Lou Reed

Lou Reed's interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe is an all-star double-disc set that aims to modernize one of the most presciently psychological American storytellers. At more than two hours, it's an ambitious, often wild work, teeming with almost as many names from the New York and Los Angeles glitterati as Poe characters. Even though it's decidedly odd, it's also strangely successful. As Reed says, "It's no longer than a movie, and what's the big deal about going to a movie? It's a movie for the mind."

It's hard to tell what differentiates the two CDs structurally -- they alternate vocals, spoken-word tracks, and instrumentals -- but the first, "Act 1 -- The Play," is ultimately more theatrical, the second more musical. Cuts featuring everyone from Willem Dafoe (who dramatically recites an updated Raven), Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Ashley, Amanda Plummer, and Laurie Anderson follow.

Among the most moving tracks are an update of "Perfect Day," a luminous ballad from Transformer featuring a singer named Antony; and "Who Am I? (Tripitena's Song)," which is driven by one of Reed's best, most vulnerable vocal takes. Sure, parts are trying: "Fire Music" is as strenuous as Metal Machine Music, and "Blind Rage" is enervating. But parts are magnificent too, like "Burning Embers" and "I Wanna Know (The Pit and the Pendulum)." If nothing else, The Raven testifies to Reed's contract with Sire/Reprise: This probably cost a pretty penny to make, it most likely won't sell despite all the star power, and it's definitively arty. Thank God it's cool too.