Legendary Hearts

Coming after the momentous Blue Mask, Legendary Hearts is a subdued affair, with Reed mixing guitarist Robert Quine down in the mix and keeping things to a modest rock 'n' roll quartet. (Bassist Fernando Saunders and drummer Fred Maher nail down the rhythm section.) Only Saunders is allowed to color outside the lines with his fluid, lyrical bass lines. Dedicated to Reed's then-wife Sylvia, the album is considerably influenced by Reed's work in analysis, though "Betrayed" hardly bodes well for the marriage. Sober-minded, Reed takes a look at life with precision. There's a glum futility to "Make Up Mind" and a biting cynicism to the grind of "Don't Talk to Me About Work." "The Last Shot" and "Bottoming Out" represent a bare lyricism and a deliberately flat band approach that became Reed's signature sound for many years, as he opened up about his personal demons in a way that few songwriters ever come near.