The ’80s weren’t Lou Reed’s most critically revered decade but his eleventh studio album The Blue Mask released 40 years ago today (2/23/82), was one of the artist’s finest albums. Receiving a lofty five stars from Rolling Stone and an A+ from Robert Christgau doesn’t happen often, yet this cycle of songs about marriage provided a nuanced vibe from Reed and guitarist Robert Quine that was both excitable and introspective. And yes the album cover is quite iconically memorable- check out the LP in full.
