneath the Bottle" details the struggles of addiction. "The Gun", "Waves of Fear" and the title cut are easily three of the most harrowing, unforgiving songs Reed has ever penned.

The real bounty, however, has to be the sheer beauty of the musicianship. Reed is once again playing guitar, having been inspired and goaded by ex-Voidoid Robert Quine, whose work here is among the best of his influential career. Quine's guitar - at turns shimmering, droning and apocalyptic - creates sublime moods and textural frameworks that serve the songs perfectly; Reed has not been fortunate to work with such a sympathetic musician since.

The quartet of musicians (filled out by Fernando Saunders on bass and drummer Doane Perry) respond to each other with the intimacy of a seasoned jazz combo. This is a real musician's album: dynamics are carefully observed, the space between the notes is respected, and all elements coalesce into a perfect whole.

Let me get this out in the open so we're all on the same page, I'm a Lou Reed fan. I enjoy virtually all of his solo records, never expected some sort of extension of his work with the Velvet Underground, and feel he has at times gotten unfairly treated by a music press expecting something that will never come, mainly, records that would touch as many people as his previous band's did. His epic solo catalogue is exactly that, a document of a single songwriter finding his way with different bands and, at times, different styles. The songs themselves more than stand the test of time, even on recordings when Lou got bogged down with exactly how he tuned his dozen guitars. That said, for my money "The Blue Mask" is his best record. Lou and Robert Quine couldn't sound better together; tough, lean complimenting sounds to great melodies and, naturally, wonderful lyrcis. Heavy, dense tracks like 'The Blue Mask' and 'Waves Of Fear' rock like Lou rarely does, cruching walls of sound punctuated with horrifying imagery that seem to always get personal in the most chilling fashion ("Make the sacrifce-mutilate my face-if you need someone to kill-I'm a man without a will"). But the true brilliance of the record is the quieter moments, odes of admiration to a former mentor, a love song to his wife that seems to be a modest stab at something almost radio friendly, and an effective time piece about America's lost innocence. These songs pull you inside the worlds of their protagonists, one moment your nursing a hangover and wondering why your leg hurts, the next remembering why you love your girlfriend. Oh yeah, and there's one about a guy with a gun, who knows how to use it...

Lou Reed-The Blue Mask *****


The Blue Mask was released in 1982, this is at least 15 years into his career of making amazing music. After the death of his long time idol and mentor Delmore Schwartz who he studied under Reed decided to dedicate an album to him. That album turned out to be The Blue Mask, incidently this happens to be Reeds most mature and thought out album. With lyrics more thoughtful then ever before and much more personal then ever before or since if that is even possible.

To this day, and even on the day of the albums release The Blue Mask is hailed by fans and critics alike as one of if not Lou Reeds all time greatest achievement as a solo artist. While this is one of his better solo records and sure as hell can rival some of his work with The Velvet Underground, The Blue Mask is not Reeds greatest triumph as a solo artist that would go to either New York or Berlin.

However songs like 'The Day John Kennedy Died' and 'Underneath The Bottle' are easily to the best songs ever written. Rockers like 'Average Guy' and the albums closer 'Heavenly Arms' so a different side of Reed that was never shown before, Reed always boasted about confidence and cool and being self-reliant, these songs so fear, and longing for a connection a weaker, yet, more mature Reed, one that wasnt in the 1970's.

As a whole, The Blue Mask is the most solid and concistant album Lou Reed ever recorded solo, and is in a league of its own. The Blue Mask is yet another Lou Reed solo album that is far superior to that of Transformer but will never get the recognition it deserves because of the hit single on Transformer, oh well as long as the real music fans know the truth.

All one can really say is this: In the cold of November, Bicycle Dan strapped on the headphones, dialed up the Blue Mask, ate seven Energy Bars and played the Title Track three times before riding to victory in the Thanksgiving Cyclecross Challenge (technically, he was, however, disqualified after knocking over one of the course's obstacles). Lou's art is an inspiration to us all.

Res Ipsa.

This is Lou's most powerful, personal, and consistent solo album. It also marks the beginning of what I like to think of as a trilogy. Sadly, the other two albums, Legendary Hearts and New Sensations, are both out of print in America. RCA, are you listening?