Louder: A Surprise in Lou Reed’s Archives

June 10, 2022

By Caryn Ganz

Pop Music Editor

A five-inch reel of audio tape housed in a plain cardboard box is the jewel of a new exhibition of material from Lou Reed’s archives at the Library for the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center. As Ben Sisario reports in his first look at the show, Reed mailed the box to himself; it was discovered unopened, and finally played: “What they found were some of the earliest known recordings of songs that Reed wrote for the Velvet Underground, his groundbreaking 1960s band, in stripped-down, almost folky acoustic versions that may leave fans and scholars stunned.” The recordings will be part of a Light in the Attic release in August; the exhibition also includes holiday greeting cards from Moe Tucker and a receipt for a studded dog collar that is almost certainly the one Reed wore on the cover of his 1974 live album “Rock ’n’ Roll Animal.”

Also this week: Ben interviewed the Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who’s always been known to keep a low profile while his artists — Bob Marley, U2, Grace Jones — took center stage, and tracked a few changes to the Grammys, including the addition of a new category: songwriter of the year. Jon Caramanica reviewed new albums from Post Malone and Tate McRae. And Lindsay Zoladz wrote about one of my favorite topics: Kelly Clarkson and her delightful covers series Kellyoke. (Please listen to her version of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” which spawned a particularly effusive back and forth between writer and editor.)

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‘You Don’t Become Lou Reed Overnight.’ A New Exhibition Proves It.

“Lou Reed: Caught Between the Twisted Stars” offers glimpses of a life in rock ’n’ roll — from doo-wop to “Metal Machine Music” — and tracks the evolution of one of music’s polarizing legends.

By Ben Sisario and Erik Tanner

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THE CRITICS

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal

Critic’s Notebook

The Daily Revelations of Kellyoke

Kelly Clarkson has covered more than 500 songs on her syndicated daytime series. The segments are one of the last predictably good things on network TV.

By Lindsay Zoladz

REVIEWS & POPCAST

Album Review

Post Malone and Pop’s Single Sound

“Twelve Carat Toothache,” the new album from the post-genre star, continues to collapse several styles into one, and hones a template adopted by a new generation, including Tate McRae.

By Jon Caramanica

The Playlist

SZA’s ‘Ctrl’ Bonus, and 8 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Saucy Santana, Demi Lovato, Joyce Manor and others.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica, Giovanni Russonello and Lindsay Zoladz

Mailbag Madness: Adele, Jack Harlow, the State of Rock’s Return

The team answers your questions about Chance the Rapper, how the critics consider extramusical concerns and more.

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Chris Blackwell Is Music’s Quietest ‘Record Man.’ His Artists Speak Loudly.

In a new memoir, the 84-year-old founder of Island Records reflects on helping bring the music of Bob Marley, U2 and Grace Jones to the world.

By Ben Sisario

BOOKS & THEATER

Nonfiction

‘We Took a Chonce,’ and Other Dispatches From Fandom

In defense of One Direction, Twitter teens and screaming women everywhere.

By Amanda Hess

Review: Sarah Silverman’s ‘Bedwetter’ Musical Has Sprung a Leak

The comedian’s memoir was funny. But when the new show based on it tries for something deeper, it sinks into bathos.

By Jesse Green

Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times

‘Crying in H Mart’ Made Michelle Zauner a Literary Star. What's Next?

“My creative life has been so raw and personal that I would like to do something more analytical.”

By David Marchese

OBITUARIES

Jim Seals, Half of a Popular 1970s Soft-Rock Duo, Dies at 79

Teamed with Dash Crofts, he hit it big with “Summer Breeze” in 1972. The two went on to have chart success with “Diamond Girl” and other songs.

By Neil Genzlinger

Dave Smith, Whose Synthesizers Shaped Electronic Music, Dies at 72

His innovations included the first polyphonic, programmable synthesizer and the universal connectivity of MIDI.

By Jon Pareles

Grachan Moncur III, Trombonist Whose Star Shone Briefly, Dies at 85

He mixed free jazz and post-bop in notable 1960s and ’70s recordings. But he withdrew from the jazz scene, in part because of a dispute over publishing rights.

By Richard Sandomir

Bill Walker, Nashville Force as Conductor and Arranger, Dies at 95

He scored chart-topping records for country stars and later served as the musical director of “The Johnny Cash Show.”

By Bill Friskics-Warren

Ingram Marshall, Minimalist Composer of Mystical Sounds, Dies at 80

An influential figure in American experimental music, he was part of a group of composers who stripped music down to basic elements and used digital sounds.

By Javier C. Hernández

Paul Vance, Lyricist Behind an ‘Itsy Bitsy’ Bikini, Dies at 92

His daughter’s experience wearing a bikini on a beach in 1960 inspired him to write a novelty song that became a No. 1 hit.

By Richard Sandomir

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The Grammys Have a New Award: Songwriter of the Year

The honor is part of a slate of changes, including a best score soundtrack award for video games and a merit award for best song for social change.

By Ben Sisario

In a First for Broadway, a Theater Will Be Renamed for Lena Horne

Horne, a renowned singer and activist, will be the first Black woman to have a theater named after her once the Brooks Atkinson is renamed.

By Michael Paulson

The Charts

Harry Styles Repeats at No. 1 With ‘Harry’s House’

The One Direction singer’s latest solo album is the first since Adele’s “30” to go back-to-back atop the Billboard chart after debuting there.

By Joe Coscarelli

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Tina’ to End Their Broadway Runs

The musicals, both of which lost steam after the pandemic shutdown, will close in late summer.

By Michael Paulson

BRIC Announces New President

Wes Jackson, a music business entrepreneur, will lead the Brooklyn nonprofit arts organization beginning in July.

By Sarah Bahr

Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The New York Times

Mariachis Ride Into Uvalde With Songs of Heartache and Hope

With trumpets, strings and serenades, their music traces the arc of life. It often accompanies moments of jubilation, but it can also speak to a community’s profound sorrow.

By Rick Rojas, Emily Rhyne and Ivan Pierre Aguirre

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