This is John Cale pure and simple. Unpredictable, elegant, manic, literate, articulate, witty, bittersweet, psychotic, passionate, stately, dark and romantic. I could go on and on. It's very hard for me to review Cale's records because they're so wonderful and perfect; they warrant essays. This is indeed a classic album. It reveals John's creative intent in the simplest forms, from brooding quiet ballads to manic, ham-fisted keybashing exercises in noise and chaos. JC is an artist and this album is a testament to that -- GET THIS ALBUM NOW!