Lulu (Universal)

Unfortunately this unlikely pairing is one collaboration that seems doomed to failure both on paper and in practice. The problem is that there are no melodies whatsoever as Reed performs spoken word poems over Metallica riffs with James Hetfield  providing the occasional ham-fisted ‘chorus’ variation. Reed is no stranger to unusual career choices – the atonal white noise exercise Metal Machine Music the prime offender – and as for Metallica, this play for ‘credibility’ smacks of desperation. Honestly, there is absolutely nothing to recommend on Lulu even for the most faithful of Reed or Metallica fans. Critics have almost universally panned this album, now widely described as the worst of the year – an assessment that is virtually impossible to disagree with. Avoid.