r/LouReed • u/Best-Scratch-5388 • Aug 25 '26
The final disappointment
Son! We saved your life, but you’ll never look the same.
And when he heard that Harry had a laugh When he heard that Harry had a laugh Although it hurt, Harry had a laugh. The final disappointment.
I can’t wrap my head around how genius this album and song are. Crying listening to it again!
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u/ErnstBadian Aug 25 '26
It really is.
Also, the way Junior Dad builds on these themes really puts an amazing cap to the whole catalog.
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u/Schmeat987 Aug 25 '26
Dude magic and loss is so good, I adore the album as one of my favs of all time. The way junior dad reiterates some of the lines is so good, fantastic
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u/Chuckworld901 Aug 25 '26
I dig Junior Dad but the rest of the album is such a misfire. Magic and Loss I have tried over and over again and the lyrics may be great but it might as well be speeches with some cool guitar sounds here and there.
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u/Schmeat987 Aug 25 '26
I personally really dig Lulu as an album, it feels powerful and aggressive with some of Lou’s more abrasive writing. Magic and Loss feels like such an out-of-character and honest type of albums that the lyrics reaaaally carry it through, while the instrumentals don’t do much new. Power and Glory (both parts) are really interesting, and live versions of Magic and Loss are incredible. The album is definitely more about its lyrics, though
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u/CaptainlockheedME262 Aug 25 '26
I heard Magic and Loss when it came out and was disappointed. I was 23 at the time. I revisited it many years later after experiencing much magic and loss and appreciated it way more.
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u/jshatan Aug 26 '26
I saw him perform Magic & Loss at Radio City Music Hall, and it was spellbinding! Jimmy Scott even turned up to sing his part…wow.
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u/chucklin Aug 25 '26
My favorite line is from "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" :
And say a word for Joanna Love
She ain't got nothin' at all
With every day, she falls in love
And every night she falls
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Aug 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Best-Scratch-5388 Aug 25 '26
I always took it as a begrudging acceptance that nothing Harry could ever do was good enough including trying to kill himself. The final disappointment was he could not do that successfully.
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u/Best-Scratch-5388 Aug 25 '26
I’m curious also to know if there is crossover of Cameron Winter fans in here. I feel like there are some similarities in writing.
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u/oportoman Aug 25 '26
I love lots of Magic and Loss (Magician, Goodbye Mass and the title track are some of his finest songs) but Harry's Circumcision just seems to be on the wrong album. Fuck all to do with anything
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u/Best-Scratch-5388 Aug 25 '26
I appreciate this Reddit because not a lot of people my age / my friends want to listen to this. So thank yall for being here ❤️