Lou Reed live. New York City. The Bottom Line. Backup singers. Electric saxophone. One-liners. Okay, so this album is a far cry from The Velvet Underground. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's not one hell of a ride. Lou accompanies classics like "Sweet Jane" and "Walk on the Wild Side" with sometimes comic, sometimes crazed riffs of stage banter. Others have called it "Lou Reed's stand-up comedy album." I prefer to think of it as a Mamet play with a live soundtrack. Not to be missed.

Harold Check