Blue with Lou

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 2015 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]

Blue with Lou
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 26, 2019 (2019-04-26)
Recorded2017[1]
StudioLofgren's home studio, Scottsdale, Arizona
Length56:15
LabelCattle Track Road
Producer
Nils Lofgren chronology
UK 2015 Face the Music Tour
(2015)
Blue with Lou
(2019)
Weathered
(2020)

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
American Songwriter[5]
PopMatters8/10[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]

Track listing

Blue with Lou track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Attitude City"4:24
2."Give"
  • Lofgren
  • Reed
5:56
3."Talk Thru the Tears"
  • Lofgren
  • Reed
4:08
4."Pretty Soon"Lofgren3:49
5."Rock or Not"Lofgren3:31
6."City Lights"
  • Lofgren
  • Reed
4:15
7."Blue with Lou"Lofgren7:12
8."Don't Let Your Guard Down"
  • Lofgren
  • Reed
2:52
9."Too Blue to Play"Lofgren4:00
10."Cut Him Up"
  • Lofgren
  • Reed
6:08
11."Dear Heartbreaker"Lofgren5:02
12."Remember You"Lofgren4:58
Total length:56:15

Charts

Chart performance for Blue with Lou
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[6] 62
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[7] 23
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] 33

References

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