Tracks

1. Dorita

2. Whats Good

3. Power And Glory

4. Magician

5. Sword Of Damocles

6. Goodby Mass

7. Cremation

8. Dreamin

9. No Chance

10. Warrior King

11. Harrys Circumcision

12. Gassed And Stoked

13. Power And Glory Part II

14. Magic And Loss

Performer Notes

Personnel: Lou Reed (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar); Mike Rathke (guitar); Rob Wasserman (bass); Michael Blair (drums, percussion, background vocals); Roger Moutenot, Little Jimmy Scott (background vocals).
Recorded at The Magic Shop, New York, New York on April 1-27, 1991.
Personnel: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Mike Rathke (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar synthesizer); Rob Wasserman (electric guitar, electric bass); Michael Blair (drums, percussion, background vocals); James Scott, Roger Moutenot (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Lou Reed; Mike Rathke; Roger Moutenot.
Recording information: Magic Shop, New York, NY (04/01/1991-04/27/1991).
In the wake of Reed's artistic and commercial comeback NEW YORK, fans were eager to see where Uncle Lou would journey next. As it turns out, he traveled deep into the valley of death. Essentially a concept album about mortality, MAGIC AND LOSS was inspired by the passing of two of Reed's friends, the unspecified "Rita" and legendary songwriter Doc Pomus, who lost a long battle with cancer. Most of the NEW YORK band returns here, and sonically it's a similarly stripped-down affair, essentially a Velvets-ish two guitars-bass-and-drums approach. Reed examines every aspect of death, from hospital sickbed to funeral, cremation and beyond, with his usual lyrical precision and (with a few notable exceptions) a more low-key dynamic than on his previous album.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (1/23/92, p.43) - 4.5 Stars - Excellent Plus - "...Reed's most affecting, emotionally direct solo work since "The Blue Mask"..."

Spin (1/92, p.78) - Highly Recommended "...a rollicking good time... personable and intimate...most confident voice to date..."

Entertainment Weekly (1/7/93, p.124) - Ranked #8 in Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 10 Albums Of 1992 - "...Like his best work, it never flinches..."

Q (12/99, p.74) - Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s."

Q (1/93, p.72) - Included in Q's list of the 50 Best Albums Of 1992.

Q (2/92, p.87) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...beautiful variety and simplicity...compelling..."

The Wire (6/00, p.40) - "...A heartfelt work of mourning illuminated by surprise flashes of mordant wit..."

Village Voice (3/2/93, p.5) - Ranked #16 in the Village Voice's list of the 40 Best Albums Of 1992.

New York Times (Publisher) (1/19/92, p.29) - "...a formal rock song cycle...in these songs about final things, the tension between Reed's affectless attitude and his suppressed fury is as palpable and as gripping as it has ever been..."