The Raven
by Lou Reed
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23
  1. AllMusic
    80
    The good stuff is strong enough that anyone who cares about Lou Reed's body of work, or Edgar Allan Poe's literary legacy, ought to give it a careful listen.
  2. Launch.com
    80
    This experiment in rock 'n' roll Poe is a great success even if you occasionally forget that this is rock 'n' roll after all.
  3. Playlouder
    80
    The Raven... does fly on the side of the bizarre, but it holds some rich pickings.
  5. The Wire
    70
    A rewarding and self-consciously motley fest. [#227, p.60]
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  6. PopMatters
    70
    In the end, what makes this fabulous disaster of an album work is the passion of Reed's performance.
  7. Mojo
    70
    Demanding, certainly, but a formidable and ambitious endeavour achieved with wit and passion. [Feb 2003, p.86]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Dusted Magazine
    70
    The spoken words mix wonderfully with excellent musical arrangements, but the original songs primarily suffer in comparison.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. leossongs
    Jul 16, 2019
    10
    The gorgeous epitome of Lou's lifelong literary ambitions, perfectly culminating his career on such a fitting dark note. Truly beautiful workThe gorgeous epitome of Lou's lifelong literary ambitions, perfectly culminating his career on such a fitting dark note. Truly beautiful work of art, a timeless classic for myself and the likes.… Full Review »
  2. EnriqueR
    Dec 9, 2006
    10
    Lou Reed is a classic. Classics should be listened, not criticised...Is a great albuem, for Reed fans and for Poe fans...and if you have Lou Reed is a classic. Classics should be listened, not criticised...Is a great albuem, for Reed fans and for Poe fans...and if you have anything bad to say, first you should listen "The Velvet Underground and Nico" and remember who Lou Reed is...… Full Review »
  3. Cosmo
    Jun 2, 2005
    10
    Makes me want to dance! The most sensual party album of the decade
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