The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
1969
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!However flawed he may be, I am a Lou Reed fan. This is the first VU album after John Cale left the band so the experimental weirdness that came from him and Reed together is lacking here. This makes for a more widely palatable VU sound, which is not a bad thing. I love this album! There are lots of standouts for me, the biggest being "Pale Blue Eyes," which is one of my favorite love songs/songs in general. I think this record is also a testament to albums as a cohesive piece of art as opposed to a handful of singles and supporting tracks. The pacing is fantastic. It goes from serene to rollicking and back again throughout, which creates this wonderful feeling of tension and release. This is especially apparent as the wacky, intense "The Murder Mystery" plays into the cute little ditty "After Hours." I also love that track as a closer because it feels like I'm being tucked in and sung to sleep as a night of partying, and the album, concludes. A classic.
During a heroin zonk-out on their previous album, Lou says, “and I know that I just don’t know”. He probably says it a few times. Heroin is like that. Here, considerably less heroin’d, and aided by melodies and vocals so affectless they’re almost childlike (just joking—you ever heard a kid make music? it’s shit) he shows us in exquisite detail just how much he doesn’t know. “What do you think I'd see if I could walk away from me?" “Between thought and expression, lies a lifetime.” “Here comes two of you. Which one will you choose?” “That's the difference between wrong and right. But Billy said, ‘Both those words are dead.’” They’re the questions, thoughts and feelings the great unwashed have every day. They just can’t put them in such a way that they retain their allusive, liminal quality, yet feel entirely accessible. Happily, Lou shows us he can brain-fart, too. The whole of Murder Mystery, for example, or the one where he says, “I wore my teeth in my hands, so I could mess the hair of the night.” Sure you did, pal. Elsewhere, After Hours may be the most unassumingly beautiful song ever recorded.
I really liked this. Actually, reflecting on it, I really, really liked it. Every song had something that caught my ear by way of darkness, tenderness, beauty, despair - usually all of the above in some transfixing you constellation. Then came the one-two of Murder Mystery and After Hours, which really sealed the deal. Murder Mystery staggered me - so many of the (emo) songs of my youth lifted wholesale the double-voices murmuring gnomic, dark lyrics - it was truly surprising to hear this approach on a record 45 years older than those songs. Then After Hours acts as a gorgeous counterpoint to all that fevered intensity, and sealed the deal - the deal being that I really, really liked this.
Phew I was worried yesterday's gem was a happy blip on an otherwise trashcan radar. If yesterday's album got me imagining ripping a giant bong and sinking into a couch while jerking it to Zooey Deschanel, this album makes me imagine dressing in all black, injecting just the tiniest amount of heroin, and squeezing lemons on Nico's cheek bones. I don't know if I've ever fallen in love with a voice quite as hard as Moe Tucker's in "After Hours". She was also their drummer—Matt, maybe this is an opportunity for you to lilt a tune while drumming during our next jam. Who knows what bulges will emerge. It's hard to not feel cooool, maaaan, while vibing to the Velvet Underground. Lou Reed will swallow you whole and shit you out into Andy Warhol's Factory.
I’ve heard this album a lot over the years, but I’m really enjoying it more now today for some reason. It’s nicely cohesive for a VU album, and far more musically accessible. The absence of John Cale gave the band an opportunity to be a little more restrained, moving into fresh territory while still retaining some of their trademark grit. The album also feels like more of an all-band affair, and frankly just sounds like they’re just having fun. The lyrics are more contemplative and emotionally earnest, with less of the cool cynicism you might expect from VU. The band really nailed a certain moody, melancholy vibe, one that other artists have been chasing unsuccessfully ever since. I really like the collaborative aspect of the vocals that the band took this time around. Lou Reed had a strong pop sensibility, which I don’t think a lot of people give him credit for. He didn’t want to do the vocal on every song, and the other band members were brought in to do lead or harmony depending on who he felt was most effective for each song. Doug Yule probably doesn’t get enough acknowledgement for the quality of his vocals, but his work on “Candy Says” is really lovely. Also, Moe Tucker on “After Hours” at the end is such a bright blossom of a song. When the band ventures into more energetic fare, the commingling guitars of Reed and Sterling Morrison are riveting, the sonic equivalent of a sneer. I tend to favor tensely melancholy songs like “Candy Says” and “I’m Set Free,” but the punchier little rockers like “What Goes On” and “Beginning to See the Light” are great fun, full of the old VU jangle and burn. “The Murder Mystery” is some kind of wackadoo madness that you’re only going to find on a VU album. It’s noisy and outlandish and so very 1969, but weirdly fascinating. The album would have been better without it, but you just know they couldn’t help themselves. And I can’t help but love them more for it. Fave Songs (all songs, in order from most to least favorite): What Goes On, Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning to See the Light, I’m Set Free, Jesus, Some Kinda Love, After Hours, That’s the Story of My Life, The Murder Mystery
Mellow and reflective with the aggression dialled down from their other efforts. A sobering soundtrack for that inevitable moment when all tomorrow’s parties turn to morning-after, makeup-smeared, self-loathing introspection.
Never been a huge VU fan because my only point of entry was Lou Reed's solo stuff, and my one coworker who only played their live stuff. I like this quite a bit. "The Murder Mystery" is an absolute mess, but I really enjoyed the rest of it. Lackadaisical, subdued, easy listening. Favorite tracks: "Candy Says", "What Goes On", "Beginning to See the Light"
I think this album is really gorgeous. It's deceptively simple, but the chord structure is nearly always flawless. Reminds me of a bit grittier version of the Beatles. Banana album will always be my favorite, but this rocked.
This list has definitely made me a Velvet Underground fan. I love this stuff. Nothing really sounds like them, even in the decades since, everything they do is interesting because it's unique. If nothing else good comes from the 1001 albums, opening my eyes to these guys will be worth the time spent. I feel so at home with this music.
'Down for you is up' is maybe my favourite lyrics of all time not because it is difficult or clever but it's performed with such beautiful simplicity that I want to die a little bit every time I hear it. Does anyone else think I look a little like Lou Reed on this album cover? Just similar energy. He's got good posture though.
'The Murder Mystery' is easily the best and craziest song on this album. Two verses at the same time by different people hard-panned to each channel, with strong instrumental backing. 8/10, want more like this song, but the banana album is better overall.
Why have I never listened to this album in full. Simply outstanding from music to lyrics to overall vibe. Going in the keeper pile.
I really enjoyed this one. The songwriting is intriguingly subtle (especially for The Velvet Underground), the performances have an enchanting energy, and the production is appropriately raw. "What Goes On," "Pale Blue Eyes," and "Beginning to See the Light" are absolutely fantastic examples of alternative songwriting. It's a power album for The Velvets where they flex and show their depth. My guess is that most detractors get stuck at "Murder Mystery" which is admittedly extremely avant garde. But it's not enough to tank the whole album and, if you take the time to dig into what's being said, it's actually a really great piece of poetry about existential identity confusion brought on by an onslaught of popular culture. It's often considered to be a great example of the power of modern poetry.
Aside from the iffy experiment "Murder Mystery", this album is tight from top to bottom and shows a lot of craft. Reed's vocals and lyrics are their characteristic mix of enthusiasm and apathy and ruminate on love and morality.
Surprisingly gentle and charming. This had a lot of sweetness to it backed by strong songwriting. And while we lost John Cale and subsequently a lot of the bite that I loved in the debut, we also got rid of Nico. So, you know, trade offs.
A stunning collection of songs. Side One has some of Lou Reed's finest work, and then Side Two sees the band branching out. Bands based entire careers out of the ideas on the final two tracks. I'd argue they are both more exciting than the noise experiments of the first two albums. Although it was not to last, this album presents the Velvet Underground as a cohesive, collaborative unit, adding magic to Lou Reed's masterpieces.
I had only ever heard the song "pale blue eyes" on many mixed tapes - the rest of their music I only knew with Nico. Much better without her.
Beautiful album. I've never listened to this VU album all the way through. It may be my favorite of all their albums.
One of my top 5 favorite bands, and second favorite of their albums. No good words to describe it, but the storytelling + the music are excellent
Awk sure this album isn't as fried out as the one that came before it, but you can't really expect me to dislike it can ye?
I love this, it’s a (mostly) pleasant listen with great songwriting. Murder Mystery is so strange but in an interesting way. gets a 10
The first Indy Rock album—inspired so much that came after it, strokes, shins, Elliott smith, the list goes on. This is my idea of a perfect album, every note seems minimal to the point of feeling essential, Lou Reed’s poetry shines and every song is good, it’s fun, it’s melancholic, it’s hard, it’s soft, it’s about drugs, drinking, love, friendship, enlightenment and nostalgia. Whether it’s the the or the softness of “Candy Says,” the driving road trip vibes of “what goes on,” the jug band vibes of “some kind of love,” the perfectly soft darkness of “pale blue eyes,” the rock and roll lullaby of “Jesus,” the swinging good time of “Beginning to See the Light,” the enlightened release of “I’m set free,” the folksy, “That’s the story of my life,” even the avant- guard juxtaposition of “The Murder Mystery” its grating chanted poetry dissonant against the softer hazy moments create a sometimes skippable but still excellent song, and finally twee notes of “After Hours” this album never misses a beat, it’s relentlessly good. Easy 5
What a lovely relief from the previous albums. I hadn't listened closely to Candy Says before, but holy trans that song is so bittersweet and beautiful especially the final lines. The whole album is pretty, and it sounds like they're authentically having fun. Even the moody murder mystery song - the closest thing to their experimental previous stuff - sounds a bit playful among the stereo poetry jumble. If I had to program my mind to sync with one album, it would be this one. Tasteful. Well paced. Open eyed. Accepting. Empathetic. Authentic. Energy-giving. What a goddamn delight. A+
My favorite VU album,which means one of my favorite albums of all time. From the needle drop and the delicate strains of Candy Says barely a note out of place on this incredible album. Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, I'm Set Free, wow! 5 🌟
I was looking forward to some Velvet Underground as I wasn't very familiar going in. This was good! I especially liked Pale Blue Eyes and That's The Story of My Life
Würde man dieser Liste 2 Nullen streichen, diese Platte wäre unzweifelhaft immer noch drin. Und zwar völlig zu Recht, weil das hier nimmt aus sich selbst heraus so viel vorweg, dass mich ernsthaft wundert warum man nicht ein eigenes Genre danach benannt hat. Aber gut, Punk, Garage, Glamrock auch das sind ja schöne Namen. Solange ich das mit dem Heroin nicht selbst ausprobiert habe, ist das hier auf jeden Fall Ersatzdroge of Choice. Oh, but I guess that I just don’t know.
Lou Reed is a legend. Such great melodies, such a raspy, dry voice. It works. I love it.
I am being blessed by this random generator. I am a huge fan of The Velvet Underground, but I had not yet listened to this album in full before, so the amount of serotonin that entered by body upon seeing the cover was...quite a lot! Much like The Velvet Underground & Nico, the album that first got me into the band, The Velvet Underground (the album lol) is a calm (for the most part) and introspective series of songs, layered together with thoughtful instrumentation, delicate vocals, and intelligent lyrics. But what really struck me about this album in particular is how full each song sounds. There are never any instances where some element of a song feels unnecessary; everything fits together perfectly, and nothing feels "tacked on". When music sounds complete to me, that is when I know that I have found some musical geniuses. And The Velvet Underground, both the band and the record, without question, are fucking genius. This album is much shorter than The Wall, so I was able to pick out some favourite tracks on my initial listen, and they are Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, I'm Set Free, The Murder Mystery, and After Hours! Another big recommend to anyone.
VU's first album is the obvious one to get a 5 rating given how influential it was and how it redefined avant garde. This third album one was also a game changer and transformational for Lou Reed. This was the start of what we all think of as Lou Reed's sound as Lou's speaksinging became the main attraction and a lot of the White Light / White Heat experimentation with sounds not really made by the instruments were tossed. The cover photo is hilarious with Lou looking so young and wholesome. He doesn't look like a guy who two years earlier wrote a song about his heroin dealer always showing up late. Candy Says is a fine song although Lou does fuck with my memory with Candy Says, Caroline Says, Lisa Says, etc. I can't remember which woman says what but I like them all. Pale Blue Eyes is probably the best song on the album. I like the Christian trilogy starting with, duh, jesus and continuing on Side 2. I'm sure some will say they aren't a trilogy and who knows if Lou intended this but hey the customer's always right! Lou sums up his religious experience so well in I'm Set Free: "Let me tell you people what I found. I saw my head laughing, rolling on the ground" I'm guessing our Jewish friend either didn't find jesus after all or didn't like the religious narrative he found wrapped around jesus. Hallelujah Mr. Reed. After Hours is a great way to finish the album and works so well with drummer Mo's haunting voice.I even like Murder Mystery. All the talking over each other is quite rhythmic. It's interesting that the album has the same name as the band. Many bands have an eponymous first album. Examples include the first albums by Elvis Presley, The Doors, Miriam Makeba and Black Sabbath. When bands get around to their second album, they usually give it a name. The VU's second album had a name (White Light/ White Heat) but its third album reverted to being eponymous. It's much less common not to give a separate album name to later albums. One other case I can think of is the Beatles' eponymous ninth album. I guess Pater Gabriel also did this but all of his first four solo albums were eponymous. He was on a roll! I like the 6 CD set that the 1001 app leads to on Spotify. This allowed me to listen to the live versions of most of the songs. I know this isn't how we are supposed to play this game but Lou is so much better live especially in the early days when his studio budgets were tight.
Alright my first album on this website... aaaaand I've already listened to this one. Regardless, it's a classic and arguably better than their debut.
Prototype indie album. Must have been so far ahead of the times, couldnt beleive it was a 1969 album.
Classic album. Pale Blue Eyes a highlight. One of the best songs ever written. Rest of the album is great also.
Wonderfully reminiscent album for me. So unique, inimitable sounds.Andy Warhol did good creating the VU
Não conhecia o álbum. Achei sensacional! Meio rock progressivo, meio experimental; uma junção de bons toques. Vou pesquisar mais.
sandy says: i find this album very beautiful. i was only familiar with pale blue eyes, which i loved obv, but i had not noticed the last verse, so i didn't know it was about infidelity :o first and last track of the album are masterpieces, and the one that grew on me were What goes on, the jesus one and The murder mystery. The latter captures anxiety impressively.
Brilliant album from start to finish. I can even appreciate Tucker's slightly-out-of-tune singing.
One of these superclassic albums (just like VU albums 1,2,4) and probably the most perfect album on the list.
What the fuck is this? It's fucking brilliant that's what it is. Why have I never heard this. That's on me really.
Just a classic druggy album… these tunes are dripping in narcotics; but they don’t suffer from it at all. Amazing!!
Wow, sometimes the 60s is music that makes you feel like you are on drugs, and sometimes it sounds like it was made on drugs. This is both, in a really good way.
i love john cale most of all but also i think this is my favorite VU i cannot square the circle
its still bizarre to me how ahead of their time these fuckers were. first they do all that experimental bs and now this? what the fuck? how did it not catch on anyways?? like why did it take so long for twee pop and slowcore and whatever to catch on after this thing came out its so good!!! theres more misses than on WL/WH but the good stuff is amazing, it has just the right amount of raw-ish production and a lot the lyrics were kinda unexpected for 1969 too like damn they rly lived up to their name didnt they .................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ murder mystery isnt super interesting until the last section with the pianos and shit though 9/10 barely
I enjoy VU. I knew Pale Blue Eyes (I think it got played at Starbucks for some reason??) Having Beginning to See the Light after Jesus reeled me back in. Solid album throughout, really enjoyed the aforementioned track, What Goes On, and a couple others at the end.
Very cool live album, great for work jams. Loved the live renditions of Heroin and songs with Lou Reed
Pretty great overall, but the A side is definitely better than the B side. That penultimate track...ugh. No. Just, no.
some songs are super good some are just not my style but overall great experience, pale blue eyes was ahead of time imo.
Nunca tinha ouvido, curtindo bastante, são canções, algo que não tava esperando, muitas em um tempo mais lento. Adorando, as letras as vozes, até as guitarras. Bem diferente do primeiro disco deles, que conheço muito melhor.
Great Album. Chill vibes. I liked Some kind of love Pale blue eyes Thats the story of my like After Hours
Nice calm vibe with the first few songs beginning to see the light is jamming Murder Mystery is also nice
This is some seriously chill shit! I don’t know the Velvet Underground that well but this album really cements the fact that I’m going to have a massive heroin phase ✌🏼
Great record, not my favorite of theirs. Definitely still "Velvet Underground," but more pleasant, not as noisy as later records.
Enjoyed the vibes, but wasn't able to focus much on lyrics or songwriting. I expected velvet underground to be weirder, but I got a kick out of it!
I really enjoyed the slower songs that weren't as dissonant as the others. I still prefer the Andy Warhol album
Pretty good for being slow and British. I think the production and lyrics are good and it's a bit more musical than other British stuff so yay. 8
8/10, solid album, and I especially like that it is not super samey throughout. After much reflection, I did find that the singing on the last song really reminded me of the bit in Elf where the main gal sings in the shower.
Another one of those bands that I understand are important culturally, but I've never actually listened to. I enjoyed it a lot.
Velvet underground with Nico was the first album I listened to on this journey and I remember being distinctly disappointed. I’m happy to announce this has completely changed my mind about the VU (Velvet Underground). I really liked this album. True to their name. Sounds like velvet. Sounds like underground. I delighted in Murder Mystery and pale blue eyes. It’s gonna stay in my thoughts for a long time. Turns out Nico was the problem huh??? But I love Nico.
Some really standout songs on this album. Only marred by a couple duds towards the end.
Blue eyes on this album, which you already liked. Didn’t find any other favs but a cool and unique sound. Solid but not stellar for me
Melancholic pop. Very pleasant to listen to and chill around. (7/10) Favourite Song: Pale Blue Eyes
4/10🌟this will offend people alrighttt it’s giving classic, could be a sleep album which if you know me IM OBSESSED W THAT VIBE. i don’t love it but i alsnog buy vinyl, mane needs more time, i’ll listen afterwards fs! I THIBK?? I liked murder mystery it was cool like the weird harmonies but not the talking at the beginning i also have to commend the range of their music thk liked- candy says, after hours, jesus, i’m set free disliked - what goes on, some kinda love, beginning to see the light
Viele sind es, in denen der Sound dieser Band bis in die Nuller widerhallte (Olivia Tremor Control, Moldy Peaches, Spiritualized, …) Die langsamen Nummern sind für die Ewigkeit, allen voran „Candy Says“, „Pale Blue Eyes“ driften wie müde Eisschollen am Ende der Schmelze durch das Morgenrot. Hier bleiben die Lider schwer und selbst das grellere „Beginning to See the Light“ (der beste Beatles Song, den die Beatles nie gemacht haben) ändert daran nicht viel. Niveau recht konstant, nah dran an Traditionen amerikanischer (Gitarren)musik und doch auch stark an seinen fransigen Rändern unterwegs. Samtige 4.1
I'm not nearly as familiar with this album, as "The Velvet Underground & Nico", but it definitely still hits the spot! The Velvet Underground being a little more straight forward and accessible, what's not to like? Fave track - "Beginning to See The Light" and "What Goes On" have been my favourites in the past, but this play through I really dug "The Murder Mystery". Love the effect of two voices overlapping and interfering and generating urgency without sense...
Slower and mellower than I would have expected from a late-60's rock group. Worthy of another listen with more attention to lyrics.
Beautiful piece of work. Side one is a five star, side two's 3.5 bring this to a four star.
I've heard a lot about the Velvet Underground. I don't know why but I thought they were a very early punk band. I was very wrong. That said, I liked it. Mellow jams, the voice is very familiar but I can't place it. (I cheated, realized it's Lou Reed). In the back half they seem to add some vocals and it's not just Lou. All goes with some easy melodies that work well and flow very easily. Murder Mystery was really hard to get through. Points for trying this in 1969, very ahead of their time with some ideas.
Murder Mystery threw me off Album feels more like a storytelling through music Good music overall - liked the vibe
It's a go-to "it band" of the 60s, transitioning from their experimental art-college student phase to much sweeter, more conventional fare. Direct, catchy, at times achingly melodic: I'll take it any day over the overhyped, "proto-everything" of their debut. Without John Cale or Andy Warhol at the helm (big influences on the avant-garde side of the band) Lou Reed and the remaining members set about to create something warmer, more optimistic, more immediate: a broad change from their earlier work. For me, it's a progression I can completely get behind: this still carries a weight of melancholy and hurt, but has such tender delivery throughout where the whole band are given the chance to shine. Songcraft is put above improvisation, with a conscious effort to cherish (rather than challenge) the listener. The "European Son"s and "Sister Ray"s are mostly abandoned for the "Sunday Morning"s and "I'll Be Your Mirror"s, and it pays off beautifully: even though the VU's experimentation was noteworthy at the time, it hasn't aged as well for me and often seems to eclipse material like this. Opener "Candy Says" is so delicate and fragile, in instrumentation and vocals, that it feels like it could blow away on the wind. From there, it does take a little while to get going. "What Goes On" feels like a sub-standard attempt at a single, and "Some Kinda Love" falls flat as the dud of the record. But then, the run of songs from "Pale Blue Eyes" onwards is absolutely gorgeous. We're treated to incredibly intimate vocals and oblique heartbreak in "Pale Blue Eyes" and "Jesus", later rejoicing in the swinging breeziness of "That's The Story of My Life", and Reed getting into "Transformer" mode with "Beginning to See the Light", which lives in the credits sequence of one of the greatest indie films yet to be made. While "The Murder Mystery" isn't all my cup of tea, it's much more focused than it could have been and adds a nice touch of the abstract to the album without going overboard. The piano runs in the last couple of minutes more than make up for all the poetry recitation. And "After Hours"? A great move for Moe Tucker to sing it to close things off, and a delightfully ambiguous feel. It's either a very gentle landing back to earth, or moving out of the final reaches of its orbit: whichever way I'd like to feel at the time. On the whole this is my personal peak of Velvet Underground: sweet without being sugar-coated, sincere without being blinkered, experimental without being try-hard.
Fabulous album - incredibly creative people capturing the sound and zeitgeist of the late-60s
Good album, I don't think I'd ever really heard any of these songs beyond Pale Blue Eyes and Candy Says. Would skip The Murder Mystery - it's annoying and long.
This is a great album. A shame they put two slightly annoying tracks on it: The murder mystery What goes on - The guitar hurt my ears!
Beter dan vorige plaat die we geluisterd hebben. Staan echt een paar mooie nummers op.
Hadn't heard this VU album before. Much more subdued than Velvet Underground & Nico. Really interesting. Lou Reed is great as always. 4.5/5
Pošto su mi Velvet Undergroundovci u top 10 bendova, nije teško skužiti da mi se bar 90% njihove diskografije sviđa. Pa tako da je ovaj album u top 3 njihovih, većinom se zna natjecati za drugo mjesto sa White Light/White Heat - zavisno o raspoloženju. Lou Reed <3 Favoritne: Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning to See the Light, I'm Set Free.
Predivan album i sve, smatam da ne treba puno rijeci za opis (Isprike ekipi na neazurnosti ovih dana)
I like this band a lot, surprises every time I listen to something they made. Not better than ”Niko" but just as good.
I really liked this! Didn’t care for the murder mystery but I loved after hours.i dont agree with my 4 star rating. it's a 3.5 star album for me
I enjoy the chilled mood of this album, walking around town in the winter sun is really quite an experience. It's a nice mix of very slow dreamy songs and then a couple more up-beat songs sprinkled in. 10/10 will put this in my regular rotation
What a pleasant surprise this album was! I'd obviously heard of the velvet underground before but I'd never actually heard their music, and this is an album of laid-back rock I've got a lot of time for. It's probably a 3.5 but today I'm feeling generous.
Perhaps it's just the mood I'm in as this one drops into the list but, apart from 'The Murder Mystery' this was very much a... I won't say fun, because it's not that vibe, but something that clicked pretty strongly. I have an affinity for melancholy in music in general so this fits pretty nicely into it
Great album, chiller than and less impactful than Velvet Underground + Nico but I still liked it
Not my favorite VU album, but I still love this record. More laid back than their prior two albums, and a lot more song oriented and less noise/experiment oriented. the noise thing really does a it for me, but I really rate the song-writing too. This album contains some deadest classics (Pale Blue Eyes, What Goes On, Candy Says, I'm Set Free), but I also love Some Kinda Love, which has a proto-kraut rock thing going on. For almost any other band, this would be the album of their career, but the Velvets, I rank second or third. A great record for people who find their more challenging material off-putting.
The Velvet Underground is a sleazy dungeon I used to frequent when I lived in L.A. It was a grotty little sex club filled to the brim with the most filthy scum you could imagine. I once had a threesome with Harrison Ford and Lady Gaga on the pool table in front of everyone. They were a majestic pair of fuckers.
Eins og mér finnst heilt á litið lítið til Lou Reeds koma þá var Velvet Underground æðsileg sveit, og þessi plata, sem ég hlustaði á í tætlur á síðustu öld, er mjög skemmtileg. Ekki fullt hús, en fer langt á nostalgíunni.
Genius (with the exception of Murder Mystery, which is okay, but not up to the standards of The Gift)
Extremely poignant and intensely calming. Lou Reed has one of the most soothing voices ever, and the lo-fi aesthetic only adds to the homely feel. Favorite Tracks: "Candy Says", "Pale Blue Eyes", "Jesus", "The Murder Mystery", "After Hours"
The Velvet Underground's self-titled work is an enchanting folk-rock staple. The record begins with "Candy Says", a very delicate introduction to the record that sets a really cozy vibe. I love the moving guitar lines and subtly present bass work present on songs like "Some Kinda Love", and the personality-driven vocals from Lou Reed deliver on "Pale Blue Eyes" with its Bob Dylan-esque heartbreak song structure and "Jesus" as he harmonizes with bassist Doug Yule. The folk tracks "That's The Story Of My Life" and "After Hours" are two of my favorites, with both being very short and sweet pieces that showcase the best of The VU's songwriting abilities. The band also shows their capability in providing rocking bangers like "Beginning To See The Light" and "I'm Set Free", with the latter carrying an interesting sense of dynamics as it continually builds and retreats. The only underwhelming experience comes in "What Goes On", with energized riffs that get drowned out halfway through by organs and an enveloping fuzzy guitar solo that didn't work for me. The track starts with a lot of intrigue and ends by repeating that same motif for too long without evolving on it much, with the middle portion feeling somewhat out-of-place. This doesn't do much to bring the rest of the record down, especially with songs like the penultimate "The Murder Mystery", which is sprawling and confusing in the best ways. It features odd sounds effects and an intriguing drum pattern that pairs well with the ramblings and guitars during the verses, while the back-and-forth choruses between Reed and drummer Maureen Tucker give a break from the break-neck pace with slick guitar and organ lines. The song is overwhelming and captivating in its creativity, proving to be a stand-out in the tracklist. The sentimental, engaging, and bold efforts that The Velvet Underground make on this record pay off in an amazing display of songwriting and personality. BEST TRACKS: Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, The Murder Mystery, After Hours WORST TRACKS: What Goes On
While missing a good chunk of the experimentation from prior albums, The Velvet Ungerground prove themselves as great songwriters with this well produced album. Favorites: "Candy Says", "What Goes On", "Pale Blue Eyes"
I think this is their most focused output, and coming off of White Light/White Heat it’s surprisingly mellow.
Really dug this one! Didn't know many songs going into it but I'll be keeping quite a few. Know and love "Pale Blue Eyes" from Adventureland, same story as Unsatisfied from The Replacements. Thought I heard Nico near the end, but that was a different female vocalist. Anytime I listen to VU, I feel like I like them more and more. Can't wait to get The Banana Album from them! Favorite tracks: Pale Blue Eyes, After Hours, Some Kinda Love, Murder Mystery, Beginning to See the Light. Album art: The kind of band photo that does basically nothing for me. 4.5/5
I wasn't goint to listen to this one. I was a big fan for a while back in the 80s, but I grew to hate them with a passion and haven't heard any for aaaages. But I put it on anyway. I guess any album that gets overplayed as much as this has to be considered something special.
Perhaps some of the smoothest rock in history, the tamped down vocals, the warm tones, make appreciated a much needed break from their higher energy contemporaries. Where the 60s were looking for excitement and noise, this album found what could be felt as a sacred serenity for the rock genre. The pop genre was cannibalizing rock, and the genre needed an injection of authenticity. Whether or not this was the intent of TVU cannot be confirmed, but the history speaks for itself as to why this album stands out. Perhaps Jesus did indeed help them find their proper place here.
What a beautiful piece of work. The Velvet Underground has long been a blind spot for me. Others note the band's influence on all rock music to come, but I don't have the investment in their legacy to get into that here. What I can say is I don't think I have ever felt so connected to a recorded guitar as I do here. Every note, every string, is alive. The minimalist production is at once melancholy and lit up, making the whole affair feel live and in-person. Plenty of bands have tried to sound like The Velvet Underground over the years, and few are half as interesting or talented.
This is an album you put on when you're in love with someone and there's nowhere else to go and nothing else to do.
I hadn't listened to this record. I have heard "The Velvet Underground and Nico" and "White Light/White Heat." Other than that, I've just heard Lou Reed's "Transformer," which remains the best of all the records I just name-dropped. "White Light/White Heat" is a great record, but that's not what we're here to talk about (I hope it is somewhere on this list). This is a much prettier record than the first two VU records. Especially prettier than WL/WH. It makes for a much more listenable recording. And it also presages the success that Lou Reed would have after the VU. I'm happy to have heard this record because it's the only VU record I've heard that I would put on and relax. Their other records are just too jarring to make sense in most situations.
Jesus Halfway there, one step closer. 3 albums out of 5, 4 stars out of 5 it is, the self-titled has its magic where the artist real find their signature instead of (and most of the time) naming its first debut album a self-titled one. Perhaps the band is relaxing on this one, they don’t care about what’s coming, they just want to freeze the legacy of this, along their path in music history. Either way, on the list this is the third and last one, leaving Loaded and Squeeze out. This is a dawn album, you’re running late back home, leaving the party you just went too, starts remembering names, problems and what’s real life is. You can call it back from the beginning when Nico is invited to the party, White Light / White Heat is the party itself and the Self-Titled is After. B
Great album. Soulful guitars with expressive Lou Reed's vocals, you can get into his skin and feel his love, pity and happiness. This album really represents the tender sound of The Velvet Underground. Really puts me at peace. Amazing.
Beautiful guitar work, which mostly, the vocals match. Lyrics are on par with the decade.
So ahead of its time in so many ways. Objectively close to a perfect album and yet... just doesn't quite get there for me.
The great, melloa VU style really comes through on this album. Pale Blue Eyes might be my favorite VU song of all time.
I really liked some of the songs on this album, Jesus for example. The melodies are soft and lovely at times, the singer has a pleasant voice. However there is a general sense of melancholy and I tend to have a melancholy mind so I really prefer happy joyous music. This one will certainly bring me down if I play on repeat.
It was nice. Interesting. It was slow and sometimes repetitive, but for some reason I didn’t mind. I don’t get why these guys are so acclaimed but I did like it
Must spend more time here. If anything more accessible than the debut. After Hours especially.
It’s kind of funny how the better produced the Velvets became, the less interesting they became. To be fair, this was kind of by design, since this was meant to be a more commercial LP, but it still failed in that regard and sounds pretty sedated. Mostly, at least. “The Murder Mystery” has that classic Warhol-era weirdness to it, and the more well-known songs still mostly slap. And yes, the production is much crispier than the first two albums. B Side note- why are the women involved with the band so problematic? Between Nico being a legit nazi and the drummer lady who sings “After Hours” having tea party connections, it’s not a great track record
This one grew on me over the listen. I liked it enough to listen through a 2nd time. 4/5
Very excited for more Velvet Underground, I've been on a huge Lou Reed kick since getting Transformer a few records back. This is a good, solid album, I'm digging it. But dang, I do miss John Cale. His influence is unmistakable on past albums, the best VG is a VG with Cale on board. Pale Blue Eyes is a standout track, fucking love that song.
Super melancholy. It sounded so much like the Beatles I had to see who came first. It sounded so familiar that it was almost formulaic, so I had to look up why it was impactful. I guess that really shows how influential it is, that everything after it sounds like it. Still not crazy about it.
Pale Blue Eyes is a solid song, the rest is pretty okay. Sounds like the Velvet Underground, which is a pleasant sound
Not bad overall, just not my taste preference. After Hours is probably the favorite on this one.
I’m not mad at it. The album does ooze a little bit of pretension, but, having read the bands origin, I understand why.
all of the songs were very different. pale blue eyes is overrated n the last song was cute. banana n loaded >>>
The velvet underground has always made me feel very anxious when I listen to them. The least track though saved the album.
I didn't know Lou Reed was the lead singer. It's alright - almost like rock folk music. 6/10.
3.8 - A collection of deceptively upbeat and sing-songy tracks that mostly strike a consistent sunny tone, with the exception of "The Murder Mystery." Underlying the simple chord structures are a meticulous blend of carefully chosen sounds with a keen attention to texture. Listen to the arpeggiated guitar line on "Pale Blue Eyes" and how it interplays with a single tambourine that hits on the 2/4 beats. Tsh...tsh...tsh...
I got excited about this album when I realized the first song (Candy Says) was original to the Velvet underground. I’d always thought this was a Blind Melon original. The next track (What Goes On) is pretty good, and I even added to one of my playlists. The rest of the album travels down the Lou Reed rabbit hole - music you might expect to hear in a service elevator on the other side of the Looking Glass. I miss Shannon Hoon.
Another solid album, but not something I would seek out. Some Kinda Love was the standout track for me, vocals were fine, but really enjoyed the guitar throughout. The Murder Mystery was an adventure and was not ready for the jump. At least it wasnt as unexpected as Frankie Teardrop
Pretty mellow. Smooth guitar. Not a huge fan of the sound of his voice. "The Murder Mystery" had a surprisingly strong start and is super chaotic and interesting compared to the other tracks. Otherwise, not a fan of this, but I can see how people would like it.
Fun background music, better than expected. Got a warning for "The Murder Mystery" but didn't know what the fuss was about.. until it got to the end. Big yikers.
Aangename muziek voor op de achtergrond, tot 'The Murder Mystery' begon. Extreem vreemd nummer, die wat afsteekt tegen de rest van het album.
3.5/5. Some nice chill lo-fi sounding tracks, enjoyed a lot of this. Falls off a bit at the end imo, least fave track the murder mystery.
Pretty solid album, very all over the place, great vocal performance though, much prefer The Velvet Underground & Nico
Best Tracks: Candy Says, What Goes On, Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning to See the Light, I'm Set Free, That's the Story of My Life
Pretty chill. Something comforting about 60s music like this imo. Not got anything particularly to say about this one though other than it was pleasant
Some of this album is “ehhhhh” and some is “hell yeah” I have a feeling this album could really grow on me and in later years I might rate it a 5. I’ve heard Pale Blue Eyes many many many times and didn’t get why people loved it so much. It only recently, within the past year or two, has grown on me. I’m thinking the same for the rest of this album.
Unsure on this one. I liked it enough for 3/5, but not for much more. Most of the tracks were reasonably relaxing, though not particularly memorable, with the exception of Pale Blue Eyes. Cool hearing Lou Reed's voice from when he was younger, I liked his collab with Gorillaz for Plastic Beach.
candy says: singing not great. surprised how soft this. Sounds very '60s. I like the lyrics What Goes On: slightly more interesting. Some Kinda Love: very velvet underground; almost epoken word Pale Blue Eyes: this is nice. Again kike the lyrics more than the music Jesus: yep. Pretty nice. Beginning to See the Light: i liked this one quite a lot I'm Set Free: I liked this one until a quite annoying hank marvin-style guitar solo. That's the Story of My Life - yep. Its nce. The Murder Mystery - experimental and wierd. Not really any fun to listen to. After Hours - nivce. faux naive lyrics
The songs have a cool sound, clearly ahead of their time, but they are not memorable as a whole when compared to other works.
Really enjoyed this one, felt very shoegaze in some ways. I do think musically it's very repetitive, but then again I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.
This is a very low key, subtle and melancholic album that needs careful and repeated listening to be appreciated. I can see how Emo and Shoegaze were influenced by the VU so these guys were way ahead of their time.
I was surprised on the first song not to hear Lou Reed’s voice and then the second song dragged out a simple guitar riff and annoying organ chords for the final 2 minutes. In other words, things got off to a bad start. Lou Reed (plus the other vocalists) and the personal lyrics give the songs, especially the ballads like Pale Blue Eyes & Jesus a bare-naked feel. The song that the critics trash (Murder Mystery) is the one I find most interesting, though it sounds so out of place. Lou & Velvet Underground have put out better than this. 5/10, but I'll round upwards because it's a Saturday.
There is a surprising number of VU/Lou Reed albums on here. I never was a big fan, mostly just listened to the radio hits, but they are def growing on me.
It's been quite a while since I've given this a listen, probably since my early 20s. From what I remember, it was a pretty big departure from TVU&N and WL/WH, and as I revisit it, I can see why I put it down and never returned. There are moments of songwriting beauty, but for the most part this is pretty lifeless. John Cale is sorely missed from this.
Muy tranquilito en general con algo de rock clásico. Bonitas canciones como la famosa Pale Blue Eyes pero también Whats goes on, I'm set free, That's the story of my life o After hours.
A keresztény hittérítő szám elég nagy buzzkill, és sajnos egyáltalán nem kreatív, zavaró volt. Az egész albumról egyébként ez nem mondható el, kellemes hallgatás volt, néhol kifejezetten izgalmas, kreatív részekkel. Beatles pótlék kicsit, a 60-as években újítónak/progresszívnek számíthatott.
Dit album van The VU was een stuk beter te hebben. Met vlagen zelfs best goed, maar zal dit nooit heel vaak draaien.
I'm not a big fan of the Velvet Underground, but I enjoyed the laid back sound of this record, which is fairly different from their more iconic debut album. Their music can be quite inconsistent and unpolished, like listening to a band whose songs aren't quite ready. But I quite liked the casual bohemianism of this one, and at the same time it felt like a precursor to lo-fi indie music. 3*
One of the original indie sad boi greats. I like the Velvet Underground, it always reminds me of Adventureland which is a fantastic film. They're not easy listening though, and this isn't an album I'd go to by choice, nor would I say everything here is a banger. 3/5
I always forget how many hook-ish songs Lou Reed wrote. The Murder Mystery is one of those songs. So are Candy Love and After Hours. I always think I'm going to dislike a Velvet Underground record, but then I listen to it and I do.
Starts really well. Very nice album. Lou Reed has a great voice. Peaceful. Some Kinda Love and Pale Blue Eyes are stand out. Takes a complete u turn at murder mystery which is a fucking mess. Completely different and completely shite 4 stars before that unfortunately. Let yourselves down the velvet underground
It's probably just me but Candy Says has always really annoyed me as an album opener. It is a decent enough song but feels much more like a slow paced, mid-album song. Other than that the album is fine but is just kind of pales into insignificance in comparison to the spikier, edgier, more difficult early albums. There's lot on here that just sounds a bit too much like cleaner, duller, more grown-up versions of older VU songs.
Decent album, didnt have any skips. A bunch of lo-fi classic rock, with some psychadelic trippiness and bonkers experimentation mixed in.
This was okay, I am not sure what doesn't click with me on this but it just seems fine...
This was a fun little album, I gave them some grace since I've heard of the band but haven't dived into any albums and as background music it was enjoyable. Like a hang out at night in the 60's. Pale Blue Eyes stuck out to me but the rest blended together.
Lieder über Drogen finde ich ja generell eher gut. Würde mir aber nur wenige Lieder öfter anhören.
Peut-être le plus accessible des albums de Velvet Underground. J'aurais pensé que cet album était en début de carrière, mais c'est le 3e album, sortie après le plus expérimental White Light/White Heat. J'aime bien, mais il y a certaines chansons plus expérimentales sur White Light que je préfère. C'est aussi un album intéressant à écouter avec des écouteurs pour le jeu fait avec le mix stéréo.
Es de esos fundacionales, me dicen por ahí, pero no lo había escuchado antes, aunque conocía tanto Pale Blue Eyes como After Hours. De hecho, esas son las que más recuerdo.
This album was pretty awesome, actually. I don't think I can give it a 4, but it's real, real close. Some Kinda Love and Pale Blue Eyes are two of my new favorite songs.
I enjoyed the slow and melancholy tone but overall didn't much like the album. Felt a bit repetitive and boring.
A more relaxed and low-key affair from a usually eclectic band. Could use some more uptempo tracks, but what's here is enjoyable and listenable enough as is.
The Velvet Underground was a pleasant surprise. "Pale Blue Eyes" was the only track I had heard before, and it might be my favorite song from the band. "What Goes On" is a new favorite from this album. With the other music that I've heard from the Velvet Underground, I am tempted to like it but I don't quite get there. This album didn't hit those same roadblocks, with one exception. "The Murder Mystery" was confusing and noisy, and I'd prefer to skip that track.
Now that I've listened to three of their albums, this is probably their best. A little more subdued and a little more melodic. But I already gave them a 4 for their sophomore album (mostly to be extreme) so I can't give them another one. And this one feels like a sellout anyway - rather than stay true to themselves they (or Lou) went with a record to pander to the masses. Sounds like such a Nickelback thing to do. Fine album, nothing overly memorable other than maybe the songs with Yule on vocals (quite enjoyed Candy Says and Jesus). And I'd like to forget the last two songs (The Murder Mystery and After Hours - keep Tucker off vocals).
The avant garde tracks on it are the most interesting. The garage band sound elsewhere is not that inspiring. But enjoyable
Eh, I liked this better than the Loretta Lynn album and whatever other crap 1-star albums are on this list, although not much better. I'll give it 2 stars, but reserve the right to downgrade that.
Enjoyable, deserves to be on the list, but a vibe in the background for the most part for me. But I didn't DISLIKE it at all.
I thought I liked the velvet underground but I found this album quite boring and monotone
Kind of like a blend between the Beatles and CCR. When there's a song called "Jesus" on the record, I'm not inclined to enjoy it, however.
What a sleepy, dull album. It’s very soft and would be good for naps or to play for your grandpa. Gets an extra star for After Hours
Quite liked about half of this, although largely fairly forgettable. A few songs bored me a bit. Might benefit from a deeper understanding of the band/context. Not really what I expected from TVU. Much more folky (almost country?) than I imagined. Quite like the sad/relaxed vibe to some of the songs. REALLY like After Hours - probably the only song I'd return to. Faves: After Hours Pale Blue Eyes Least faves: Jesus I'm Set Free Track-by-track: 1) Candy Says - Striking lyrical start. Chilled. Sad. Like it. 2) What Goes On - more upbeat. Jangley! Like it a lot. Good organ. 3) Some Kinda Love - yee ha - country. Less keen. 4) Pale bule eyes - pleasant. Relaxing. Not sure its supposed to be. Sad vibe. Like it. 5) Jesus - bit dull 6) Beginning to See the Light - like the harmonies bits. Bit Bob Dylan otherwise. Meh. 7) I'm Set Free - nah, not keen on this. Dull and also a bit irritating. Folky at the end. 8) That's the Story of My Life - Jaunty. Fun. Nice little interlude after a bit of a drudge. 9) The Murder Mystery - System of a Down! Organ! Weird vocals. Some spooky and some talking. A bit odd. Don't mind it, but doubt I'll listen again. Liking it less the longer it goes on (which is long). 10) After Hours - Nice. What does this remind me of? Mr Rodgers? Really like the happy tune and sad lyrics. Soudns like Mouldy Peaches. Which is a good thing. Maybe my fave on the album (sorry Lou).
Ligt nogal sterk in lijn met een paar van de vorige albums. Misschien dat het daarom niet zo speciaal klinkt.
I was dreading reviewing this record, as I had listened to it before and I am aware of the iconic status the eponymous "the Velvet Underground" holds in the Art Rock canon. Having listened to it in its entirety, the worst parts remind me of Pink Floyd's disgustingly atrocious debut. The best parts.... I am not sure. It's hard to focus on the good, when the sound quality of this record is so bad, especially when compared to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper (which was released in the very same year). Sunday Morning sounds like a decent lullaby, the instrumentals on I'm Waiting are incredibly bloated, I can barely hear Nico on Femme Fatale, the percussion on Venus in Furs is grating, the vocals on Run Run Run are of the lowest quality possible, All Tomorrow and Heroin are way too long and There She Goes Again and I'll be Your Mirror are alright. 2/5.
A couple of good tracks here and there but overall the album was pretty "meh" to be honest.
I did not care for this album. There is a good chance that I simply do not enjoy The Velvet Underground as it all seems "one-notey." A few songs on this record go on for 5-6 minutes and feel like they will never end...needlessly long since there isn't anything else being explored. "Murder Mystery" really drove the point hope for me toward the end, though, as I had to skip out of that song 3 minutes in. I kinda like the last song.
Just...nothing to it that grabs me. It's inoffensive but it doesn't work with my jam at all.
While I'm sure it paved the way for a lot of new wave music I don't think it aged particularly well. It would be a decent album to relax/nap two if the second song wasn't so jarring
This is the third album from The Velvet Underground. The sound of this album is a type of "folksy" rock, and the songs seems like they were written as ballads as well as being sung well. It was a beautiful album that was not appreciated until 1985 when it charted. I loved the music from this album and will be listening to the other albums from the band.
Its nice enough but its just sort of bounces along gently without ever making much impact on me. 2/5
Nee, vaker geprobeerd te luisteren maar ik blijf het lastig vinden om naar te luisteren
Zwaar relaxte muziek uit de 60s. Ik ben niet meteen fan, maar het klinkt niet onaardig. Favoriet is wellicht "That's The Story Of My Life". **
Fell asleep briefly in the middle of the day listening to this. When I awoke it was to a cacophony of babbling. Then Mo Tucker sang a song. Most unsatisfying.
The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground (1969) I never ‘got’ the Andy Warhol/John Cale/Lou Reed ‘thing’ until it was too late. By then, the ‘thing’ was already passé, and I had mouths to feed. But now that the mouths are fed, this serendipitous re-visit has convinced me that even though all the intelligent girls were transfixed over it, it really wasn’t that big of a deal. Maybe that’s just old age (but I’ve always enjoyed the prescience of “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed [1972] and “Lola” by The Kinks [1970)]). It’s a strange package, with occasional delights. My high school art appreciation teachers told me it wasn’t expressionism or surrealism, and I took that as Gospel. But maybe they were wrong, even though they were some pretty intelligent girls themselves. Now the album The Velvet Underground (now without John Cale) is a step back from the brink of the first two albums by The Velvet Underground. And as such, it simply reveals the group as a moderately competent rock group with slightly greater than average sense of lyric creativity (as in “The Murder Mystery”—really cool). When Lou Reed asks the Lord (in “Jesus”) to “help me find my proper place”“‘cause I’m falling out of grace”, the obvious solution is to climb back in—but that’s too simple. The music on this album is a simply a workable vehicle for a sometimes thoughtful message. On “Candy Says”, we hear: ‘Maybe when I'm older What do you think I'd see If I could walk away from me?" Most oldsters I’ve come to know have found that as time goes by, there’s less of a need to walk away from oneself. Maureen Tucker (“After Hours”) can’t sing. This album didn’t chart. 2/5
Première fois que j'écoute du velvet Je pensais que c'était plus rock que ça La face B est meilleure C'est pas mauvais mais c'est pas mon bag J'imagine que l'intérêt est dans les textes pcq musicalement ça révolutionne pas grand choses
While the album has it place it just didn't do it for me. I can see how it influenced artist at the time but it just never got going for me.
This was better than the other VU album with Nico. Quieter, more melodic, slightly poppy. Then there was the Murder Mystery track where there were two people talking over each other out of each mono side for 6 minutes.
So I liked this album a little bit more than the other VU albums we have heard. It is more accessible, yes. But honestly, I can't see anything special about it. And "Murder Mystery"... um, WTF was that all about? The rest of the songs just had that air of pretentiousness. "Look I am being art." Sure you are, Lou. Just not buying it. Next.
Super boring. One long section of chord vamping made it sound like the mixer forgot to layer in the guitar solo. Least interesting 60's album thus far.
The Velvet Underground should stay buried. Sounds like the soundtrack to some bad romcom movie. I couldn't sleep at all lest night but this album almost cured my insomnia.
I can appreciate it but not really my cup of tea. A bit depressing in comparison to some of the other music I listened to from the same era.
J’espère que l’aura de ce band ne tient pas à cet album (J’ai l’impression que ça tient plus à la relation avec Andy Warhol). J’ai bien aimé la 2e partie de la pièce « the murder mystery », mais la 1re partie était vraiment pénible.
Great relaxing album with serious undertones