The Velvet Underground & Nico

Venus in furr, sound like being a convicted felon on the bus to prison, driving in the desert. It gets better towards the end I especially like Heroin and European son. The begging of the album really isn’t my thought…

Definitely overrated, if you judge it by itself. However, if you judge it by its influence, it's one of the greatest albums of all time. You can hear bands and albums 50 years into the future, influences by this. In the end, this is a review on the album, isolated as a listening experience in 2026. This isn't a great album, it's ok at best. The music is boring and uninspired, Lou Reed is a horrible singer (Nico is ok) and a horrible guitar player. But what keeps this album from a really low grade for me is the lyricism. Reed is a poet and every theme he touches, he does it masterfully. All in all, 3/5

Some good some not so good, kinda rough around the edges. Some are fairly polished and pleasing. I at one time thought Apple Music decided to put on Bob Dylan in the middle of my listening session. Just feels like inconsistent from beginning to end. Shout out to Andy Warhol for the cover, love that guy.

Interesting listen. Agree with the description of the album as a basis for art rock because it is a great starting point and very innovative, but as an actual listening experience didn’t blow me away. Favourite track- Heroin

Pretty good, but it got a bit weird here and there

This was so much more mellow than I expected

Venus in Furs

This was very close to a 2, but at least I wasn't bored by it. Standouts European Son 3/5

liked it cool and flowy

Was excited to revisit because I used to hate this record. My appreciation has definitely grown, but I still find this thing massively disjointed. Nico's tracks are all great and the instrumentation throughout is so ahead-of-its-time, but the mid tempo pop rock tracks are so lousy and Lou Reed is a bit of a charisma vacuum. And just because the sounds attempted here are progressive, does not mean that the production sounds good- most of it sounds really dated.

A mix of dreamy pop and rock probably made possible by Warhol's financing makes for an interesting VU album with vocal assistance from Nico. Interesting album for it's time.

Avant garde Proto punk Art school Rock Probably all fitting labels. Definitely NYC, interesting and somehow groundbreaking. VU formed in the mid 60s, carried on until 1973 or so, broke up, got back together. Same old story. This album apparently a little like Melville's Moby Dick, unremarkable upon it's release but now considered a masterpiece. Fun fact: A legal dispute over an image on the back of the album had it pulled from stores for a few months, during which time Sergeant Pepper's exploded on the music scene. I'm ambivalent toward it, and everyone knows I love this era. I think there are a couple good songs, but otherwise meh. If it weren't for the historical significance and the Andy Warhol design on the jacket, I'd probably have no interest whatsoever. 3 stars, probably closer to 2 1/2

Album was fine, expected to like it more based on the listens it has, but nothing really stuck out. I wouldn't listen to it again and no takeaways. Didn't dislike it, but also was pretty meh on it.

It was a 60s album.

Un suono rock, country, medievale. Molti brani sono delle ballate psichedeliche. Si sentono i suoi quasi 60 anni, ma può essere un ottimo spunto: non servono troppi elementi per fare belle canzoni. Un buon ritmo, basso, chitarra e voce possono creare brani senza tempo. La caratteristica di alcuni brani è questa voce molto "rovinata", potrebbe funzionare anche in dei brani moderni, per dare quel tocco di passato. Bisognerebbe approfondire ad un secondo ascolto i testi, per coglierne i particolari e il significato. In generale è stato bello scoprire questo suono.

Can’t actually remember this

liked I’m Waiting For The Man

Niet zo mijn ding

Leí por ahí que este álbum estaba en el puesto 13 de los mejores de todos los tiempos.. No sé, desde mi punto de vista esta sobrevalorado. Me gusta alguna que otra canción pero no podría estar entre mis favoritos ni por asomo.

Sunday Morning - 4.5/5 I'm Waiting For The Man - 4/5 Femme Fatale - 4/5 Venus In Furs - 3/5 Run Run Run - 3/5 All Tomorrow's Parties - 3.5/5 Heroin - 3/5 There She Goes Again - 3/5 I'll Be Your Mirror - 4/5 The Black Angel's Death Song - 2.5/5 European Son - 3/5

I really liked The Velvet Underground vocals/instrumentals and thought that they perfectly captured the sound of the era. However this album made me realize I really don’t like Nico’s vocals. None of the songs really stood out to me and I probably won’t go out of my way to listen again.

Slight "The Ma & Pa's" Vibes Black Angels Death Song sounds like Timothee Chalet as Bob Dylan. This album is kind of giving me soundtrack vibes, Red Dead kind of?

Fave track: Femme Fatale Least fave track: European Son i like femme fatale hehe. what a unique voice Nico has! the male voices singing "she's a femme fatale" in the background is perfect. Venus in Furs is freaky deaky, i like the strings in it! this whole thang got a funky sound i like it. there are many random grating sounds in these songs haaahahah. Overall i think its interesting and freaky in a fun way. 7.2/10

It was good

Great music, I have always not liked Nico's voice

I just don't get the velvet underground. People love them but I just don't have fun listening. They do some interesting things, but it's more expiremental and less practical to me. Tempted to give a 2 but it ekes out a 3

The Velvet Underground & Nico I can honestly see this album as something that would be used when discussing and teaching the history of music. It has a very defined, and cemented sound while encapsulating the time period. That being said, it’s not really my cup of tea I’m most situations, with ‘I’m Waiting For The Man’, and ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties‘. 3/5 for easily being able to respect and interpret the quality with context of the time frame, but as these are personal ratings, it really isn’t a 5* for me.

Temp

Velvet Underground is one of those bands that boomers lose their minds over. This record was -okay-, but doesn’t really resonate with my GenX mind.

Couple of 4 star songs does not make a 4 star album.

Why are the outros so bad

There were a few interesting songs on here, but mostly I was bored of it.

This one was definitely not new to me. My girlfriend in college loved this record so I've heard it a bunch. And, look, I get the attraction. There is some great stuff here, but I've always landed on the side that said The Velvet Underground was overrated.

I notice that in this listening, I have a tougher time getting past my lack of patience for a certain style--small rock bands that aren't immediately precise or poetic (in a way that isn't too grandiose). Listening is such a personal preference, even while it has many levels. I've never gone straight through this famous album and, though there were no unpleasant songs, there were no standouts I wanted to listen to again either (maybe except 'Sunday Morning'?). If we're being moralistic, 'Heroin' is a perfect personification, but do I care to have that personified?

The good songs slightly outweigh the bad. The bad songs are all either too long or too Nico-ed or too much of both. I've met amateur musicians who can play at least five thousand times as well. There's no accounting for what's classic, I guess.

Some obvious classics but overall not for me

Honestly the only songs I enjoyed on this album were the ones Nico was the main vocalist for…

It’s not my favorite, I prefer hearing Nico sing over that man. Overall I think they released this album at the right time because it sounds a little rooough. It makes me want to listen to more of them tho, I want the better understanding of why people like them so much

gets better with every listen 3/5

3,5

The sound itself is nice, however it wasn't really my speed.

i remember listening to this in LA at buck mason when i worked retail. sometimes i miss being their operations coordinator but i don’t know if that’s what i want for my life. very much a weekend afternoon album.

I appreciate this sound for 1967, the cover is iconic, the songs are uneven

this is more what i expect from the velvet underground. the opener was amazing, the rest were fine. but once again the penultimate song was unpleasant. i very much do see how it's influential but it simply is not for me.

Black Angel’s Death is unlistenable. Other than that it’s ok. Odd pairing having Nico on a couple of tracks. Some Dylanish rhymes. Some Kinksish riffs. Some Beatlesesque drones. Wild that this inspired some of the best music.

Meh. Too old

I get why this album is important but it’s not something I would revisit.

2nd song was the best in this album. My first time as well joining 1001 albums

sunday morning - ive heard this song before i love it a lot a classic!! ironically tho this song is one i would listen to on sunday night not morning 8/10 im waiting for the man - something id play while getting ready in the morning absolutely loved this song 7/10 femme fatale - i know this one and its one of my favs i wish it wasnt too short tho 8.5/10 venus in furs - something id hear play while im in a bar on a thursday night on a date with someone i like it but not my vibe tbh 6.5/10 run run run - my name is in the song so i obv like it :D i like the guitar riffs between the verses a lot the song genuinely feels like you're on the run 8/10 all tomorrow's parties - my new national anthem 8/10 heroin - works as a metaphor how your partner could be the thing you're addicted to like heroin in this case but also how one cant literally live without their addictions. melody imo is symbolising how it feels like slowly getting that heroin in your body and how that dopamine hits you once and for all. 9/10 there she goes again - loved the fadeout it feels very authentic. 7/10 i'll be your mirror - i also know this song 6.5/10 the black angel's death song - liked this song but i wasnt feeling it as much as i was feeling the others ngl 5/10 european son - fun instrumental !! => overall i liked the album its not something id willingly go to listen to but if its on shuffle id play it

Just felt kind of mid. I understand why it was artistic for its time but it didn’t feel like it had any kind of feeling or emotion

3.5 not big fan of the rock music genre but loved

My reviews keep getting deleted. Some songs I enjoyed and were very pleasant and calming. Other songs devolved into noises, which sometimes I like but it didn’t always work for me here. I can understand how influential and ahead of its time this album was, but I didn’t love it on first full listen through

Heard it before. I'm afraid I'm not as into this album as some other people are. It is quite cool for its time and has good songs obviously. But Nico pisses me off ever since I read her Wikipedia page and her vocals are shit. Thank god Lou sings on most songs 3/5

still trying to decide if i like the velvet underground or not

the songs are not what I would normally listen to, but it was a great listen

the influence of this album > the album itself - kelsey

Bueno, normal, tranquilo

'Venus in furs' is epic, some decent rock tracks too. The album is diverse enough to remain interesting but boring at times too.

good, makes me feel like im summoning a witch w some songs

3.5. I liked it but it didn’t really stand out for me

Ой це було прям тяжко, шось занадто експериментальний звук. Але до речі репетиція виявилася прикольною

Not really to my taste. I can see how it was influential but a bit out there for me.

Ik vond m vet, ik heb hem nog niet helemaal geluisterd. Maar van wat ik gehoord heb vond ik wel nice

If I wasn’t purposefully listening to this, every Nico feature would be a skip. She has such a bad voice/accent. Can’t name a band I associate with heroin more. Listened to this album with a 5th grade class. More kids liked it or at least didn’t hate it than I would have imagined.

I do actually own this, and I bought on the strength of one track and its reputation as an album. The track is 'Venus In Furs' which is everything I hate about twangy, clinky, type of music that it is. But it has that magical something that made me fall in love with it the first time I heard it. Unfortunately there are several other tracks on the album in the same style which just don't have that quality, and are indeed crap. However, there are several tracks that are not in that style, and they are actually quite good. So for me this is a bit of a bi-polar so it has to be a classic 3 from me. strange thing is if I hadn't already bought it, I probably wouldn't.

Some of these songs are very long and get a bit repetitive I really liked Femme Fatale, Sunday Morning and There She Goes Again Other than those songs, I probably wouldn’t listen to this album all the way through again

154 Es como que no era el día para disfrutar este disco. Las voces meh. Lo monótono de los primeros tracks. Meh. Lo experimental de algunas canciones: yay? Raya para la suma "bakan tu volaa pero no pasó nada por acá"

Slightly more enjoyable than solo reed, really into black angels death song which I hadn’t heard before

Without Nico, this album would be so much better...

5/10 Kun nogle få sange jeg kunne lide, sunday morning og femme fatale

Still listening so no firm opinions yet.

it was ok but too many random sounds

You know, maybe it changed lives. But I can't see it

5/10. It was a mellow vibe.

Occasionally breaks out into a good song but it's very hard to get past Nico's voice, I can't be convinced anyone enjoys her singing sincerely 3*

Another album where I can appreciate it for what it was at the time and its influence on other acts, but it just didn’t do much for me aside from a couple songs.

Classic album, great groove. Highlights: "Sunday Morning" and "Heroin"

Starts out strong but like many a trip kinda collapses on itself towards the end

Smooth listening. Easy transition between songs. Some songs on the album gave me a sense of doom.

I can see why people like it but it’s not my vibe

It's okay, but far from a masterpiece

I've never actually sat down and listened to this entire album, because I thought I wouldn't like it. Turns out I don't mind it so much, although some of the sounds are a little out there.

I did really enjoy the guitar on this album, and the vocals did work pretty well. I'd say this was a great middle of the road album. The vibe all fit, and the songs were good, but I wasn't like "Zamn! Banger alert!!". So that's cool ig. Favorite track was there she goes again, it has some really cool backing vocals and the guitar hits.

I really didn't get this. On paper the lyrical matters and vibes should be something I'm down with. Started out strong with the first view tracks but lost it's legs and got very boring. Not a fan of either Lou Reed or Nicos vocals. Sometimes the influence can be blown out by what comes after and think this may be the case here.

Very very mid. Interesting and enjoyable at times, but grating and too experimental at others. Went a bit too avant-garde with the screeching and broken glass as motifs in certain songs. I'll respect it for what it is and give it 3/5. It was just okay.

Good album. Quite the story trip.

Some great tracks and some very questionable ones

I always want to love this album, then I listen to it and check out throughout a lot of it. Maybe I’m a heathen, but I like Velvet Underground at their most accessible and poppy, and don’t like the dirges and experiments. I don’t want to call it overrated, because it is valid and important, but I don’t like it all that much.

This album was not as bad as I remember, but it still wasn't amazing. I just don't like their monotone voices. The guitar licks are fun tho. This isn't terrible. I just don't think it is AS good as everyone thinks. "Heroin" is not a good song. Liked Songs: "Sunday Morning" , "I'm Waiting For The Man" , "Run Run Run" , "There She Goes Again" , "I'll Be Your Mirror"

I don't really care for "Sunday Morning," nor, actually, any of the other songs with Nico vocals. The Lou Reed ones are generally excellent though. I loved European Son.

Everyone knows this album cover (probably because every knows the Warhol painting but still). The album itself is interesting. I enjoy Lou Reed’s vocals but it the album tapers off the further you go

Some of it is good. But 48 mins is far too much of this.

Pretty good. My wife wasn't diggin it as much. Made me like it more

Interesting

I like how it is art first and not music. It’s designed to make you feel something sonically and it may be disgust at what you’re hearing. The songs go on too long and lose their shock value or overall power. An important record even if I don’t turn to it.

While I can see how this album could have been absolutely life-changing hearing it for the first time in the 60s, to my modern ears I found it to be a small handful of amazing tracks interspersed between a lot of very forgettable ones. I find Venus in Furs and Heroin brilliant tracks that still hold up very well. I thought European Son was a unique and ambitious closing track as well. I otherwise found the album to be fairly dull and forgettable, and I've never really been able to get too into Lou Reed or Nico's vocals. 3/5.

I see the artistic merit in this but it’s not my favorite. More performance art than purely music, which is ok!

One of those albums that is undeniably a classic, hugely influential, but for my money only has a few tracks I enjoy. Venus In Furs is fantastic though.

Aina kun Sunday Morning käynnistyy tulee aurinkoisen nostalginen olo. Minulle tämä levy on 90 luvun nostalgiaa siitä kun silloin nostalgisoitiin 60-lukua. I'm Waiting for the Man tuo mieleen vanhan Radio Cityn. Ei tätä voi kuunnella musiikillisessa mielessä, kun merkitykset ovat niin paljon suurempia. Sävellyksestihän tämä on köykäistä ja soitannollisesti mielikuvituksetonta ja junnaavaa, mutta se ei ole nyt oleellista. Femme Fatalekin tuo muistoja; värejä, samettia, kitaransoittoa

Whilst it may have been influential at the time, other than a couple of numbers it hasn’t aged well.

Usually find this era of music not quite to my taste, but this one isn't half bad, or at least better than their other albums I've reviewed. Still only a 3 though.

People talk about Lou Reed like he's the second coming of Jesus and I just don't see it. This is a perfectly average rock album. Am I missing something?

Was groundbreaking at the time, but now just sounds standard. Cool to go back into music history

Sounded like a lot of noise to me, though after reading about this album, I understand that that was kind of the point and I respect its influence on many rock sub-genres

sunday morning is so peak

un bon album à mettre pendant un roadtrip, vraiment un travail intéressant sur l'edginess de certains sons (qui rappelle des mélodies folkloriques dans Venus in Furs ou limite country dans Run Run Run que j'ai bien aimé). petite mention pour la pochette d'album, qui fit bien avec la thématique générale. un bon 3.3 parce que j'ai pas non plus été transcendée.

lite besviken, kändes inte så inspirerat, men inte rent ut dåligt

would be a 3.5 but 3 seems too low

Interesting album, though I didn’t really connect to it. Some very dark, poetic lyrics with an unexpectedly upbeat tempo. Not that I dislike it, but it’s definitely not something I’m gonna be seeking out.

Fine

ok. the long songs tend to go off the rails

It’s okay, but I’ll never really understand why this album is considered to be really groundbreaking and influential. It’s really just a mix of “a little bit of this and a little bit of that” and that’s it. It really just is the barrier of listenable to mid to really weird. I don’t really like much psychedelic rock because its structure is a little weird and noisy. While I think that the album cover by Andy Warhol is pretty cool thinking about, this album can be creative to some but to me, it sounds pretty uninspiring and distorted. Favorite Tracks: Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, Heroine, I’ll Be Your Mirror Rating: 3/5

undeniably cool but i honestly didn’t connect too much with the music. feel like i might’ve enjoyed it more if i listened when it came out

Good stuff.

3/5

C+

Eh. Not even remotely what I was expecting based off of what I had previously heard about this album elsewhere. I think I hyped it up when I rolled this one too much and was just left fairly disappointed overall. Sure, it’s fine. But it just kinda exists. All songs on this album rank anywhere from mediocre to just ok. There’s some songs that are pretty boring, and others are fine. But that’s about it. Classic album art, passable album at best. Nothing really stood out here. I heard Funk with more memorable riffs than this the other day. I didn’t even particularly care about Lou Reed’s singing here, which may be blasphemous to some. Maybe you had to be there for this one. I’m sure it’s influential and an all time classic album, but unfortunately it was just barely passable enough to scrape by with a 3 for me. Sorry banana album. I wanted to like you so much, but I’ll likely forget about this album by tomorrow. Just don’t really get this one man. It happens. I think I liked “Venus In Furs” the best. It had some fun things going on with it.

Some of it was alright, some was annoying

I was expecting something more life altering based on what has been said about the velvet underground

I don’t know, I get there’s something there, but having a hard time finding it in just one day. this album really feels like something I’ve heard before but I can’t place where. Will file this one away and relisten on a dud album day

Iconic and maybe most accessible, but by no means my favorite VU.

I don't know, some of this is ok but some of it is really fucking annoying.

Definitely revolutionary for the time. Not my vibe though

I didn't particularly love this but I dont' think it deserves the hate some reviewers are giving it. It's basically a newer version of a post LSD journey Beatles album. It's definitely a bit drug addled and it's certainly "artsy" but I don't find that it's all just random noise or mumbling. I think the best example of what I'm talking about is "All Tomorrow's Parties" which is a cross between slower 70's rock and the stoned hippie aesthetic of the 60's. I don't love it, but it's a song that could fit on any number albums from earlier and would be considered perfectly acceptable there. Unfortunately it does devolve in to unlistenable at some points. The end of "Heroin" is terrible, that part is just noise and continuously sped up drums until the 10 second reprieve at the end. "The Black Angels Death Song" is backed by a horribly (intentionally?) played violin that ruins the rest of it, and the rest of it isn't very compelling either. Some of it is just boring; lots of the songs sound very similar to each other, and not in a "this is a unique sound" way. I dont' think they're very creative at all, the opposite in fact. If you think the stuff that came after this and is clearly inspired by it is great, then you'll love this. I find it all pretty dull.

This was fine?

So I must be on enough drugs to actually like it, the Lou Reed songs in particular. I had never heard anything by them going into this, so had no expectations. They reminded me of some other bands of the time that I enjoy, but they definitely made some interesting choices with the arrangements. A couple of the songs were unlistenable - looking at you Venus in Furs - but there were 4 or 5 tracks I thought were great. I’d give it a 3.5 if I could, but going with the 3.

Iconic album cover, was excited to actually listen to the record and glad I did. I enjoyed the Lou Reed songs, old school gritty New York City vibe. Very cool, enjoyed it. The other songs were a bit rough for me. Felt like they listened to hippie era Beatles and decided to give it a go after taking way too many drugs. Pretty terrible. Iconic Warhol cover and Lou Reed carry the record and bring this to a 3.

Not my cup of tea but a couple of cool songs on there

Seen the album cover a billion times but haven’t listened to it. It was hit or miss for me. Likes some songs but was ready for others to be over.

It was alright.

Makeita saundeja tässä, jousia joita on käytetty oikein!

There are better Velvet Underground albums than this, and better Nico albums than this. Its influence cannot be denied, and as a project backed by Warhol it is the epitome of a ‘cool’ album. Trouble for me is, these are some of the VU’s weakest songs. There’s flashes of brilliance throughout (All Tomorrow’s Parties remains a favourite) but the songs here feel very basic compared to anything on Loaded or White Light / White Heat. Was nice to revisit this though, I probably haven’t listened to it in full for about ten years.

- Gefällt mir besser als White Light/White Heat - Spezieller rockiger Vibe - würde ich vielleicht nochmal hören, aber wahrscheinlich nicht alle Songs Topssong: Run Run Run

I enjoyed it but probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it

Have listened to this album a few times and I'm convinced I'll never really 'get' it. I assume that in 1967 this was blowing people's socks off. Must be a 'me' problem since I believe the people who say it's so good.

I liked it better than I thought I might…uneven still but the good stuff is really good!!

Some cool songs but mostly forgettable.

pretty good generic rock 3/5

I liked this for exactly 3 stars

Fun vibes but ultimately not a memorable album.

Algumas músicas legais, e outras insuportáveis.

Good but also some bad songs

as revolutionary as this was it has been obliterated by albums inspired by it

More interesting than good.

en ciertos momentos me han recordado a los rolling me gusta el rollo experimental de algunas canciones, en general me ha gustado el álbum, aunque algunas canciones son un poco largas y repetitivas pero otras me han parecido originales canciones favs: sunday morning, i’m waiting for the man, there she goes

I can see why so many people find this album compelling. Lyrically it’s saying things that no one was talking about. Unfortunately the music just doesn’t grab me. Trying to be cooler than cool.

I always thought I really loved this but maybe I just thought I should?? Or not the day for it??

Mellow, kind of underground feeling pop rock

1. Sunday Morning - 5 Not a great sound vocally and instrumentally there's not a lot to it to critique to begin with. It's not a bad track. 2. I'm Waiting for the Man - 6 Good sound. Bit too melodic in the lyrics but the track moseys along well enough. 3. Femme Fatale - 6 Lyrically very very strong. It has too much of that early 60s/late 50s rock and roll doo-wop sound. The barbershop quartet type of track. Other than that it's enjoyable. 4. Venus In Furs - 9 Lyrically great but the wailing of the guitars and violins are excellent. Instrumentally the track is absolutely fantastic. The tone change into the chorus is superb. Great track. 5. Run Run Run - 6 Guitars sound good but the track has not stood the test of time. Lyrically it's not anything more than average in the verses. Choruses are significantly better. Third verse is also quite enjoyable. 6. All Tomorrow's Parties - 4 Lyrically it's not a good track but the piano and the guitars do very here to recover some enjoyment out of the track. Percussions sound solid as well and the constant unwavering drum beat also adds good flavour to the track. 7. Heroin - 10 Artistically brilliant. Everything about this track feeds into the theme: the wailing of the guitars into their classic riffs, the lyrics starting start forward before exploding into a diatribe of topics, the octave of the collective sound rising and falling. Excellent track. 8. There She Goes Again - 7 Lyrically good until the outro. Instrumentally very good too. It's an enjoyable track overall and one of the better ones on the album. 9. I'll Be Your Mirror - 2 It's just too slow and melodic. Lyrically uninspiring, the track will put you to sleep more than anything. 10. The Black Angel's Death Song - 0 Instrumentally horrible. The violins and guitars screech unpleasantly throughout the entire song and vocally it's more of a preaching track rather than singing. Awful sound. 11. European Son - 4 More a jam track to end the album which is not really an ideal way for it to end. The guitars going from riffs to screeching isn't hugely enjoyable. The track also goes on for too long without the jam changing barely at all. Average Rating: 5.36 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.68 Rounded Up: 3 Stars

Mmmmhhh excepto All Tomorrows Parties, no tuve mucha felicidad. Aunque por la época seguro se le voló la tapa del seso a más de uno. Nota: 3.4

Oh the banana album, I wanted to be hyped ! In the end, I found it good but not terrific....still some harsh sounds and Lou Reed toxic vocals makes it relevant, even for today.

Definitely hipster. More lo fi than I expected. Nico’s voice is actually kind annoying.

It was ok, a bit different from the other things from that era, but still kinda boring. Not bad though.

I have yet to be impressed by a Velvet underground record.

Album No. 022 on my list. Yet another experimental, avant garde, and highly influential early rock/pop album. And one with an iconic cover! I found that this is an okay-ish album. “Femme Fatale” is a long-time favorite of mine, and “Sunday Morning” is a solid pop song. The rest of the songs is more progressive and experimental to various degrees. Many of them are still alright, some I did not like (e.g. “European Son”). I get why this album has had such a long-lasting impact. To me personally, it does not appear all too much, but it’s still alright. Based on my personal feelings and disregarding the overall impact, 3/5 stars!

Decent tunes, a bit overrated it sounds like but i enjoyed it for the most part.

I expected more

Yeah! I like this.

There were some great songs on here, I especially liked Sunday morning (ofc), femme fatale, run run run, and there she goes again. However, I think it was a tad too excitements for my taste, want a fan of the screechy strings and the last song was one of the quest things I’ve heard in my life. This was another album where I mainly appreciated it for its place in music history, but I doubt I’ll return to much of it.

Influential rather than completely listenable. But interesting and innovative in parts.

some very good songs but found it lame, maybe it was just my mood ill relisten to it

Marmite. You either love them or hate them. It's repetitive in a good way, something you can zone out to, and it takes you along on a lil journey. I do love it but I admit that there are more musically interesting albums.

Hmm this album was interesting. For every song I enjoyed there was one I disliked. The vibe was super 60s and shockingly the first time I’d ever listened to the Velvet Underground. The bass on European Son - slapped. Then they do something ass like add in smashing glasses adlibs and bongo drums.. Weirdly I enjoyed Nico’s vocals more than Lou reeds… Again some songs I loved- others were just a miss for me

Early Cage, Eno and Lou! As a NYer it’s all about the lyrics.

Clásico.

Not for me

Gilmore Girls made me think I’d like this more

70s man music. I liked it but not going to listen again.

Some obvious hits (I'm Waiting For The Man, Heroin), but heard some that were new to me (Sunday Morning, Run Run Run). Cool sound for 1967.

Do not listen to European Son if you're trying to get anything done

Banana. Distortion. Risqué lyrical content. Some more distortion. Some great song making hiding amidst the drugs.

The old-school NY hipsters loved to tell you that you had to listen to this. It's decent, gritty stuff. I kind of liked it.

The band, album, and cover art are all iconic...but the album falls flat, and at times is a bit annoying. To like the Velvet Underground is to like easy going, low tempo music, which can be appreciated, but the album grows weary on the listener.

Improved since first listen Strong start to album Understand the importance and why people like it but just not really for me I would give it a 3.5 if I could but I cant give it s 4 so I have to go 3

not bad, it just isnt hitting

Good 60s album.

Lou Reed is one of those artists I've always avoided because I find his singing quite boring. I didn't clue in the lead singer was Lou Reed until halfway through the album, and this is definitely the best work I've heard from him. With that said, there's no memorable moments on this album that will have me coming back for more.

I like every song Nico isn't on and that's not even because of her politics. I just found her voice to be very unpleasant on this, which is strange because I do like her song Reich der Träume.

Maybe you had to be there at the time. Maybe you needed to hear this before you heard the stuff that came after. Interesting lyrical content and some interesting instrumental parts, but not anything I'd like to listen to again

*** Ok, but not more

i feel like this album will probably grow on me more with time, not bad i think i jsut need to give it a few more listens

60s Bob Dylan vibe basic but interesting

Didn't really care for this, it was fine but never really grabbed me

This was an album of drones. Heroin was full of drone. Then Black Angel’s Death Song had more drone. Followed by European Sun with even more. I can understand now how the infamous Lou Reed + Metallica album came to fruition.

På mitt ex står det att den kom 66 men det spelar kanske mindre roll. Ett pärlband ikoniska låtar men dess rykte är kanske lite orättvist gott, många av de här låtarna är bättre i coverversioner av andra artister än i dessa origonalversioner. Inflytandet går knappast att argumentera om, idémässigt är det delvis nyskapande för sin tid, men bandet låter faktiskt ganska taffligt och tråkigt och Nico är mer spännande solo än här. Tre år senare lät dom mycket mer sofistikerat och "färdiga", jag väljer det albumet alla dar i veckan. Sen kanske det bara är jag men all den där Reedska New York smartnessen står mig lite upp i halsen, det blir överdos av det över ett helt album. Lyssna hellre på The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground (1969), Stina Nordenstam - Dynamite, The Stooges - Funhouse

Even though I know Velvet Underground had a big impact on many of my faves, this was just so-so to me.

I have a growing suspicion that anyone under the age of 50 who says they like the velvet underground is lying.

My biggest issue with psychodelic music is that it lacks any consistency and while they may have wrote, created and recorded while on substances, most of the mainstream world can't listen to them while on substances causing them to lose a little bit of their luster and instead become (for me) confusing and disjointed at time. This album was not as bad as many leaning towards being more enjoyable, but there were still times the lyrics seemed to lack emotion or the instruments were just off enough that it was odd.

I respect The Velvet Underground for creating a genre of music that I love… psychedelic, washed out indie, but they themselves are boring. Maybe it’s Nico who sounds liked a bored little rich girl on here, though Sunday Morning is a great song. Add Lou Reeds disaffected tone and it all just sounds like they’d rather be anywhere else. Their “cool” factor comes from apathy and romanticizing hardcore drug use among the rich and full of shit. It’s just not my scene.

I like this album. The VU is one of those bands that is hugely influential, and has heaps of praise foisted upon them, but to me? They're fine. More than fine - they're good. But "legendary?" I have never felt that way. I will say that having Nico sing a solid chunk of this record works to its benefit. It's got some interesting production and feels extremely loose. Some absolutely iconic songs here, but I rarely ever return to this. Maybe I will now? Gotta knock it down a full star for the needless cacophony in "European Son." I have a headache.

album cover is iconic but the music is not

I recognize that it’s influential and a landmark album and all that, but the progressive and innovative qualities get lost when encountering something like this almost 60 years after it was progressive and innovative. It’s like someone showing you the first ATM in 2025 and being like “WOW ISNT THAT AMAZING” when you’ve regularly used products directly inspired by it for the past 15 years of your life. It’s like…cool, I guess?

не впечатлен.

experimental - little weird. definitely of the times. not my cup of tea, but not bad.

I get this is a historically important album, and appreciate the significance and individual sound, but did I enjoy it? Some tracks, definitely. But I'm afraid I don't get the hype.

Very solid album, quite relaxing although the ending is a little tiring.

Decent.

When it's good, it's great but when it's bad it's ugly I would happily listen to a cut-down version of this taking away the extraneous & extended tracks

Groovy

It was alright but a bit too weird for me.

No es para tantas pompas, no lo creo, le daré unos puntos, pero creo que está muy inflado

It inspired me definitely. It made me know that I can make art even if I don’t have the professional skills. That I can do good art with some skill and finding the right idea to communicate and the way to do it. In any field I believe in myself I can do all that because of this album. And the belief I have in myself in doing anything of art is really higher after listening to the album.

The Velvet Underground never really vibed with me to be honest, but still this is probably the best of them and I can understand the appeal!

Almost every critically-praised rock subgenre can trace its roots back to this album. The gritty, experimental music paired well with the lyrics about topics other artists were merely hinting at at the time. I understand the appeal, but it’s not really my cup of tea. Lou Reed isn’t really a singer and some of the songs are just formless jams.

some crackers

It was okay. Too many wierd sound effects used imo

I'm not the biggest Velvet Underground fan. These songs are more like spoken word poetry to a backing track than an artist truly singing. I appreciate how iconic this album is, and the song Heroin is brilliant. But for my taste it's not my favorite.

It was good

Enjoyable album, got a little weird at the end.

So far the best velvet underground or lou reed project I’ve gotten yet on the list. Still dripping in pretension and art house self importance, but not nearly as much as the second album or his later solo work. I can hear where it would have been huge for the time and where the influence springs, almost entirely in the music itself though. It reminds me of the episode of Spaced with Vulva on it, only it’s exactly what they were making fun of.

Listening to this album on headphones is rough. There are a lot of sounds that are harsh and fatiguing. Also, it sounds like this album was meant to be listened to in Mono, which I switched to half way through... it helped a lot. It's creative, obviously influential... but the roughness makes it a hard re listen.

It’s 5 in the morning and I don’t feel like writing up a review. 7.9/10

Dad- 4 Mom- 7.5 Mike- 8 Lori- 7 Michael- 7 Miles- 5 Cole- 6 Avg- 6.35

An admittedly very mellow experience on first listen - which is reflective of the criticism this album got upon its release. At the same time, there isn’t a bad song on the track list, which puts this album in such a strange light for me. Is it good? Absolutely. Is it ahead of its time? Lou Reed always was. Does it hold up today? Depends on who you talk to. “Femme Fatale” is my pick from this debut. I think the music is just a jumping off platform to the crazy context and historical significance TVU&N carries with it. I don’t feel qualified to elaborate any more, therefore I won’t!

I did not use a private Spotify session for this one as I have listened to it before. It is hard for me just to sit and listen to The Velvet Underground as there music is a little too odd and detuned, but I can appreciate the impact they had. I used to hate the song "Heroin" because it made me feel on edge, but then I realized since the song was about heroin, it was supposed to, I recognized the talent it going for that emotion and grabbing it. Still, I can't put on this record and just chill.

I can kinda hear its influence but I just don't get it. Her vocals sound really out of place for one thing.

An important album that I just don’t really vibe with

I mean... it's good. I like this album, but I don't love it. I own a copy of it. I've listened to it many times. It's a right of passage for anyone getting into rock music... and i think its deserving of its place in rock music. I can feel its influence in countless albums. I like some of those albums more. I wish i liked this album more. General notes: I like the mix of soft nico tracks and harsh lou tracks. Heroine is amazing... the momentum is incredible. Its a rush. Sunday morning is pretty, love the twinkle I'm waiting for the man is classic driving velvets Love femme fatale. Great nico track. Love the back up vocals too. Run, run, run ... i love the run run run refrain There she goes again is great. Love the vocal interplay. I'll be your mirror is very catchy. Weird it was in an airbnb commercial. I like a lot of tracks... but it doesn't stick with me ... it doesn't hit me the way it hits so many other people. Maybe someday.

Was expecting to not like this but it was actually pretty good. It feels experimental but still accessible. Shoutout to Venus in Fur being sampled by Coldplay

Again, another not bad not great album. I enjoyed "I'm Waiting for the Man," but most of the album was just noise. Overall, another middle of the road tier, for an all-timer.

Not really something I like, but it gets an extra star for the banana.

It’s not bad but it doesn’t touch me. I would say 2.5 cause the jam was more interesting to me even if this one isn’t long it’s just a bit monotone

Didn’t enjoy this one.

Decent album. Sometimes a little rough like European Son, but overall quite enjoyable.

It was alright. Certainly a vibe, but not one I particularly cared for. Decent instrumentals with ok vocal work.

Liked the variety. Some was sweet. Probably wouldn’t listen but liked it was different and a bit experimental.

I can see how this influenced many albums later to come. Lots of distortion, just kinda blurs together.

I really want to like this. I think "Run" is a good song and I like the songs with violin le sitar. The rest of the album is ok. This is a 3 but I will listen again. 3/5

M'eh, not really my cup of tea, not bad but just background

I was actually pretty disappointed by this record. I was expecting something incredible and I got something just ... good-ish. I like the lyrics I just think the music didn't really age well. 6,5/10 Fav songs : Venus in furs & Heroin

I was a bit disappointed: I like some other VU stuff, but this wasn't very enjoyable for me. Some good bits but several off the target misses for me.

Was expecting to like this more than I did.

I think I always kind of romanticize this album in my head, but it's not nearly as good as I remember. The music and the band are great, even the sort of saccharine pop songs are pretty good, but Nico is just atrocious and drags the whole thing down with her. I'd generally rather listen to solo Lou Reed.

Re experimental pero creo que no es para mí. Me resulta medio aburrido y no muy impresionante pero me gustan algunas letras y cosas mas out there tipo venus something something. Femme fatale es muy buena también y la primera me gustó y algún temita más por ahí

3/5. Didn’t really connect with me. Lots of drug songs, long psychedelic instrumentals. “Heroin” was good and I really liked “I’ll Be Your Mirror”.

Good album.

J - 3/5 Best Track - "Sunday Morning" F - DNL

I really want to like this band. Femme Fatale is a gem, for sure, but the rest of this really doesn't do anything for me. Iconic album cover, one that I'm sure everyone has seen...but that doesn't make me want to listen to this more than once.

I'm disappointed here; this is one of the greatest albums of all time? In what way? While it did have its folk-rock charm, and a unique variety, it became a bit boring, and it wasn't easy hearing Lou Reed. Favorite Track: "Heroin".

3 maybe 4

It was fine! Not really for me, but sure!

Interesting, creative, weird, and touching on a number of genres. Being slightly lazy as I listened a week ago and can’t be bothered to listen again, so just dipped back into a few songs for a refresh.

Two Nico Albums in a row, lucky me!

overrated lul

Solid album, somewhat boring but overall not bad

Some legendary songs are supported by some, honestly, droning filler. The last two songs are painful. VU are rightly legends for their music, but Jesus - some of their output was pure scag.

Can’t listen to this anymore.

anschinend mega wichtig fürd musiggschicht als pionierwerch, und es tönt au immer wieder vil neuer als es isch. mer ghört halt aber trotzdem no recht d 60er dure, was weniger mis ding isch.

teilwiis no kuul, teilwiis sehr lärmig

Flummig men ok

It was ok

A big gap in my musical knowledge, pleased to have filled it. Unsure what to make of it though, avant-garde, some of it comes across as a bit pretentious even, especially the second half, but clearly a ground-breaking work.

Groundbreaking? Yes. Opened on an all-timer and closed on the worst sound I have ever heard? Also yes.

not listened to it properly

I have explored this 💿 multiple times. I think VU is a band I’ll make a playlist of. Greatest Hits… I can probably do that. There are some that are trippy and interesting here. Some just don’t land for me yet.

Influential <> Music I love Songs: Sunday Morning

Some great songs, some songs are very Lou Reed oddness -Sunday Morning -I'll Be Your Mirror

I think this album has been a tad overrated over the years. There are some undisputable great songs but the "edgy" stuff leaves me cold and, if I had to hear Nico sing the word "clown" one more time, I would have lowered it a star.

Highlights: Sunday Morning, Run Run Run. In a nutshell: deliberately freaking out the squares. Overall: 6/10

I've listened to this before, didn't love it. We'll see if I change my mind. I'm still overall indifferent. "Sunday Morning" is good.

Its interesting enough, don't know if there's enough there to exit the meh but it's not a dislike

To me the velvet underground ground are cheap knockoff of Bob Dylan. 3/5

the songs with nico do absolutely nothing for me but heroin & the last two tracks are so peak. 5/5 importance 3/5 music

Нормик

People say this album is super influential, and I don't doubt it - and maybe it's because I wasn't around when this came out - but it just doesn't hit too hard for me. I think Heroin is very cool, and I'm not too fond of the experimental bits, but I think it's supremely overrated if anything.

I was excited to listen to this, it was a new one for me. Right off the bat I recognized “Sunday Morning,” great song. I expected this to be more hard rock, but they were actually kinda pleasant easy listening pop rock songs. They still got weird there at the end with the more experimental instrumentation cacophony sounds. And hey, cool album cover.

Got 2 of the list's 3 Velvet Underground albums in the same week... I quite enjoyed The Velvet Underground (their 1969 album) so I was optimistic going into this one. I enjoyed parts of it, but I wasn't as enamored as I was with the 1969 album. Top track is probably "Heroin," which has the interesting approach of sort of musically emulating heroin usage.

Low 3

I got a bit behind on albums so only had time to give this one listen. It was okay, I didn't like it a lot but didn't dislike it either.

Decent album that is nice, but I don't have a lot of reason to revisit. Maybe though. 3/5

Good in parts

I really didn't much care for this album to be honest. It's not bad, just not for me.

I'm a fan of Nico. I appreciate the avant-garde style of some of these songs, but some are so jarring that it isn't the kind of thing I want to listen to more than once.

Easy classic, but doesn't grab me

Not what I'd pick, but not bad.

This would be better without Nico. Songs are great, can hear the influences everywhere. Don't love the delivery, Lou Reed strays too much into the Dylanesque vocals. Was surprised how many songs I did recognise (even if that was via covers).

Psych en abrasive. Sound of the drug infused late 60s

Some highlights but not really my thing overall

Keith - 4/10 Ross - 7.5/10 Caylum - 7.5/10

Groundbreaking in its day, of course, but still surprisingly listenable today in a way that most of the "experimental" efforts of the late 60s are not. Lou Reed anchors it with a keen awareness of how to prioritize the music and assure the shock of the experimental parts are not overshadowing.

Overrated but not like "bad". Just keep doing the freak outs, not trying to force those parts and actual songs together?

👻

Alright interesting rock, similar tones to the Beatles, 3/5

Didn’t mind it.

No denying its influence and there are good moments on here. But this is also overrated and not one of the greatest albums ever made. It does belong in the book and on this list but I can't call it best ever like so many critics do.

First listen to VU & Nico. The only song I was familiar with is "Femme Fatale" because of the REM cover. Think I prefer the Lou Reed-sung songs to Nico's.

Very good.

I can see how this is as influential as it is, very unconventional for the time for sure. It's mostly the overall sound and experimental instrumentation that drew me in, Nico's vocals on Femme Fatal (probably my favorite song) stood out as well. Lyrics describing Heroin trips aren't my cup of tea at all, but I guess it was 'edgy' at the time... I don't think the album is nearly as good as it's generally rated, but it definitely was an interesting listen. It's one of those culturally significant records I've never checked out before, so I'm glad I finally did, although I'm not sure I'll feel the need to revisit it again.

I don't like Nico, but thankfully the VU tracks make up for it.

Velvet and nicos album does a great job of carving out a unique space midst the era of classic rock. It’s soothing and consistent and still experimental. I don’t think the experimental parts and some of the routines click for me but I’m glad to have revisited this as part of this journey

It’s ok, need a relisten. Probably suffering from Seinfeld syndrome.

Thankfully stuck with it as next tracks were more expansive and had a better blues like vibe for me. Some songs even had a (little less rocky) led zeppelin feel. Amazing this came out of 60s. It's a grower so maybe I could come around to this eventually.

I like some of the melodies, nothing stands out as amazing. It was overall enjoyable and I would probably listen to this again. Not a fan any of the Nico led songs though. Favorite songs were: Pale Blue Eyes After Hours 6/10

First half is really good, second half is very strange

It’s definitely good but feels pretty overrated

I liked the first song and could’ve sworn that I knew it from somewhere. I still might but I don’t know where

Well written songs held back by confusing changes in tone and randomly inserted annoying guitar sounds

There's a bit of an unhinged feeling to it at times, frenetic. Overall a perfectly fine listen, but the voice gets to feel a bit grating to me too.

Sunday Morning, All tomorrow’s parties, Heroin, I’ll be your mirror and Europe son are a must listen. Sadly, the remaining songs are repetitive and they do not contribute to the album. Europe son sounds like some experimental song from a Sonic Youth album, the whole sound of the album could be better with that specific sound.

I don’t get it. I’ve tried even before now to get into The Velvet Underground and I’m never able to. I’m not sure if there’s something I’m missing or they are just not that good?