Lou Reed, The Sire Years: Complete Album Box

If you thought that our 45th anniversary reissue of Loaded was going to be the only awesome Lou Reed-related item to turn up at your local record store today, then you were sorely mistaken: we've also got a box set featuring all of the albums released by our man Lou during his time on Sire Records.

Those who were listening to college radio or watching MTV's “120 Minutes” in the late '80s will remember when Mr. Reed first signed to Sire, as it's when he was suddenly all over the place with his New York album and its single, “Dirty Blvd.,” which hit #1 on Billboard's then-new Modern Rock chart. Almost as high-profile was Reed's 1990 album Songs for Drella, a collaboration with his former V.U. bandmate John Cale which was written and recorded as a tribute to the late Andy Warhol. From there, Reed's recorded output continued to keep his fans happy - or, you know, as happy as Lou Reed fans get, anyway - and included Magic and Loss, Set the Twilight Reeling, Ecstasy, and The Raven, all of which are found within this set. But that's not all! You also get Reed's two live albums, Perfect Night in London and Animal Serenade.

Yes, 10 discs is a whole lotta Lou - indeed, it may be too much Lou for some - but listening back to Reed's Sire Years is a trip through Reed's later career, and his consistency as a recording artist makes for a remarkable aural expedition.