Very Best of Lou Reed (2000)

Another year, another Lou Reed compilation. Or perhaps more accurately -- come the early 21st century, another year, another few Lou Reed compilations. Yes, the pace has picked up quite a bit as of recently, as evidenced by the appearance of such sets as 2000's Very Best of Lou Reed. Unfortunately, its title is quite misleading -- how can this be the "very best of" when it only focuses primarily on Reed's '70s output, and contains few selections from the '80s, and none from the '90s and beyond? True, most longtime Reed fans ... Read More

Another year, another Lou Reed compilation. Or perhaps more accurately -- come the early 21st century, another year, another few Lou Reed compilations. Yes, the pace has picked up quite a bit as of recently, as evidenced by the appearance of such sets as 2000's Very Best of Lou Reed. Unfortunately, its title is quite misleading -- how can this be the "very best of" when it only focuses primarily on Reed's '70s output, and contains few selections from the '80s, and none from the '90s and beyond? True, most longtime Reed fans will admit that his '70s output was probably the best of his solo career, but still, this can't be considered a definitive best-of when such albums as New York are completely skipped over. Of course, there's no denying that there are some truly great tracks here -- "Perfect Day," "Vicious," "Ocean," "Berlin," "Satellite of Love," (and you've got to admire any Reed compilation that includes the Blue Mask obscurity, "The Gun"). Nope, not truly a very best-of, but an OK overview of Reed's solo work from 1972 though 1984. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi Read Less