Berlin

Steve Buscemi once called him “one of rock’s most unflinching artists.” After 40 years of recording and performing, it is a title that still underrates Lou Reed. In 1973, after the success of his post-Velvet Underground album Transformer, Reed created one of his most ambitious projects, Berlin. It was a commercial bomb. In 2006, he brought Berlin back to the stage and it was captured by artist/director Julian Schnabel in his new concert film, Lou Reed’s Berlin.

Berlin is as powerful on screen as it was on the turntables 35 years ago. Reed’s searing indictment of urban sprawl, drug abuse, and sadomasochism will leave you craving for another musical fix. From the first note (and frame) to last, Reed and his band deliver a strong and powerful performance of a lost work of art. Like Brian Wilson reviving SMiLE in 2004, Reed digs up his own musical Lazarus.

At his performance at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, Reed doesn’t make it into a rehashing of old material; he comes on stage armed with his band, a string and wind ensemble, and the haunting, yet beautiful voices of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Julian Schnabel recruits his daughter, Lola, and fellow artist, Alejandro Garmendia, to film short films projected onto the stage emphasizing the drug-induced melodrama Reed presents to the audience. The short films, entwined with Reed’s bombastic performance, are a dazzling spectacle for the eyes and ears. Looking at it makes one reminisce about the early days of Reed and his live gigs at Warhol’s Hit Factory.

The sporadic rhymes of Lou Reed and his powerhouse chords will leave you stunned. Check out Reed’s performance of “Men of Good Fortune” as he casually strums a powerful A- minor chord during the song’s adrenaline-fueled coda. Notice his homage to the early German novelty songs of Kurt Weill in “Caroline Says” or the Brooklyn Choir’s ominous voices personifying the destruction and decay of Reed’s musical protagonist. The list goes on and on like an 18 minute performance of “Heroin.” The credits roll to Lou breaking out one of his signature hits; “Sweet Jane.” The DVD features include a road film of Reed’s 2007 European Tour of Berlin.

Don’t expect a revealing Madonna: Truth or Dare atmosphere. It’s more of a sobering montage of Schnabel’s elaborate sets being built and displayed to audiences in Paris and Italy. Also on the DVD, Reed and Julian Schnabel sit down with Elvis Costello on his new show, “Spectacle.” What could be more satisfying than seeing 3 great artists shooting the breeze?

Lou Reed’s Berlin is worth watching and listening at top volume. If you can’t wait to get Lou Reed’s soundtrack to the film, “Live from St. Ann’s Warehouse” (available on November 4^th), rush out and get this DVD. The chemistry of Schnabel’s camera and Reed’s music leaves you asking “why such a musical masterpiece, like Berlin, was shafted by audiences after its original release 35 years ago?”