http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KkFcQZw_TM
Lou Reed’s semi-comeback, at least with critics, circa 1982. Sober for approximately 2 years, Reed takes the opportunity to look at his years as an alcoholic and drug addict with graphic intensity. “Waves of Fear” makes the Velvet’s “Heroin” look like a romantic ballad (which in many ways, it kind of always was). The supremely sick dissonant, metallic guitar solos by Robert Quine are almost as disturbing as the lyrics.
Dave's Strange World 
A friend & I were listening to this last night. We found a magazine website with a list of 5 over-rated Lou songs. “Waves of Fear ” was on it, followed by “Coney Island Baby” so we knew it was some know-nothing, half-listening journalist (spit) who loved the sound of his own typing.
In 1984 we caught the Reed/Quine band when they had been touring for a year. A coruscating “White Light” chased by “Coney”, “Waves & “Rock & Roll” ended the set (thank you Mr Google). We floated out of the gig & were able to score a cassette bootleg just the next week.
I am working on a blog of this show but I think I have to change some names to protect the guilty.
Very envious you got to see Reed and Quine in 1984. It must have been a great show. I need to revisit “Coney Island Baby.” It didn’t knock my socks off when I first heard it, but since it’s been at least 15-20 years since I last heard the album, I suspect I may have a different reaction when I listen to it these days (as I do a lot of things I dismissed back when I was younger).