User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse [Live]
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse [Live] Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

  • Summary: The live album features Reed, for the first time in 30 years, singing songs from "Berlin" at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York over five nights in December 2006.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. musicOMH.com
    100
    This mature, nuanced performance of Berlin communicates the human tragedy of the story, leaving behind the chilliness of the studio and using the medium of the stage to its full dramatic advantage.
  2. Rolling Stone
    80
    Where Reed once ham-acted the part of cuckolded savage Jim on the original, he sings here with both detachment and fatherly compassion.
  3. Prefix Magazine
    80
    What got lost in the record’s cacophonic crash was, again, what mattered--the songs--and in Berlin: Live, stripped of Reed and Ezrin’s overproduction, the bleakly radiant song cycle about doomed junkie love is allowed to flourish.
  4. No Ripcord
    70
    This is about as musically adventurous as Lou ever got and those who think he could only toss off simplistic three-chord tunes are advised to listen closely. Berlin turned out to be a place well worth revisiting.
  5. Austin Chronicle
    67
    Mauling the melodious arrangements of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and accompanying orchestral pearls in addition to Steve Hunter, Berlin's original guitarist; Sharon Jones; and diaphanous-voiced Antony, Berlin: Live at St. Ann's Warehouse is a hazy descent into the sinuous perils of abuse, deviant sex, rage, and loss.
  6. NOW Magazine
    60
    Even though he’s become a much more expressive musician, the updated Berlin is no more powerful or gripping than the original commercial flop. It is, however, much more consumer-friendly.
  7. PopMatters
    50
    Berlin as it’s performed here just doesn’t sound harrowing anymore--it simply sounds like a concert where people are enjoying themselves and yelling “Loouuuu!” between songs.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. sbahre
    Nov 26, 2011
    9
    Lou Reed never got to perform Berlin in it's entirety when he first released it in the 70's. By 2007 public opinion had changed and Lou stagedLou Reed never got to perform Berlin in it's entirety when he first released it in the 70's. By 2007 public opinion had changed and Lou staged this performance of his dark, sad opus. This is a worthy companion to the original album, even though he's aged the songs still have the same intensity.… Expand
  2. Ricko
    Jan 20, 2018
    8
    With a notorious reputation for being depressing, Lou Reed's "Berlin" is revisited her and doesn't disappoint. One of the most incredibleWith a notorious reputation for being depressing, Lou Reed's "Berlin" is revisited her and doesn't disappoint. One of the most incredible things about the album is that it was the direct follow up to his career resurrecting "Transformer" album. "Berlin" is the complete antithesis of "Transformer". While the songwriting is equally great on both albums, where "Transformer was vibrant, catchy, punchy and most of all, fun, "Berlin" is downbeat, slow, dour and less fun than emptying a mouse trap. It's a tough listen especially if your reading the lyric sheet as you listen. This live version has a slightly different feel and is an easier listen. Many of the songs are upbeat on the surface but if you listen at all to the lyrics your exposed to the horrors of the albums protagonists Caroline, Jim and their kids. Not exactly an album to enjoyed with repeat listens but still an album to be appreciated both musically and particularly lyrically.… Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
All Current Music »