Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Conqueror Worm
2. Overture
3. Old Poe
4. Prologue (Ligiea)
5. Edgar Allen Poe
6. Valley Of Unrest
7. Call On Me - Reed, Lou & Laurie Anderson
8. City In The Sea/Shadow
9. Thousand Departed Friends
10. Change
11. Fall Of The House Of Usher
12. Bed
13. Perfect Day
14. Raven - Reed, Lou & Willem Dafoe
15. Balloon
16. Broadway Song - Reed, Lou & Steve Buscemi
17. Tell Tale Heart
18. Blind Rage
19. Tell Tale Heart
20. Burning Embers
21. Imp Of The Perverse
22. Vanishing Act
23. Cask
24. Guilty
25. Guilty - Reed, Lou & Ornette Coleman
26. Wild Being From Birth
27. I Wanna Know (The Pit And The Pendulum) - Reed, Lou & The Blind Boys Of Alabama
28. Science Of The Mind
29. Annabel Lee/The Bells
30. Hop Frog - Reed, Lou & David Bowie
31. Every Frog Has His Day
32. Tripitena's Speech
33. Who Am I (Tripitena's Song)
34. Courtly Orangutans
35. Fire Music
36. Guardian Angel

Disc 2:

1. Broadway Song - Reed, Lou & Steve Buscemi
2. Tell Tale Heart
3. Blind Rage
4. Tell Tale Heart
5. Burning Embers
6. Imp Of The Perverse
7. Vanishing Act
8. Cask
9. Guilty
10. Guilty - Reed, Lou & Ornette Coleman
11. Wild Being From Birth
12. I Wanna Know (The Pit And The Pendulum) - Reed, Lou & The Blind Boys Of Alabama
13. Science Of The Mind
14. Annabel Lee/The Bells
15. Hop Frog - Reed, Lou & David Bowie
16. Every Frog Has His Day
17. Tripitena's Speech
18. Who Am I (Tripitena's Song)
19. Courtly Orangutans
20. Fire Music
21. Guardian Angel

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105697 in Music
• Released on: 2003-02-03
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition
• Dimensions: .30 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Lou Reed has never been one to shirk from an ambitious project, and The Raven is no exception. It consists of readings from the dark poems of Edgar Allen Poe, interspersed with songs of traditional structure (and similar subject matter) and sometimes revisits Reed's previous work ("Perfect Day" for instance)--often with the help of a range of collaborators from the world of music (David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Ornette Coleman) and film (Steve Buscemi, Willem Defoe). Opening with a dramatic monologue delivered over a backdrop of seething guitars, it's reminiscent of the unlistenable tosh of his Metal Machine Music. The atmospherics work though, and it serves as a fitting intro--or perhaps an ominous portent--of things to come.

Any reservations are quickly washed away by the glorious New York brass of "Overture" and the autumnally maudlin "Prologue". In fact, The Raven is among Reed's most affecting work to date--strings, saxophones and horns all combine with Reed's restrained guitar to produce a strikingly effective and aurally pleasing atmosphere. Elsewhere, this contrasts with more typically Reed songs, such as the rattle of "Edgar Allen Poe". With Poe's words embodying much which is close to Reed's heart (obsession, paranoia, self destruction), it's easy to see what attracted him to the project. As a concept album, it doesn't work as well as 1991's New York--partly because more people have experienced the dark and dirty underworld of NYC than the dark and dirty underworld of Edgar Allen Poe, but mostly because the songs on offer aren't as good. That said, this is a beautiful record and, for a change, a worthwhile diversion from rock's norm. --Ben Johncock

CD Description
Lou Reed's epic homage to the work of gothic horror writer Edgar Allen Poe is a sprawling 2CD collection of music and poetry, featuring spoken word passages performed by such renowned actors as Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Amanda Plummer, and contributions from the likes of David Bowie, Laurie Anderson and Ornette Coleman. Dark and sinister, Reed has attempted to replicate the mood of Poe's work in the music.

Customer Reviews

But music should be challenging....
Lou Reed's "The Raven" is an album that listeners will either love or hate... and by the five stars printed at the head of this review I think you can guess my reaction.

However this is not an introduction to Edgar Allan Poe (perhaps you should try the Alan Parson's Projects album, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination"), this is Lou Reed trying to capture the feeling, the dark emotion, that fills Poe's prose and poetry.

This is Lou Reed recreating Poe. Take the title track. "The Raven" is not Poe's seminal poem read over music. Reed has rewritten the poem, modernised it and tried to make it relevant to the 21st Century. Listen to the track, feel how familiar it is, and then listen to it again with the original poem in hand.

This album is challenging... to my way of thinking much like the way Scott Walker's "Tilt" was challenging, and like that album the rewards are bountiful. Indeed the re-recording of "Perfect Day" is almost "Tilt" like in it's haunting beauty.

Reed has juxtaposed American gothic with rock and roll and created a fantastic album. It will take several sittings to get the most out of this album, and each time you listen it will be hard work. But music should be challenging, after all.

Change
Lou Reed is not pretentious. Lou Reed is Lou Reed. You hear his voice and you know it is him. He has been creating innovative music for about 40 years.
With 'The Raven', he again offers us something completely original; snippets of literature read by some very talented actors set to brooding electronic music and interspersed by great songs.
If you were excited about another Lou Reed album, another good 12 songs, well here they are, from the gravelly rock of 'Edgar Allen Poe', 'Change', 'Blind Rage' to the delicate beauty of 'Vanishing Act' and the utterly gorgeous 'Who am I'.
But as well as good songs, 'The Raven' also offers the intriguing addition of drama; Willem Defoe, Steve Buscemi, Amanda Plummer, Elizabeth Ashley, captivatingly reciting dark, passionate and witty lines from an author who Lou Reed clearly respects and identifies with.
The result is interesting, exciting, beautiful and artistic. And why not? Lou Reed is an artist, not someone who churns out radio friendly hits.
Lou Reed has always pushed through doors and added an alternative to the face of popular music. And yet he still retains the same distinctive style; that voice, that ability to swing between aggressive rock and heart-pricking beauty.
He has his mark. And I think its a superb one and 'The Raven' keeps it going. Long live his creativity and gift for change.

Poetry in Motion
I wrote a review a couple of weeks ago, not realising that The Raven came out in Gemany a week before it did in the UK. So it wasn't published. But now, after having had the albums for over a week, I can tell you right now that I am still listening to it and still discovering new moments of brilliance. The Raven is a masterpiece, but it takes time and patience to discover its brilliance. I've read favourable reviews in papers like the Guardian and not so favourable reviews in magazines like NME. So what does that tell you? Yes, you do need to be an adult to appreciate and understand this concept. I was lucky enough to see the musical Poe-try, on which the Raven is based almost entirely, so I have a head's start. But if you have just bought the album, savour some immediate moments of magic in Burning Embers, Who Am I? and Guardian Angel. The rest will follow. It has been a while since I have fallen so much in love with one of Lou's albums, but this is in my heart along with Berlin, Blue Mask, Street Hassle and the delightful caberet of Take No Prisoners. Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore this immense artist.