Being a long-time fan of Lou Reed, and with the dull “Sweet Jane” Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance with Metallica still fresh in my mind, I was worried that somehow this collaboration would be, well, lame. Don’t get me wrong, I respect Metallica, but they fell into the rut of one-dimensionality a long time ago. Over the course of his career, Mr. Reed has produced some of the most interesting musical experimentations, from Metal Machine Music to a musical adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven. The Lulu concept (drawing on two plays by German playwright Frank Wedekind) has so much promise that it would be a shame to fumble it.
“The View” has largely waylaid my fears. Whilst Reed’s spoken word vocals start flat and confused (too many words here, not enough there), he gradually settles into the flow of the song. When he spits “I want to see your suicide / I want to see you give it up” it all frighteningly clicks. James Hetfield’s tense voice contrasts superbly against Reed’s, providing the power and aggression needed to bring the song to its peak. What pushes “The View” is its sluggishly maligned musical backdrop. The gained-out guitar riff has a fitting sinister feel, whilst Lars Ulrich works his kit with much restraint; waiting until the time is just right to lean in.
Metallica fans have (and will continue) to bash this collaboration. However “The View” has whet my appetite for more.
