Jeff Leventhal wrote:
I must admit that I've never heard "Metal Machine Music", although I wouldn't mind having a go at it. However, I've heard that Reed went out of his way to make this as abrasive as possible (perhaps a reaction to what he felt was the "overly commercial" "Walk on the Wild Side."?
Reed has given a wide variety of takes on MMM. He has called it an FU to the record company, a legit experiment in feedback and noise, a shot at the WOTWS-loving public. He must have some affection for it, he plays on the orchestral transcription of the record. (It's pretty cool, reminds me of Xenakis or some Stockhausen.) I don't put either version on on every day but I do listen to parts of them on occasion.
