New York
by Lou Reed

New York by Lou Reed
Year: 1989
Release date: 1989-01-10
Overall rank: 698th   Overall chart history
Average Rating: 
77/100 (from 444 votes)
  Ratings distribution   Average rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 10 albums of 1989 (10th)
Award Top albums of the 1980s (106th)
Award Top 1,000 albums of all time (698th)

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Lou Reed bestography

New York is ranked 3rd best out of 37 albums by Lou Reed on BestEverAlbums.com.

The best album by Lou Reed is Transformer which is ranked number 144 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 9,598.

Lou Reed album bestography « Higher ranked (586th)
Berlin
This album (698th)
New York
Lower ranked (2,133rd) »
The Blue Mask

(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).

Upcoming concerts

Apr
15
Wed
Rick Springfield
The Charleston Music Hall, Charleston, United States. United States
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Apr
23
Thu
Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra
Wells Hall at The Parker, Ft Lauderdale, United States. United States
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Apr
18
Sat
Leon Etienne
Halloran Centre at the Orpheum Thea, Memphis, United States. United States
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New York track list

  Track ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 81 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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New York rankings

Rankings summary
Overall rank: 698th | 1980s rank: 106th | 1989 rank: 10th
Filter Filter
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YearSourceChartRankRank Score
2026matterhornriderTop 42 Music Albums of 19899/424
2026FinkyTop 100 Music Albums of the 1980s92/1002
2026fabm0List 198993/100 -
2026 paladisiacTop 100 Music Albums of 198995/1000
2026 sssvnnnTop 100 Music Albums of the 1980s9/10018
2026cicadelicTop 100 Music Albums of 19895/1005
2026 MadhattanJackTop 72 Music Albums of 198942/722
2026 TamthebamTop 100 Music Albums of 198922/1004
2026saltysurpriseTop 67 Music Albums of 198921/674
2026 LeonardTop 100 Music Albums of 19893/1005
2026 RomanelliTop 79 Music Albums of 198919/794
2026JohnnyoMost listened to studio albums of 2021 (101 - 200) (To delete)82/99 -
2026RAPPSTHYMETop 40 Greatest Music Albums32/4022
2026spewventuriTop 91 Music Albums of the 1980s77/913
2026TuurTop 25 Music Albums of the 1980s13/2510
2026JohnnyoTop 100 greatest music albums (alternative list)41/100 -
2026JohnnyoTop 100 Music Albums of 19896/1005
2026TroutMaskGregTop 100 Music Albums of the 1980s57/1009
2026SkernsTop 100 Music Albums of the 1980s13/10018
2026 RomanelliMy Overall Chart: 701-80072/100 -
Total Charts: Help The total number of charts that this album has appeared in. 384
Total Rank Score: Help The total rank score. 2,490
You can include this album in your own chart from the My Charts page!

New York collection

New York ratings

Average Rating: 
77/100 (from 444 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 444 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
90/100
 
03/02/2026 14:13 davidleewrong  Ratings distribution  2,33781/100
 
100/100
 
02/12/2026 20:40 Devilwoac  Ratings distribution  92097/100
 
100/100
 
01/24/2026 12:22 Keezartn  Ratings distribution  30100/100
 
70/100
 
01/15/2026 21:34 mrmcrook  Ratings distribution  1,04177/100
 
55/100
 
01/15/2026 00:14 This_is_handsome  Ratings distribution  76979/100

Rating metrics: Help Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 3% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 77.3/100, a mean average of 76.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 77.4/100. The standard deviation for this album is 14.2.

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New York comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 19 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
70/100
From 01/15/2026 21:38 | #312651
This took a few listens too warm too. But Lou Reed is as Lou Reed sounds. An original and unique narrated vocal style over pleasant rock backdrops. A decent album.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
65/100
From 08/13/2023 15:50 | #298604
Mostly shrill Schmylan. music was underwhelming throughout. At least Dime Store Mystery was pretty solid.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 09/30/2022 05:46 | #290067
Lou Reed back to his best musically and lyrically. The social commentary still relevant now
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 09/07/2022 01:13 | #289464
A few standout songs
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 06/28/2020 19:22 | #254680
New York is Lou Reed’s return to form after pursuing new wave (yes, new wave) during the mid 80s. I do miss the production of Transformer and Berlin, but the songwriting is the real pull of his albums, and it’s great here.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 12/30/2019 15:49 | #246132
A very fine record.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
55/100
From 05/26/2019 18:52 | #236753
Lou Lou what to say about Lou Reed gotta his guts to release whatever he felt in his mind and heart at any given time with that being said I like this one it was pretty basic rock music with Lou poetry
essential track DIrty Blvd
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
70/100
From 12/09/2018 05:56 | #226578
I really like Lou Reed's style of lyrics and estetic, so this is a win for me. But overall this is really not anything especial.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 05/09/2018 11:43 | #214478
A real masterpiece and my favourite album by Lou.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 03/13/2018 20:22 | #210842
Yeah full of social commentary and often great lyrics - at his best when he's delivering a story and introducing interesting mis-fit characters. Stand out songs for me are the first three songs plus Last Great American Whale. However there are a couple of songs I don't like - There Is No Time and Good Evening Mr Waldheim, and I actively hate the jazzy Beginnings Of Great Adventure. But there is enough good stuff here to interest you and most of the tracks he delivers superbly with the New York drawl (even Good Evening Mr Waldheim is well delivered, just not too keen on it musically nor lyrically though)
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Best Albums of 1989
1. Doolittle by Pixies
2. Disintegration by The Cure
3. The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
4. Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
5. 3 Feet High And Rising by De La Soul
6. On Fire by Galaxie 500
7. Bleach by Nirvana
8. Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
9. Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty
10. New York by Lou Reed
11. Technique by New Order
12. Like A Prayer by Madonna
13. The Real Thing by Faith No More
14. The Sensual World by Kate Bush
15. Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson
16. Floating Into The Night by Julee Cruise
17. 13 Songs by Fugazi
18. Hats by The Blue Nile
19. Oh Mercy by Bob Dylan
20. Wrong by NoMeansNo
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