Blue with Lou | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 26, 2019 | |||
Recorded | 2017 [1] | |||
Studio | Lofgren's home studio, Scottsdale, Arizona | |||
Length | 56:15 | |||
Label | Cattle Track Road | |||
Producer |
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Nils Lofgren chronology | ||||
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Blue with Lou is an album by Nils Lofgren, released on April 26, 2019, through Cattle Track Road Records. Lofgren co-wrote six of its tracks with Lou Reed in the 1970s, [2] with Reed's death in 2013 being the catalyst for Lofgren to record the material at his home studio in 2017. [1] The album received generally positive reviews from critics, who felt that the songs co-written by Reed were the strongest of the material. [3]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 75/100 [3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
American Songwriter | [5] |
PopMatters | 8/10 [1] |
Blue with Lou received a score of 75 out of 100 at review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [3] Uncut remarked that "Lofgren's voice is crackly, but plays perfectly", and Classic Rock called it "a pleasant album and one that covers a lot of bases", while Mojo felt that "the Reed/Lofgren songs muscle their way to the top of the pile". [3] Glide Magazine stated that "the 'less is more' premise remains in effect just often enough on Blue with Lou to certify the record, name associations aside, as a memorable entry in the lengthy discography of Nils Lofgren". [2]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "Lofgren achieves a lean, sinewy sound that gives the tight group plenty of room to roam" and while "Lofgren's originals may not carry the same swagger, [...] when they're surrounded by these Reed co-writes, they're given a slight lift: the whole affair simultaneously feels like an affectionate tribute to a departed friend and a resuscitation of Lofgren's gut-level rock & roll". [4] PopMatters ' staff opined that "Lofgren rises to the occasion, playing with a sense of abandon and danger that recalls his best work with Grin and blistering, if overlooked, live albums, including 1977's indispensable Night After Night ". [1] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter noted that despite the passage of time since the material was written, "little has changed with [Lofgren's] youthful sounding voice, sizzling guitar playing, melodic songwriting or overall boyish enthusiasm. That makes this comeback of sorts particularly sweet, irrespective of Reed's beyond-the-grave involvement". [5]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Attitude City" | 4:24 | |
2. | "Give" |
| 5:56 |
3. | "Talk Thru the Tears" |
| 4:08 |
4. | "Pretty Soon" | Lofgren | 3:49 |
5. | "Rock or Not" | Lofgren | 3:31 |
6. | "City Lights" |
| 4:15 |
7. | "Blue with Lou" | Lofgren | 7:12 |
8. | "Don't Let Your Guard Down" |
| 2:52 |
9. | "Too Blue to Play" | Lofgren | 4:00 |
10. | "Cut Him Up" |
| 6:08 |
11. | "Dear Heartbreaker" | Lofgren | 5:02 |
12. | "Remember You" | Lofgren | 4:58 |
Total length: | 56:15 |
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums (OCC) [6] | 62 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [7] | 23 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [8] | 33 |
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a member of Crazy Horse, and founder/frontman of the band Grin. Lofgren was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014.
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