The Velvet Underground & Nico

I've heard this album and a lot about it many times now. It's probably one of the most recognizable album covers in the world. I think this album is very good and important to music history and also not my favorite! It's just not my typical style and for that it will be a 4 and no more. I get it, I don't think it's BAD but it's just not for me. That's okay.

I didn’t know this was a collab with Nico. Iconic album

Venus in Furs and Heroin sure are something. (European Son sure is something too, in another way…) With this The Velvet Underground becomes the artist/band with the biggest discrepancy between my highest (four stars for this) and lowest (one star for White Light / White Heat) rating for their albums, with the latter being also my only one star given nearly 600 albums in. Maybe I need to revisit it.

Album de rock /avant-gardiste vraiment bon, qui s'écoute bien, avec beaucoup de très bonnes musiques. Les paroles de Lou Reed sont étonnantes avec du bon.

Pretty cool stuff. Last track made me dizzy. Feels so classic - but I also get why it wasnt well received at first. Glad I finally got to see what this one was about. Great record to do mall laps with.

I very much enjoyed this debut album from The Velvet Underground! I’ve heard many of these songs individually but never as a collective so that was fun. The themes and vibes of the album are very indicative of the time in which it was produced. Overall, I had a great time listening to this alt/experimental rock album and it’s one I would listen to again in the future!

Damn fine album!

I can definitely see why this was so influential, but I much prefer their later work.

A very Mongolia typa beat and very calming

Finally listened to this want to spend more time with it but interesting that it was released in 67!

nett

I haven’t done this one yet? If you know any Velvet Underground albums, it’s probably this one. Its he quintessential VU record. It’s not as spicy as White Light / White Heat will be, but it’s a little more interesting than the third, self titled, record.

Favorite songs: Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man, Femme Fatale, Run Run Run, All Tomorrow's Parties, There She Goes Again, I'll Be Your Mirror

I liked this. Obviously a significant album and my first time listening to the whole thing, as opposed to individual tracks.

So tempted to give it 5 stars but Herikn just didn’t do it for me and really I think I love the covers that others have done of these songs more but definitely worth 4 stars. Standouts were "I'm Waiting for the Man“, "Run Run Run" and "There She Goes Again”

Good album, 4 stars

I am slowly realising that I am, in fact, a Nico fan.

It's one of many great albums released in the legendary year of 1967. Somehow, "The Velvet Underground & Nico" stood out even in a sea of innovative classics. In many cases, an album that was considered controversial at the time of its release later becomes a classic (e.g. most '80s metal). "The Velvet Underground & Nico" is one of those albums. Imagine hearing "Sunday Morning" on release day; it must've been bewildering. 4 stars for "The Velvet Underground & Nico".

I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. This is really good. Sunday Morning is beautiful, it has a gorgeous melody. I'm not the biggest fan of spoken word, but it kind of works on this record. The abrasive, screeching parts weren't pleasant to listen to, though.

Speciaal, heel tof

I'm a Velvet Underground fan, but theres no need for the final track on this album, NO NEED.

I wasn't that aware of the full album but I really enjoyed most of the tracks, apart from a couple of experimental ones. Pleasantly surprised.

I dig. It's giving me Dylan vibes.

Первый альбом, который мне выпал Пока не знаю как работает сайт, боюсь не успеть оценить потом. Поэтому делаю выводы в момент прослушивания, перевод, конечно же, ещё не почитала. Однако очень приглянулся инструментал, который создал атмосферу сочетающуюся с сегодняшним настроением. Точно послушаю до конца, даже скорее всего переслушал снова. Исполнитель был не знаком до сегодняшнего дня. 20.03.2026

while i find this album a bit uneven there are some real highlights on here that i would come back fot again and again. Its is also an abaolute signpost album for punk even though theor minumalist ‘i’m just here to make sure the band stays in time aand that’s it’ went full maga (but that’s beside the music).

Love this

boundary pushing to say the least very brave for its time, filled with all kinds of theme that were considered taboo back in 1967 can be a tough listen with its harsh sound and abstract song structures but there's a song or two that can be enjoyed casually

Cool

Damn, I think they out-kinked the Kinks with that Venus in Furs song. I forgot to include The Velvet Underground when I was listing off proto-punk bands before, but they might be even more influential since I think they came before a lot of the others and had more of the taboo anti-society subject matter in their songs.

don’t know why but I never used to think as highly of this record as many others. On first listen something didn’t ‘click’ with me and I was just left feeling unsatisfied due to the hype of the record. I relistened again today and found much more enjoyment out a lot of it. Still some tracks I’m not too keen on (the closer is just not my thing), but overall a great record

This album sums up what the Velvet Underground is. Being the absolute opposite to the mainstream rock acts at the time. The sound of this album, has trickled through the alternative rock to Sonic Youth to Arctic Monkeys. It's influence on the musical world can't be denied.

Really good and i don’t even like the VU

4.5

- As explained in a previous review, I'm boycotting them because (racist) Lou Reed assaulted women, and Nico is a total racist, too. - I did listen to this album a lot before I learned what terrible people so many famous musicians are. - There are a lot of great songs with unforgettable melodies and moody lyrics, which I appreciate. - I also really like that there are two distinct singers - and to have a woman's voice that is so low is pretty rare and interesting. - I like the jangliness of the guitar, but I don't love its tone, which is so thin. - I enjoy the random instrumentation (like the glock, etc.) and the bass throughout. - But like all Velvet Underground albums, there are songs that I tend to skip, e.g., Run Run Run and the final two songs, so I find it goes on too long.

Crazy how big and attention drawing this album is, while arguably not the best Velvet Underground album. To me, the noise elements are hard to mix with songs that are so sweetly soft like a Sunday Morning or a I’ll Be Your Mirror. Even so, they represent a type of purity in the exploration of the musical landscape by visionaries like John Cale and Lou Reed. Nico is used wonderfully across the album, adding a softer hardness to the album. Singers with unique voices magnified in a way that doesn’t feel like it creates a division between them and the music is a real joy. Not just a moment in time, this album remains the moment till this day. Faves: Heroin, Sunday Morning, I’ll Be Your Mirror, There She Goes Again, Femme Fatale

I mean it's a classic for a reason. My dad tried to put me onto this a couple times, and like I got what he was saying about it but it didn't really click with me. And to tell the truth I'm still not sure it clicked with me, but I really liked it. I don't think it's perfect, but there's a ton to love here. Favorites: I'm Waiting for the Man, Run Run Run, European Son

Some excellent songs, but some parts too avant garde for me

There is a good biography on spotify. Didn’t know the band. Did know the sound of Lou Reed on guitar.

Liked it. It had a vibe.

VELVET UNDEGROUNDS IS AMAZINNGGGGGGGGGGGGG so was this album :D

Reconozco que es muy bueno pero creo que envejecio un poquito mal, a mi al menos no me suelen fascinar ritmos asi porque me aburren un poco. Me gusta mas lo que hace Nico en solitario.

Buen disco, lo sentí como un disco sumamente artístico, sincero, sin pretensiones y sin expectativas. Simplemente músicos haciendo música y disfrutando de eso. Grandes canciones como Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, Heroin (graaan canción). En general creo que es un disco icónico, con un sonido sincero y auténtico, con grandes letras, gran performance y que inspiró a muchos artistas a crear música. Gran disco.

This record thrives most when it leans into its more atmospheric side. Listening to this from front to back truly showed its rare and timeless quality, and while the mid-album stretch can feel a bit repetitive at times, the high points are nothing short of legendary. An essential listen. Favorite/s: Sunday Morning, Heroin Least favorite/s: Run Run Run

banana jako dobar ali pomalo neujednačen album. trebalo mi je vremena da ga docijenim - u stvari sam shvatio da sam ga tek danas, u lijepe lagane šetnje, odslušao skroz u komadu bez prekida. uzme li se u obzir vrijeme kada izlazi, sirovo genijalan. zadnja stvar najslabija, jednostavno nažalost bezvezna u usporedbi s ostatkom. vrh valjda venus in furs, premda ima i ostalih jakih kandidata. na rubu između četvorke i petice, dat ću mu ipak četvorku jer mislim da imaju boljih albuma (svakako loaded)

I've heard this one before - I liked it back in college but I really just love Sunday Morning. Definitely influential!

This is an album that is more important than it is good. I did like it, but mostly, I appreciated it. It sounds radical for 1967, musically, lyrically, and stylistically. Early psychedelia, transgressive, lo-fi. And with an iconic album cover. I’m also not generally crazy about Nico, though I think she works fairly well here.

I listened to like half of it and it was good I’ve been meaning to

Feeling generous, so rounding up!

I find a lot of this to be fairly straightforward pop, with Lou’s songwriting aspirations to be a Brill Building staff writer like Carole King and Neil Sedaka (R.I.P. Neil…) all over it. Sunday Morning is one of Elizabeth’s all-time fave tracks. I believe White Light/White Heat, their second album to be much more discordant. The album we played a lot in George Pohanka’s basement was their 4th, Loaded, which didn’t have Nico or John Cale and was very much a pop album with “hits” Sweet Jane and Rock and Roll. Try those tracks on Loaded and then try them on Lou’s live album Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal (it also has Heroin). 4.5 rounded down — I quite like it but it’s not 5-worthy.

Would have been a 3 if European son lasted much longer.

Muy muy chuli, tiene canciones q me encantan como Sunday morning o femme fatal y es un álbum en general bastante relajante, pero bueno tiene sus cosillas q le sobran

It's tricky to rate albums like this. On one hand, it's an undeniably influential work; on the other, I don't really feel like listening to it a second time. I'll give it a 4 anyway, for its merits—I don't want to just average it out.

Really held up over the years

It's not quite five stars for me, because there are plenty of tracks that I *like*, but none that I *love*. I hadn't listened to this in years and it was fun rediscovering some of the lesser known tracks.

Excellent album - felt the second half was a little weaker than the first 5 or 6 but really good

It's good, it's important, but I fluctuate on how enjoyable it is to listen to.

Pretty groovy -- great sound for the late 60s. Pretty influential.

No. 372/1001 Sunday Morning 4/5 I'm Watiting For The Man 4/5 Femme Fatale 5/5 Venus In Furs 4/5 (2x) Run Run Run 3/5 All Tomorrow's Parties 4/5 (2x) Heroin 4/5 (2x) There She Goes Again 4/5 I'll Be Your Mirror 4/5 The Black Angel's Death Song 3/5 European Son 2/5 (2x) Average: 3,67 Enjoyed the start way better than I expected. Femme Fatale is my personal favorite. European Son was too experimental for me.

É curioso como este álbum não me conquistou na primeira audição, e hoje está entre as coisas mais legais que já ouvi. Não é o meu favorito da banda, mas entendo perfeitamente quem o eleja como o primeiro. Soa revolucionário e muito à frente do seu tempo; décadas depois, ainda poderia facilmente ser confundido com um disco indie atual. Para quem não conhece o grupo, as letras podem parecer puro sensacionalismo para época, afinal, estamos em 1967 e eles escrevem sobre sexo sadomasoquista, injeções de heroína e compras de drogas em becos escuros. Mas, depois de tantas audições, acho que não. Lou Reed está apenas documentando o mundo que conhece. Ele é um gênio.

The Velvet Underground & Nico é um daqueles álbuns que as pessoas ficam por anos recomendando e se deixa sempre em uma lista para "escutar posteriormente quando tiver tempo". E a verdade é que eu por anos ignorei esse álbum (mesmo conhecendo 1 ou 2 músicas dele) até ele felizmente aparecer como recomendação/desafio aqui. Eu gostei bastante dele - é um disco que escutarei mais vezes ao longo do ano tranquilamente. A sequência inicial com Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the man, Femme Fatale e Venus in Furs é fantástica! 4,25/5.

It was good, groundbreaking. First half especially was really high quality. Really not sure about the second half but I guess it wasn't boring.

Very good. Kinda creepy.

Cool album. Liked it. Standout songs: Sunday Morning Venus in Furs Ill be your mirror

4-5

Is it just me or did Nico kill the vibe Like I'm not sexist I just don't like the sound of Nazis

Very nice. I do prefer the two albums that came after this one but this is still a really awesome album. Rides the perfect balance between comforting accessibility and weird experimentation. Must-listen #301.

Good one

I LOVE HEROIN

2 liked

Not the greatest album of all time as some say, however there are some great tracks on it and it has clearly a massive influence. Andy Warhol may be a hack artist but his band is pretty good.

A lot of this was great to listen to. There were some sounds that popped up throughout that were difficult to listen to.

yes it was like velvet.

1967? Sounds totally post-punk. Straightforward in a profound way. Listen to the end of Waiting For The Man--perfectly (I imagine) captures the driving desperation of a junkie's need. BTW just learned Lou graduated cum laude in English from Syracuse. These songs hit as many corners as they can and then some. I've heard this all before, but now I'm really listening and am entranced.

strong album

When is great, it's really great. There's some classic songs on here that have stood the test of time. The fuzzed out jams are a bit much to have on record and I don't love Nico's vocals. But I think this would have been amazing to see and hear back in the day.

Day 185 Such an influential record and ahead of its time. Really interesting listen. Highlights Sunday Morning I’m waiting for the Man All tomorrows parties

Riktigt riktigt bra!

Their sound seems so unique. It is so innovative and smart. Every song has its own sound and is nailed perfectly.

Wassup Nico. I like her songs the best, her voice is one of a kind. I'll Be Your Mirror was probably my favorite. Overall I enjoyed listening to this and checking another white whale/cultural milestone off the list.

peak baby peak

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Venus In Furs, Heroin, There She Goes Again Subversive lyrics: ✅ Avant-garde: ✅ Banana (for scale): 🍌 This is now my second experience with The Velvet Underground, and third if you count Lou Reed's Transformer. The songs are interesting and diverse. The instrumentation is excellent. Lou Reed is awesome as usual. I am quite happy listening to this, even though I only got in two listens. This is going into the rotation.

Iconic for a reason, but still not a fan of the random bits of audio feedback that grate on the ears. Besides that, solid album! 3.75 stars.

Yet another seminal album I’m hearing for the first time (blasphemy, I know). It’s hard to believe it was made in 1967. Nearly 60 years later, it still feels fresh and completely its own thing (though it clearly spawned generations of artists). There are many great songs, but “Venus in Furs” is a 10/10. It’s not a perfect album by any means, but that is part of its brilliance.

Probably would have been a 2 if it were not for Nico.

This was a solid album and I get why it was a big deal, but man do I hate what this band did to Rock and roll. The album itself was pretty good tho and very New York which is cool. Waiting for my man is fun.

Psych rock, alt rock. Late 60s debut with German singer. Nonchalant delivery. Incredibly influential for all kinds of genres, but flop at first. Know and like more things than I thought. Get why this was considered revolutonary in 60s.

It's very influential ofc, and it has some great ideas. Would be so much better if they practiced their instruments more though.

This isn’t my favorite Velvet Underground album, but The Velvet Underground is one of my faves. Love love love Sunday Morning and Femme Fatale.

I love this album every listen I give it. Never gets old. Always so good.

Musically and culturally, this will always remain a top tier album. I’ll be honest, I can’t say I’m fully on board with a lot of the lyrics, but there’s no denying how far this record pushed cultural norms at the time.What’s crazy is that it was a commercial failure when it first came out and only sold a few thousand copies, but over time it resurfaced and became widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made. It also ended up being massively influential, helping shape punk, goth, and grunge. Even today, this album still has a fun, and raw edge to it.

альбом неплох, есть что послушать, достаточно своеобразно и именно это и цепляет. песня "femme faste" лучшая. альбом 7/10

this album was released in the SIXTIES?? they were doing 80s alternative before 80s alternative existed. favorites: femme fatale; run run run; heroin

A classic for a reason. Great overall album but Venus in Furs is always a repeat track for me.

This is good, Loaded is better

I get the cultural impact and it has some great songs, but a lot of this album is just noise.

erratic

Experimental/psychedelic/low-fi pop/folk/rock? Sunday Morning has a 50s/60s ballad feel in the flow and instrumentation. I'm Waiting for the Man also has an old-fashioned feel for the time, but with almost spoken word lyrics brings it the 70s feel. But it is 60s! Ahead of its time then! Ah, moving through we keep seeing that 60s instrumental with subversive, punky vocal delivery/lyrics. Venus in Furs comes from left field as a psychedelic experimental folk song, which I'm a sucker for. Run Run Run is like a standard 60s song but with that psych/dissonant/low-fi edge. All Tomorrow's Parties is a nice balance of folk/psych. Instrumental Interlude is very nice. Heroin is also great, changes in tempo and dynamics with great effect. Oof end is hard to listen to though, with screeching/feedback sounds. There She Goes Again is another great subversion of the standard 60s pop rock song. Best track - Sunday Morning, Venus in Furs, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, There She Goes Again 4 stars, actually much better than I expected

Can see why it would’ve been impactful and important for the time but too chaotic at times. Favourites, heroin and Sunday morning

A well balanced and very enjoyable album. Some songs were good and some like Heroin were genuinely brilliant. I'll admit that the last track was kinda unnecessary 7.5-8/10

Despite owning "The Velvet Underground & Nico" for years, my visits to it remain sporadic. Every playback leaves me struck by its quality, prompting a vow to return more often that I seldom fulfil. I often question this distance. It may be the record's inherent eclecticism. Even now, tracks like 'Venus in Furs' and 'All Tomorrow’s Parties' feel peerless and 'unpinnable,' resisting any specific mood or genre. There is also the matter of the production; the rawness of tracks such as 'Run Run Run' lends it an unpolished charm frequently dismissed as 'proto-punk'—a term that feels far too reductive for what is happening here. The album's gravitational centre is 'Heroin,' a track that captures the harrowing oscillations of addiction with haunting accuracy. Ultimately, a four-star rating may seem conservative for such a landmark, but it reflects my relationship with an album that, for all its quality, remains strangely out of reach. Side one 1 "Sunday Morning" (5/5) 2 "I'm Waiting for the Man" (5/5) 3 "Femme Fatale" (4/5) 4 "Venus in Furs" (5/5) 5 "Run Run Run" (4/5) 6 "All Tomorrow's Parties" (5/5) Side two 1 "Heroin" (5/5) 2 "There She Goes Again" (3/5) 3 "I'll Be Your Mirror" (5/5) 4 "The Black Angel's Death Song" (Reed, John Cale) (3/5) 5 "European Son"4/5) Total - 48 Average - 4.36 224/1001 125/224 albums reviewed were new to me

1967, wow, I always thought Velvet Underground were much later than that. I've never really listened before. Great singing voice. Had to see who that is, Lou Reed, wow, talk about a smack in the head. Great tracks, yeah, good going 1001.

Um álbum reconhecidamente influente e que trás belas melodias, como em "Sunday Morning" e "All Tommorrow's Parties", além de canções marcantes por seu tom climático, como "Venus in Furs" e "Heroin".

It’s probably higher, giving the cultural context and how many artists the influence, the lyrics are great. But sound is just really bad. If it was made with the sound of today I think it would be a great to excellent record. Lyrically is fantastic

cool, not catchy, but a fun one, feels like a vibe will come back to see how it grows on me

Pretty good album. Nice lyrics and musical composition. Would listen to again :>.

Fantastic.

I’ll Be Your Mirror is on a playlist that my friend Rowan made when we were feeling very normal about the same fictional characters. Impossible for me to divorce this album from those feelings. The very beginning of The Black Angel’s Death song kept making me think the album had ended and it was playing an early mountain goats track (only for the very beginning). There are tracks I don’t like as much, but I do really like this album. Fav song: I’ll Be Your Mirror - there might be other songs I would prefer if I spent longer with the album but I’m very fond of this one. Least fav: European Son

A bona fide classic although Nico's voice grates a little too much for a 5

My first Velvets love although probably the one I return to least now out of the pure Lou albums. Not really into Nicos baroque style, prefer the dissonance as employed on WLWH and it doesnt have the almost religious purity of the 3rd album. That said, some undeniable Classic songs on here.

A frustrating album, moments of pure brilliance such as Heroin and Sunday Morning, laced with the psychedelia of Venus in furs etc scream give me 5 stars, but then you also have to suffer through the vocals of Nico which feel totally out of place on a few tracks (I like her on femme fatale but the production leaves me angsty). Nice banana.

One of the greatest records I've ever heard. Having Andy Warhol as a patron backing the band allowed the members to experiment without boundaries, which had a significant impact on the trajectory of modern music. I didn't give it a 5-star rating only because some tracks don't resonate for me as strongly as they once did.

Classic album which although not perfect as Nico's vocal wastes a couple of songs, it still has some great moments. REM do a good cover of Pale Blue Eyes and Femme Fatale which is better than the original thanks to Stipes vocals.

A lot better than I remember it. My tastes may have matured over the years.

A classic.

I'd love to listen to this one again.

ну не знаю. это мой первый альбом из этого списка, оверолл могу поставить 6/10, вообще не мое на парочку треков можно отметить. эниуэй я понял смысл альбома и почему же его ценят его культурное наследие

4 stars. ATP lets it down

An all-time classic

preferred this project over self titled overall: 4/5 favourite tracks: sunday morning, i’ll be your mirror least favourite track: there she goes again

Ya can't be a good Samaritan if ya don't sing the praises to the Ripe Banana on a White Cover™. It influenced an entire culture for Christ's sake! You can't put that attribute to any other single album. Everything that this album is has already been discussed to the bone gristle. Simple in its nature, highly memorable, and any song in it can be used as a starting point for a plethora of different genres. And the songs still slap to this day, sometimes even being quite fresh, which is something not characteristic for '60s albums (other than jazz, but that's a whole different galaxy). As you can see from my Best songs portion, I'm more of a fan of the poppy side of the record, but truly, the entire album is worth your attention.

Okay so this influenced a LOT, loved it, didn't care for some of the tracks but overall super fun to listen to

This album inspires you to go out, do something, move. I like the quality of it, it’s nostalgic.

I was between 4 and 5 stars until halfway through Heroin. I liked the album as a whole, but it does get a bit grating. Maybe that’s the point, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

This album has so much of a loaded legacy as a product of this vibrant avant-garde movement out of NYC, a lot of it funded by Andy Warhol. It's cool to see that movement as one packed with visuals and sounds. As for the music itself, it was clear that Velvet Underground was doing its own thing. I love that one of the key members (John Cale) was a violist and had a hand in a lot of the experimental sounds, like the strings in "Venus in Furs". I also adore Nico's vocals. After the first listen, I had "Sunday Morning" stuck in my head, and I love the ethereal feel from the celeste and viola.

This album does not come out swinging like yesterday's. There are two paths to go down re: Velvet Underground. Either you accept that their down-tempo, often monotone sound is cool, or you accept that it is boring. I, being an avid fence rider, think it is a little of both. There are about 50 albums from the 60s I would choose to spin over this one, but it's a pleasant listen when I return to it. 4.

This album feels like the Nico show with Nico's contributions being the only things that make this album standout like it does.

A delightful mess.

I do very much like this album, and I think this is one my favorite album covers ever. I realized on this listen through that Nico begins on the album with Femme Fatale which is pretty cool like oooo watch out she’s coming!! I had to pause it a few times at the end because the noises were sooo loud I don’t really like that and I don’t really get it. But all in all, iconic album obviously

Had already heard this one. Classic, love it.

Might be my favorite so far, I really liked the 3rd song in the playlist it started with an “L” but I just really like that one. Overall one of the best

Favorite Track: Sunday Morning

This is an album whose cultural impact and significance, style and aura are unmatched. In many ways it was trailblazing and represents a bright line between the musical sensibilities that came before and after it. And, if I’m being honest, is a VERY challenging listen. It’s not “good” in the sense of a pop album of its day and that was purposeful. It’s still not “good” by today’s standards, but much more acceptable given how many carbon copy iterations have existed over the years (each one just a little bit less with each new version). So instead of giving this 5 based on its cultural context, or 1 based on how easily enjoyable the experience is, I am splitting the difference and rounding up: 3.5⭐️ (giving it a 4 rating)

Didn't know about it at all but I liked it and just discovered Nico with help of this album. Thank you!

:)

i know it’s a classic but i couldn’t stop thinking it sounded like if the beatles ate bob dylan

For Lou: ★★★★

Et album jeg har lyttet til flere ganger. Musikk som i 1967 var noe helt spesielt, og sannsynligvis la grunnlaget for mye av det som skulle komme i de påfølgende tiårene. Albumcoveret og produksjonen er tilskrevet kunstneren Andy Warhol, så kanskje ikke så rart at dette albumet faller under sjangrene art rock og experimental rock. Lou Reed og Nico har distinkte stemmer som samarbeider utmerket med instrumentene. Veldig bra. Top 3: Femme Fatale, Heroin, Venus In Furs

6/10

Should I go form a band now? Surprising me, I liked this. Definite influence on a lot of genres. Twee, Shoegaze, punk, and more.

очень даже прикольно интересно

So many of these songs have been covered by R.E.M. alone - never mind the Sisters of Mercy, Big Star, Duran Duran and countless others - that they have effectively become folk songs. Urban folk songs, admittedly: grounded in Reed’s corny fixations on drug dealing and BDSM, his stubbornly sub-literary provocations, which have never especially interested me. But, then, I would enjoy Hubert Selby more if sung by Nico with her beguiling, carynx of a voice. Still, the fact that Japan even covered European Son tells you something about the record’s reach. To recognise the first Velvets album as a template for the 1980s - for goth, for jangle pop, for New Romanticism - is unavoidable now. Whatever its lyrical limitations, it functioned less as a finished statement than as a set of permissions. And it still sounds pretty good. And this is only one of infinite fascinating things I can think of the Velvets’ debut before breakfast. 4 Here's an album much cooler than it is good and that is impressive because it is excellent. If the absorbing swirl of shifting timbres was entirely deliberate it is still hard to believe but, first, a fair chunk of pop music is happy accidents, and second John Cale. The guitars, not exactly well played, sound absolutely terrific, which is bound to mean they are well played. Nico, not exactly a good singer, is fascinating to listen to, which is bound to mean she's a good singer. Lou Reed announced himself with a couple of the absolute best lyrics he would ever write - Waiting for the Man and Heroin. The songs are simultaneously transgressive and inviting, harsh and perfectly pleasant; facetious and entirely serious. The banana is a superb fit. European Son is still a bit shit. 4/5

I like this but not as much as White Light / White Heat. Nico's voice is great, and I think she kinda peaked here.

Not the worst album - but not the best for me - I like a few songs the rest didn’t do anything for me

cause everybodyyy knowwwwsss

Very good vibes. Apocalypse now type atmosphere.

not bad at all

There is not a single bad song on this album. I had to go back and check the release date on this album because the lyrics and melody were so modern! I loved the lyrics, the storytelling, and the discordant nature of everything. Reminded me of David Bowie's music in a way.

Don’t think I’ve seen an album with so many alternating 5 and 1 star reviews. Obviously seen as a classic and the instantly recognisable cover and band. Never listened before so curious to see where I land on this polarisation! And only just discovered Lou Reed through this list so I’m hopeful.. I’m surprised by the 1*’s as I start to listen. It feels inoffensive, at worst and classic at best. Solid songs, groove and lyrics. Very enjoyable and in the feels. It’s a great mix of styles and songwriting throughout too. Think I prefer Reed on vocals, than Nico. Got quite excited by the first half and then felt it kind of descended into a bad trip as it came to a close through the second half :-/ just gets 4* because the end just killed it but enough classics and genius to keep the 4

Gegen Ende mochte ich das Album mehr. Vorallem „He’s Misstra Know-It-All”. War glaub mein favourite Track aber ich finde andere Alben besser.

favorite song: There She Goes Again reminds me of Bob Dylan, but that makes sense because it's the same time frame of music 4/5

liked

Veldig bra album

7,82

An album I am all too familiar with and have begun listening again recently after hearing "all tomorrows parties" again for the first time in a long time. An incredibly search of meaning through sex, drugs, fear, captialism lust and death. What a shame about Nico being a nazi xxx

You know, I had rock lobster saved in my library already and I have no idea why. Added 52 girls as well. I hadn’t really thought of them as new wave because I’ve mostly listened to British new wave, but I might’ve saved rock lobster off of a new wave playlist

This one really speaks of a time and a place. I really feel like I’m doing heroin with a bunch of sexual deviants in the toilets of a 1960s New York nightclub.

we’re getting better every day. i loved how melancholy this one was while also being dreamy

Classic. Hadn't listened in a while so I was glad to go back to it.

it’s an iconic album for a reason. trust

I enjoyed Velvet Sun for its strange sounds. Sunday morning was nostalgic. Overall very enjoyable!

4 out of 5. This album got much better over time. I always knew the importance/influence this album has but I maybe needed a little more time for it to grow on me.

Classic

me cagun la puta, havia escrit una review molt currada he sortit de l'app i ja no hi és total que mola, i sobretot molen els elements més experimentals i early noise. una carta damor odi a la heroina 💉 Top: Heroin, There she goes again, I'm waiting for the man

I really liked this. Lots of Lou Reed and The Underground with just a splash of Nico to keep it interesting.

it's the start of something new

Wonderfly weird and psychedelic but with some beautiful melodies sprinled throughout. I don't often put this on, but when I'm in the right mood it's such a cool and interesting sound that's uniquely them. Meditative and hypnotic in parts, light and poppy in others, a perfect juxtaposition of styles.

A lot of really cool songs, maybe if which I've heard covers of. Last song went on too long with outro distortion noise but at least it wasn't in the middle.

Venus in Furs - definitely enjoyed the Melvins version more. Overall, not a bad album.

One of the most influential albums and blah-blah-blah. I knew and liked a few songs for a long time, but never listened to the whole banana album. So finally it happened. Fuck, it sounds pretty fresh 58 years after release! It's a great piece of music. I added 5 of 11 songs to my playlist, but I enjoyed listening to all of them. 4/5 —————————————— Liked: — Sunday Morning — I'm Waiting For The Man — Femme Fatale — Heroin — I'll Be Your Mirror

A product of its times, with Dylan-like voicing hooking up with The Animals. Oh so extremely cool. The sounds are garage amateurish yet brilliant and timeless.

Some instruments are clear, some are lo-fi and rough; It's a tad bit distracting. Some of this album is beautiful, some is ugly. I think I will forever be torn about this album, which seems to be the point. It's influence can't be ignored and probably gives the album more of a voice than the music itself.

You can see why it's so influential but nico can't sing

Have always heard great things about this album but have never had just to sit down and listen to it all the way through. I thought this was a fantastic album and would definitely listen to it again.

I think it is a cool album. I think it is cool that everyone else thinks it is a cool album.

Can’t believe it took me til this point in my life to listen to this album. Would have been my first 5 of this challenge so far if it hadn’t been for European son

Beautiful. Brilliant. Classic.

I’d say I have a love hate relationship with Lou Reed. But this album is a classic - “Sunday Morning”, “Femme Fatale” and “I’ll be Your Mirror” are all such great songs. Maybe some of the imagery is a little played out and copied but I feel the sound, attitude, and production leaves the way for so much punk, grunge, noise, etc. Underneath all that scene-y stuff, there are still some really accessible songs, and I was happy to have the reminder to listen to it. Would go 4.5 but I’ll round down to be more in step with the group

one thing im noticing with a lot of old school rock albums is the lengthy instrumental outro. I can't say I am a big fan of it, and it spoiled my overall impression of the album

3.5

4.5

Excellent

Class on vinyl. A Sunday delight.

Is this the best debut album ever ? So many genres of music represented. Or should I say invented? Only docked a star because European Son is just a bit too experimental.

I honestly have never heard any of The Velvet Underground’s music before so I had no idea what to expect other than the fact that Lou Reed is in the band. I do know a few Lou Reed songs here and there. But anyways, I really enjoyed the opening of this album, the first three songs were the strongest. I do think it’s kind of ironic that the song called cooling it down is where the album starts to lose me. The rest of album isn’t a waste though cause the last three songs and “lonesome cowboy bill” are all great songs. The others didn’t really blow me away but that’s a healthy majority of the album that I enjoyed. Obviously I’d always like more variety of sound but it’s a super iconic album with an iconic cover. Totally holds up.

this for halloween? im expecting thriller. but anyway... ok, so this came out in 1966. and every single underground/indie musicians went bananas over this. why, i asked myself. people came to explain. before this, rock music isn't explicitly about sex and drugs and BDSM and stuff. and its relatively polished. nobody have ever thought to put a bunch of noise as a part of the music. why is many modern rock music so raw? go ask lou reed i guess. also i guess sunday morning sound somehow just like no surprises but just 30 years earlier. as a radiohead head i approve. lou reed's voice is ok since i have tolerated bob dylan not only once, but three fucking times before mr. reed arrived to me. the sinister drony soundscape fits venus in furs perfectly cause its... bdsm although the song could be a bit longer. guess ill just call all tomorrow's party as proto-goth cause many gothic rock artists have covered it. the sombre atmosphere is genius too. heroin is a bit overrated but actually its not it sound like the highs and lows of a drug addiction. i'll be your mirror is pretty sweet. European Son could be shorter. 4/5

One of the albums that started it all- going from Sunday AM to I’m waiting for my man…the French 60s sounds with Nico’s baritone German accent. Huge fan of Lou Reeds solo work but to see the amount of musical movements that came from this… Only issue…the heroin addicted John Cale/Lou Reed and their monotone trances - def a rougher listen.

This sucks so much on headphones, definitely of the era where they just made stereo like the Beatles Anyways I can see how this was influential for several subgenres and how this was the first art rock album.

Nothings special

This is undeniably a good album, but I never found myself loving it like many other people did. As far as Protopunk goes I found Patti Smith’s “Horses” a much better listen. Either way though this album is a great listen and is undeniably incredibly (if not the most) influential to the punk and art rock movements and is worthy of respect. I don’t think it’s aged like wine like many other listeners do, with it dragging at times in my opinion. Really a perfect example of a 4 star. Favorite Track: Heroin (had me levitating) Worst Track: I’ll be your Mirror

Un album que j'aime beaucoup, 4-5 chansons étaient déjà dans ma bibli. Certains morceaux m'emportent un peu moins que d'autres (I'm Wainting for The Man m'a sonné un peu fade et répétitif) - mais la plupart me touchent beaucoup. Je pense que c'est le côté balade / poétique sur le fond rock, avec quelque chose d'entraînant mais toujours en mineur, une voix posée parfois presque soufflée, de belles rythmiques avec des textures intéressantes aux percus. Parfois quelque chose de grinçant en même temps que berçant). Et une place pour des jolies mélodies au xylo ou à la guitare... et même des choeurs ou des cordes pour réhausser le tout, ça fait plaisir un rock alternatif avec autant d'épaisseur. Je mettrais un 3,8 que j'arrondis vers le haut pcq c'est subjectivement plutôt un grand oui.

good not great

Lou Reed is a name that I hear thrown around in music discourse pretty frequently, but I must admit that I’ve somehow gone my entire life without once hearing a song from him or the Velvet Underground until today. The only things I even knew about him were that he passed away several years ago, that he did a very polarizing collab album with Metallica and that people talk about him as if critics pretend to enjoy his music for clout. I didn’t even know what kind of music he made, though I assumed it was some kind of ear-splitting avant garde rock (based on context). That said, you can probably imagine my surprise when I put on The Velvet Underground & Nico and heard "Sunday Morning" for the first time – my very first thought was “oh, this is lovely” and then my mind started racing with questions about why people would have to fake enjoying music that could have just as easily been from the Beatles. I carried that sentiment through most of the album. Sure, there were some provocative lyrics here and there, but the music at large felt par for the time period – just good old ‘60s tunes. The first track that got truly weird was "Heroin," but even that came across as an appropriate balance of accessible/experimental. Admittedly, things did fly off the rails a bit toward the end of the LP (especially on the closing track "European Son"), but it never became so abrasive that it didn’t feel welcoming to my ears. I honestly struggled much more with Nick Cave and Marianne Faithfull earlier this year, so I’m actually hopeful for some other “fringe” albums to win me over. Am I enjoying this album enough to give it five stars? Nah. Not all of the songs hit for me, I wish the weirdness unraveled in a more linear way and I would have liked it if Nico had a bit more room to shine (maybe some duets with Lou Reed and more prominent background vocals) – the album is called “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” after all. All in all, this felt like the perfect introduction to the world of Lou Reed and I’m looking forward to hearing more! I’m tempted to give Lulu a spin, but I technically haven’t listened to a Metallica album from front to back yet, so maybe it’s best I wait. Highlights: Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, Venus in Furs, Run Run Run, Heroin, The Black Angel’s Death Song, European Son

Great album, influential and still unique. Sunday Morning is one of my favourite songs and finds itself in my head once a week. 8/10

Ashamed it took me so long to get around to listening to this. Loses it's steam for me following Heroin, but a great first half warrants a 4 star rating. Favourite Songs: Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man, Venus in Furs, Heroin Lease Favourite Songs - Everything that follows Heroin (except I'll Be Your Mirror) Rating 7/10

One of my favourite albums but nico

The Velvet Underground is yet another band where I would like to completely flesh out their discography and dig into all their work, but for now we have to start with the infamous banana album. This album is very unapologetically 60s and that is ok but does come with its own set of problems that I will talk about later. I have always been very polarized with how this album sounds, it is so grainy it feels like you are chewing on a granola bar just listening to this project. On the other hand though the song writing, experimentation, and chemistry between The Velvet Underground and well known racist/borderline nazi Nico. Even for as rough around the edges this release sounds I still think that charm when this album was originally being made still carries over all 57 years later. After listening to this project at least 5 times before I can finally confidently say that something has clicked for me, maybe it is the fun factor of this project that is hidden in plain sight or maybe I am in more of a 60s kick. What I can say is that even though Lou Reed cannot sing if his life depended on it, he can still make a damn good song that impresses you with how sharp it is without any sort of killer vocals. Yeah I get why people call this a classic, but I will never understand the hype around it being one of the best albums ever made. After this project I am stepping into unknown territory as I have never made it farther than this in their discography ever, and I can only hope it lives up to or surpasses this project.

God. I don't know. This album is hard to review. Femme Fatale would be a truly great track if it wasn't Nico singing it, but it IS Nico singing it. Heroin and All Tomorrow's Parties (a song to which Nico's vocals are much better suited, in my opinion) are astonishingly good, but European Son is unlistenable. The lows are pretty low... but to be fair, the highs are also pretty high. And I respect the influence it had on everything that came after. 3.5 stars, rounded up out of generosity

Squalid, damaged genius. Incredibly strong starting tracklist. Was probably heading for a five star review but the last couple of tracks are a real tough listen.

Unusual with a hazy, dreamlike quality. Unsettling at some points. Or maybe that’s the drugs. Favorite songs: Pale Blue Eyes, Sunday Morning

This is a good listen. It's both raw and balanced. I feel like it moves nicely through different moods without wearing anything out.

I’ve avoided this album for 20 years because everyone I’ve met who loves it is extremely pretentious but it turns out they’re right. Not at all masterpiece for me yet but it could definitely get there. European sun is holding it back for me right now.

This album marks the moment music slipped its leash, no longer the domain of the trained, the tidy, or the tuneful. The Velvet Underground is experimental for the sheer audacity of being so, an act of art-for-art’s-sake: pop art recast as sound, by the masses, for the masses. It follows no lineage but its own pulse, existing not from necessity but curiosity because someone, somewhere, might find truth in it. The best track, Heroin, aches like a confession whispered through static, while Femme Fatale shimmers in contrast. Nico’s voice is distant, glacial and turns detachment into beauty. The lo-fi grit of the production isn’t a flaw but a manifesto: art made from nothing, for everyone. By the final track, the album collapses into pure noise: an act of destruction that feels like creation, form melting into formlessness. It ends not with resolution, but with the revelation that art, like life, is truest when it refuses to behave.

was lekkere muziek

finally, 60s rock that isn't weird yodeling and sitars or the same 2 progressions being played over and over again. i love weird oddities, and this album certainly is one. this album absolutely broke boundaries when it was released, these guys weren't afraid to talk about despair, sex, and degeneracy. the droning, almost creepy sounding instrumentation only adds to the whiplash that people would absolutely feel when clicking on their record player. in a world where a lot of that stuff was kept behind curtains, these guys were probably the only guys making music about it. it's very significant in that sense, but the sound sometimes gives me a headache.

Inventive and cool--sometimes it fails, but always interestingly.

Not many actual songs I loved off it but it’s got a consistently good sound

πολύ καλό το ξαναακουω

One of those albums that is so foundational, it's hard to appraise it critically. There's parts of it I love, parts of it that get on my nerves, but it's a towering piece of art. Up until this album, bands were busy creating rock and pop music; this album found all the potential in the fringes of the music, the way a drum can sound like it's coming from underwater or a "femme fatale" can sound as detached as a bored waitress.

4 - great album but the shrieking guitars in a few songs was not needed

I have conflicting feelings about this album. At the bookstore I worked at in college, they’d play it multiple times a day. Listening to it now, I realize they were skipping the all the lengthy/self-indulgent/unlistenable/drug-fueled chaotic parts. There’s a vocal affectation of this era that I really can’t stand, that I can only describe as a vocal shrug 🤷‍♀️. It immediately turns me off when I hear it but for some reason I mostly forgive it for Lou Reed. Can’t say why. Nico’s distinctive vocals do a lot of heavy lifting. Overall I love the vibe of this album but at its worst moments it’s completely unlistenable. High highs and low lows. 3.5/5.

Musically this isn't my favorite Velvet album, though it does have some of my favorite songs from them, Sunday Morning, Devil in Fur, Waiting for the Man, and Heroin are all great songs. The album gets noisy and devolved on the second half which I don't love but it is interesting. The tracks with Nico in it are very good, she has a nice voice they complement her voice with the tracks and it comes together. The ending track, European Son is very challenging to listen to and I imagine many would stop short after a few minutes of it. While it isn't my favorite Velvets album, it might be my favorite noisy psychadelic art rock albums. I've listened to it a few times before and my take was generally wow. This is interesting and bold. It's influential and it's the type of album that used fly under the radar. Now everyone is expected to like old experimental influential stuff even if they don't have the ear for it. I'm glad to have this album and I'm glad it left a mark on a lot of people. 5 star legacy. I'm glad to live in a world after this kind of album.

The Nico songs pull this down some.

A lot of this sounded like it had jazzy inspiration, other parts sounded like they were more classic rock. I really couldn't put my finger on a lot of it. Though I can certainly say every song sounded like it was made by a different artist, which is a talent that I have not seen in many artists. All in all, despite my not really loving this album the artists behind it were truly gifted.

I can respect any album that starts off with a lullaby-esque song like ¨Sunday Morning, ¨ sung by a deep voiced German chanteuse, and then going immediately into the rollicking ¨I’m Waiting for the Man.¨ Isn’t this song about going to the ghetto to cop heroin? If that’s not pure shit-hot rock and roll I don’t know what is… It reflects anyone who’s ever had to wait for the little package of goodies they’ve been thinking about all day. I’ve admittedly never been a huge Lou Reed fan, but this song is one of the greatest rock songs ever, to say nothing of about the best example of proto-punk this side of ¨Personality Crisis.¨ ¨Femme Fatale¨ is a classic, icy and impersonal and grey. Nico almost had a trans quality about her, which is very 60s NYC. That + heroin + crime= a Scorsese movie but aural instead of visual. ¨Venus in Furs¨ is menacing, plodding, like the soundtrack to a death march going to a fashion show. ¨There She Goes¨ is Dylan if he had a smack problem and had listened to more blues. The centerpiece of the album is ¨Heroin,¨ a long, poetic dirge to Chinese rocks that is the half love letter, have warning (see also the DOC’s ¨Beautiful But Deadly¨ for the companion piece about cocaine). The song sounds sickly and sweet at the same time, and is extremely hard to listen to. Overall the album alternates between catchy and hard to listen to, both in subject matter and sometimes in the droning improvisation they throw in. It’s a definite junkie, 60’s New York masterpiece, the album version of ¨Taxi Driver.¨ Best songs: ¨I’m Waiting for the Man,¨ ¨Venus in Furs,¨ ¨There She Goes Again¨

What a nice album to revisit. The simplicity and the hooks grab me every time. Well done.

There are no weak links here. Lou Reed and Nico have two weird, great voices, and the music breaks new ground while somehow also seeming understated and modest.

this albums does not get old, love it

Femme Fatale - 10/10

While it feels a bit dated and lackluster at points now, the influential nature, especially its time, of it is clear. I think most of the appeal for me comes from Lou Reed’s voice, while I kind of strongly dislike the Nico songs. The first 30-seconds of each song is good and fun, but then it feels like they just keep going after that. “Heroin” is a classic though and an exception to the rule.

Great album. I don't necessarily like each song, im not a huge fan of the female singer, that might be Nico? But overall great sounds and a cool sound i like.

4/5

I've listened to this album in full before and would say it's my favourite Velvet Underground album. I really like Nico on some of the songs, and they haven't got too weird yet (mostly).

Incredibly influential on future artists? Yup. A spot in my regular listening rotation? Not so much.

Classic!

4.5

Some beautiful melodies and thought provoking lyrics in a sea of distortion. Classic

Good.

Definitely an influential album. The darker tracks stood out for their ambient, moody atmosphere. You can hear how much future music grew from these sounds, even if it’s not always an easy listen.

Great.

Not my style if music. Not bad though.

65/1001 :: The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Fav Tracks: Venus in Furs, I’m Waiting for the Man, Sunday Morning Listen before you die: Yes. Most definitely. I’ve listened to this before but TBH not enough. This album is just cool AF. Lou Reed is on another level of cool. Also Andy Warhol produced this? What the hell does he know about producing? Sounds pretty good though… I much prefer the Lou songs over the Nico songs. For whatever reason the Nico songs sound a lot more 60s. Not in a bad way but a lot of the Lou Reed songs have a more timeless quality to them. This is another one I need on vinyl.

Ahh the Velvet Underground, art music. Now I'm not saying it's bad by any stretch, I very much enjoy it. I do prefer their later albums as they have a more mature sound even when they are experimenting. This album lays the groundwork for those later albums and you can hear it. They are the proto alternative/punk band, they influenced a bunch of other bands. You might not like their sound as it is more experimental but you can't deny their talent. It's a great start for the weirder music that comes out later. It's a great album to give a chance to.

It’s hard to review an album that has been so overhyped and overpraised over the years... The last time I listened to this album, I was much, much younger. I didn’t care for it back then (I really can’t remember why), but I enjoyed it far more this time around. Quite a lot of songs – most of all the mythical « Heroin » - sound very Doors-like, so it’s hard not to compare them ; but this album came out only 2 months after The Doors’ first album, so it may not be a direct influence. I think both bands just really managed to capture the spirit of their time, with a mix of sultry blues, psychedelic musings and vaguely disturbing vibes. The lyrics of Heroin must have been a shocker back then (and probably still are today). Overall a great album - thick and hazy as opium smoke, obviously influential, and still very modern by many aspects. I considered giving them a 5*, but it’s a tad too sweet for my taste (the Doors were definitely more unhinged IMHO), and Lou Reed’s voice somewhat still lacks in maturity.

Not my style overall but I enjoyed the final two tracks. Idk why I thought velvet underground were heavier. I'm probably being an idiot and getting them mixed with another band.

- talvez se não tivesse o andy warhol por trás não seria o álbum deles mais famoso - é um bom álbum de estreia com ideias bem modernas, relacionadas a minimalismo e música concreta - poderia ser melhor, mas o impacto e influência dele são muito grandes até hoje

Me gustó el concepto del álbum.

•4/5 • deceptively loose and unrefined, but the songs are great and they hold together so well • love the album even though my favorite version of each song isn’t the original

A secret about me: I've never listened to this album before, as iconic and influential as it is, especially in genres that I enjoy. I fully understand how this album influenced so many bands. It's psychedelic punk rock art. As a pure listener, though, whatever that means, I don't know if it holds up as well against the test of time. Heap praises onto it for being a founder of multiple genres, carving its way through the musical jungle with its heavy distortion and what Lou Reed would call singing. But know, it's really not that great. I do still think it's good! But it's definitely not as great as its reputation. It definitely does have its place on this list; it's 1001 albums to listen to before you die, which also necessarily includes albums whose influence is greater than its listening experience. Favorite Song(s): Sunday Morning, Heroin

oh yea, the backbone of modern punk. New York after the 60's. lou reed is one of those guys that doesn't really seem to be the best at anything, but he knows music and he knows this scene. Heroin is an amazing song, that sets up the next couple decades of experimentation mixed with the DGAF attitude about impressing critics are even fellow musicians. for this to be the first record with a Warhol original as a cover is about as cool as it gets. they were in the thick of it, and Lou would go on to basically be 2nd godfather to punk after Iggy. music conventionally follows a pattern, and this is so unsettling and raw that it destroys the line between reality and the actual songs. you either love it or hate it. for that alone its a 4/5. not super huge on Nico, but her involvement does enhance the eclectic feel to the album.

Great album.

Easily a 5 star album if not for a few tracks where Lou Reed is furiously channeling Bob Dylan in a way that makes a listener wonder if he hates Dylan and is satirizing him

Groundbreaking ⭐️heroin

Here is a legendary collective of aloof artists and cool cats. Their record is like a community mural where all are welcome to doodle, whether complementary or incongruous to a design. It's a droning-tone kraut-folk drum circle frame of mind. They take on some heavy topics, but without lingering in a joyless dark forest. What really gets to me is how Nico's flat, "coffins creaking" voice somehow makes a perfect match with Velvet Underground and swells in sweet affectation. Cool isn't necessarily cold.

Muy buen album, me encanta la incorporacion de nico. temazo tras temazo

Classic. Certified timeless effortless cool.

Føles 15 minutter kortere end den var. Den trækker ikke ud i for mange kroge af vanvid, men fungere bare rigtig godt.

really good sound. wasn't expecting it to sound so soulful, but the added female vocals from Nico really made it special.

Easy going happy vibes. Once again an album which is slightly too repetitive for my taste

Extremely influential, also amazing songwriting here, Heroin is an amazing song and I really like Venus in Gurs and Sunday Morning. One of the best out there.

Great album! Also one of the coolest album arts of all time with the peelable banana. But I guess that's what you get when you have Warhol producing it. A very good listen, now to go listen to Chelsea Girl since I got that one a few weeks after this one.

Great stuff

A good album which has clearly influenced a lot of other artists ( I've noticed that Coldplay lifted large parts of the album Viva la Vida from this album). Other than Nico's slightly distracting accent, an excellent record from start to finish.

Heroin is one of the most impressive songs ever written. There’s some other gems here too. A couple clunkers tho

you know what sucks? this album is really good. going into this i only knew sunday morning and femme fatale so i knew i was gonna like at least two songs but i really didn’t wanna like any more than that because c’mon nico is a pos and this album ive been told is severely overrated but i think the hype is valid. it is very good.

I liked This album was so much better than white light/white heat super impressed. Now I know the allure of the Velvet Underground. The song heroine is brilliant produced by Andy Warhol is a super plus. 7.0

Gutes Album, kenne ich schon lange.

Comforting. Sounds like breakfast coffee.

A classic and a sign of the times, except I could have done without the It girl of the moment Nico, her “singing” just takes me out of it.

Hacía años que no volvía a reescuchar este disco. Tiene un je ne sais quoi que me aleja: su propuesta no me resulta atractiva. Sin embargo, si hubiera que juzgar a este disco por su importancia habría que ponerle no cinco, sino 10 estrellas. Antes de votarlo y ponerle 3 estrellas decidí escucharlo otra vez. Y ahí vuelvo a entender lo importante y significativo que es este trabajo. Me resultan desagradables las últimas dos canciones, las más experimentales del proyecto. Y podría vivir sin Run Run Run y tal vez I'll Be Your Mirror. Pero las otras canciones son fantásticas. Mi favorita es, y no creo estar solo, Venus in Furs, oda al sadomasoquismo con la experimental viola de John Cale. Pero realmente la calidad de todo este trabajo es muy alta: cuando lo iba a reescuchar me había olvidado de algunas canciones: qué las canciones que canta Nico no son muy buenas, qué Waiting for the Man es medio repetitiva y tiene una melodía tonta, qué Heroin es una canción larga donde no pasa nada. Pero no, mi memoria probó no ser segura (otra vez más): la voz de Nico en canciones como All Tomorrow's Parties es perfecta (tal vez sí no me interese tanto como suena en Femme fatale), I'm Waiting for the Man tiene pequeñas sutilezas que la hacen interesante, además de describir a la New York gritty de una forma que cientas de canciones de Frank Sinatra y similares nunca habían hecho, y Heroin es una canción envolvente y atrapante que no me aburrió ni me dio sensaciones de déjà vu pese a sus 7 minutos de duración. Por todo esto voy a subir la calificación a 4 estrellitas, aunque sea probable que no vuelva a escuchar este disco por un largo periodo más. Lo disfruto, entiendo su importancia, pero también consigue saturar.

Oh man, time for a big boy. I've never heard this record or any song adjacent to the group, but I've heard that this album is very experimental, and with that in mind, I gave it my first listening. My inital experince was quite good, but I have to say that I expected it to be way more experimental than it actually felt. Fortunately, this opinion changes with the more listenings I gave it to. I'll start talking about the songs that suprised me the most: - 'Sunday Morning' is a wonderful start to the album. The little xylophone melody is beautiful. - 'Venus In Furs' uses a electric viola and it is very interesting. It gives the song an intense ambiance. It also reminded my a lot of Godspeed You Black Emperor's music. - 'Heroin' sees the returning of the viola, but now is more in the background, until it hits the last moments of the song, when it starts to sound very noisy and viol-a-ent (sorry, I have to do it) . Beside, one of the most remarkable aspect of this track is the use of crescendos and accelerating rhythms that always end in them returning to the initial pace. This allows the song to feel very dynamic and quite a bit energetic. - 'The Black Angel's Death Song' is another song which uses the viola. If I didn't make it clear, I loved how they used this instrument through the whole album. Adds a lot of personality. - 'European Son' is the closing track and also the longest one of the project, and it does an incredible job at ending the album, with pure noise madness. The rest of the songs, I found them to be more on the 'ordinary' side of psychedelic rock. Nonetheless, I still enjoy them very much, and with more and more listenings, I'm discovering a lot of details which make them feel more unique. My only complain about this LP would be the production, as it can feel a bit rough or crispy, but this had to be due to the technical limitations from that time. Overall, an incredible experimental record that I loved. As a side note, I want to express how good it feels to hear something that really feels psychedelic and experimental from this list. A lot of what I've being getting didn't feel as strange as I wanted to, or even felt bland and uninteresting.

Not a fan of Nico or the feedback but other than that, I’ll take it.

I love VU. This album is mostly good. There are some experimental, psychedelic moments that are just noise in my opinion, but overall it’s solid.

In some ways, having a ridiculous number of 60s psychedelic rock on this list does offer a good contrast to how different this album was from similar artists of the time.

Important then. Sorta important now.

When it's good it's incredible, I just don't like nico that much

Very odd but inspiring in its avant garde

I own this album. I know this album. I know how influential this album is. I also think it is full on drones. Ostrich guitar. Droning orchestral parts and droning voices. Nico's voice is haunting and the rest of the band sing well also. There are some gems in here and decent songs too. But, on my listen, I found myself annoyed by the droning and some of the more experimental parts. The guitar solos on 'Run, Run, Run's, and basically the end of the closing track. I can see why this album is some important, but also why critics are divided on it (when it was released). 'Sunday Morning', 'Femme Fatale' and 'Heroin' are favourites, and I discovered how much I liked 'There she goes again'. But, holding it back from five star status is the reusing of melodies, experimental parts and drones that at times can annoy me. 4 stars.

This album is like being a downtrodden young man, living in a grimy part of town. Your girlfriend is cheating on you and you hate your job. Even though you have minimal expendable income, the weather is nice outside so you’re gonna go for a walk. You’ll spend your last twenty dollars on a couple of bottles of cheap cider, and sit in the park finding beauty in this day, regardless of what else is going on.

Yeah, four stars. I don’t have a lot to add. It’s an extremely important album, and it’s extremely good!

Album 853 of 1089 The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) Rating : 4.5 / 5 It’s not packed with mainstream hits, memorable melodies, or even standout musicianship—and yet, somehow, it still feels like a great album. I’m not entirely sure why, but it worked for me. It’s a good listen, and one I feel I should revisit with the lyrics in front of me to get the full effect. I like Lou Reed, and that probably helps. There’s really no clear reason this should be a great album… and yet, here we are.

What an album. It can be a difficult listen at times, and not everybody wants or needs that in music, but it can also be slow, soft, poetic. Then its gritty and powerful again. It drags you in with atonal, sharp, dissonant sounds then before you know it I'll be Your Mirror is playing and you are back to those Sunday Morning vives. The Run Run Run soloing shouldnt work but it does and I love it. There are few songs in existence like Venus in Furs and Heroin is a legitimate masterpiece. Then take into account the time, place, personalities and circumstances surrounding the band and you begin to understand the weight this album holds. Its a shocking, absurd , mess of a record that allows the sun to shine through every so often, letting you breathe, get your bearings, before it goes again to those dark places that you don't really understand. Its a record that sounds different depending on when and where you listen. I unserstand why some might hate it but for me its powerful, beautiful and I love it. 9/10

I love and hate the music on this album in turns. I can't with Nico, at all. Heroin and I'm Waiting for the Man are all-time favorite songs, but there is a fair amount of experimental art-house stuff that is hard to listen to. extra points for inspiring artists to come?

The first listen, I was was a little disturbed by the lyrics. So I read about the album and the history, and then listened again. Musically, I love it. I still feel that the lyrics are a little disturbing, but I appreciate it more after learning about it.

Some of this is standard 60s fare, but so much of it isn’t. From the embrace of middle eastern tones, to the unapologetic heroin tribute. I loved “run run run” the most.

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Classic. It’s singable and fraught/tonal at the same time. Nico’s vocals are kind of hard to take seriously though.

I det stora hela en samling bra popmelodier (lite som Belle & Sebastian 30 år senare). Den taskig ljudbilden är väl medveten men hade nog mått bättre av lite mer hi-fi. Var ett tag sen man lyssnade på albumet, men tycker det håller än.

The moody, brooding vibe of this album comforts me in more ways than I care to admit. If “sadly hopeful rock for misanthropes” were a genre, this would be the gold standard.

Great music to do heroin to!! I kid But this album + a stroll in prospect park was a great way to recover my sanity after an intense couple weeks on multiple jobs 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 (well most of the songs, you noisy buggers know who you are)

Was listening while heading to the shops in a lot of pain. I liked the drugged out aspects, the chilled vibes to some songs, the torment, and it greatly complemented my day. I choo-choo-choose to listen to it again with my eyes on the song titles too next time.

This album was an acquired taste for me… I dug “Waiting for the Man” and “Heroin” right off the bat, but the rest of the album went over my head as a teen… now, I can recognize the genius!

Despite being somewhat appalled by Nico’s solo album, Femme Fatale is my fave on here. She works well with others. I don’t love every song, but overall it’s pretty damn cool, and it might even be a 5 if it didn’t sound like their instruments were broken half the time. And if the last song wasn’t annoying filler.

3 songs sucked so hard. The rest of the album was a solid 4 with interesting new music and good 1001 albums example.

My early music memories were country folk and The Beatles from my Dad. Later though, on my own, I discovered punk and early techno. This would be the musical food i would eat forever forward. The Velvet Underground is part of my inner music vibe. It is almost hard to explain but it goes beyond the sound, the music, and into a kind of spiritual zone. It is like a movie you like but know, in a way, that it is not well received or perfect, maybe even highly flawed but you don't care to even defend your choice. Although The Velvet Underground & Nico are not needing defending as the album IS pretty great on its own. But added with all my history and formative years, it makes me an unapologetic fangirl.

I know the famous songs so well its funny how experimental the rest of the album is. Random lyrics (poetics, slam poetry?), weird sounds, steam, sharp guitar.

it’s amazing obviously but i feel like it left a little bit to be desired. it’s such a highly regarded record that i thought i’d like it just a lil bit more. still fantastic

I love this band and I love this album. I also love Lou Reed, but I do think I prefer the songs where Nico is the lead singer. Some of the experimentalisms I find to be a little bit grating, but overall this album is great. Standout songs: Sunday Morning I’m Waiting on the Man All Tomorrow’s Parties I’ll Be Your Mirror

It's so interesting picking out where different artists I love got some of their influence from. Some tracks off this are timeless, and had I not known of TVU, might have trouble guessing when it was from. I love the quiet tracks "Sunday Morning" and "Femme Fatale", Nico's voice sounds like she could be a late 2010s bedroom pop artist lol

It's good. Hey, maybe it's even great. And it's wild that it came out in '67, but like so many of these albums, it mostly reminds me of later albums that I'd rather be listening to. The sound is there, the transgression is there, the just-so slightly out-of-place lyricism and vocals stand on their own as kind of a dare. But really I could be listening to Iggy Pop instead. Lou Reed has a knack for a hook as any Tribe Called Quest fan will tell you and that's really doing a lot of work here. Hated Nico's solo shit but like it here. Obviously ahead of its time, but if all the bands that came after had influenced this instead and it showed up in '77, it probably wouldn't be so heavily lauded. Maybe I'm just a dummy, but it doesn't attract me the way I feel something this formative should.

This is a really cool album. Every listen I like it more and more. Femme Fatale is my favourite song I think, even more than Sunday Morning. I’m glad I did one last listen before reviewing, because that definitely boosted my rating of this album. Really cool, I enjoyed it and will continue to enjoy it.

Very good 8

My jam!

Incredible record with good songs all throughout. The experimentation, the feel of the songs makes it very enjoyable.

I've tried to get into this so many times over the years, and it still feels like an album we're all being bullied into liking. I did enjoy it alot more this time around - Sunday Morning and Venus in Furs were my favorites. You can hear the building blocks and influence on bands like Wilco, but I guess I like the more polished, poppy version of this sound than the fully avant garde. Giving this an extra star for one I may try to come back to - again.

I went into this expecting something grandiose, something magical due to how critically acclaimed it is, and all that I've heard of it before actually listening to it, and honestly I was quite disappointed. By no means was it bad, but it just wasn't incredible, it didn't meet my expectations and overall it was just okay. I liked Sunday Morning tho.

Very chaotic last song

One of bees faves

60s sex drugs and rock and roll

Interesting album. Never listened to Velvet much but I like it.

Неплохо, но местами песни скучные

If it wasn’t for Nico this would be 5 stars