Lou Reed and Metallica
Lulu - WARNER
FILTER Grade: WTF%

It’s hard to know how to explain Lulu without just having someone listen to it, so maybe simple facts work best: aging Lou Reed wrote a bunch of lyrics inspired by a couple of early 1900s German plays about an abused dancer, and then Reed had heavy-metal icons Metallica provide the music. It’s an album unlikely to satisfy longtime fans of either, unfortunately. As a concept album, it requires more thought and context than mainstream music marketed on the novelty of the collaboration will get. One problem Lulu has is that, to make it truly work, Metallica would have had to deliver their best work, something they were either unwilling or unable to do. It doesn’t help that the average track length is nearly nine minutes long… After five minutes of Reed and James Hetfield both asking, “Why do I cheat on me?” (on the track surprisingly titled “Cheat On Me”) the listener is wishing they knew why, but the song isn’t even half over. Still, as Reed sings—or rather, talks—on “The View”: “I attract you / And I repel you.” There’s something about Lulu that’s intriguing, if you can stand the time to listen.