The Velvet Underground & Nico

I became wholly obsessed with TVU and solo Lou in spring of this year, and it all started after I suddenly had the opening xylophone line from "Sunday Morning" stuck in my head and decided to revisit the whole album, which I admittedly always admired but never loved or even really liked. It all clicked in the cube on that random day, forever memorialized because I texted Zach with an unexplained "shiny shiny shiny boots of leather" at the same moment he was also listening to the song. That obsession is, I think, the reason why I sought the 1001 project. In the glow of Cale's squealing strings, I found myself delighted and revitalized: there are so many wonderful old musical frontiers out there just waiting to be discovered...one need only look...and it helps immensely to have a system! I love every single second of this thing—every catchy melody and hypnotic drone. I see now that MOST of the music I love wouldn't exist without TVU. "Heroin" is the greatest song ever perhaps?

I listen to this album fairly regularly and it never disappoints.

One of my most hated records. Nico can't sing for shit. What is the fuzz all about?

Maybe this album makes more sense if you’re wasted, but I doubt it.

I didn't really get this album until "Heroin". It was very good, but I think the hype had me expecting more. 4, but a low one.

Very slowish and I get folk vibes from it, a little obscure.

Great album, Lou Reed was one of a kind and this ablum really helps highlight why

Venus in furs made me smile with the line 'I could sleep for a thousand years'. I found 'I'll be your mirror' very sweet in lyrics. Although it is not my taste, I really understand other people vibing to this!

le daria un 3.5 la verdad no es mi vibra el sonido pero no estuvo mala. me gustó femme fatale

Hard to be objective about this one. The fact that folks are arguing about it 60 years on says something. We aren't arguing about the Beau Brummels.

1967 man, 1967

I like the controversial material but it's a bit too woozy for me as I prefer other psychedelic rock options but I know it inspired many an incredible album

Seminal counter culture album. Initially popular for teenagers as a listenable album about drugs, which your parents wouldn't want you listening to. It is of course much more than that. The songs stand the test of time, the lyrics have veracity as they lived the life. There is vitality and momentum to the rhythm, and even Nico's voice has grown on me over the years, she is more integral to the album than I initially gave her credit for.

I have found it hard to get into this band. Over the past 40 years they are very slowly growing on me.

OK album. Mye fint her

ehh

Very strong start with a few iconic songs. The rest of the album is a bit less interesting and not as catchy to me. 3.5

It is a good album and different to anything else going on at the time. Didn't fall in love with it though.

No need to repeat ad nauseam that this is a legendary groundbreaking album, a pillar of 20th century pop music, etc. etc. It's enough to say that any album containing I'm Waiting For The Man, Heroin, and Venus In Furs would deserve 5/5 even if the rest was just burps and farts. (Just saying. That's not the case here: all of the other songs are terrific too.)

oh my gosh European Son sounds so annoying some classics like Sunday Morning and There She Goes but god oh i thought these days would be on here but it's not! thumbs down

I always thought The Velvet Underground was a 90s grunge band. I think I get them confused with Vampire Weekend, for whatever reason. The common factor between the two is that I was never really exposed to either band, and I've kind of just heard about and listened to bits and pieces of them over the years. So this is the first time I've listened to a fill Velvet Underground album, and I didn't really care for it. It was very 60s and artsy and just not very pleasant to my ears.

Ei ehkä se oma pala kakkua. Meni kuitenkin taustapöhinänä töissä. Ei jäänyt hirveesti mitään mieleen

Liian geneeristä ja yllätyksetöntä.

Siitä sitten kylmäkiskosen menon alkulähteille. Selkeesti eka puolisko levystä parempi ja loppua kohen menee liiaks hörpöttämiseks. Miehen oottelu -laulu kyl kuulostaa aika paljon luu riidin soolomatskulta, jota päästiin vähän aiemmin kuunteleen. Vaikee arvioitsea. Kai sen kolmosen vois kaivaa pöytään vaikka onkin hyvääkin seassa ja ollut joku suunnannäyttäjä.

No ei kyllä ihan varauksetona innostusta saanut tämä minussa aikaan. Ihan hyviä oivalluksia siellä täällä, mutta aika tylsä kokonaisuus.

No one song on the album really pulled me in or felt like a standout. That coupled with the really old mixing doesn't make for a compelling album for me. While the singing is fine and instruments play well there isn't something that I want to come back to and listen to again and the mixing makes me want to actively avoid it.

A response to Sgt Pepper's, 37 years later?

This album is just okay. It has a few decent tracks, but overall it feels pretty bland and doesn't really stand out to me.

Inte det bästa av VU.

quiero ser lou reed quiero ser john cale quiero ser sterling morrison quiero ser moe tucker (sobre todo moe tucker. y lou reed) la semana pasada estuve oyendo las versiones en vivo del 69 de las matrix tapes, que son cuatro sets como de a hora x set, que a veces eran dos tres hasta cuatro versiones de la misma rola, tons fue curioso de ahí regresar a las originales. lo que me brincó más esta vez (y que siempre he pensado hasta cierto punto) es que en particular en este disco, con tanto que se habla de la vanguardia, buena parte de las canciones (tanto x los arreglos, la producción, las composiciones mismas) suenan tremendamente sesenteras, que no podrían haber venido de otro momento, mucho más que otras cosas que estaban saliendo al mismo tiempo (el sgt pepper's, sin ir más lejos). y otro tanto suena a que salieron ayer. o mañana. quiero ser moe tucker (no quiero ser nico. andy warhol chance)

I find Nico's singing in her solo albums unbearable but she sounds so damn beautiful here. One of the greatest artistic collobarations of all time including the little input by Warhol. All the songs hit in very different ways.

I was really hoping to like this album but I guess I just didn’t get it. I didn’t mind it I just didn’t really find anything in it that I liked.

Really solid debut. You can pretty much hear Lou Reed figuring out the sound he’d use for the rest of his career here. The detached vocals, dirty guitar parts, weird subject matter, all of it is already there. Nico’s voice helps a lot too. It’s so unique that you know it instantly, and it actually adds a little warmth to an album that can get pretty cold and abrasive. “Sunday Morning” was great. I liked “The Black Angel’s Death Song” and “European Son” too, mostly because they show just how weird this band was willing to get on their first album. “Heroin” sounds exactly like you’d expect a song called “Heroin” to sound. It starts off almost calm and then slowly falls apart into chaos. Not everything here was for me, but this is a hell of a debut and you can hear why so many people ended up copying pieces of it later. Favorite song: "Heroin"

I wish I could get into this but I really just do not enjoy it at all

I did not listen to this album for the review, which is a first. Familiarity allows me to get away with a departure from duty. It also limits anything interesting and certainly original to state about The Velvet Underground's debut. Maybe due to their art house association and Nico joining the band for the record, The Velvet Underground reminds me of an excellent European film. Mystifying, challenging aural senses, probing dark areas and an aura of gloom. I don’t pull this record from my shelf with a sense of joy and excitement. Listening brings satisfaction and speculation as well as confusion. The latter quality contributes to why I can come back to this record. The most “V.U.” style songs, “Black Angel’s Death”, “European Son” and “Venus in Furs” put a lyrical and musical lens on scenes that I will never experience. Whatever titillation some of the stories might provide an aura of disgust and weariness pervades. The fury of the band makes me want to escape from the places. Have to admit my square side prevails. Lou Reed quickly showed that he was a fabulous traditional songwriter even when parts of the song broke new grounds. “I’m Waiting for My Man” has the vivid step-by-step review of a drug deal, and charging piano. Excitement prevails throughout the entire song due to music and Reed’s tale. “Sunday Morning” as the opening song does not set the context for the rest of the record with its evocatively pleasing refrain. While darker, Nico provides tenderness in “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and “All Tomorrow’s Parties”, although the latter features her in stern German mode. With whips appearing in other songs, I expect Nico to pull one out to end the night. Unlike White Light/White Heat, the debut walked the line between experimental, accessible and transgressive across the canyon. John Cale’s viola parts squawk and scare, not diving into self-indulgent freak out. Maureen Tucker and Sterling Morrison show why they deserve praise as minimalist musicians. Next time, I will sit with a lyric sheet and a case of amphetamines to fully probe this music.

Sure there are some great songs on this and sure everyone who heard it at the time wanted to start a band but it does go on a bit in places and sound a bit “of it’s age”. I would have given it 3.5 stars if I could, but I can’t and I’m feeling on the mean side

6/10

Historically interesting, but not something I want to listen to again

Brian Eno apparently said this album didn't sell more than 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band. I'm not sure how true any of it is, either him saying it, whether that's exactly what he said, or whether there's any truth to his summary. What I do know to be true is this is one of my very favourite albums

Some absolute classics, but still uneven.

Nasty people making good music, a tale as old as time...

Some very cool moments, but unfortunately it just all seems a bit indulgent. I didn't hate it and I wanted to love it so that I could be a cool kid. Unfortunately I am still not cool and this album is a three for me dawg.

ummm

This album was a huge part of my high school listening experience and identity because nothing says NYC hepcat like a 16 year old suburban kid in Ohio with a face full of acne. I still like almost all the songs on here although it peters out at the end. Not something I would feel the need to put on again if only because I listened to it enough back then.

While I think you're probably okay with the greatest hits, this is one of the Velvets' more cohesive albums and has some of their best songs: "I'm Waiting for the Man," "All Tomorrow's Parties," and "Heroin," along with solid tracks like "Venus in Furs," "Femme Fatale," and "I'll Be Your Mirror." Nico wasn't a great singer, but it works ok, especially in "All Tomorrow's Parties." The long instrumental coda for "European Son" was a bit of a slog, but if you're gonna own a Velvets album, this is the one to have.

It seemed like a decent album but the last few songs are not worth listening to. 3 stars or C-.

It was interesting to hear the influence of bands like the Beach Boys and The Beatles. I found the first half of the album pleasent if forgetable. It got more interesting the further it got. I'll Be Your Mirror has special significance for me, and I really liked The Black Angel's Death Song.

No tiene nada loco para estar en este set. Entiendo que es historico pero no mucho mas

Good album. One I’ve seen around a lot in record stores but never came around the listening to.

I’m sure the people at the time thought this was good, but mid for me in this present day

I don't hate The Velvet Underground, and I DO think they're culturally and historically significant. I also believe their lyrics are pure poetry. That said, I will never be a fan of Lou Reed's voice. He's got a voice that can never decide if singing or spoken word is more appropriate, and I wish he'd pick a lane and stick with it. But more than that, I'm just bored when I listen to The Velvet Underground. Now I will say this album is at least marginally more tolerable than their 1969 album.

Growing up, all the alt-chicks and some of the punkers were INTO this band and this record. I was more of a Ramones, Johnny Thunders and Black Flag kind of punker so the avant-garde mellow art-rock-y punk stuff wasn't much interest to me. I liked heavy, fast and loud, not the artsy-mellow synth-pop art. Over the ensuing decades, I gained an appreciation and affection for the "genius" of this record. They build soundscapes and Reed wrote lyrics that were controversial in their subject matter that he just felt translated to rock music in the same way as the literature he'd studied did. In that, I agree whole-heartedly with him. Dark, gritty subjects make good reading AND good rock songs.

Favorite Song: Femme Fatale Least Favorite: The Black Angel’s Death Song

Good, just not my style. But still enjoyed

Great

Started stronger than it ended. Big "this is ok" vibes, but there isn't anything I can get excited about here.

I have avoided this album because I thought every track would be like the last track. Fortunately it was an outlier. Great album didn't know that All Tomorrow's Party's and There she goes were Velvets orginalls

One of the few albums whose cover bears neither the band's name nor the album's title, but instead features the signature of the well-known artist, who was also... Well, probably not the producer, but rather the band's artistic director. The record itself is considered influential on a huge number of guitar genres, but I didn't get it at all. Clearly, almost no one was making music like this at the time (or even any longer), but only about a third of the songs are truly impressive. Another third is unremarkable, monotonous rock with monotonous vocals (and equally monotonous in both Lou Reed and Nico), and the rest is downright cacophonous in places (I really wanted to turn off the final seven-minute track). Thanks for the musicians this album inspired to form their own bands, but a light three is enough for it.

i thought i was the coolest person on the planet when i discovered this album. im possibly one of the least cool people on the planet but this album does make me feel perfect for its runtime. also venus in furs had me in a chokehold for YEARS of my life, i thought it was the most brilliant thing ever released.

A couple classics

This was bad… but it was music…

Interesting first album.

Did a lot for Art Pop but Nico is a Nazi

The last song was very loud and experimental sounding.

I know there’s people who don’t love this album, they find it boring and perhaps dated. I believe that it is one of the most influential albums in modern music, and it is also absolutely deserving of being considered one of the best albums of all time. I LOVE The Velvet Underground and Nico. It’s weird in the best way, they aren’t normal and they are musicians.

Sometimes I didn't feel like I was listening to the same album. Nice album picture though. Fav song: I'll Be Your Mirror

God DAMN am I ever mad I didn't check out The Velvet Underground years ago. Sure enough, this incredibly famous album is just as good as everyone says it is.

(I'm sorry in advance for not giving this overwhelming praise) I thought this was mostly fine 60s music. Maybe doing a little bit better than most of their contemporaries, at least by not trying to blatantly sound like the Beatles, which I can't say for a lot of other bands around this time. I don't think they were doing anything super amazing that I want to ever go back and listen to, but I get how people's minds might have been slightly blown at the time. The songs with Nico were kinda weak, but they were ok. European Son is a stain on the album that almost made me drop it to a 2. Maybe a 2.5. They were essentially just showing off that the guitar can, in fact, make many noises. Discordant noisy nonsense. There was another song on here that was similar but I can't remember the name. Blah.

Hmmm... There are some songs here that I'm kind of indifferent towards, and there are others that I absolutely adored. At the very least, their instrumentation is consistently entrancing and certainly astounding for a 60s album (entrancing... astounding... perfect descriptors for Venus In Furs, god what a song!!). I also found Heroin, with its ups and downs and ultimate chaos in its last leg, to be some genius storytelling through song structure alone. What's funny is that I've historically struggled with noise rock, punk, grunge, basically everything TVU pioneered... yet for some reason I find these guys' approach to be particularly compelling and listenable. Quite the mystery. Case in point: I saw that the closing track's lengthy, noisy jam session was a particular point of contention for many people, and I gotta say that I was having a blast with it. Their real flex, though, is that they can effortlessly switch between heavier tracks and softer, more traditional ones. Sunday Morning and Femme Fatale are heavenly! As I said, there are a few low points on the album, but the highlights are so strong that I can definitely see myself revisiting it all. Liked it! Standouts: Sunday Morning • Femme Fatale • Venus In Furs • Heroin • I'll Be Your Mirror • European Son

This is just a really good album. I can't call it a pleasant listen, necessarily, as there's a lot of screeching (as you would expect). Oddly, the Nico songs are the weakest on here. On the other hand, I can't say you can call them "grooves" either, but when the band gets in the zone it's incredible. Easily one of the most important albums ever.

Not for me. Pretty dull and the last song really just dragged out the ending of a very average album

Still cool after all these years.

10/10 no notes

Wow, okay, I see what Eno meant now when he said that even though the album only sold 30,000 copies in its first five years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band". The album sounds simultaneously rather odd but also pretty normal, which I think comes as a result of the influence it had impacting how I hear it now that there have been so many more albums refining what this album set up. That said, it's got a really beautiful sound as unique as it is. It's somewhat lo-fi, but as usual in a very charming way, and I love how it makes the guitars and viola sound, especially in songs like Sunday Morning and All Tomorrow's Parties. One of my favourite things about the album was how the music manages to sound simultaneously so energetic but with a subtle layer of depressing melancholy beneath, often conveyed through the lyrics, which were pretty damn good. There's no better example for this than "Heroin", by far my favourite on the album. Whilst it might not be overly happy in tone, it has this manic energy to it that makes you feel almost the allure and pull that makes people do the heroin, but then your ears refocus into the vocals, and you hear what a husk the narrator has become because of it. Overall, I wasn't sure I'd come back to a lot of the songs on this at first, but writing about it has really made me think about how cool and important this album is.

one of my faves of all time, already listened

*Some cool songs like Sunday Morning and I'll be your mirror. *Also some dissonant weird stuff...music is a 3 but I'm bumping it to a 4 for its significance

This album has been a favorite of mine since I first discovered it almost 30 years ago. Everything from the production or lack of it to the dark and grimy subject matter of the songs. Favorite songs: Heroin, Venus in Furs, and All Tomorrow’s Parties

I’m torn between 4 and 5 stars. The highs on this album are so high (no pun intended). “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Heroin,” and “Venus in Furs” are absolutely brilliant pieces of art. But Lou Reed singing like Dylan is a bit of a turnoff, as is Nico’s… well… existence. Ok, the album is ending and I’m listening to “European Son” right now. My decision is made. 5 stars. This song coming out in 1967 is INSANE. I can’t believe they’re doing this. Imagine being a teenager 1967, listening to the top songs of the year on AM radio - “Windy,” “I’m a Believer,” “So Happy Together” - and then hearing the last several minutes of “European Son.” It must have been mind-blowing. This is not a perfect album but it’s a real “Wow” from beginning to end. Brilliant.

I like velvet. Have grown to love it and understand it better. This is a great album yet not my favorite

First alt album of all time is also muy bien

los primeros 30 segundos de Heroina de Sumo le pasan el trapo a todo lo que es este album hasta el tema Heroin. NO es bardeando del todo a the velvet underground, es un disco de los 60. Pero demuestra lo lejos que estamos en enfoques, de ese lado del hemisferio y de este. Un pelado, que nacio alla, se crio alla, y vino para el sur, hizo mas que esta banana inmunda. No es un desastre the velvet underground, pero es insipido hermano. LUCA NOT DEAD

One of the best albums about heroin that I know of. It’s certainly an important album, and I like some of the tracks on there, but it’s a time capsule of New York life in the late 60s. Gritty, sad, but with a weird sweetness to it.

Never could get into them, but I have full respect

I have never done heroin, but Lou does a good job of conveying the experience. Between No Dogs in Space and A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs I was locked in and prepared for this one. Did not disappoint

Second Velvet Underground album I've encountered in this experience and what I would call *the* Velvet Underground album. While I fully understand the importance and influence this album had on music and musicians that I love, I thought it was just ok. I did enjoy the various styles showcased by the band, "Run, Run, Run" being my favorite cut, and ended up liking the album more than I thought but nothing more above a... 3/5

Given it's reputation, *Velvet Underground & Nico* starts with an unexpected volley of pleasantness with "Sunday Morning," but by the end you've met a bunch of bondage aficianados, gone to score heroin, shot up said heroin, and had some kind of mental breakdown. It's glorious. As much of an asshole as Lou Reed was, I've always enjoyed his music because of where he takes me when I listen: weird, weird places. And yes, Nico is an acquired taste, but once it's developed, you realize how lovely it is to listen to her. She balances out Lou's nasally New York whine. Her features have become some of my favorite Velvets songs. The only tracks I don't enjoy here are the final two, both of which sound like someone tied up a bag of cats and started beating it with an out of tune violin. They are awful. But the rest.... the rest is gold. FIVE STARS

não é muito o tipo de música que eu costumo ouvir e acho que não gostei muito também. mas valeu pela experiência!! ps. a melodia da faixa “i’m waiting for the man” me lembrou um pouco a abertura de how i met your mother

Favorite track - Venus In Furs

one heck of a debut. every song is great and the raw approach has inspired many. it's an all timer. and who doesn't love a peelable banana? the only thing i have never got is the velvet underground was "house band" for the warhol factory parties... a few of these songs fit right in - "venus in furs" and "heroin" seem to fit into a psychedelic party aesthetic, but i can't imagine a band playing some of the others, no matter how good they are.

I don't think I understand why it's reached such an iconic status, but it was a pleasant listen.

Boring, lost me really quick.

I had high hopes, but this was mostly boring. Not bad though.

What a blissful, eerie, soul capturing trance of an album. It’s what I imagine a heroin high might be like.

Truly an amazing album there’s soooo much good stuff on here. I’ll Be Your Mirror has been one of my favourite songs for a while. Crazy that this was 1967

Ortalama bir albüm , neden bu listede var ?

By the end of this album I actually hated it. I was willing to give it a pass even with flat vocals and songs that went nowhere, and there's even a decent track in 'Run Run Run' but I don't know what Gibson saw in All Tomorrow's Parties (the only Gibson book I never bothered to finish) and by the end of the album it's clear that it was people without a lot of talent improvising just to make noise.

Way ahead of it time and the viola sears my brain still

Are people really still pretending this is good? It's almost been 60 years, surely we can cut the act now. "I'm Waiting for the Man", "Venus in Furs", and "Heroin" are all abysmal. The ending of the closing track is so obnoxious I turned it off halfway through. I don't care how "influential" this album is, it's garbage. I could say more about this, but I'll cut myself off. 1 star.

Its ok, but not my thing.

One of my more conflicted 5 stars. Rated on the back of how much I’ve enjoyed it in the past vs just appreciating it this time. Must re listen. RYM: Y (#21) Saved a song: N

Iconic album cover. I love The Velvet Underground and this album. I enjoy many of these songs

love when albuns I already know are recommended here so I can revisit and maybe form new opinions definitely added 1 or 2 more songs to my playlists, it was already good before though

I was happy to see this was today's album but before starting it I thought it was probably a 4-star album. Then I listened, and each track I became more and more convinced that it belongs with the 5-stars. And when it was done I went out and started 30,000 bands.

Hilfe

I listened to Sgt Peppers on the same day. This came out months before that. Mindblowing. THIS is a masterpiece.

I don’t need to listen to this, but I’m certainly going to. One of those albums that I’m so deeply familiar with that it might as well be in my DNA. yet somehow remarkably fresh and new and distinctive. 11:40 pm - confirmed

While not a perfect record, I hold a shit ton of respect for it because I know most of my favorite bands wouldn't exist without this. Because most of all, this album is crazy creative and ahead of the curve. They used some wildly unusual for their time recording techniques, which makes this record not sound 60s at all. And that's without even considering the crazy genre foreshadowing this record has going for it. The guitars sound very punk, many songs have this noisy, distorted quality that surely influenced bands like Sonic Youth. The song structures are long and unpredictable and the lyrics - provocative and touching on very taboo at the time subjects. The highlights on this record are some of the most exciting music the 60s had to offer. The soft, woozy textures and warm bassline of Sunday Morning is absolutely stunning. The song sounds like sobering up after a long night of partying. I always thought it would have been a good closer for this record. I'm Waiting for the Man has these driving, distorted guitars that carry you through the song, pairing very well with these odd rhythm sections. Venus in Furs is even weirder, hard to describe what's going on in this song instrumentally. Lou Reed sounds anxious, perfectly matching the atmosphere of the song. Run Run Run sounds like a Beatles song on steroids, I don't know how else to describe it. My favorite song on the album is Heroin, a surreal, trippy, abstract monster song that effortlessly changed tempo and intensity as does Lou Reed's story - again, so creative, so genius. It goes into this almost noise territory towards the end which shows again how ahead of the curve they were. I'll Be Your Mirror is another great, beautiful moment, but the album loses me a bit with the last 2 songs. I respect what they are doing, but they are a bit too much to the point where they can become a bit grating to listen to. Still, even those are respectable songs and display the band's insane vision and talent. Which is what makes this album one of the absolute 60s essentials.

Several good songs. 3.5 stars - round down for Nico and romanticizing heroin.

Fantastic album. I've been a fan of it since I was young because my dad had it on vinyl. Funny that Sunday Morning, by far, has the most listens on Spotify, and while I like the song, I think it's the least interesting one on the album.

At the risk of having my family call the EMTs on me, I will confess that I really liked this. I've listened to enough seminal, influential garbage (yesterday's Butthole Surfers comes to mind) that are actually a chore to listen to that it is a relief to be able to both appreciate and enjoy it. And, you know, Zayde of Punk and all that. A long time ago I realized that I liked Lou Reed's songs when other people sang them, so I might as well appreciate the originals too.

I liked it! Good album Highlights Sunday Morning Femme Fatale Heroin (fav)

This feels like it could be controversial but I like it quite a bit despite it including elements that I normally wouldn’t be drawn towards. My favorites are sunday morning and I’ll be your mirror because I like the vocals :) and I don’t like the songs that are a little too much noise all at once (and there are quite a few of these) But seeing this was made in the 60s I can’t even imagine how influential it was and so I factor that a bit into my rating

Very odd album. Very different vibes throughout, my biggest complaint is you could tell me these are different artists and I think id believe you I feel like I like when albums have something tying the songs together.

Fucking peak. I love this shit, it's so weird and noisy but yet so lush and enticing and beautiful. It's the perfect mixture between experimental and pop. I unironically see a lot of influence on Geese from this album, particularly in the way that songs swell and build and they let the guitars breathe when they need to.

Good ish

At least they are up front with their source of inspiration.

Kind of hard to say what hasn't already been said about this record, but yeah this is a bone fide masterpiece. Kind of insane that this was released in 1967, it still has a very noisy and punky edge that fits well in today's climate as well. Even the more melodic cuts like "Sunday Morning" and "I'll Be Your Mirror" still have a very atmospheric and almost eerie quality to them, especially on the tracks that feature Nico on vocals, really love her monotone voice. Every song she's on feels like she's just out of reach but you keep trying to convince yourself that you can get to her if you really try.

Absolute classic. So influential sonically and very risqué for the time. Nico’s lead vocals are a welcome break on Femme Fatale et al. 5 stars, no notes

More a fan of black album cover Velvet Underground myself. That being said: It's great nonetheless.

Sunday morning is nice. This is easy to listen to. It's not really rock. Very casual. Very chill. Ryan says it's pretty good for 1967 according to Ryan.

Extremely influential, caused explosion of new genres. Some songs felt very irksome. Heroin is the best song on the album. Such a real depiction of addiction. Not my typical music taste tho.

A stone cold classic. In my opinion, The Velvet Underground are THE American band, but I have a hard time convincing people. Their debut album is groundbreaking in multiple ways. Also, the undisputed best album cover ever. And it doesn't even say the band's name!

Both Nico and Lou Reed have such wonderful distinctive voices.

Absolute garbage

idk what i expected - expectations were certainly high because this seems to be a cult classic and an overall important album. there are some undeniable bangers but in-between those there are some more lackluster songs that failed to make much of an impression. but the highs are really really high, it's just that you really only wanna listen to the good ones. best songs: "Venus In Furs", "Heroin"

I think you either like Lou Reed or you don’t. I happen to be a fan. I also got into JJ Cale’s music later in college. There are some tunes on this album that stand the test of time. It’s not for everyone, but if you know then you know.

Very overrated, no highlights

I expected to like this. I didn’t really like it.

Of course.

no me gustó tanto, Femme Fatale muy buena

i actually listened to this maybe a week or so ago, i like nico’s voice it almost sounds like a church singer

I feel like this albums reputation proceeds it. I knew i was supposed to love it, I wanted to love it but it was just ok, maybe even good, but I didn't love it. There is a couple of great songs, a couple of pretty bad ones (I'm looking at you final track) and some that sit somewhere in the middle. 3.5* rounded up to 4* because I'm being sucked in by it's influence and album cover

Solid start, faves are I’ll be your mirror, Heroin, and Femme Fatale. Not a fan of European Son, too unhinged

One of the first CDs I bought. I remember being very disappointed by the crudeness of the songs, but I was young and stupid. Do i listen to this all the time? No. Does it go crazy? Absolutely it does.

Decent enough didn't set the world on fire but some tracks were good Dylan vocals nice guitar some decent production

Enjoyed was nice chilled vibe base lines where warm smooth. Later album song are to expermental amd painful to listen

Started ok, then headed south quickly. When you have several covers of these songs that are a thousand times better sounding, then you don’t have a great album.

I could have done better

This band is all over the place for me. I really liked this album, it was the right balance of weird with innovative with actually sounding good in parts. Lyrics were really solid, sounds were interesting even if I didn't like them in parts. Musically really interesting. The song about heroin was really well done.

Weird lyrics, jangling tambourines, distorted guitars & rambling tracks-there I saved you the listen

I liked it, appreciated the easy flow, nothing grabbed me though! Liked the guitar solos

Enjoyment: 4/10 Replayability: 3/10 Cohesion: 4/10 Flow/Pacing: 3/10 Artistic Merit: 4/10 Weighted Average: 3.55/10 Review: This is the second album in a row that sounded like it wasn't mixed well with the purposefully discordant notes. Very out there - even for me. Liked Song(s): Sunday Morning, Heroin, There She Goes Again, I'll Be Your Mirror Disliked Song(s): Venus in Furs, Run Run Run, The Black Angel's Death Song, European Son Recommend? Maybe Heard Before? No

2.5

so obnoxious

It's a 3.5, really depends on the mood.

100

Uendelig kul.

Vanskelig å toppe det her. Ingen top 10 lister kan være foruten.

En vaskeekte klassiker. Et monument over tid og sted den ble laget. Er litt for mye sull på slutten til at det blir toppkarakter.

10/10. De fire første låten e så bra at andre halvdel virke litt tam. Den e bra den også. Favorittlåt: Crosseyed and Painless

Tilbakelent, kult og bråkete. Legendarisk sound.

my fav manco a dirlo

I know this is the iconic one, but I heard the two following albums first and fell in love with that version of the velvet underground. This is fine, but a bit boring at times. "Heroin", "I'm waiting for the man" and "European son" and "sunday morning" stand out, but not among my favorites songs by the band. The Nico songs drag it down for me though. At the end of it I listened through "White light / White heat" and realized that'll likely make my "You like more than most" list at some point.

ALMOST THERE I really liked Femme Fatale MMM 3

Some classics, guessing this is one of those classic albums. Some more forgettable tracks - not because they are bad but because some others outshine them so greatly. Lots of screaching sounds.

Herion's great huh

Good for background, enjoyed the first track but the rest a bit forgettable, didn’t enjoy the discordant tracks

Perfectly fine listen. Nothing special

The range of feelings this album brings to me is always such a profound joy.

i think this one is very overrated but i definitely enjoyed few songs like ''European Son'' and ''I'm Waiting For The Man''

This one's the one that's overrated, "Venus in furs" still is a banger though

As classics go, this is one where my enjoyment has definitely been enhanced by learning more about this album's influence and innovation. This is, simply put, THE blueprint. Every band that's ever been the least bit cool in any way after 1967, probably got it from the Velvet Underground. Musically, I really love how eclectic and lo-fi these songs sound. You get soothing chamber pop ("Sunday Morning"), catchy pastiches ("I'm Waiting for the Man," "Run Run Run"), dramatic slow builds ("All Tomorrow's Parties," "Heroin"), and full-blown experimental insanity ("Venus in Furs," "European Son"). Is it an album I'm always in the mood for? Not necessarily. Is it my favorite Velvet Underground album? Probably not. Am I able to conceive of a single flaw it might have? Not even a little bit. Fav Tracks: Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man, Femme Fatale, Venus In Furs, Run Run Run, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, There She Goes Again, I'll Be Your Mirror Least Fav: European Son Score: 9.5

It's a classic. Even with the album about to enter it's sixtieth year of existence, it still feels new and transgressive to listen to. each of the first nine tracks offers something sonically and lyrically provoking. Sunday Morning is quite possibly the most gorgeous melody Lou Reed ever came up with, with swirling dream pop affectations and a vocal performance that only he could pull off, juxtaposed to lyrics about drug-infused paranoia after a bender from the night before. Venus in Furs is arguably the first song to grapple with the taboo of sexuality, whilst I'll Be Your Mirror is a love song elavated by Nico's unconventional singing style, which disguises the quite simplistic structure of the song. Other albums would build upon the album's lyrical themes and sonical experiments, not least the Velvet Underground themselves, but this the purest distillation of much these ideas, and it rarely felt as exciting and groundbreaking listening to them after this.

pretty good! no initial standouts but i think if i do a re-listen i will find more songs i like.

A classic

🍌🕶️🎸🌃🌑

Found a new band to listen to!

beem experimental, gosto do quão psicodélico ele soa mesmo em 1967

Znám už dlouho, za mě super záležitost. Na gymplu jsem objevil a od té doby to mám rád. Je to pro mě taková víkendová záležitost, kdy je člověk po párty, ale ještě má v sobě trochu hladinku. Je sobota dopoledne, nic se nemusí a dá se jen tak v klidu válet a bilancovat život. Musela to být pekelná doba tehdy.

I'm kind of disappointed in this album

Maluco

Interesting but I never fully click with this album. I find the distortion tiring after awhile

3.5 always enjoyable. Gets into the weeds a bit on the latter half.

Listened with James driving

2,5 rounded to 3.

Lovely experimental album! The deluxe version has some really exceptional songs.

Imperfect perfection.

In 1966 the Velvet Underground and their friend Nico invented sounding like shit on purpose, and from that moment, white people finally had a way to be cool, seven years after Miles Davis had invented it

Ground Zero for what would later be called indie/alternative/punk/post-punk. That doesn't make it good, but it also happens to be very very good. Predictably, it might be the easiest 5 stars I hand out on this challenge.

This was a very smooth listen.

When you think that this was released in 1967 and still resonates today, it's amazing. They were like the forefathers of alternative and weird music and a lot of genres that start with the prefix "post". Hugely influential.

I really liked quite a few songs on here, Nico's voice is great and Lou's voice is... unique - but for the love of god please stop with the distortion and noises and screeching.

If there wasn't so much hype about this album, I wouldn't have much opinion other than it's a kinda weird 60's garage rock/pre punk album with some random songs that feature a high pitched singing German lady. The lore around this album had me expecting a blessing upon my ears, but I couldn't wait for the turd to hit the last song. Boring, pretentious, and interesting in the wrong ways.

Didn't particularly enjoy this but hard not to hear some of the influences on generations of indie rock

Wonderful, magnificent, astounding, all the superlatives you can think of. UPDATE: Have asked Jas if she’ll get me a taster set of heroin for my birthday.

Ooooft, great album. 8/10. Such a range from femme fatale through to run run run

banan

Groundbreaking album. Always a pleasure. I may never fly like Superman, climb like Spiderman, BEND LIKE BANANAMAN.

Mostly good but the last two songs left a bit of a sour taste. Favourites were Sunday Morning, Heroin and There She Goes Again.

Sunday morning: pretty good Venus in furs: også pretty good, mere dyster Resten: temmelig kedelig

it's better than most beatles records and all of the beach boys'

I just don't get this. Really repetitive and sounds like ass, clipping and piercing my ears. Lou Reed is still doing the mumbly talk singing here. The tremolo guitar on Run Run Run sounds like me just fucking about with a guitar Yeah, it inspired a ton of stuff after but I just can't do it, even after years of giving it a try Highlights: Sunday Morning

This album is the sonic manifestation of psychosis. Some strokes of brilliance, but mostly incoherent chaos. Probably what it feels like to be addicted to hard drugs, which is very interesting conceptually and kind of genius in how that state of mind is captured in music. Ultimately not really my taste, but cool Warhol album cover and spacey/reverby vocal recording.

Psychedelic journey through time and space. This is the kind of album you kick back, sink in and let it take you places. Well worth it.

I first heard this one as an impressionable young college freshman, and my musical tastes, outlook, and direction have never been the same. It was a life-changing experience. This one is in my all-time top 2 or 3.

2/10

I would not rate this as highly as other „music critics (whatever that means)“ would. The backround noise on this album is neither ahead of it‘s time nor is it enjoyable. Also Nico and Lou Reed aren‘t particulary good singers. Some songs are pretty good tho.

Too grating in certain parts to get a 5 but still cool

ts is GARBAGE bro

What the fuck? like this is honestly just terrible. I was going to give it 2 stars until the nearly 8 minute "jam session" at the end. That was so sloppy and not enjoyable at all. these sound like songs a literal child would write their first time picking up a guitar. There was a landscaper leaf-blowing outside my office during Heroin and I swear it improved the song. Ben Gibbard said not too long ago that he prefers the Velvet Underground to The Beatles. Ben Gibbard is an idiot and has bad taste in music. I like the Postal Service a little bit less after listening to this album.

This guys voice reminds me of a song from a old timey playlist i listen to on youtube... the halloween one i think. Maybe they sang a holiday song way back when? I don't know if this is up my alley. 50's and 60's music is my least favorite time period... im giving it a chance though. Run Run Run is kinda cool... the beat is nice. I can see how this shaped the future sound of lots of rock genres, like indie and alt. So now that this is wrapping up, my inital assesment was correct. I don't think this album is for me but im PRETTYYY sure that i do like a halloween song from this band haha.

going to the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh really helped me appreciate this album's appeal. really a grower. still effortlessly cool 76 years later. Nico's contributions are so nice which kinda hurts to admit. deserves to be one of the 1001? ofc!

classic

Rätt schysst stundtals.

Grand album, beaucoup de musiques légendaires (Heroin, I'll be Your Mirror, Venus in Furs). Certaines chansons expérimentales me plaisent moins (European Son est inaudible) mais la majorité des autres, et des classiques pop avec Nico sont mémorables

the big banana "your favorite band's favorite band" for a reason 💥i'm waiting for the man 💥venus in furs

This is such a foundational record. You can hear the push and pull of John Cale’s drones with Lou Reed’s Doo-Wop lyrics about heroin. Throw in some Nico and baby you got yourself a stew!

I don't care for the opening run of songs but after track 3-4 it really won me over by the end, momentum might be improved if it opened like I'm waiting for my man > run run run but still a very solid bunch of songs regardless.

Got a couple nice songs

One of the greatest albums ever

Still sounds ahead of its time

No one was doing it like them in the 60s

good good. will probably listen again. favorite: Femme Fatale

I mean... gorgeous, right?

I had really high hopes for this album and while I applaud the experimentation, mostly I found it boring.

Been meaning to listen to these guys. Ok. Interesting. Weird. I mean like yeah it's good but it's also kinda just noise. Nico's voice is kinda annoying. It's very German. This is weird. I understand why it was polarizing back in the day. Idk how to feel about this really. It's kinda funky. Long fuckin songs eh. Favourite: Heroin Least favourite: European Scene

Brian Eno said something about how every person who bought one of the copies of this album when it came out (which was considered a commercial failure) went on to start a band. I think it's important in that way. I of course found out about it from bands I liked name-dropping it. Then when I heard it I wanted to make something myself.

So, I hate Andy Warhol, notwithstanding all the folks I respect artistically who bought into him. I blame him for every terrible piece of art of the last 50 years… Koons’ balloon dogs, Anish Kapoor in general… reality TV, AI… it all vibes with the worst of his artistic ideals. And I have long lumped this banana-clad slab of wax in with it. It's not really all Warhol, of course. I also just generally dislike Lou Reed. It's the repetition, the bored toneless sneer of his voice, the sheer boringness of VU work (and honestly his solo work, from Walk on the Wild Side to Metal Machine Music). I simply cannot listen to “I'm Waiting For The Man” and imagine anyone enjoying it. The saving grace of this album is Nico, who in and of herself is really a weird listen. It's not just the accent, but there's something too imperious in her delivery that doesn't work for her music. There's something a little flat, something a little stuff-nosed, a little cold. But it's a counterpoint. The standout is All Tomorrow's Parties, but mostly because she sings it like she is a statue of Athena brought to life, serious and stony and cold as a heart attack. It's an essential listen because it's captivating, but not for exclusively good reasons. Nico sings lead on three of the 11 songs, accounting for less than 25% of the runtime. Her credit is “Chanteuse,” so we know she doesn't help out in any real way on any song where her voice doesn't feature. So if her weird naive German voice makes this at least feel different, it's not much respite from Lou, who manages to make even a song about heroin addiction boring. It's also not enough to save this pretentious dull trash album from anything more than ⭐️⭐️.

Hmm I much prefer the songs with Nicos vocals. I dont like the Velvet Ungerground lead a couple songs The Black Angles Death and Heroin were hard to listen too. Understand they are telling a story but yea not my favourite. Even the last song Eruopean Son I didnt enjoy so much. I played poker whilst listening but yea so it was passive listening but I think its a 3 out of 5 for Nico only otherwise be a 2. 3 out of 5 more than 2.5 than 3

This is the first time I’ve listened to The Velvet Underground, and it was a wonderful surprise. It’s an album that’s easy to enjoy; even after 60 years, a real classic.It sounds fresh and just feels good. It’s smooth and incredible. It’s worth every minute. If you don’t like it, you don’t know anything about music. Love it <3💫

i understand the lou reed hype now

I was wrong. I always dismissed this album as a youngster and have not listened to it since. I really appreciate now and admit I was wrong.

Art rock 1966, proto punk I'm waiting for the man Venus in furs *Heroin

i mean legendary album, loved it

Anti-hippie

peak or what

Solid album

It takes a while to get into, but once you do, you realise it's probably a work of genius.

Absolute classic. A couple songs are unlistenable though. Just about gets a 5 for how good the rest of the album is

Yeah, totally adequate. If it inspired people to make good music I suppose I should thank it for that but it doesn't inspire me to do anything but never listen to it again.

It's better than the previous Velvet Underground albums we've had here, at least from a song standpoint, but it's still repetitive and flat, and Lou Reed's vocal delivery hasn't gotten any better. The Library of Congress says it's "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", and maybe they know better than me, but I don't have any interest in listening to it again.

Excellent

Un album qui est juste là pour être imprimé sur des T-shirts, J'ai apprécié une partie de l'album, qui s'écoute très bien et qui mets dans un bon mood Mais l'autre partie est tellement instrumentale qu'elle se rapproche du bruit ambiant et C'EST NON

C'mon. This is the best! An all-timer that I've loved since college when I first discovered it.

Quintessential proto-indie, proto-punk, sound of the NY scene of the time. Classic.

для меня старовато и скучно Но обложка тема

Great album, like the drones

Okay so this one hit me soooooo hard as a teenager but this time idk it didn’t grab me? I love I’ll be your mirror so much, Sunday Morning is cute and nostalgic Maybe again I like the ones that a woman sings hahaha But it’s a really intimate painting of such a specific time of pain and hedonism and drugs, like these people were the baby boomers right, 20 in 1967, born just after world war 2, so much pain and confusion Also interesting that Nico is German I wonder about the trauma in this music and if it resonated with me so much as a child trying to understand my own experiences, now as an adult I can see that these songs are about the pain of people who are in the throes of their trauma and suffering, and maybe that’s not where I am anymore But I do love the guitar and piano, like the songs feel so enveloping, making me feel like I’m swimming or running along or being pulled in, sort of like you’re high

Leuke muziek, wel beetje negatieve teksten

The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) Ahead of its time doesn't even begin to cover it. You can clearly hear how this record laid the groundwork for noise rock, punk, and art rock long before those genres had names. The avant-garde edge peaks on "The Black Angel's Death Song," where the jarring, dissonant viola and stream-of-consciousness delivery push rock music into experimental territory. On the melodic side, "Femme Fatale" (a long-time favorite) and "Sunday Morning" stand out as immediate highlights striking a perfect balance between delicate dream-pop textures and underlying tension. Packed with standout moments from start to finish.

Decent

4.5

4.5

🍌 This is an album I can honestly see why it gets all the five-star price simultaneously seeing why it's not accessible to the masses. There are several things I do like about this album and there's parts of it that I find a little bit too out there for me. There are parts of the album that to me really kind of point to where 70s glam would go, "I'm Waiting For the Man" and "Heroine" but also some of it sounds really like 66/67 radio rock, "Run Run Run" & "There She Goes Again", plus a dab of '67 tripppy psyche gems, "European Sun" All in all I absolutely love the album I'm not quite the five on it but it's definitely an album to take note of. (9.4) ★★★★½

If this didn't include "European Son", it would be 5 stars. 4.5 stars

4.5/5

This is a super cool and groundbreaking album that famously didn't have much impact in 1967, but influenced countless future bands. Lou Reed and company had an incredible knack for ignoring the trends at the time, making something incredibly weird and dark, but at the same time making those songs as catchy as anything released in 1967. I'm not crazy about the last two tracks on this album, but everything else is just incredible -- the simplicity of "Sunday Morning" and "I'm Waiting For the Man", Nico's dreamy "Femme Fatale" and "I'll Be Your Mirror", the epic weirdness of "Venus in Furs" and "Heroin". It's a classic for a reason. 5 stars.

Aah… really encapsulates the beauty of a Sunday morning. Read all the newspapers, wait for your drug dealer to come, get whipped by femme fatales in shiny boots of leather, take a load of heroin, have a rickety viola screeching in your ear and Arnette Schwarzenegger softly intoning in the other ear. Just scrub the last two tracks and what you have is a bloody perfect Sunday.

Nasty and raw, and sometimes, it's how I like it

Beatles or Stones? Velvet Underground Better than most band’s greatest hits album, from (almost) sweet songs to sonic noise

nothing really grabbed me ig? pretty normal, 2.5

this must have been absolutely mind-blowing in 1967. it's difficult to think of a recording more groundbreaking or influential. 5/5.

Classic banana over white album cover. I've been eager for this one to pop up on the generator. I've been fed a lot of Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, and I finally get to the beginning, which feels like exactly that. It feels like it's got all the pieces that represent Reed's career, without the pretty hashed out bits I tend to appreciate. This is easily my favorite Velvet Underground record, which honestly doesn't mean much. Nico works pretty well on here, as an instrument, as a break from the Reed vocals to have a different sensation with the same awkward band. Of course this is a pioneer in art rock, but I think they do it better later on. The only thing that isn't blatantly commercial is the theme of the lyrics, which can feel tame by today's standards, and the last track. It's kind of like eating a very sweet banana, with the peel on. 3.1/5

This was not for me. It made me feel like I should be on drugs, or maybe was on drugs? Overall, the music was a bit grating, and the vocals were kind of boring. A lot of talk-singing, just not my style.

The sound is definitely ahead of its time and I can see why it inspired a lot of bands just to try music as a group. Some of the songs in the back half lost me a bit; never have been a big fan of discordance. But others would definitely be growers on another listen.

Loved this album. Vocals and instrumental are amazing.

The album that inspired hundreds of bands in the 70s and 80s and thousands of chuds on 4chan in the 2000s

I had an okay time. If there was more like Heroin (the song, NOT the drug. #StraightEdge4Lyfe) I would’ve felt it more but alas. Still good though

Peak because it was made in 19 6 7

I absolutely love Nico's voice. It's been awhile since I've listened to this and it still hits. 5/5

Art Rock/Experimental Rock Favorite Songs: *All* Least Favorite Song: *None* Picture this: You stumbled upon a YouTube video made by a user named Karsten Kroening called “100 Albums You NEED to Hear”, and you’ve decided to listen to every single album that appeared in this playlist. You ended up judging the albums that you listened to and pick which albums are indeed something that you needed to listen to. You then get to his top 20 favorite section where at number 13, this album appeared. So you listened to it, thinking that the album is fantastic. It had that element of nostalgia of listening to those songs that you’ve heard from an oldies radio in your elementary school years due to the bus driver preferring that radio station, but there’s an element of something new. You noticed that the lyrics have a more mature side to it rather than what you normally expect to hear from a song in the 60’s. And you told your loved one that you would love to have this album as a CD for your birthday. And then up next, you check your loved one’s Amazon account to see if there’s any packages arriving. You ended up seeing that this album is coming in the mail, and you can’t wait until your birthday until you get to listen to it on a portable CD player on the night of your birthday. Your birthday is less than a month away, but you still can’t wait to open it’s plastic packaging and pop the CD out of it’s case. And then this website decided to test fate and give you this album…just a few days before your birthday. If you were in my shoes, you would’ve laughed your butt off like I did. The funniest part was about how you were thinking of this album an hour before this site randomized this pick for you. No, but in all honestly, there’s a reason why I wanted to have this CD for my birthday, and that’s because this album is considered to be one of my favorites now. I’m thinking that this album is actually going somewhere in my top 10 all time favorite albums, it’s that good. It had that variety with its instrumentations and song structures that not once did I felt either bored or annoyed. I especially wanna highlight the final song of the album for that guitar solo. Overall, definitely a keeper. 10/10

Nice

A mix of rock, avant-garde and art. Got this on vinyl and although I listen to it 3, 4 times a year I’m glad that I own it.

Is it possible I didn’t know Lou Reed was the velvet underground despite loving Lou Reed? I can’t tell. Wouldn’t put it past me. His voice seems different maybe? I think I need to relisten to this when I’m less melancholic and can read the lyrics. I want to understand why this is considered so impactful because it didn’t stand out to me on first (or second) listen. I already loved a few songs and they remained my faves (Femme Fatale, etc). Do they end sentences like Bob Dylan?

1. zunday - 2 2. man - 1 3. femme - 1 4. venuz - 2 5. run - 1 6. partiez - 1 7. heroin - 2 8. again - 1 9. mirror - 1 10. death - 1 11. zon - 2

good artist, pretty bad album

Bueno, vi que tenía mucho hate y tenía bajas expectativas, pero está bastante bien. La portada icónica. Seguramente lo vuelva a escuchar, pero no destaco ninguna canción, quizá “femme fatale”. (editado de 3 a 4)

I already listened this album

I mostly enjoyed this - some really thoughtful instrumental work going on here. Not mad about Nico's vocals, but they're acceptable enough that it doesn't distract from everything else

Sparked interest in places but don’t think it’s really for me.

Timeless masterpiece. It's influence is incalculable. Basically invents Indie/Alternative in my opinion.

One of those albums that really live up to the hype. The production on this thing is very praise worthy and the vocal performances that follow suit match the atmosphere of the album very well. The album is at its best when it combines some of the pop writing known for the time with the experimental sounds that grace most tracks. Very good album. Fav tracks: Sunday morning, femme fatale, Venus in furs, heroin, I’ll be your mirror, and the black angels death song

I was SO STOKED with this pull today because I've been meaning to listen to this album for so long!!! Wonderfully jangly with the perfect amount of scuzz, this album positively transports you to 1967 NYC. I hate that I'm so late to the game, but at the same time I'm so glad it came to me at the right moment in my life (aka living in New York with a few trips to the city under my belt). There's certainly a reputation preceding this work, and I now know it's for good reason: it's genre encompassing, experimental, and damn near perfect. Favorite tracks: I'm Waiting For The Man, Heroin, I'll Be Your Mirror

Won-der-ful!

Hard to separate it from all the bad singing “auteurs” that were inspired by it. Couple nice tunes.

Day924 - the good news is i can listen to the velvet underground anytime i want because i think they’re my new favorite band

Me encantó, no puedo decir más

I love heroin!

Not bad, not mindblowing neither.

Few bands can boast a legacy like The Velvet Underground. They were among the three most influential artists of the 1960s, and that says a lot. The others were Bob Dylan and the Beatles. To add a fourth: Sly & The Family Stone. But none of these other bands wrote “I’m Waiting for the Man” or “The Black Angel’s Death Song” or even “Femme Fatale.” For their part VU influenced what would be called punk, new wave, alternative, and indie rock, and the multitude that drew from those sounds. And this album in particular. What’s amazing is that if this were released yesterday it would still sound great. It wouldn’t always sound contemporary, but the attentive listener would recognize its timeless nature, thick texture, artistry, and its ability to transport you right onto the streets of mid-60s NYC - and into its dark corners and musty clubs too. I love that even its flaws are perfect. Nico’s cold, flat affect being among them. If you’re new to this… dig into it. Listen more than once. I guess you could say I’m a fan.

This album is more about musical DNA than the work itself. The music is very interesting and well done, but the real value of this album is how it has served as an inspiration for so many other bands that followed. This isn't evident in riffs, production innovation, lyrical cleverness, but rather how the spirit of the album or vibe allowed artists to break free of pushing yourself to outdoing someone or coming up with something new. They found joy and artistic validity in the groove (and lots of drugs). To me this makes this album an essential cornerstone to the development of Rock and Roll as a whole. Lou Reed and even Nico would never become known in the same way that Dylan or Lennon and McCartney would be known, but this album shows that they are cut from the same cloth and follow the same vibe that always creates transcendent music.

It's okay! Had some head bop moments but overall not my favorite style.

Feels like leather

Crazy that this is from the 60s

The album that influences half the albums on the list. Classic

ARDELL CHUD iya gua chud bar maaf

Terrible. 2 stars for Lou Reed and the album cover

This album would be a lot better without: 1. Nico (boring) 2. The last track (noise). Otherwise solid.

4/10

Based on the two previous Velvet Underground albums, I was expecting this to be a steaming pile of crap. And the last 11 minutes certainly did not disappoint! Surprisingly, most of the rest of this was at least listenable. Most, not all. And listenable, not good. I guess between its salvageable bits and its influence on subsequent, better music, there's enough value here to rate it a very low 2. After all, without this we wouldn't have Duran Duran's cover of 'Femme Fatale', and I really like that version - the critics be damned.

Maybe this was inspirational to some, and I can see moments of intrigue. But overall this is a mess. The whole thing had a weird vibe.

VU - künstlerisch wertvoll, aber sicher nicht mainstream.

Hörbar bis unhörbar

It took until Heroin kicked in (lol), but I get it. It's iconic partially due to the Andy warhol album cover, but mostly due to being one of those albums that influence thousands after it. By today's standards it sounds like Nico and the boys doing drugs and making music on a Tuesday afternoon, but drop it in amongst the late 60s and it's the first ever avant garde rock album ever created

I love those soft, dimly lit songs that truly justify that name Velvet Underground. The first four songs on this album are the definition of that. Nico’s voice may not carry a melody so much as a blank space on which to imagine one, but it is beautiful in what it represents beneath and holds within, like Hemingway’s writing. My favorite Velvet Underground song is still Candy Says, but this album might overall be my favorite one.

I was expecting to love this. I did not. Feels like Heroin carries not only the album, but its legacy.

Now why did I think they were british. Fav song sunday morning

An album melodic and dreamy at times, particularly with its drone textures; yet at times, it goes too far the other way, such as in the noisy soundscapes of the last two songs. Liked many of the songs of this album, but its harsher tracks are too dissonant for a 5.

What a treat. Heading out for a day out on the motorbike in the morning before it gets too hot. Already a 5 star album made even better.

Pioneering. Influential. Awesome.