The Velvet Underground & Nico

Excellent. 4.5 stars but rounding down.

Ahh, the banana album. I'd actually fairly recently revisited this prior to today's undertaking, so it has remained fresh in my mind. Fearless, unsettling, and weird yet strangely accessible in some respects, it would have been a travesty if this hadn't been an entry of the 1001. This was years ahead of its time, and it still sounds just as vital approaching 60 years later. Nico's contributions to the album only elevate the sense of eeriness and detachment evident throughout, still provoking debate to this day, although for my money they are just as crucial a component of its makeup as any of the unorthodox-of-the-time instrumentation. My Dad was a huge proponent of this album, released during his birth year of 1967, and it was one of the first records he ever purchased alongside the likes of Pink Floyd and Kraftwerk.

A classic album. One of the great ones in the history. And really great music for the most parts

Andy Warhol’s banana.

prefer the minions original

Starting a record with Sunday Morning is so brave. I don't think I have ever enjoyed the last 2 songs.

Classic simple grooves with personality and style

A good album, but I could really hear the production quality leaking through to be less enjoyable. There were some pretty solid songs on there, but I didn't find it hitting song after song

Sadly I'm not really into drugs and/or squalor, but there are definitely highlights on this flawed classic.

Cool, edgy, unique. Loved it. Feels like a five-star album, but the topics are difficult for everyday listening, so I'll go with a high 4.

-another incredible classic. i think i love Nico’s influence on this one more than anything else, she has an absolutely phenomenal voice and touch -so glad i gave this album another chance because it incites a feeling in me unlike pretty much any other i’ve heard -Favorites are Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, Venus In Furs, and Heroin

While it's not really my thing I do appreciate what they did for music in the mid 60's.

I like it but don't get the overwhelming hype. I'd be 3.5 if I could

Historically significant. A good album but not quite a 5.

All time classic truly revolutionary

can’t really believe i’ve never listened to this whole thing

Starting to get their whole vibe. Really enjoyed this overall, dirty but often spare at the same time

Actually much better than I initially remembered! Nicos voice is still infuriating but you can hear why they influenced so many other artists!

classic. blew my mind in 1984 when i first heard it

I think if I didn't know this was supposed to be a perfect album, I'd give it 4 stars, so I'm trusting my gut

4.5 stars So many great, classic tracks on this album. Sunday Morning, I’m Waiting for The Man, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrow’s Parties, I’ll Be Your Mirror… There’s a lived-in quality about this album that sounds so right to my ears (and the other self-titled Velvet Underground album too). This came out 2 years before yesterday’s album, From Elvis in Memphis. Sounds like a different universe. The last couple songs kinda took me out of it but it didn’t bother me that much since they were at the end.

Amazing album, brought me so much joy when I saw it was my album for the day! Whilst loaded is definitely their best album, this is timeless

A classic! Love Andy Warhol and Lou Reed. Nico will pay for her crimes though. This album is so quintessential New York -- real beatnic Washington Square Park, West Village, hitchhiking from your small town in Ohio to get to the big city. Today's transplants will never know. You really do see its influences all over modern music -- from its contents to its cover. Venus in Furs is one of the best songs I can ever forget about; which makes for a real treat whenever I do remember it. Another standout on this listen is "All Tomorrow's Parties". It makes me want to throw a party at the Chelsea Hotel with all my it girl friends of the 70s that ends in someone jumping off the ledge (metaphorically of course). After this listen, I'll be revisiting the Patti Smith novel. This album reminds me how much I love New York. The New York that's always ephemeral and fleeting. The one that only exists in memories and stories in your mind.

Понравилось, но слушать сложно. Долгие треки полностью не смогла прослушать, звук давит на мозг.

Oh

Plenty of albums (and artists) have hype around them and I tend to be allergic for hype. This weirdness proves me absolutely wrong with this allergy and my prejudices. This album is packed with cool weirdness!

I know this album by it's visuals. I know this album by it's name and of "Nico's" tragic life. Many of the songs are familiar as covers, such as Venus in Furs by Electric Wizard. And finally I know it by the impact it has had in alternative music in general. Yet, I've not heard this album in full before. Feels weird man.

One of my favorite albums. Such a unique sound.

Som en svamptripp med hög diskant

a smooth and easy listen.

I prefer the Lou Reed Songs over the Nico fronted ones, but I really enjoyed this. Can understand why it blew people away in 1967, and with a few more listens it could go up in my estimations. 4 stars.

Perhaps scandalous at the time, but tame by today's standards. Pretty good album overall, and contains the song that lent the title to a book from one of my favorite authors (William Gibson): All Tomorrow's Parties

Favoriten Sunday Morning Femme fatal Heroin There she goes again Ill be your mirror Im Waiting for the man

4.4 iconic. faves: there she goes again, i'm waiting for the man, femme fatale

It's a masterpiece

“waiting for the man” and “heroin” are two of my favorites from this album. Broaching everything from drug addiction, sex, gender identity…all in 1967.

Pretty good but I wasn't a fan of the final track.

Drop de siste 2 låtene og det blir 5

Great album - can hear all kinds of influences in hear.

The context is important here- the roots of indie and emo are here.

This has a lot of good songs on it. I like the mixture of the female and male singers on the songs. Something very unique about the album but some songs just not for me and it's a bit too long

Whenever Nico does her thing this album hits. Also sunday morning is pretty good.

Lou Reed is one of a kind. Excellent album.

The screeching guitar perfectly dials into the drug use and era. Heroin makes me feel so uncomfortable, yet comfortable at the same time.

I'm more of a self titled VU guy. But this one has plenty to like - or at least consider. This album introduced so ideas into the culture. Most (many) good. We don't get here without it.

This was a trip. I realized as I started this album that even though I knew of the Velvet Underground and I knew of this album from the artwork, I'd never actually LISTENED to it. I enjoyed basically the whole thing! There were a few sections that went into noise rock more than I like, but there are definitely songs on this album I can see myself coming back to. My favorite was probably Venus in Furs.

heard this in the past already Sunday Morning - 5/5 I'm Waiting For The Man - 3/5 Femme Fatale - 5/5 Venus In Furs - 4/5 Run Run Run - 3/5 All Tomorrow's Parties - 4/5 Heroin - 4/5 There She Goes Again - 4/5 I'll Be Your Mirror - 5/5 The Black Angel's Death Song - 2/5 European Son - 2/5 Average score: 3.7/5 (rounding up) nico's singing improves the velvet underground's sound immensely, and i don't even really care for nico very much as i've mentioned in other reviews of TVU/Leonard Cohen albums, i cannot stand Leonard's vocals most of the time. however, i feel the group's performance overall was better on this album, or at least good enough for me to look past the weaker moments

Fantastic album!

Better stuff has been made by its legion of inspired followers, but still a classic.

Varies between dark and dirty, and heartfelt and seductive. And I like Nico's singing voice.

Æ har aldri hørt på det med vilje før, men det høres akkurat ut som forventa. Uten at det e til forkleinelse for noen, bare sjølbekreftanes.

First album, and I like where this is going. The variety of styles and their performance amazed me. Several songs are prime examples of peculiar and wonderful psychedelic rock subgenre. Mostly saved calm ones to my playlist. Love the album cover, very pretty and distinguishable. Songs saved: 5/11

Yeah Cool listen. Liked this one

I could have sworn that I’d heard the banana album by The Velvet Underground and Nico, but apparently not. There weren’t any tracks I found familiar here, although my partner seemed to know all of the words to Venus In Furs. I did like this album - it got a little trippy at times, but always stayed pleasant. The highlight for me is Nico’s voice. It’s unusual but still lovely, and so very identifiable.

I can see why people don't like this album. Nico has a terrible voice and can't hold a note. But somehow it works for me.

An album that is more important than enjoyable, but it does retain its ability to jar even after 50 years and you can hear a lot of the future of music in it.

Already listened to it, interesting and modern album for its time. New folk , but not rock.

I get it, and I think it’s great, but I don’t quite love it - a v high 4.

An album I'd heard of (the cover art is pretty famous) but not listened to. Really enjoyed it for the most part - especially "Femme Fatale" and "Heroin", two great tracks. This is a great and for good reason.

Not really for me

You know what! Hell Yeah!

This was cool. Nico's whole deal always makes me feel like I'm in an episode of SNL, but regardless, it was an interesting album and I'm glad it exists. Will I turn it on again? Probably not.

Loved. Perfect Sunday morning listening

Okay this 60s stuff I'm on board with. It's got a slightly haunting energy and it's just generally a bit darker and more interesting than most 60s stuff imo.

Surprisingly, I've only really 'got' this album recently. It's something I admire and appreciate more than actively love, but it is still an album who's world I very much like being inside. It's incredible how icy and imposing songs like 'Venus in Furs' still sound.

The band that permanently broke rock n roll, smashing windows with sonic bricks. The fact that whispery, serene “Sunday Morning” flows right into Lou Reed’s anthem to his dope dealer is one of the greatest 1-2 punches in music history. The tail end of the album kind of wanders off in a haze but they’re doing every genre and doing it with absolute disdain for all of it. Long live VU.

Yeah. Ok.

Despite having seen the artwork (what seems like) a million+ times in my life, I had never listened to this album in full. I had heard a couple songs in various contexts before, so I wasn't completely blind to it. Even so, I was caught a bit off guard from my expectations- in a good way. This one felt like a well thought out, complete album. All the pieces came together to make something impressive and impactful. What weak spots there were blended away into another solid, good song. The music composition wasn't particularly complex or intricate, but seemed perfectly fitting for what each song was. A great example of not overdoing it (which seems to plague a lot of music production). When there was something extra on top, it was complimentary (chaotic strings, for example) and added to the experience rather than distracting from it. Reed's vocals fit the content very well, even though I normally don't love his tone. I actually preferred his effort's to Nico's, for whatever reason. Importantly to me, the album held my attention all the way through. Songs that had long runtimes didn't get old. Songs that were short left me wanting them to go on a bit longer. There were a few negatives; it did seem repetitive at times, and certain songs definitely were weaker than others. It also trended almost too much toward simplicity, and some parts felt like they could use a bit more emphasis or complexity to bring it out. Even so, this is one that I would say is a great album as a whole. I will be coming back to it for another listen. Overall: 4.2/5

3.54

i liked it a lot, i enjoyed the variety of kinds of songs on the album and i feel like they were way ahead of their time. would definitely listen again

Ethereal. Reminds me of the beatles

ganz gut aber es ende nervt

Me gusta mucho, pero es de esos discos que a pesar de su universal adoración, yo me quedo un poquito atrás en ese amor. Sí, es un discazo, ¿pero el mejor disco de toda la historia? Cada vez que lo escucho lo disfruto, pero no entiendo por qué es amado a ese nivel. Pero bueno, discazo sí es.

kenn i

Lots of great tunes, rich production and shades of The Doors and Dylan's drawl.

There's a lot of variety on this album, you can tell that as a band the Velvet Underground hasn't fully captured their sound yet. Some of the songs on hear would sound right at home on a Stones album. Good stuff; would play again. 3.5/5

great songs, not just my cup of tea

funny banana anyways this album is fuckin great

This one is going to take more than one listen to absorb. I tended to prefer the ones where Nico took the lead on the vocals. Which are so sweet compared to the Lou Reed songs. It’s a fairly schizophrenic album. Sometimes the lyrics are so out there that it almost feels pretentious (The Black Angel’s Death Song, I’m looking at you). But then there’s I’m Waiting for the Man which is very immediate. And Heroin which doesn’t try to hide a thing. Lots to think about. Not boring. But not really anything that is something that would make me happy to listen to. I can only imagine going back to this if I’m in a pretty low mood and just want to sit in a little funk.

Very good

I think they could have left out the three songs featuring Nico; but the remaining songs have a sense of urgency about them that I liked.

Good stuff.

Honestly maybe it just hit at the right time, but this album was a real gateway for me into noisier, more experimental music. The first time I heard 'Venus in Furs' it was electrifying.

Some absolute classic, genre-bending folk tracks on this. It really feels like what the cool kids were listening to in the ‘60s without being too pretentious. The songwriting is great, the production is solid, and the performances are good for the most part. There’s not much to dislike about any of this. 9/10

Átta mig á því að þetta er gífurlega áhrifarík plata. Sunday morning er bjútí. Nico hefur alltaf pirrað mig. Svona plata sem hipster vinur þinn segir að sé best. Mitt huglæga mat er hins vegar að þetta hreyfir ekki mikið við mér. Hljóðblandan er pirrandi á köflum og þessi óhljóð í lokin fengu skip. Tek normie 60's soundið frekar. Normies unite.

already liked it, but this is definitely a great album. experimental without being unlistenable.

A seminal debut from one of the most important bands ever. And boy is this band really unlike any other. I always have conflicting feelings over this album though. On one hand, the experimental nature really does it a lot of favors when it works. But it doesn’t always work. And it mostly doesn’t work when Nico is front and center.

great song solection and vbabana

didn't like the Nico songs

Very good. Really enjoyed this

Classic album. Knew I liked it. Second side weaker.

Good, experimental music at the time it came out. Not a fan of all the vocals. Some great moments on this album.

The album and band that didn’t ever sell well originally but allegedly everyone who bought them back then went and off and formed a band. The music is a strange mix of gauche, almost whimsical, psychedelic pop (Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, I’ll Be Your Mirror) and rough rock and roll (I’m Waiting For The Man, Run, Run, Run) and dark claustrophobic experimental (All Tomorrows Parties, Heroin, Venus In Furs, Black Angel’s Death Song, European Son). Where it works it works really well - on some of the darker songs; but some of it hasn’t aged well like Run, Run, Run. Favourite songs Venus In Furs, All Tomorrows Parties, Waiting For The Man, Sunday Morning.

It's banana how good this is

Funky and experimental. Did not quite land for me

A classic but not a 5 star for me personally.

Would Sir care for a starter of some garlic bread perhaps? No, thank you. I will proceed directly to the intravenous injection of hard drugs, please. "Sunday Morning" is a light opening bop before you hit the harshness of "Venus In Furs" and "Heroin"

Nico sounds amazing on every song she’s on. The only thing preventing this album from being a 5/5 for me is European Son. I can see why it’s regarded as one of the best albums of all time by so many.

Some songs seemed like he can't really sing, but that doesn't stop him! I also want that confidence in life. Overall I liked this album.

Great album minus the last 2 songs

Varied mood and feel but something comforting all the way through.

Ya, it's a good album (a wee bit pretentious with Warhol and Nico involved though).

20/1001 Hard to imagine, but long before Spotify, before Napster, before Myspace and before Steve Wright In The Afternoon, music was still evolving, unaided, at a fair old pace. When The Velvet Underground & Nico was being recorded in throughout 1966 it was undoubtedly ground-breaking stuff, but does it really warrant the praise that has been heaped upon it over the years? The thing is, by the time the album was released, almost a year after the sessions began, EVERYONE who owned a guitar and a pair of sunglasses (and probably lots of people who didn't own either) had formed a band and recorded an album. Don't believe all the hype, there were other bands doing what The Velvet Underground were doing by March 1967. The important thing though, and how I'm approaching all of these albums, is that Velvet Underground & Nico do it well, and with style. Forget the legend, this is still a smart collection of songs which benefits from the contrast between Nico's wistful, torch song vocals and Lou Reed's trademark snarky drawl. Light and dark. Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale and All Tomorrow's Parties have an undercurrent of something sinister lurking just below a light and catchy surface. Elsewhere the deviance and drugs are right out in the open in I'm Waiting For My Man, Venus In Furs and Heroin. Sadly, the cacophony of noise which makes Venus so compelling early on becomes irritating as the album plays out, the final two tracks spiralling away from the canny melodies and irritable rhythms that held the interest in the album's earlier art-school experiments, resulting in - well - just unbearable noise by the final minutes. Is this album alone responsible for the birth of alternative music? Probably not, but it is still worthy of this list and demands a listen whatever your musical tastes. Side one of the original LP is pretty much perfect, while Heroin sets the more uncomfortable tone for the flip side before two more chart-friendly offerings hold off the eventual implosion at the denouement.

Good stuff

First listen to this album although I had heard of TVU as I'm fan of Lou Reed's Transformer. First impressions were really positive, a varied and interesting album that encourages repeat listening. Some vocals like Sunday morning sounded Dylanesque, then others with Reed's cool delivery. I listened blind then looked at the date and couldn't believe this was made in 1967. I can totally see how it has a reputation as being ahead of it's time. I can see myself getting into it even more after multiple listens. A win for this project from my perspective.

quite good, bit sleepy

“I think this LSD trip needs a soundtrack” “Say less”

Great album.

7/10

The terms “honest“ and “raw” get thrown around way too often when describing certain music. But I can’t think of a better description than that. Beautiful musical artistry by allowing the lyrics and instruments to paint a picture (nod to Warhol of course).

This record has some clear classics. It’s transcends its time for sure. I wasn’t into every single song, but still really solid record. Lou Reed is a master.

Legendary trippy album

'Heroin', 'Waiting for the Man', 'Sunday Morning', 'There She Goes Again' - absolute jams.   Never have and really don't understand the appeal of Nico though, 😕 5 stars if Nico isn't there......but then it wouldn't be "The Velvet Underground & Nico." Quite the conundrum - luckily she only leads 3 songs. This is for sure a classic, though.

It clicked. Still not as good as Zappa.

I’ll be honest I’m not the biggest fan of this style and sound of rock music so much of my time with it may be learning to listen to it. The album took a few songs to get the gears turning for me so I apologize in advance for not having the most glowing review of this classic album. Also shout out to Run Run Run for blowing out my ear drums at 10am. Favorite Song: Heroin

I will certainly give it props for how daring it is. In retrospect, its revolutionarily daring. I see why Warhol took special interest. Be it because my ears have been sullied by its progeny or I'm not giving it the fairest shake, it only teeters on great. Lyrically, I don't find Lou to be my favorite writer. Musically, this album just doesn't move me. Maybe it's a little too "proto." Not quite the defined alt sound I want and not quite the polish the band would quickly develop into. A "to each their own" moment I suppose. I acknowledge its importance to a lot of the musicians I praise and genres I enjoy, but my personal enjoyment trumps context. Rating: 7.7/10 Favorite Song: Heroin

Sunday Morning good is good, next one is alright. Femme Fatale I love. Love how unsettling Venus in Furs is. Love the energy in Run Run Run, and the ethereal nature of All Tomorrow's Parties. The tempo changes in Heroin are great. Fun 50s sound on there There She Goes Again. I'll Be Your Mirror is very cute. Love how unsettling The Black Angel's Death Song is. Great lyrics too. European Son - "You spit on those under 21"; "You want to make love to the scene" - iconic. Love the drumming change near the start. Too much filler after that. Loved all but 2 of them! Surprised and delighted.

I tend to (accidentally) spin albums all day on certain days, and this album caught one of those days. Kinda just let it go and it really grew on me! There's a raw, unfiltered vibe here. The record carries an experimental spirit; it's light and unpretentious. Like early (The) Doors, rebellion with charm. A simple listen that feels both genuine and a bit edgy. Spins: ??? Playlist Additions: - Sunday Morning - Femme Fatale - There She Goes Again - I'll Be Your Mirror

Didn’t really care for the last song but the rest of the album was great

Allting är redan sagt om den här skivan. Blir bättre varje gång jag lyssnar. Idag blir det 4 stjärnor

Certainly innovative, by the end. I still wish it was produced better and that Nico had more opportunity to sing. The influence cannot be dismissed. But it will never be a favorite of mine. 4/5

Incredibly influential - every minimalist indie band has listened to this. Lo-fi with hardly any processing on instruments or vocals, lyrics often address, romanticise even, drugs culture. I’ve owned this for years but listen to it seldom. I respect it, understand its significance, I like it but find it hard to love.

I liked a lot of it, wasn't wild about some of it. I think reviews that love it and reviews that hate it are both right. It's legend might be more interesting than the music itself, but there is still a lot to like

I liked this better than the other Velvet Underground album that popped up; overall, it was pretty cool. Highlights: Venus in Furs, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrow’s Parties, The Black Angel’s Death Song

Loved it. I've always enjoyed this album when I listen to it, however it's not something I always think about, or would choose to listen to.

A Jaime le parece la ostia, Nuria no tuvo el día

I owned this CD. Love this album. A classic… a go to… on a Sunday mornin… or any other really.

do you think lou reed and John Cale ever….

I can't see how this influenced so many genres including punk, garage rock and indie. I think it sounds too pop overall to be considered that influential on these heavier genres. It wasn't very well received back in the 60's so I don't really know how it becomes more and more popular since then. 'Heroin' is probably my favourite here. A 7 minute dark, loud, attack on the ears. There are interesting ideas here and unconventional song structures particularly when you remember this was released in 1967. I prefer the haunting vocals of Nico than I do the vocals of Lou Reed (I don't think I actually knew he was in this band), even though objectively Nico isn't exactly a 'great' singer. That being said, just because I can't see how it's as important as it is, doesn't mean I didn't like it. I enjoyed this a lot. I normally want to be that arsehole that hates popular things to be different but I couldn't help but like this.

Yep, good, I liked it.

It would be impossible for this album to live up to the hype, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. Parts of it are WAY ahead of their time and I genuinely can’t believe it came out in 1967. Not something I’m gonna put on all the time, but it deserves the praise.

Seeing this album had me like 'woah. here we go then' because it's these guys! Everyone knows how InFlUeNtiaL they are. It was interesting for sure, but I only loved one of the songs. I don't doubt the influence, and they were bold for sure but as a listen, it wasn't that memorable for me. Probably swayed a lot by my preconceptions, that said

Very pretentious bullshit. Good thing I like pretentious bullshit. Shoutout to heroin. 4 out of 5

Cool album and sets up different sounds explored by future bands. Even nickos bad vocal are great and well used.

Cool

I own this. It's pretty unique and cool. I really like the vibe and atmosphere it invokes.

The original hipster album? Sure felt that way. Everything surface-level about this feels like they were trying really hard to be cool. Associating themselves with a German singer that probably nobody in the States had heard of. The interactive Andy Warhol cover. The lack of a band name or album title on the cover. It just all feels packaged to make them seem like a bunch of hipsters producing music that was obtuse for the sake of being obtuse. But then you actually listen to the music. And you realize that they're another blues/pop/rock band from the late 60's and you know that there's a TON of those. You can see why they stuck out, and why this album has persisted. The cover draws you in, the music makes you stay. But for how long? Long enough to get a grasp on the album, anyway. It's a good album. Easily three stars upon first listen. The tracks with Nico are, in my opinion, weaker than the tracks without her. But that mean they're bad. "Femme Fatale" is a well-done song that got stuck in my head pretty easily. A second listen improved this to four stars for me. I was surprised because I didn't LOVE it the first time through. The Nico tracks made it worse for me, but I warmed up to them a little this time around. I don't think she's a particularly engaging singer but the songs have charm. Four stars. It has its flaws but it also has a little bit of the old x-factor that edges it to four stars. Glad to finally cross this one off my list. Don't know how I got through college without listening to it. Standout Tracks: Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man, Femme Fatale, Run Run Run, Heroin, There She Goes Again

I'm always conflicted with Lou Reed. He's got some good songwriting and a knack for great lyrics. But I mostly don't like listening to his singing. But DAMN does it work for Heroin. Great song and it keeps me from rating this album lower. I don't love the music on most of this album, either. Sorta cacophonous and the musicians don't seem all that talented. Nico might have benefited from a few singing lessons, too. She might have a good voice with a bit more coaching. But yeah, not particularly evident on this album. 3.5* rounded up based on the strength of Heroin and their clear influence on music down the line.

1967 btw.

Heroin, all tomorrow’s parties 👍👍

Lou Reed can’t sing and that alone can deter a person from giving these guys a chance. If you can get past the singing, you should find a relatable, foot tapping collection of songs at your service. It’s sloppy 70’s music, maybe it’s the 60’s…what do I know. Sloppy rock and roll that moves you along the rock and roll landscape with a gentle breeze. Once you accept that I know have to walk you off the ledge that is Nico and her voice. But if you get past that dying cat voice, her harmonies suit each song she is singing on. This album works. It’s not perfect but for the production, musicianship and singing, it’s a positively unforgettable album. Also, if you ever wanted to know what it felt like to be high without getting high, listen to Venus in furs with the lights off. Choice cut: Heroin

It’s a 4.

An album I've known and loved and agree that anyone who hasn't listened should give this a try before the dark veil descends. This would be a 5 except for consistency of rating with Ryan Adams, I have to doc it a star because Nico, whose voice I do love, apparently had some unsavory views around race and eugenics. It doesn't show up in the music, and her wikipedia page seems to down play it, so I'm a little conflicted, but eh, she still loses a star from me.

Weird and artsy, but worth a repeat viewing

loved this one. it had a warm quality about it, that was really welcoming. My standouts were heroin and sunday morning.

Surprisingly enjoyed this album, I didn't know they were from the 60-70's. Chill and pleasant and very very influential. Ranked #23 of rolling stones list.

A classic

If ever an album is overrated it’s this one. That said not many bands were doing this in 1967. Venus in Furs is a sprawling baroque psych fest, European Son is insane. Nico’s voice is still annoying tho. Maybe this album’s been ruined for me by every cool teenager but I can still enjoy it 4.25/5

Excellent album- heroine the highlight

loving it. its so druggy and weird the guitars are amazing and the vocals and ritual like instrumentals create such a weird but great atmosphere.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one despite not liking another album of theirs that appeared on this list. Pretty cool

Five star album velvet underground at their finest nico fits right in. One of the all time greats. Goof is cruel.

While not my favorite record, I happen to have listened to it four times before deciding on its rating. I quite like it.

Less is more - distorted og psykedelisk uden at det bliver for meget

A melancholic ride that rides the border of experimental while also showing how influential this sound was. I can hear a lot of different genres and inspirations in this album. Pretty astounding that this was their debut album. 8/10

After two spins I find it intriguing, but not quite legendary. Great side 1, need a little more time with side 2

It is some groovy 70's music. It can get a bit jangly for my tastes later in the album, but for the most part I thoroughly enjoy it.

Très belle découverte. Pas grand chose de plus à ajouter.

lowkey kinda good like the repetitive thingy in all the songs was annoying at first but like im kinda good now im gonna need to listen again i cant process it all also like heroin is so good like i might add it to a playlist 8/10??? like its pretty good idk don't have time today but gonna listen again tomorrow (me when I lie im just lazy)

I’m interested in the history of this band just based on the short description on Spotify. There She Goes Again feels like you’ve been time traveling google mapped into 60s London. The Black Angel’s Death Song sounds like you. Like a song you’d play a lot. Fucking love the bass at the beginning of European Son. There’s a lot going on in this track, I’m going to say too much for me at times, but it blends into this head clearing cacophony eventually because you cannot do or think anything if this is playing at any audible volume. 😄

4/5 Effortlessly cool. Timeless album. Certain peculiarities about the album can either rub people the wrong way or be charming and hypnotic. Simple, yet piercing. However there are times where it gets a bit much

An important album for its influences, it's just never really hit me as much as I have tried, the bits I like make me feel it's great, the rest not so much.

always cool, pioneering

Ok so I genuinely like this album. Yes, it is probably overrated. I think it's either a love it or hate it record, probably like most anything that Lou Reed has his hands in. I mean if it was largely paid for by Andy Warhol, you must know that it's going to be pretty weird. And I like that. Especially for the time, this was way out of left field. It maybe doesn't hold up as well today, but it still is miles ahead of a lot of records that came from the late 60s. I think this is certainly one of the albums that 'you are just supposed to like' and I don't really see it that way. I can see why it has its detractors. But for me, it's great and I listen to it fairly often. 4/5

Interesting album, I can see why it’s so influential. Almost like early alternative rock. A good mix of songs and feels. One thing I didn’t like the the gratuitous use of feedback in the latter half of the album. I hate when songs have noises that make my ears hurt. Still pretty good though.

3.8 stars

This album has always had me scratching my head over the years, I could never really understand it until now. The diversion of the status quo, the lyrical content (that was taboo during its time), and the overall themes it covered that was just wasn't seen in any other album making it so unique and influential as a result. With all that being said this is the most overrated album of all time and it just so happens to be a pretty good listen. Top 3 Favorites: Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, and I'll Be Your Mirror Top 2 Worst: Heroin, and European Son 3.50-4.00/5

Some interesting guitar work on here, great vocals, variety - some crap. A good listen.

I see why this is influential…and it is a good album. I had seen the album art forever and heard of it. It was a good listen and I’ll listen to it again.

Love the vibe

Listened Before? N Good album. I see why it was not well accepted in the beginning. It was new and different. This record is a clear influence on thousands that came after it. Loved it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Sunday Morning

Ich wache i minere staubige 12qm Wohnig in New York uuf, immerno chli benäblet vom letzte Abig - wider scharf anere überdosis verbiigschrammt - zerst mal e Zigi, spöter es zmittag und koks date mit em Andy Warhol, denn direkt in Studio 54 go The Velvet Underground lose, dezue biz LSD. Life is good.

Es lied isch guet wenn s am monday morning glosst wird, as wucheend erinneret aber glich nöd de tristi wochestart representiert. Wenn ich gott wär und i de fluffy wolke chille wür, wür sicher s eint oder andere mal e track laufe. Transportiert e schwerelosi atmosphäre Quattro fromaggi vom neduzen

d‘vorfreud am morge woni‘s gseh han isch gross gsi, willi mer eigentli scho lang mal vorgnoh han s‘album in ganzer längi z‘lose grundsätzlich sicher en ganz wichtige und hochstehende biitrag… aber wenn mer ehrlich sind halt scho recht trümmlig… müesst sicher im ne konzeptuellere mood si alsi hüt gsi bin zum's fescht chönne gnüsse wür sich aber irgendwie trotzdem falsch ahfühle weniger als 4 stern z'geh? okay… warhol, s‘ganze drum und dra, "sunday morning" und "femme fatale" haueds use grad nomal d'kurve kriegt… schwein gha lou reed

Some transcendent moments, particularly with Nico.

I get that this album was extremely influential, but listening to it much later outside of the context of the time it was released doesn't really show that. I did enjoy it, but its not something I would seek out to listen to again.

It's about time I listened to this album. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this, especially because I haven't enjoyed rock very much when I'd listened to it previously. I really like the tracks with Nico, I don't even know how to describe why. The instrumentation with her deep voice is just awesome. I thought the last two tracks as well as Venus in furs were a little slower than I like, especially for a rocky album. I liked this album a lot. Fav Songs: Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, Run Run Run, I'll Be Your Mirror

Bringing VU's quaintness to a chic fancy level

Brian Eno said that even though The Velvet Underground and Nico only sold 30,000 copies in its first five years, everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band. The issue is, I heard those bands first and I like them more than this.

Solid all the way through. I’ve come to appreciate Lou Reed more through this list and I found myself wanting more of him and less Nico on the album though the change of pace every few songs is nice. Late 60s NY isn’t quite as appealing to me as 70s NYC but still pretty cool.

4.0

No matter how many times I hear this album, it still stops me in my tracks

заслушано до дыр но всё ещё круто. хорошее софтовое звучание.

After a misleading intro, a great album full of surprise and ideas. Not really easy listening, but so much to unpack. Hard not to see how influencial it has been.

sunday morning tönt au wie es sunntigmorge lied, super waiting for the man isch sehr 60er jahr hani s gfühl femme fatale gsehni jz mal chli meh, wiso dass s album so speziell isch hahaha, recht cool und weirds lied VENUS IN FURS isch jz nöd mis lieblingslied aber ich lieb kiss the boots of shiny shiny leather hahahaah SEVERIN' SEVERIN' JA WAS ISCH MIT MIER s solo bi rum run rin findi fantastisch ja le länger s album gaht, desto meh verstahni s spezielle adem album ja european son isch uf de sack gange wnl endlich hanis mal glost und verstahn au de appeal vom ganze.. einigi lieder hendmer mega gfalle, qu will sie chli speziell sind, einigi hani de typisch ihdruck vo "weird spiele for weirdness sake" gha...via

Alright alright I guess I kinda get it now

I like it, there are some good songs there and Lou Reed's voice is sublime. The whole album has a great laid back feel and you can tell why it is has been so influential as it just oozes cool. Co-incidentally saw The Dandy Warhols and the Black Angels last night who are obviously influenced by this album in music, name and coolness! The former even had an album cover paying homage to their great heroes. The cover is cool but it does frustrate me that the banana is probably just past its best. It lacks enough killer songs, but it is definitely in my top 5 of all-time fruit based LP covers.

Started well, and tailed off. Sunday Morning is such a lovely tune, im giving it a 4. But I wouldn’t listen gain beyond track 4.

Yeah

good background music

it is so interesting to listen to the Velvet Underground. They are provocative and engaging, and their music is groovy. I am not sure about Nico. She certainly adds to this album in a wonderful way, but it isn't the most natural fit. Despite it all, this album shines!

Creative but some of it is experimental in a bad way 3.7

So unique. Hear Dylan in this. Each tracks seems to be its own universe that are all part of a bigger one. Had heard before many times. First time was college circa 2001. Can hear the echoes of these tracks in many later bands. Reminds me of Wes Anderson. Fave tracks Sunday Morning & I’ll Be Your Mirror.

It's almost perfect. I WANT it to be perfect. But it's Lou Reed. There has to be a performance art element and something to justify less than perfect so he could have his masochistic cycle with critics and fans alike. The foil he hated us perfectly balanced on this one in Nicco's voice and songs. Love everything here. And sometimes I love the full throttle nature of European Son. But mostly it's "why?"

Yeah I mean it was good I never get these hugely influential cult-classics: if they are so good, why do they never have any commercial success?

Favorite Tracks: Sunday Morning Femme Fatale Venus In Furs

A classic album I have listened to before. Soft classic rock with good melodies and vocals. 7/10

Altså pladen er jo legendarisk, måske den mest ikoniske på listen indtil nu. Og det ER fedt, selvfølgelig Sunday Morning ikonisk og Nicos sangstemme passer også super. Men der er noget lo-fi over lyden jeg synes gør den værre og ikke bedre, måske er det bedre i en remaster? Og så er anden halvdel af pladen en noget eksperimenterende lyd som jeg har svært ved at komme ind i.

I went into today's album expecting to dread the album based on my past listening experiences with Lou Reed ("Lulu" with Metallica was straight trash). But I was actually very pleasantly surprised with this record. The Velvet Underground pretty seamlessly blends a lot of elements of different rock styles here, from groovy jams of the 60s, early punk influences, and even some 50s doo-wop vibes. Reed's voice still isn't the greatest for my taste, but it coincides very well with the music on the album. I hadn't given this band a fair shake before, but based on this record, I may be inclined to delve deeper into their discography soon! Notable Tracks: - Sunday Morning - Femme Fatale - Venus in Furs - Run Run Run - European Son 7.5/10

Quite good. Not great, but quite good.

Wow - never owned this or listened to it fresh, and sorry I did not. A great album. I always thought it would be "Punky" or radical for radical-sake. bit it is a well done album. Easy to see how it influenced so may other artists. well done!

Decent

Solid and on my vinyl wanted list.

Nicee ja iconisch Had m al wel eerder geluisterd maar wist niet meer echt wat ik ervan vond Wel erg goed, maar ook wel weer erg random Ook wel gewoon erg experimenteel voor die tijd, dus dat vind ik er wel cool aan

Yoooooooo zeer goeie Andy Warhol album cover Femme Fatale en Ill be your Mirror, prachtige nummers, there she goes again en Sunday Morning ook Heroin blijft wel vaag

01) Sunday Morning - 9,0 02) I'm Waiting for the Man - 9,0 03) Femme Fatale - 7,5 04) Venus in Furs - 8,0 05) Run Run Run - 8,0 06) All Tomorrow's Parties - 8,5 07) Heroin - 7,5 08) There She Goes Again - 8,0 09) I'll Be Your Mirror - 8,0 10) The Black Angel's Death Song - 7,5 11) European Son - 6,0 TOTAL: 7,91 (79/100) Current ranking: 113/301

This is very much not what I expected - it's so dissonant and noisy. Clearly hugely influential on lots of stuff I enjoy. The vocals held it back from being a 5 to me.

Me and the Velvet Underground never vibed. I like John Cale and Lou Reed by themselves (or together on that Andy Warhol album, that should be on here it’s cute) but something about this album feels hollow. It’s good, I like it, but a lot of the songs kinda drag. I like Sunday Morning! I like Heroin! That’s kinda all that stuck with me though. The rest is almost like…there. It faded in the background very quick.

I think this could easily get to five stars for me eventually. It has the potential.

i love music that challenges everyone around you

MASTERPIECE

Fav: Sunday Morning Least Fav: European Son This album was worth the hype, and only faltered at the last 2 songs. I saw some people say they didn’t like Nico’s vocals but I enjoyed her singing.

I like this album but on this re-listen I was getting frustrated with it for some reason. I can't put my finger on it but I think I was expecting more of a flow, more of an *album*, that wasn't quite there. 3.5

As usual, we have those guitars that tickles, those feathery vocals, and the damp production. It's pretty good but it's quite overhyped.

Very good

Great album. Don’t think I can truly appreciate how much influence it actually had having listened to it decades after its release. So ahead of its time in lots of ways and love the punk feel on some of the tracks. When I first heard this in university wasn’t a fan of nicos voice but that has grown on me over the years. Really got into Venus in Furs this time. So many bands and whole genres are indebted to this for breaking new ground in a very fertile time for music.

The best ones are when Nico takes a break.

Really enjoyed this album. Pschycedelic Rock

Almost perfect

It feels like The Doors stole the riff on Run, Run, Run from the Velvet Underground to use in Roadhouse Blues. Certainly not the first or last time a band would steal some sound from this album. I can't really argue this book should have left this album out, as it was incredibly influential, even if this isn't my favorite album of all-time. I enjoy this album but I would never intentionally put it on to listen. There are really good songs here, followed by the album ending with two songs (The Black Death Angel's Song and European Son) that I just don't care for that much. European Son is absolutely just noise. Lou Reed had solo material that I cared for more.

Iconico. C'è qualcosa di adorabilmente sgangherato in ogni canzone, poi a me Nico fa impazzire. È bello ma non troppo e talvolta troppo graffiante, ma ci sono delle gemme

Really hard to fault this given the number of classics on there, but fault it I will because Nicos voice gives me the heebie jeebies.

I can definitely see how influential this album is, especially given the time it came out. It has a surprisingly unique sound, and was generally quite comforting to listen to, bar a couple of tracks such as “Heroin”, which proves that the album is definitely of its time, despite its influence.

The guitar kinda goes off at a lot points in a good way. Not sure this one fully resonates with me, but I'll probably try again due to the notoriety of this one. Will I listen to again: 99%

Art rock, experimental rock. Listen I get it. Everyone and everything rock related or punk related or industrial related etc. came from this album/band. But that doesn't automatically make this album perfect. It's good, great even, but not perfect. I understand peoples infatuation, and I do love this album, but it does test me at times. Which I guess is also good? Light 4.5/5

The album that made them legends, but even after a couple of listens, I can't find myself loving it to no end.

Refreshing style

Very good

3.5

Oh Nico. Why do you sound like you've smoked a thousand cigarettes and like you're faking your German accent? I like that your Wikipedia page mentions a quote from a music reviewer saying your voice "sounds like a cello getting up in the morning." Highly accurate description. What did Andy Warhol hear in your voice? How the fuck were you friends with Jim Morrison? I guess you get a lot of opportunities when you're a beautiful woman and nobody really cares that you sound like a cheese grater attempting to shred melted Muenster (get it? Cause she's German...and because I wasn't sure if Muenster cheese was actually from Germany and looked it up, now I know it is an American cheese made by German immigrants to be similar to Munster cheese which originated in France). Anyway enough about Nico because she actually isn't featured heavily on this album. She doesn't even ruin the songs she sings. She lends a strangeness to the album and after having heard her songs a few times, one might even start to enjoy them and find comfort in them. Here I go again writing about Nico. Ok, the rest of the album isn't bad. I enjoyed Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man, the titular Venus in Furs, Heroin, and even the Nico lead I'll be Your Mirror. It's a strange album with strange singers and strange musicians and strange banana pop art that sounds kind of basic but in a good way.

Visionary

The screeching in the song Heroin is awful, but I'm sure intentional. Same with the high pitch shrieks in European Son. The rest of the songs are great!

Enjoyed

Not my favorite velvet’s album but still pretty good with a couple of their classic songs and one of the all time great album covers. 3.5

Great album. Not really my type of music, admittedly, but Venus in Furs I really did enjoy - a 9/10, definitely. Rocky start (not that the first two songs are bad, per se, but not to my liking.) but gets the ball rolling quickly afterwards. Musicality: 7.5/10 Musicality: Excellent execution with noticeable skill and talent. Lyricism: 8/10 Strong, thoughtful, and engaging lyrics Production Quality: 9/10 Near-perfect; flawlessly mixed and produced. Artistic Expression: 8/10 Highly innovative and groundbreaking, with a powerful artistic voice. Cohesiveness and Flow: 5/10 Fairly cohesive, but not particularly memorable. Replay Value: 7/10 High; many tracks are enjoyable to revisit. Overall: 7/10

Great stuff. Last track goes on a bit!

They made my tattoo into not only an album, but also a fruit. Believe it or not I’m more of a ‘Loaded’ guy

Excellent. Another one I own.

Great VU album.

For me, listening to this album was about two songs: "Heroin" and "European Son". "Heroin" is pretty much exactly what I hear in my head when I hafta imagine The Velvet Underground. Stark lyrics getting at real experiences of doing drugs and living life on streets. The kind of lyrics you'd call "poetry." The arrangement is minimal, based around on chord and drums that're more being thumped than played. There's an atypical structure where there's no real chorus but it variously speeds up and grows in intensity to emphasize its words. And it's got those avant-garde-y noise elements in there as well. It's the kind of thing you listen to and give a small nod: "real music." In 2024, I don't really personally understand how groundbreaking all of this (aside from the lyrical content), but I still like it a lot. It's a bleak, harrowing listen, and the previously described way it goes up and down just appeals to me, I'unno. Then there's "European Son", which, as a closer, I think represents a lot of other things about this album. Not all of themm—Nico isn't on it, for instance—but for one, the first couple of minutes are way... Hookier than I expected it to be? Which I don't think is a bad thing. I like hooks, and I don't expect VU to be all all-caps "ART" like "Heroin" all the time. It's just a matter of expectation, y'know? Even if I do like them quite a bit. But then when it does get art-y, jamming out for the last three or so minutes, I kinda get this "noise for the sake it" feeling. Like, just play whatever you want as loudly as you want and call it "art." It's not as bad here as that description would imply, but it still leans in a little—so that's what I think about the art-y parts that I don't believe work too well. And the lyrics... I'unno, they're about somebody in Andy Warhol's circle. Or who was. As someone who has to take a second to start getting the lyrics, they're fine. As is the whole track—to paraphrase somebody else in my group, it's "a perfectly unconvential closer for an unconvential album." Speaking of closing, I suppose I should say something about Nico before I go. She's fine. I get this kind of New Wave-y vibe from her voice, and I'm kind of into that. I'unno why Andy decided she **needed** to be on here, but she's not a detracting factor. She does "I'll Be Your Mirror" very well—as I hope she would, after she broke down crying after how many times she had to record it. Overall, I can't give it less than a 4. I can't hear that special "makes you want to start a band" factor I've heard about that would make me give it a 5, but darn if it ain't good music all the same. Different from the norm, sure, though that's still what makes it so special to a lot of people. Y'wouldn't want it sounding any other way. Such as, for instance, what Billy Idol did to "Heroin". Serioiusly, if you haven't heard it before—goodness me, you're in for a trip. Recoil slowly and laugh.

I liked it a lot, but I’m just at a 4. Ultimately, I do think that lived up to the hype – it really picked up after the first 2 tracks, and I thought most of the album afterward was pretty damn good. It’s not like, world-changing to me or anything; I’m sure it hit a lot harder in 1968, since these tricks have since been done to death by a number of bands, but this is pretty fucking innovative for its time. Heroin, is of course, the standout track; that thumping drum that acts as a heartbeat, the swirling instrumentation growing into a full blown cacophonic panic, while the vocals go on without a care – it’s crazy to make that in 1968. I do think the last track kinda falls flat, but in a way, I like that it does; a very untraditional closing track for a very untraditional album for its time. I don’t have extremely glowing praise, mainly because I still think I need to dive deeper into the lyrics, but I did really end up liking this. It’s a very strong 4, and it could be a 5 with time for me.

It felt quite varied with some remarkable songs. I liked it

Almost 2 velvet underground albums in a row. I’ve had this one for a while now. It’s like I’m listening to some unique art. 4,0

as much as I like this album it's incredibly overrated. the poppy bits are pretty great but I don't care for most of the garagey rock (besides heroin and venus in furs). still pretty great, but I'd recommend the self titled album over this any day

I have listened before ages ago. Really enjoyed it.

I mean, it's super influential. Very rough and raw, and the production isn't great, but I suppose that's the template for all the other genres it spawned. Almost surprising how influential it was. Probably needed to be alive in the 60s to truly understand this one. 3.9

already listened, i like it a lot, feels ground breaking but not my favorite Nico performance by a long mile

Classic album I don't think I have heard the whole of. Stand out tracks: -Sunday Morning -Venus in furs -Run, run, run -All tomorrows parties -The black angels death song

Holds up well.

I've known this album is iconic and amazing for a while now. It's now that I'm getting the excuse to actually listen to it that I find that it is really good throughout.

It's all been said before. Arty. Influenced so much of what has since followed (particularly from NYC). Viewed objectively, a bit odd in places.

Deserves its place in the 1001, maybe even the 101, for its influence on popular culture and its creativity. Not an easy listen tho

the Pulp Fiction of experimental albums. every music fan listens to this for the first time and thinks it’s the best things ever. and that isn’t without merit, the album have aged pretty well and sounded ahead of it’s time in some places. the killer combo of lou reed and iggy pop mesh so well together, they match each others energy perfectly. 100% worth a listen for the actual content and for the history this album has.

This was a very interesting album. The songs were the definition of hit and miss for me. I also like the juxtaposition between Nico’s songs and the garage rock sound of the velvet underground’s songs. All in all I’d give it a 7.5/10

Undeniably an impressive album. Much of it isn't really my cup of tea, but I really enjoyed Sunday Morning and Heroin.

Have never listened to these before, will do in the future. Really good album. Was considering the 5 stars, but the last song was an absolute racket and dragged on forever. Perhaps with a few more listens the album could be considered a 5.

Came in with really high hopes. Liked it to start with, really enjoyed Heroin but it trailed off at the end. Close but no cigar

Never really listened before. Always thought I would like. I did.

Heard a lot about this one. Time to finally unpeel that banana… The last track leans too heavily on the irritating passages of noise the band chose to pursue more on their next album, but mostly there’s a good balance between raw experimentation and actual tunes. Venus In Furs, for example, manages to incorporate both pretty successfully. Still, I suspect the actual sounds were less revolutionary than the subject matters and overall gritty aesthetic. I’ll give it a 3.5 for enjoyment, rounded up for influence.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I didn't really like the first Velvet Underground album we listened to on this list, but I liked this one much more. Glad I finally gave such an iconic album the full listen to, and if I see this vinyl in the wild I'll probably pick it up. 9/10 if we were on that scale.

A bold debut effort.

Very acid like ad psychedelic, left the feeling of some old avant movie

Inaspettato

Iconico. C’è qualcosa di adorabilmente sgangherato in ogni canzone, poi a me Nico fa impazzire. È bello ma non troppo e talvolta troppo graffiante, ma ci sono delle gemme

Superb!

It was awesome!! Except for Nico's warble...

This was a better album that the Velvet underground album that I got a few days ago, it’s also better than the Nico album I got a few days ago.

Pretty good. Still enjoyable. Some portions still feel fresh. This feels like one of those albums that casts a long shadow through a lot of different music, but also at the same time I’m feeling “yeah, yeah, you changed music forever, I get it, but I’ve heard you a lot”.

Weird, moody, variable. I dig it.

Can definitely hear how this was influential. Overall a ton of fun to listen to, and enjoyed the range in the tracks.

heroin

I've never heard of this album before and so I had no expectations (as with most albums on this list to be honest). I really did enjoy it! It started quite strong and while maybe it got a bit weaker for me at the end, I think I would listen to it again.

lou reed

3.5/5. Good, but not as good as people make it seem. Maybe I have to listen to this more...

I think I may have had one of these guys' albums before. Nope. I guess not. Funny, one of the last songs on the David Bowie album, was Andy Warhol. I'm enjoying this album! I feel like I'm listening to different artists with each song. This one called Venus in Furs has a definite 60s sound but it reminds me of The Doors. Heroin reminded me of Bob Dylan for some reason. I really liked this album. Especially I'll Be Your Mirror. I sent it to Kimberly. 4 stars wish we could de half stars. It would have been 4.5.

What can I say? It's iconic, but I can't listen to it every day.

I don't really like Nico, sorry.

I've already heard "Heroin" off this album, which serves as a prime example of the psychedelic rock on display. The tone can swing from easy breezy pop to uptempo rockers and lyrics of sexuality and drug use. Your enjoyment of this album may vary depending on how much you tolerate the experimentation and the vocals as Lou Reed's deadpan delivery and Nico's contralto singing are not everyone's cup of tea. For those who can handle it, it's a solid recommendation.

Ahead of its time with a really interesting sound. I listened twice and it grew on me the second time. I think it will continue to get better with additional listens.

Interesting album. Never listened to them before.

3.75 stars. A very gritty and experimental rock album. Nico's voice is so beautiful. "I'll Be Your Mirror" is wonderful. You can definitely hear the influence of this album in different rock and alternative groups today.

This is so much better than the VU album that popped up last week. A few genuine classics on here which I'm sure changed some of the trends in pop music back in the day.

Excellent.

Очень сложно оценивать данную запись. Если не брать в голову ее историческую значимость, то это просто неплохой арт-софистик-поп. Но ежели мы все таки углубляемся в историю то выясняем что этот альбом породил такое количество групп и жанров что становится даже как то неловко. Брайан Ино как то сказал: "каждый кто купил хотя бы одну пластинку из первого выпуска продаж этого альбома позже собрал группу". Видимо в этом и есть значимость этой записи то что для меня звучит местами скучно и сухо хоть и изящно сыграно для слушателей того времени было откровением. По итогу, можно сказать, что эта пластинка тот случай, когда я вопреки себе поставлю 4 но это исключительно из благодарности за всю ту музыку которую она породила в будущем так сказать респект ветерану и спасибо за всё)))

Cool

In and of itself, this an earth-shattering album. I do get how this influenced so much to come after it though - the lines of Indie and punk are in there. Favorite songs are perhaps the simplest and closest to conventional - I'll Be Your Mirror. Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale. Run Run Run sounds the most of it's time. The rest get very experimental.

Casi un 5. Pero la última canción es muy pesada. Me gustan There She Goes Again y Femme Fatale.

I do really enjoy the attitude and textures present here. I also really enjoy the somewhat schizophrenic jumping between not only Reed's sneering croon and Nico's poe-faced warbles, but the cheery pop lullaby-esque cuts (Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, There She Goes Again, All Tomorrows Parties, and Ill Be Your Mirror) contrasted with the more fuzzed out, droning rockers. (Waiting...The Man, Venus In Furs, Run Run Run, Heroin, Black Angel...Song) So in terms of balancing tone and creating atmoaphere this record is brilliant. But as a whole experience I have nevwr been able to completely get past my desire for some editing here and there. The monotonous drone stuff works on Heroin, Black Angel, and Venus in Furs. But Run, Waiting, and European Son kinda show all their cards in the forst 2:30 and I would be happy with a courteous fade out, frankly. Its a minor quibble, but one I can't look past given this records stature. Ultimately it is a very strange and affecting trip, but one that could be stronger with about 16-18 minutes cut out of it. Get it down to that nice 42 minute mark and it would be ALL killer. Dont do dope kids.

A classic album.

good! Really very weird for a classic.

Klassiskt omslag. Det är Nico som gör plattan vass!

good

4.5 stars. I like this experimental/art take on folk rock. Just unconventional and weird/grating enough to be interesting but still highly listenable. Bob Dylan-esque singing and lyrics. "Run Run Run" different from rest of album but catchy and good. Standouts are "Sunday Morning", "Heroin", and personal favorite is "Venus in Furs".

Roh, zärtlich, pur, authentisch

classic, banana

yeah hell yeah

Groundbreaking but not quite a 5.

1. Sunday Morning - I’ve never understood why this song isn’t talked about as being on the same level as I’m Waiting for the Man or Heroin, or one of the others that are considered highlights of this album. Great album opener, great song. 2. I’m Waiting for the Man - It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that, when this album came out, music with this kind of subject matter was just basically non existent. In that context, this song is amazing. In a world where VU’s grittiness has long since been surpassed, this song is merely a very good song. 3. Femme Fatale - I wish this has been recorded a little more cleanly. This song is so mellow and that’s really undercut by the amount of distortion in the mix. It also makes it difficult to hear Nico’s voice during the verses. 4. Venus in Furs - does that thing that great experimentalish music can do - evoking things that you can’t quite put into words. 5. Run Run Run - maybe the weakest song in here? It’s fine but sounds fairly conventional, especially compared to the rest of the album. Also, they’re a Who song with the same title, that also sounds kind of similar, but it’s also way better, which probably plays against this song. 6. All Tomorrow’s Parties - forgot how good this song is. 7. Heroin - There’s probably nothing left to say about this song, but it’s as good as its reputation suggests. 8. There She Goes Again - pleasant, but one of the albums lesser songs. 9. I’ll Be Your Mirror - kicking Nico out was a mistake. 10. The Black Angel’s Death Song - people compare Lou Reed to Bob Dylan, but Lou Reed talk-singing projects swagger and coolness to a way greater degree than Bob Dylan. I kind of feel like Patti Smith is the better analog for him than Dylan. Anyways, this song made me realize that. 11. European Son - Alrighty 4 minutes into this song, which should have ended 2 minutes ago and has 3 minutes left to go. This album is great, but this is getting into the kind of thing that bugs me with Sonic Youth and bands like that. It’s the same impulse that drives prog rock and free jazz, but from people who don’t have that level of music proficiency, but the same boundless confidence that their musical fuckery is something that people simply must heart. —- Overall, this album is pretty stunning. Rightly regarded as a decade ahead of its time and with maybe the craziest ratio of sales to influence ever. I’m caught between wishing that some of the rough edges - the harsh audio engineering, Mo Tucker’s “unconventional” drums, etc. - were sanded down, and recognizing that the rough edges are part of the point. I wonder if this same album with cleaner production and a more typical drummer would lose its impact. I can see a good argument for it, but later VU albums and Lou Reed’s solo stuff are both produced more cleanly and (at least in the case of Reed’s solo stuff) have more professional-sounding rhythm sections, and the impact is still palpable. I’d definitely listen to it more if that was the case, but I’m also kind of ambivalent about more abrasive avant garde stuff.

I came in expecting it to be some over hyped hipster pretentious bs, and even if it was, I ended up being surprised that it was really enjoyable. The kind of music you play on a chill afternoon. I will keep this album in my library to impress Alt girls with low self steem. "Oh yea the banana album? Best album ever babe hands down, wyd rn tho?" EZ clap

Such a classic, lovely album.