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The Raven
The Raven | Lou Reed, Lorenzo Mattotti
4 posts | 2 read | 8 to read
Back in 2003, Lou Reed paid tribute to poet Edgar Allan Poe with his sprawling album, The Raven. This gorgeous book of art and poetry, made in collaboration with Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti, shares its title with that album and further explores Reeds fascination with Poes work. Reeds poetically streetwise sensibility and style works in surprising harmony with Poes dark chronicles of terror and despair, just as Mattottis vivid, abstracted and enigmatic paintings perfectly complement Reeds haunting, contemporary interpretation of Poes vision.
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quote
Bookwomble
The Raven | Lou Reed, Lorenzo Mattotti
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"Panic and anxiety so often in my head
But I had a guardian angel
Who took care of me instead

The champagne cork - the nightlight owl?
A raven and a duck
The seed of pining parents
And your despairing love

I have a guardian angel
I keep him in my head
When I'm alone and become afraid
He saved my life instead"

(A beautiful illustration to this poem/lyric, and I obviously couldn't resist posting with my actual nightlight owl!?)

dabbe 🧡🖤💜 6mo
Leftcoastzen Beautiful photo! Love Lou too ! 6mo
Bookwomble @Leftcoastzen Yeah, listening to his voice on this album, I really miss him. But! We do still have his amazing music and his wonderful lyrics ❤️ 6mo
35 likes3 comments
review
Bookwomble
The Raven | Lou Reed, Lorenzo Mattotti
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Pickpick

In 2000, Lou presented a musical, POEtry, based on the works of EAP. In 2003 he released a concept album, The Raven, based on the musical, which I've finally got hold of. It's an amazing amalgam of musical styles: rock, electronic, avant-garde, contemporary classical, soul, with guest artists including David Bowie, Anohni and Laurie Anderson. There are extensive spoken word sections, voiced by Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Amanda Plummer.
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Bookwomble In 2011, Lou commissioned illustrator Mattotti to illustrate the book of lyrics, which I can now re-read along with the album: a multisensory experience! Lou's dramatic adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher is amazing and worth the price of the album by itself. If you love Poe or Lou Reed, you should try to hear this 🖤 #BooksAndMusic 6mo
Suet624 💕💕💕 6mo
38 likes2 comments
review
Bookwomble
The Raven | Lou Reed, Lorenzo Mattotti
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Pickpick

By turns beautiful and disturbing, Lou Reed has adapted the poems and stories of Edgar Allan Poe as a musical, presented here as a book of lyrical poetry and prose. The illustrations by Mattotti are by turns dream-like and nightmarish, in both stark monochromes and vividly febrile colour. 👇👇

Bookwomble This is the first time I've seen Mattotti's artwork, so I can't compare it to any of his others, but as an isolated example I have to say he's able to brilliantly express Reed/Poe at both their most wistful and most morbid.

Whether you're a fan of Reed, Poe or Mattotti, I don't see where you can go wrong with this book.
6y
10 likes1 comment
blurb
BookishMarginalia
The Raven | Lou Reed, Lorenzo Mattotti
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I did not know this existed! An illustrated version of a script for a Lou Reed musical based on #Poe and aptly titled POEtry. I need this in my life!

DeborahSmall I need this!! ❤️ 6y
TheAnitaAlvarez Need it so bad 6y
MrBook Whoa! 6y
128 likes8 stack adds3 comments