Pitchfork

What has everyone's favorite observational performance artist and violinist been doing lately? Well, she's about to work as a cashier at a McDonald's in New York's Chinatown, as inspiration for a new novel. You'd think that Lou Reed's longtime partner would have something better to do with her time, like, oh, have sex with Lou Reed. But she's got more artistic things in mind. Aside from completing various international museum installations, she recently finished touring her latest musical, Songs and Stories from Moby Dick, which is supposedly based on some novel or something.

It also turns out that in late August, she will finally celebrate her recent work and her new contract with Nonesuch Records by releasing Life on a String, her fifth full-length studio album and her first since 1995's Bright Red. It kicks off with three tracks from Moby Dick, then takes a different, more personal toll. The whole thing is said to be more acoustic than her previous work, and it features contributions from Mr. Reed, bassist Skuli Sverrisson, Dr. John, Peter Scherer, Eric Friedlander, Bill Frisell, Mitchell Froom, Joey Baron, Mocean Worker, Danny Frankel, and even arrangements by Van Dyke Parks. No McDonald's anecdotes yet, but be sure to watch for the Songs of the McFlurry college tour in spring 2002.

01 One White Whale
02 The Island Where I Come From
03 Pieces and Parts
04 Here with You
05 Slip Away
06 My Compensation
07 Dark Angel
08 Broken
09 Washington Street
10 Statue of Liberty
11 One Beautiful Evening
12 Life on a String