Lou Reed & Metallica
Lulu

Released on October 31, 2011 by Warner Bros. (in the US) and Vertigo (elsewhere), “Lulu” is a conceptual collaboration album by legendary singer-songwriter Lou Reed (1942-2013) and world renown heavy-metal gurus METALLICA. It is based on a theatrical dilogy “Lulu” by the German playwright Frank Wedekind (1864-1918), which includes the plays “Erdgeist” (1895) and “Die Büchse der Pandora” (1904). Respectively, the “Lulu” double-disc album is built mainly around spoken-word libretto created by Lou Reed, and delivered by him over the storming avant-metal theme-improvisations and soundscapes performed by James Hetfield (guitars), Kirk Hammett (guitars), Robert Trujillo (bass), and Lars Ulrich (drums) who are assisted by a string ensemble (violins and cellos) and an electronic performer. Hetfield also provided some backing vocals while Reed occasionally played acoustic guitar. Well, “Lulu” is definitely somewhat unusual and uncomfortable experience for Metallica’s fans, but for those who value Lou Reed’s works it could easily be a masterpiece. Or at least, it is an ultimate farewell full-length studio album of a big Artist, who was not afraid to look into the abyss, surprised, and admired the open-minded public more than once throughout his 50-year music career. Whatever the prominent critics wrote about “Lulu” and whatever rate they assigned the album, it’s a honest, passionate, heartful and painful dramatic work that perfectly complements Lou Reed’s aesthetic and artistic vision – probably his most outré offering since the 1975’ “Metal Machine Music”. I don’t think it’s possible to pick up “favorite songs” on this album, because structurally and stylistically “Lulu” is likened to a very consolidated and focused, 87-minute theatrical noir-soundtrack in 10 acts with rather depressive, weird, and dark lyrics. This show is not easy to listen to and pass through, but lovers of cinematic and experimental music as well as metallic avant-garde music will be rewarded, I believe.

Some fans of the group Metallica negative perception about this album. But I can not agree. It's very organic album of the legendary Lou Reed and the legendary band Metallica. It just does not sound familiar.

worst record ever made by Lou Reed, makes Metal Machine Music sound like AbbA