Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne revealed his unexpected favorite Metallica album in a recent interview with Loudwire.
“If I had to pick one album of Metallica to listen to, it would be ‘Lulu,'” Osborne said. “That’s the one because it’s so different and such a head-scratcher for most people out there.”
“I’m really, really happy and proud that those guys would do something like that with Lou Reed,” he continued. “They all had storied careers long before that, let these people do what they want. Don’t give them sh*t for being different. You’re giving them sh*t for shifting out of the mainstream? That’s f*cked up.”
Osborne’s endorsement stands out for ‘Lulu,’ the 2011 collaborative album between Metallica and Lou Reed that sparked diverse reactions at release.
His praise markedly contrasts with the album’s initial reception and market performance.
Data from Loudwire revealed the album’s commercial struggles. It sold just 13,000 copies in its first week and landed at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The album found support from influential figures in the music industry. Ultimate Metallica reported that David Bowie considered ‘Lulu’ among Reed’s finest works. He believed the album would gain recognition over time.
Metallica’s Lars Ulrich defended the project’s experimental direction. “Whether people don’t like it or not is really secondary to the fact that they’ve gotta let us run amok with this stuff once in a while,” he stated.
Reports from various sources highlighted the album’s mixed commercial success. U.S. sales remained under 33,000 copies for three years. However, international markets proved more receptive, with worldwide sales reaching approximately 280,000 copies by March 2023.
Critical reception showed notable bright spots. J. R. Moores of Drowned in Sound awarded it a perfect score. He dubbed it the ‘second greatest record ever made.’ NME’s reviewers also praised the album’s ambitious scope.
