Art-rocker, iconoclast, contrary noise merchant and junkie, Lou Reed has always been fascinating. Few people, if any, will love his entire body of work: Reeds oeuvre is at times perverse and wilfully unlistenable, while at others he proves himself a master of melody and the songwriters craft. However, it is impossible to deny his standing as a colossus of the rock world: its a tribute to Reeds standing that even punk rockers, with their scorched earth policy towards all pre-punk music, had a healthy respect and regard for Reed. Velvet Underground are one of the all-time greats, of course, yet in many peoples eyes, Reed has produced his best work solo, since the demise of that band. Despite this, no book has to date attempted to analyse and celebrate the fierce intelligence and literary merits of Lou Reeds post-Velvet Underground music. This is that book.