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Ian McCulloch recommended Transformer by Lou Reed in Music (curated)

 
Transformer by Lou Reed
Transformer by Lou Reed
1972 | Rock
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I only had it on tape recorded off record. I just thought it was unbelievable. I don’t know whether it’s timeless, because it puts me back in that room more than any other album. If I put it on I’m 13 again and there's a certain dappled light coming in, and it’s spring, and it’s early summer and it gets me every time. It’s genius. Great production, and best backing vocals in the history of time on ‘Satellite Of Love’ by Bowie and Ronson. ‘Andy’s Chest’ I’ve never been all that hot on but the lyrics are amazing. Bowie and Ronson’s production was crucial to this album. Because Lou would have come in with those songs, the way he plays them now – he doesn’t even know what the tune is anymore: [robotic voice] “It’s just a perfect. Day. I’m glad. I spent it. With you.” And that’s what he would have sung to Bowie and Ronson. And Ronson would have gone: [thick Yorkshire accent] “here Dave, what the fuckin’ ‘ell have we got ourselves into?” And Dave’s probably gone: “Er, yeah, nice work... Some semblance of a melody there, but I’m afraid it’s gonna have to go like this…” He sounds like Stephen fuckin’ Hawking sometimes, Lou does… It’s utterly brilliant - forever. You sing these songs to yourself whether you’re doing the crossword or watching the telly - that’s the measure of ’em. And I love the gift of great lyrics. You can have the greatest tune in the world but if the lyrics are crap, forget it."

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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Switch in Books

Jul 31, 2021  
The Switch
The Switch
Beth O'Leary | 2020 | Contemporary
10
9.1 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book had me giggling from the start, much like The Flat Share. I know a lot of the time when you’ve loved an author’s first book so much that their second doesn’t always live up to the expectations, but this one really exceeded them.
The book is split between chapters for Leena and Eileen, a granddaughter and grandmother who are grieving the loss of Leena’s sister. Leena threw herself into work in London while Eileen threw herself into looking after her daughter and Leena’s mother, Marian. After Leena is told by her boss that she must take a two month sabbatical, her and Eileen decide to swap lives for the two months. Leena moving to a tiny, sleepy village in Yorkshire, full of nosey old people and Neighbourhood Watch meetings, while Eileen moves to a tiny little flat in West London and tries online dating whilst making friends with everyone she comes across (whether they want to or not).
Beth O’Leary’s humour is brilliant, and so many situations had me giggling and rereading them multiple times and starting to giggle all over again (my favourite being when asked how a dog ended up in someone’s garden). It is so ridiculous, but not far fetched, and so you can actually imagine the events that make you laugh actually unfolding.
This book has just continued my love for Beth O’Leary and I will definitely be continuing to read her work and looking forward to new releases of hers in the future.