CULTURAS IN VITRO
Lou Reed Pays Homage to Poe on New Album: Come January 28th, Sire/Reprise will roll the disc with The Raven, an ambitious new double-album from former Velvet Underground frontman and glorious eccentric Lou Reed that's sure to have fans screaming "nevermore!" Predictably, The Raven is heavily indebted to 19th Century American writer/poet Edgar Allen Poe, with several spoken-word readings of Poe's poetry set to Reed-penned scores. Deriving its title from Poe's most famous and celebrated piece, the opening track "The Raven" features the sultry voice of actor Willem Dafoe, otherwise known as "that weasel-lookin' fuck that got to pour hot wax on Madonna's nude-ass self." Cock.
In addition to Dafoe, Reed has invited a formidable array of actors and musicians to lend their respective talents to The Raven: Steve Buscemi, Amanda Plummer, Elizabeth Ashley, Fisher Stevens, and Kathy Volk will earn their money reading, while the musical cast will feature David Bowie (shock!), Ornette Coleman (okay, that's a shock), Laurie Anderson, Anna & Kate McGarrigle, and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. And lest the "Poe show" become an egotistical indulgence, The Raven will be anchored by Reed's long-time, accomplished bandmates Mike Rathke, Fernado Saunders, and Tony Smith. Hal Wilner, who also produced Reed's last studio album, Ecstasy, is manning the boards.