You Can Now Hear The Metallica/Lou Reed Collaboration Lulu In Full

• Funny, that's exactly how I felt about Use Your Illusion I and II when they came out - the misogyny in some of the songs was almost comically embarrassing, and on top of their  general poor quality, I found the whole experience unbearable. I guess I allow someone like Lou a little more room in that regard, as I can at least give him the benefit of the doubt that it's character driven, rather than what comes across as the autobiographical rantings of a juvenile dick like Axl. But your points are well taken!

• If the first 1:27 of "Holy Wars" is truly Maura's favorite piece of music ever, why aren't we married?

• Maura, I've given it 3 full listens and I still actively despise this. The best thing I can say about it is that it sounds like 2 records playing at once. I'm all for artists going out of their comfort zones but different doesn't always equal good. Lulu is just...cringeworthy. P.S. - I loved your review of the Big 4 show where you said the first 1:27 of Holy Wars was your favorite piece of music ever. It might be mine as well.

• I haven't heard it yet. I'll certainly give it a shot, but can't say my expectations are high (then again, maybe that's a good thing). A lot of purists from both sides will hate it w/o actually listening to it. AJFA was the last truly great thing Metallica did...their other albums are ok, with the exception of St Anger which is beyond a POS. I dig VU and early Lou, but...wow, talk about different paths crossing. We'll see...

• I am going to try and give it more listens, although right now, the dissonance is way too grating. I can deal with noise and enjoy quite a bit of "difficult" music, but there are a lot of moments here that sound like they were recorded between two stages at a not-very-well-planned-out festival, and it's disconcerting. Also: I get that it's in character, but man is the relentless misogyny wince-inducing. Even more so because it's so prominent. Thank you for having faith in me, though!

• I don't think anyone familiar with Lou Reed's "Berlin" or any album in Metallica's catalog would find this collaboration so surprising, or for that matter, so terrible. I can't wait for an actual adult to give this record a thorough listen and an intelligent review. Maura, I think you're up to the task. I certainly don't want to read yet another pithy sentence on the subject from a midwestern indie rock baby who grew up on Weezer. I love VU and some solo Lou, but haven't enjoyed a Metallica album since "And Justice...", and I'm kind of digging this.

• It's different. Lou Reed is an aquired taste, so I can see where this is going to alienate a lot of Metallica fans. You know... bless Metallica for trying something off-beat. I'm sure they will come out with a "normal" CD shortly.

• I am speechless. This is brutal. I actively despise this.

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