Reviews (page 12 of 15)
Good stuff
So far this album feels intimate. It feels warm. It appears to pull the listener into a work in progress. You can pick up on the improvisational nature of this album. It reminds me of a live recording of John Coltrane or thelonious monk. The music seems to go round and round with no apparent end. Then it comes together in a whimsical and beautiful manner.
Realize their talent but not for me
Loved it! There were songs on there that I recognized but never knew who sang them.
Not my speed
A complete surprise. I have to admit to having been 1 of the 'oh, the Velvet Underground blah blah blah.....'. A bit of a large mistake on my part! Great tunes and melodies and quirkiness. It sounds to me like it's quite a simple album, nothing fancy in the recording or the songs but everything is really well crafted. Very tidy album.
some hits some misses. a classic album for a reason, I really enjoyed this one, particularly I'm Set Free, but majority of this album is worth a lesson.
Great until the Murder Mystery. I haven’t felt my enthusiasm die for an album so quickly. Loved the rest of it though!
Not as much of a bop as I expected. Solid though.
Great harmonies while instrumental purposely sounding a little rough. I see why so many people mention this group. This was a delightful trip and I will add to my rotation.
Meh
3.5/5
I know they were super influential and I was even interested in listening to the album. Boring and weird, couldn't wait for it to be over
I'd never listened to this before. It was really great to listen to it, but it's not something I'll listen to many more times.
Honestly didn't catch my attention from the get-go. It had its good songs here and there but overall not a good album in my opinion. Maybe for others just not for me
Could put me right to sleep. Listened to murder mystery for 30 seconds before hittjhh by NEXT!
Ehhh not bad
I too went to art school
Honestly a pretty boring album.
This is my second Velvet Underground album and 3rd appearance by Lou Reed for this project. I've never heard any of the songs on this album. With the exception of "Murder Mystery Party" this is way less experimental and dark than "Velvet Underground and Nico" was. The sound and content is still very poetic and raw, but this album alternates between lighter sounding folk-pop and garage tunes. There are more songs about love and relationships and fewer songs about obtaining and using heroin. They still have the same hypnotic quality and the tracklist has the same cinematic build as "and Nico". This was a really good listen, I'm definitely starting to appreciate Lou Reed's position in the halls of great songwriters. I was going to write favorite tracks, but realized I couldn't pick one and that one of my favorite things about this album was the transition and building from track to track. Some songs were almost like punchlines to the previous song ("Jesus" into "Beginning to See the Light" lol). It was cool to hear the rest of the band singing, too, but these are all songs written by Lou Reed.
Took me 50 years to finally listen to Velvet Underground thanks to this project and it’s kind of what I expected, loose and out of tune with some interesting moments, just ok for me. I know that they’re a big influence to many of my own influences but it’s really just not my cup of tea.
i overall "liked" all of the songs. some i liked more than others. i would listen again because i already forget what some of the songs sounded like (listened while working on essays) i don't want 90% of my albums to be 4-stars so i'll start with a 3-star for this one.
Absolutely terrible. Not only do I hate it, I don’t like anybody who likes it. Not music.
I loved the drums and the guitars
Good, but not their best. 3.5
i have pretty limited exposure to the entire discography of velvet underground - really my entire experience is their first album, so this was an interesting listen. a very subdued, folky album, very different from the other music that i've heard. i really like that it has a different sound and feel than their other stuff. i think i could grow into liking this one a lot, on first listen i definitely appreciated its style.
Interesting album. Obviously there are some absolute classics on there like 'waiting for the man' and 'Heroin' but the rest are hit and miss for me. some of the tracks feel like hazy drug included a jam session see 'european son'. I reckon this album is one of those "you had to have lived at the time" albums to truly get it.
Just OK
I don't think I will listen to this album again, in it's entirety, and that's the biggest shortcoming, as an album. Liked Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes the most. The Murder Mystery is unique, but only on the first ever listen. Don't think I will want to listen to it again. I generally like songs you could sing along to, even if it's just a few lines, the murder mystery is un-sing-along-able. Maybe that's the point, but could have been a shorter song with the same novelty. Overall , softer rock, and not a very memorable album.
Loved this
Good music but not my jam
Not my type
I just don't get it. There's nothing here I haven't heard elsewhere or done better. Maybe they got there first? I don't care. I'm listening to them after.
Candy Says - a 1a música começa com um arranjo e uma melodia que me agradam. A voz de lou reed é melhor do que eu esperava. Boa surpresa. What goes on - já não posso dizer o mesmo. timbre ruim. execução pueril. soa datada. some kinda love - segue ruim. timbre ruim. execução ruim. voz do lou reed se mostra o que eu esperava dela. ... I'm set free - música ruim. solo de guitarra sofrível. after hours - o melhor dela é que encerra o álbum.
I liked some of the songs, however there are some songs that were literally just noise. It was great to have the opportunity to listen. I don’t think I would have ever listened to this album otherwise!
Just lovely. That song Jesus is terrible. Last two songs amazing, particularly second last. Long and unweildly. Will listen to this more than Nico, which is overrated AF.
Solid
Much more chill than I expected.
Never really listened to the Velvet Underground. Like the album and how calm it is. A bit psychedelic at the end, alltogether a good start to explore more albums of them.
Good mix of calm and more energetic songs; reminds me a bit of Parquet Courts, but not probably only because I do not listen to (Indie) Rock a lot. I cannot say much about the lyrics.
Teilweise ganz nett. Langsamer Rock.
Great Album, but not my taste.
You guys! Don’t tell anyone. This is NOT GOOD. Dude. Some people are going to pretend that they think this is the best thing that has, literally, ever been recorded. But here’s the thing about that: They don’t play together They sing off key ( annoying not quaint) More pretentious immature poetry (I’m looking 👀 at you Tom Waits) Don’t act like you’re the first person who was ever in a difficult relationship. Seriously someone is trying to trick you. Listen more critically. Maybe I’m at a place in my life where I don’t want to hear your complaining anymore. I don’t understand the love for this or the VU in general.
love this. Distills the appeal of country & rock n roll down to some basic elements, finds some essential quality that hadn't been heard by itself before. Has the guts to do just what's needed & leave a ton of sonic space. Full of heart. I've neglected The Murder Mystery thinking that it's The Gift, and I'm glad to have been reminded about it again. Makes a lot of other music sound ineffectual and silly. music: adored. 10 out of 5. (⌐★_★)
It’s good. Won’t belabour it here, but I just don’t see this band the way people seem to see this band. I just think they’re pretty good.
Great
Incredible album. The version I listened to had a live section at the end that was awesome. The actual album has some of the Velvet Undergrounds best songs. Pale Blue Eyes is probably my second favorite song of theirs. There's something about the simplicity of the song, and Lou's longing on it. Love it! After Hours is a good one too. As far as other Velvet Underground albums go, this one is pretty straight forward, not too experimental. I believe this is pretty much Lou Reed at this point in the band, Cale had left the band I think. Lou really shines as the main songwriter. Only he could sing about the seedy parts of New York, drug addiction, the kooky characters that surrounded him, and make you want to be there with him. Lou is one of a kind.
Plenty of room for the self-titled to be great; For now, I'm caught between the actually-good love songs and the nearly-full weirding present on the closing tracks.
Decent listen, preferred the ‘banana record’
First time listening to this band. This was really nice. After Hours was even giving me some Kimya Dawson vibes. Favourite tracks: Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, The Murder Mystery.
Really enjoyed some of the more mellow and experimental songs on here. Lou Reed has unlimited singer/songwriter rizz. I would just like to point out how the song “Murder Mystery” on here is eerily similar to “Chop Suey” by System of a Down
Didn't think I was a Velvet Underground fan and this album surprised me. Nice and mellow. Makes for a smooth easy running. Not breaking any land speed records but I found it nice and relaxing.
Enjoyed, want to listen to this again
Pioneers
Found this album when I was 18. It changed my life.
The albums with Cale are more interesting, but I am not sure they're actually better, though they're also doing radically different things. At any rate, Doug Yule Rules.
wow I forgot how hard "Candy Says" goes.
Not as big a fan of these more mellow tunes. What Goes On probably my favorite.
And a half. Didn’t care for The Murder Mystery at all, but enjoyed the rest.
Not as good as the banana album or Loaded but still nice
I worked hard to understand this album. And I’m not sure I get it. There’s definitely some good. After hours was great. Candy Says was good. But a lot of the album didn’t click with me. I didn’t care for the lyrics, but maybe I didn’t give them enough thought/attention. I know lots of people praised the lyrics. I think a lot of this album would be good if I was in the right mood. Some good melancholy vibes. Not all the through of course. Murder Mystery was unique. A bit much (and too long), but it was neat. What Goes On is probably closest to my normal listening stuff. Overall 3.5 stars
4.7/10
Heard this a few years ago and like it even more on the relisten. Closer is fire, also love heroin and Venus in furs
It's simple: I see any of the Velvet Underground's four albums, I give it an automatic 5.
Classic
I might be getting grumpy as I age but I don't think music should refer to drug taking or violence as it makes it too acceptable to impressionable children. So whilst I enjoyed the music on this album it's lost a star for drug references
Found this one quite enjoyable except for The Murder Mystery track.
Sounds like people having sex on heroin
And that's a wrap for all the velvet underground on the list. Verdict: not really for me, but they're good, and endless respect to them for sounding Like That back in the 60s.
I do like their songwriting but it always feels like there’s a little something missing, a little squeeze of lime to cut through the fat
Classic
Some good songs (what goes on, murder mystery, after hours and pale blue eyes). Can see why it’s seen as a classic. 7/10
This was a rough listen. Lots of songs and not one lifted me or got me adding it to a playlist. The Dylanesq vocals, jam band, and often chaotic vibe didn’t resonate for me.
It feels really weird that I've been listening to the Velvet Underground for more than 20 years, but there are still albums that I haven't listened to in their entirety. That might be because I'm lazy. Anyway, this album has a bunch of VU songs that I really like going back to when I was a kid and first picked up their greatest hits. This album really shows off how well the Velvet Underground did everything. There are conventional love songs, funky rock songs, experimental songs, and all of it very well executed 5/5
Solid album which I'd visit again in a better mindset
Great late night thinking and reflecting music. Them at there most sweet.
This album is the second masterpiece from the Velvet Underground, and I personally enjoy it more than their debut album with Nico, even though I appreciate is more historically significant. The songs on this album are beautifully written and have a more accessible sound, with mellow and reflective melodies and lyrics. Some of my favourite songs are “Pale Blue Eyes”, “What Goes On”, “Beginning to See the Light”, and “The Murder Mystery”. The last song adds a bit of experimental flair to the album, with its split channels and overlapping vocals. This album showcases the talent and versatility of Lou Reed, and I give it the full five stars.
Definitely not my type of music.
Ik vind dit een heel raar album.... Is het super experimenteel? Is het een beetje saaiige rock? Sommige nummers zijn interessant, maar het grootste deel liep voor mij maar gewoon een beetje in elkaar over en dan niet op de goede manier. After Hours is mijn persoonlijke favoriete nummer van dit album. Verder heb ik niet echt een mening over dit album, het bestaat gewoon en het zal wel, maar het is niet een vervelend album.
really special album, I loved digging into the lore on the wikipedia page and seeing all the drama between band members that influenced the final sound! standouts are definitely the murder mystery and after hours, and candy says was extra special after having been a long-time fan of Reed's Walk on the Wild Side, without realizing they reference the same Candy :)) very cool
A very interesting album. I listen to it. But not as often as I listen to TVU&N or WLWH. I guess they'll come up, if they don't that's weird.
As usual, VU delivers a solid album that is streets ahead.
I want to like the Velvet Underground I really do. I want to be one of the cool kids. But I just find it so boring.
Would I listen to this album again? No. First time hearing the full album? Yes. Were there any songs I skipped? Jesus, The Murder Mystery Comments? Absolutely boring album, could fall asleep listening to this. Favourite Songs? None of them. If I had to choose.... After Hours.
Masterpiece! Wondering if song - the murder mystery was taken as an inspiration for chop suey. Tried googling it, didn't find any info saying it was, but I'll live my life further believing that it's true. Overall I really think this album is a piece of precious art and should forever be cherished!!! Listened to the 45th anniversary deluxe edition, really appriciated the live versions of their songs from other albums, very nice. What can I say, I really like the velvet underground.
i get this is a seminal album. i hated it. i'm going back to snsd.
Too slow. Too boring. Too much noodling on an organ. Not a fan. A few decent songs. But overall a bit of a stinker imo.
Boring...lack of percussion on most songs didn't help. 2
This album has one of my favorite songs of this generation! Rest of album overall is a little slower than I like.
It’s fine. There are some pretty cool instrumentation from time to time and some biting lyrics, but the whole record is just soft and doesn’t really capture attention.
Mellow. Nice background music but no real standout songs
This is a great album!
This is art in the hands of the people. It's exactly what it means to be. So much fun to listen to. It has the fingerprints of the artists all over it, and I love it. And "I'll Be Your Mirror" is the best expression of the Jungian concept of the Shadow ever set to music. Fight me.
Classic album
Today I got velvet underground and niko on vinyl and this album is great
Kinda boring but last song is good
Na wat eerdere mislukkingen van Lou Reed, nu een best luisterwaardig album. Relaxte sound, af en toe een experimentje, een keer een vrouwelijke vocalist tussendoor. Lekker hoor.
Dit album begint met een slaapverwekkend nummer….Tja…Zo kom je er lekker in zeg… Dan denk je een doorsnee nummer te krijgen, maar krijg je na een minuut enorm vals snaarwerk…Er volgen een aantal standaard deuntjes. En na een tijdje schotelen ze weer vals geram voor, deze keer op de toetsen. Ik zette het album bijna te vroeg af. Ik hoorde ineens een dame heel andere muziek maken. Dacht dat het album klaar was en Spotify me een suggestie deed, waarvan alleen Spotify het verband met de vorige muziek kan leggen. Maar nee, dit hoorde er ook nog bij. Een twee voor deze band. Mogen ze blij mee zijn.
Dit is al het 4e album wat we voorgeschoteld krijgen in deze snoblijst waar Lou Reed prominent aanwezig is. Dat is een beetje een overkill. Dit album is wat toegankelijker, met wat meer folky popliedjes ertussen ook, maar het beklijft allemaal nauwelijks. Je zou kunnen beargumenteren dat dit juist een van de betere albums met Lou Reed is, omdat het wat makkelijker behapbaar is. Maar het is ook simpelweg beresaai. Doe mij dan maar liever die vage uitdagende composities (zoals Murder Mystery, al is dat ook verschrikkelijk), dan dit soort niemendalletjes.
very cute
very mellow. solid guitar but not a fan of the vocals,
1969 психоделик рок, но при этом очень нежно и гладко. Понравилась The Murder Mystery, довольно мощный трек для своего времени, я спустя 50 лет слушаю нечто подобное. А значит трек хороший. Но остальной альбом был ничем не примечателен. Вот лучше оцените Ame Bibabi - Chin up High, ну это просто пушка! три звезды
It was fine. Nothing extraordinary I didn’t love it. Very underground 60s and that’s not really my thing. Just not something memorable for me.
4/5
спокойненько, приятно
Местами интереснее первого альбома, местами более проходное. Более взрослая и взешенная музыка. Но Murder Mystery имба!
11/20/23. Unbelievably holds up well and sounds great, all the songs are well thought out and unique. A classic.
I want to start this review with the one complaint that I have about it. I did not enjoy listening to "The Murder Mystery." I have... respect for the song, but it just give me too much of a sensory overload that I feel like if I ever listened to this album again, I would probably skip this song. But would I ever listen to this album again? Yeah, probably. Aside from the one skippable song, this is basically a perfect album. Going back to when I listened to Lou Reed's "Transformer" a while back, my one complaint with that album was that I didn't like Reed's singing. Fortunately, his singing in this album is a million times better. The singing from the other members is great too. The songs have interesting writing that makes you really think about these songs. The instrumentation and tone are expertly crafted as well. Overall, this is a (mostly) phenomenal album, and I'm willing to excuse the one song that freaks my brain out and give this album a 5/5.
Fav: The Murder Mystery
It's cool, it's dark, it murmurs along some important points. Lou Reed doing the production alone, to the disapproval of his bandmates, is truly the rise of an important asshole. I do like that everyone in the band was encouraged to sing and contribute.
One of the most important albums of the decade.
I don't know if it was poor audio mixing, out of tune instruments/singing, or what but I really struggled to finish this album. There were a couple songs with some bluegrass feel that I almost enjoyed. But as a whole it felt like it was written and recorded by amateurs at a church camp. Not a fan.
Lou Reed stands out here but he and the rest of the lads have put together a good melange of tracks the are a good listen. And bonus props for hanging out at The Factory!
It was ok. Was expecting it to be more like the first song, so thought I’d like it more.
Really enjoyed this. Pale Blue Eyes is a gorg song.
Summary: I've only heard their debut album prior to listening to this, and there's a marked difference in quality and professionalism with this album. The songs are mature and tightly arranged. Just an all-round incredibly solid rock album that's on par with Abbey Road for sounding like 1969's future. The majority of the tracks are fire. It's close to being 5 stars, for sure, but the weaker tracks and very questionable "experimental" choices on them hold this album back. Candy Says: A very pretty ballad with an excellent chord progression and melody. Love the confidence on this track compared to their comparably laid-back debut album opener, Sunday Morning. What Goes On: A stronger counterpart to the identically-named track off the Beatles' Rubber Soul. Organs are well-placed and the vocal ensemble lends it a bar-singing vibe. Distorted guitar/horn-sounding solo would be better without the piercing high organ notes over the top. Overall, the song gives a progressive early-70s underground feel. Some Kinda Love: The spread-out mixing on this bluesy, one-chord "talky" song is really fun. A little monotonous, but a good track. Pale Blue Eyes: I've just noticed how great the singing is on this album. Especially in this track, Reed's vocal has this quiet sadness and maturity that's difficult to describe but incredible to witness. Excellent guitar and bass playing here too. My favourite track so far. Reminiscent of Radiohead's No Surprises (which was recorded 28 years later). It's even in the same key! Jesus: Unusual mixing in the intro, but it rebalances after the 30-second mark. A beautiful, quiet track. Beginning To See The Light: A bombastic start to side 2. The chorus (or post-chorus? "Here we go again...") is excellent, and Reed's wild hollering heading into the next verse is pretty hilarious. A great track. I'm Set Free: A good track with a good guitar solo, but otherwise nondescript compared to other quieter songs on the album. Fitting choice of percussion. That's The Story Of My Life: The melody doesn't deviate much here, but interestingly the vocal still ends up shining. The Murder Mystery: A very odd intro with a convincing guitar riff that ends up being the star of the first portion of the song. Confusing two talking vocals at the same time is confusing. These are replaced by two completely new talking vocals, again different and played over each other. It's impossible to keep track of, so the listener tends to focus more on the rhythm section, which (fortunately) is kind of fire. New section at 6:30 is fun but makes the song sound like heavily discount prog. After Hours: Huh? Who's this vocalist? Honestly, this song bops, and it's difficult to explain why. The guitar and singing are extremely simplistic, and there's nothing else there. The lyrics are pretty but naive - and maybe that's exactly why the song shines. It's a simple, blind, naive, childish, beautiful lullaby concluding a great album. Key tracks: Candy Says, What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, Beginning To See The Light, After Hours
War okay
I preferred this one to the banana one. There's less of a feeling of this being music for arts sake. It's a much more accessible and enjoyable listen.
For some reason I associated the band name with a more rock vibe. It is more mellow than I expected. Nice chill album.
Slow-burn '60s rock outing. Not my favourite.
Classic
Another perfect album, which happens to include one of my all-time favorite songs: Pale Blue Eyes. I was thinking about this song the other day when reviewing Different Class by Pulp. That album has a number of songs about adultery, all of which focus on humiliation - for both the cheater and the cheatee - and as a result they feel dirty (and as I mentioned before, just on the border of consent). PBE, by contrast, is touching and poignant, with discordant notes signaling the intensity of the emotional investment for both the singer and the listener. It is much more mature and nuanced and ultimately a much better song. The whole album is phenomenal.
Another classic VU album! While not as perfect as Velvet Underground & Nico (to me), this is still a fantastic album with some of VU’s most wonderful songs: What Goes On, Beginning To See The Light, That’s The Story of My Life, and, of course, the two gems that are Pale Blue Eyes and After Hours. I’m curious to see if the entire VU discography will make this list!
I've never been in the VU cult but I do find their stuff interesting. Especially given the time they were making it
Every time I listen to any Velvet Underground record, I fall back in love with them the exact same way I fell in love when I first listened to them at 13. I go right back to the first leather jacket I bought, the first time I learnt to play these songs on guitar. The Velvet Underground is my personal favourite of their albums, and I really don’t listen to it enough. If & Nico is the origin of Alternative, and White Light/White Heat and Loaded are the origins of Punk, then this is Indie, Alt Country/Folk, Cowpunk and even Post-Hardcore? The Murder Mystery is totally a proto-post-hardcore song. Words cannot describe how much I love this album
This album is ok. Maybe I got too excited seeing The Velvet Underground, because they're a beloved band to many, but this album was just kinda boring to me. The songs were kinda boring, and those that weren't boring were weird sounding, which is just as bad. Overall, not my taste. 1.5/5 Favorite song: Pale Blue Eyes Worst song: The Murder Mystery
Jesus after hours
Venus furs sounds whiny with a violin seemingly purposeful playing the wrong notes. I also really don't like the messiness of Run Run Run. It feels very discordant. Again. And I don't like it. The next song is just boring and slow. I honestly can't wait for it to be over. It doesnt seem to get any better. Unless you like music that sounds like a psychedelic mess I don't recommend this album to anyone.
Favorite track : The Murder Mystery
Simple yet Creative. It Still holds up today. The Velvets were short lived but their Impact on Rock music cannot be denied
Soft and quiet. Could put this on any afternoon and a read a book, or give it your full attention. Lot's here to appreciate. Need to delve deeper and relisten to more of VU's catalogue. *Heard before
Not really a fan of this kind of music
Meeste liedjes zeer saai. Hier en daar wanneer het uptempo gaat is het cava.
I don't think I've taken enough drugs in my life to make this album make sense
After hours
Very chill. As much as I hate Lou Reed, this album was a fun listen on a quiet Autumn Saturday morning.
thoughts : big fan of the chill vibe overall and really enjoyed the nostalgic, almost childlike, feel of the album. I've only ever listened to some of Lou Reed's solo stuff, but this might make me look into that and VU a little more. favourite tracks : 'The Murder Mystery' and 'After Hours'
Rough and boring compared to Velvet Underground & Nico
3 great tracks on here - (so good I though it might be late Beatles/early Wings) and a bit of experimental mess. Nothing so whacked out it that ruined the album though. A solid 4. My most enjoyable Velvet Underground experience so far.
Overall a good listen. Some weird stuff, some good stuff. Nothing that stood out too much.
Pretty ok
Liked it more than I expected. Velvet underground is a classic.
I've tried to listen to several Velvet Underground albums and every time I'm somewhat bored. It's good, but I feel like it's not going anywhere A really soft 3/5
Excelente album, te la pasas bien escuchandolo
I was familiar with this album already, but what a treat to listen again and with a new lens to see what I appreciate about it. I really enjoyed it and for some reason, perhaps the recording style always feel likes there's a sense of innocence and light heartedness about TVU. Which I like a lot. Beginning to see the light is perhaps my favourite. A lovely varied album too
Definitely a banger for sure. Not as good as Loaded but still a banger.
A bit too chill for me. Also, too much Jesus. The Murder Mystery is fun to listen to, but I feel a bit dizzy now. After Hours is cute. Oh and of course Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes are good too.
Amazing! Nearly every song here hits. The soft songs bounce off nicely with the louder songs. The experimentation is nice as well. However. I think The Murder Mystery drags on a bit. Other than that, superb album! I applaud.
I see now why people say that not everyone listened to The Velvet Underground but everyone who listened to the velvet Underground started a band. Listening to this it's easy to think "these guys are successful? If this counts as music, I can do that!" Murder mystery keeps this from 4 stars and almost knocked it all the way down to 2.
I felt that this album, even though some songs on their own are good, couldn't quite find it's place in the genre and is not enticing or connected enough for me to properly enjoy it. Just seems all over the place and not really my style, enjoyed Pale Blue Eyes but that was it
Obscure music, enjoyable, not quite for me but good nonetheless, 5/10.
interesting and unexpectedly calm. maybe i was in the wrong mood, but some of the soundscapes and drones didn’t hit well. that acoustic number at the end though… 🔥
Eh...
This is great, love the vibes. Experimental, fun, unique, original. Wonderful time was had by all. 4/5
Very slow to get into, but I did find the more I listened the better it got. Each song is quite different, and I’m not too sure what they were going for here, but I can see it being pretty interesting for it’s time. Listen again: probably not Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: After Hours
Pretty good, might need to give it a second and third listen to really get into
Blue eye nice
Some great tunes. Nice chill music to walk to. Light airy
Okay to listen to until the second-to-last track which is wild. Akin to psychedelic/experimental music of the 60s maybe? Not my vibe, but I see what they tried to do. Last song also has a kind of voluntary naiveté to it, sung as by a child. As an album, not likely to listen to it a second time, and wouldn't recognize it if I heard it anywhere. Wouldn't skip it either though.
This is a great album. Lou Reed is clearly a major musical influence on a ton of bands that came after. Pale Blue Eyes is a masterpiece of a song.
I've heard the name so many times but this is my first listen. The production is solid. Excited to hear what else they offer. Murder Mystery and After hours are my favorite tracks.
Nice and Relaxing listen. Would work great interspersed between little more upbeat songs in a playlist, got a little repetitive listening to the whole at once. 7/10
I wasn't expecting such a nice album but I really liked the experience
Very chill album to listen to. I think it stands up nicely to their preceding albums, even if the sound is totally different
Classic.. Candy Says och After Hours är två av mina favoritlåtar och resten är bra
Pale Blue Eyes makes sense as their biggest hit on Spotify, definitely ahead of their time (late 60s but more artsy) Beginning to see the light is a bop - would love on vinyl
2/10 - decent sounds on some songs, but too weird for my taste Very mellow beginning I can't decide if the singer has a good voice or not, very lightly singing in the first song. The second song is way more upbeat, singer kind of growling vocals? I'm not into this so far Weird organ synth? Songs last too long Lots of nice guitar playing, lyrics are weird and just not vibing This isn't for me, strange lyrics and experimental, not my thing I don't want to DNF my first album, but getting close Beginning To See The Light sounds good to start, but will probably last too long - yep, already getting worse Weird yodel? Listened to the first 6 songs straight through, will skim the remaining There's a cool binaural audio on The Murder Mystery, 60s always messing with switching channels What the heck is this? Each ear has a different monologue? This song would be a trip if high lol Who is the woman singing the final song? This album is such an experimental 60s thing
Not a fan of this genre of music
Too Jesussy
Listened a couple times, it's all right...
A couple of great songs, but everything else is forgettable.
Até adicionei algumas na minha playlist, que achei gostosinhas, relaxantes, mas em geral, como um todo, não achei nada demais não. Ao longo do álbum vai ficando meio enjoativo, cansativo. A penúltima música inclusive me deu dor de cabeça. Terrível. Ia dar 3 estrelas, mas abaixei pra 2 só por causa da penúltima música.
Cool album. I was not in the mood for this vibe so I probably didn't enjoy it at it's fullest.
Pretty mellow stuff. Nothing really that fun stood out.
A great listen from start to finish, had some standout peaks and also some valleys.
This album is so good. In some way it's also kind of the reason I started this album thing in the first place. I saw a Twitter thread about "After Hours" about 7 months ago, then went down a Velvet Underground rabbit hole, then listened to a podcast about the Velvet Underground that mentioned a bunch of other bands from the time, then realized I should listen to more older music, which led me to this. This album has already been part of the rotation for a bit now and it will continue to be. "Candy Says" is an incredibly powerful opener, especially given the time it came out. "Pale Blue Eyes" is one of my favorite Velvet Underground songs, it's understated and beautiful and heartbreaking. While this album is great overall, I also think the stretch of songs from "Pale Blue Eyes" to "I'm Set Free" is one of the most thematically strong stretches of songs that I can think of. He's wrestling with his past, he struggles with religion, and it ends with the lyric "I'm set free to find a new illusion." "I'm Set Free" also just has such a grand sound that builds over the course of the song that pulls it together. It's such a narratively strong run, and they're all great musically too. Then there's "After Hours," which got me into them in the first place. It's an interesting song to be the first song of theirs that I ever listened to, since it's so different from basically everything else of theirs. With no other knowledge I would've guessed this was a early 2000s indie song, but they were doing it 40 years earlier. Apparently Lou Reed just kind of decided on a whim that Moe Tucker should sing this one, she had no interest in doing so, and only agreed when Reed kicked the rest of the band out of the studio for her to record it. The song is brilliant, everything about it works perfectly. It's very clear that I love this album, and it's so close to perfect to me. I do have to mention the one blemish though, which is "The Murder Mystery." One of the things I love about the Velvet Underground is their willingness to be bold and try things that are a bit out there. This worked perfectly on "After Hours" for example, but "The Murder Mystery" is a big miss for me. I won't comment on it too much, but it's 9 minutes long, has a lot of mumbling background noises, and definitely hurts the album flow a bit at the end. They tried something, I respect that, it didn't quite work, it is what it is. This is already a super long review, but I just love this album. I'm not sure how I'd rate it vs. The Velvet Underground and Nico, but it's at least close for me. I think the overall narrative and production might be a bit tighter on this one, but they're both great in their own right. Easy 5 stars here, I've been waiting for my first Velvet Underground album and am looking forward to the rest. The whole album (except "The Murder Mystery") is getting added to my playlist. Favorite song: After Hours Other: Candy Says, What Goes On, Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, Beginning To See The Light, I’m Set Free, That’s The Story Of My Life
Some great songs on here (mainly Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes), but they definitely weren't pushing the boundaries as much as their first two albums. Even with the weird Murder Mystery track, which is a bit difficult to listen to.
Classic sounding and very loose.
Värt att återkomma till
Pretty good. Dragged on towards the end, especially murder mystery which didn't seem to fit.
Glad to not see the radio pushed tracks from VU get some love. Solid, tight playing throughout. Would have liked a different track to open the album though....
beauriful, just beauriful
Not a fan
Standout tracks- Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus
Much more subtle and melodic than I had anticipated. I can dig it
I liked this, some beautiful melodic songs. Will listen again.
Pale blue eyes favourite song, good pacing, no skips
Meh
Good, not great
The first song, "Candy Says", is the best track on this album, it's absolutely beautiful with such a mesmerizing chord progression, and great vocals from Doug Yule. "After Hours" is probably my second favorite, a very twee song with a great vocal from Maureen Tucker. Normally this kind of sweetness might put me off, but it's just done so well that I have to commend it. The songs in between the first and last tracks on this album range from bad to just okay. "Pale Blue Eyes" is fine, if not a little repetitive, and "Jesus" would have made a great Simon & Garfunkel song. I also like the concept of "Murder Mystery", being that if you listen to one channel or the other you get two different songs/stories, essentially. That said, it doesn't excuse its 9 minute monotonous runtime. The rest of the songs are bland, boring, or just bad. And that's without stating that I can't stand Lou Reed's singing voice, which ruins even the best of the tracks on here. Hence why my two favorites are the songs he doesn't take lead vocals on. The Velvet Underground (1969) is okay, but nothing special overall.
was okay. a couple good songs but wasn't impressed overall.
This was a fun series though interestingly lost a little of it's luster after a second listen but I enjoyed most of the songs on here.
Blind album: know the artist, not the album. I don't think I like this album as much as I should. It's okay and I think it's cause I don't like Velvet Underground very much or listen to them often. I want to like this album but I think I'll need to listen to it a few more times for it to grow. OK Computer was the same for me so who knows. I absolutely love the closing track which is funny cause it's the drummer singing. Murder mystery is very cool and creative as well.
I was convinced I hated the Velvet Underground before lol. I liked this album more than I expected. It’s a solid 3.5. Favorite song is probably The Murder Mystery.
Extremely overrated. Album had nothing going for it
Haven’t actually listened to the Velvet Underground before. I think this is a better introduction to their sound as opposed to “The Velvet Underground and Nico”. It’s not really a standout for me but I can appreciate the sentiment behind it.
3.5/5
Solid record.
First album I’ve rated on here and it’s one I know front and back. What’s new is the mix for the 45th anniversary edition that sounds incredible. That organ in What Goes On is clear as a bell.
Dümpelt so vor sich hin, ohne Höhen und Tiefen
clássico
relaxing. good background music
one of my all time faves
The album has a late night lounge feel. The Murder Mystery kinda ruins the vibe, but Pale Blue Eyes is devastating
Very experimental. Opened doors for new sounds such as punk and new wave however; this band was way ahead of their time. Although I would like to say I am a fan of Lou Reed, I just couldn’t get into this album. Sure there are a couple easy listening songs but then there’s nothing special about them either. Each track is either that, very easy or too abstract. I hate doing it, but I’m going one. 1
Rock. Folk. Oscila entre lo aburrido y lo psicodélico
Classic
Missing a lot of the wackiness that Cale brought to the group, but some of VU's best and most beautiful tracks are on here.
fine. very forgettable. double layering on murder mystery is all that gets it a 3 rather than 2
A pretty unique style of honey sloth songs and some although still soft more upbeat songs, wouldn’t be my everyday music but definitely a nice little intimate niche to dwell on during rainy days.
There are problems in these times, but wooooo, none of them are mine! Every Velvets album is great in one way or Another this is the more quiet and introspective one I guess. Is it the best or my favorite I don't know but maybe
Somehow Velvet Underground just really not my vibe
Meh
listened to again good one, very introspective
Fine but would not seek this out to listen to again.
Always mesmerized by "Pale Blue Eyes". Loved the duality of the ballads and rock songs in the album. The way Lou Reeds voice (and the other band members) flows between the guitars. Big highlights for me where the ballads, like "Candy Says" and "After Hours".
It was just ok. More songs that weren't as good as were. Nothing that really stood out to me or blew me away.
For a notoriously artsy, underground band, this is quite a cozy and intimate listen. Like sitting in a room with your art school friends, just joking about (I'm Set Free) and saying some weird shit (The Murder Mystery), but also showing you their most vulnerable side (Candy Says). Light 4 And don’t forget to listen to Anohni's cover of Candy Says
An important part of music history: The Velvet Underground was truly ahead of their time. The melancholic lyrics paint deeply emotional pictures while the choice of words makes it feel like the singer keeps a certain emotional distance between himself and the subject material. This raises questions - are the songs sung from the pov of someone who is now in a better place? Someone who has gone emotionally numb? The answer does not matter, though, because the result is amazing regardless. Raw, intimate songs that are polished and accessible at the same time. While I love the overall vibe of the songs and album, to me personally there is no one song that particularly stands out to me.
Good
Probably their most listenable release. Good, not great.
I didn’t enjoy it that much but I feel like it was better than it seemed to me. Possibly could grow on me but first listen it’s just kinda draggy and bland. A few of the songs were decent but overall not my favorite.
No
Another sublime album by the Velvet Underground - subtle, gentle yet gritty, high minded yet sleazy - art and rock and roll and fun. No wonder this is arguably the most influential band in guitar music. It’s not a 5 star because as a record they have release better - but only by a hair.
sweet and nice and lovely second half is way better
Despite being a bunch of liberal arts nepo-babies, The Velvet Underground really tapped into something here.
A mainstream rock album that was less experimental than I expected, only knowing their John Cale albums
Fader med velvet underground 4.3
Haven't really listened to VU much if at all. I really like the music. Polished.
This has northern the ART of 'w/Nico" nor the POWER of 'loaded'. It's not even as fuckedup as 'light/heat'
So great
Being it was my first listen through, felt a little bit underwhelmed. However, I have a vague feeling that I would enjoy more in subsequent plays and through more intentionally listening to the lyrics. Otherwise feel pretty neutral
Not really my thing, a bit dull
unbearably slow paced
There's a lot of great/fun tracks on this album, though like most VU albums, I find it a little inconsistent (probably the drugs). Still, great band, and an album with many sounds that i can hear reverberating in the sounds of many modern bands I love.
5.5/10 - did not have to listen to. Was not expecting it to sound like this. The lyricism was not great and the instrumentals were inconsistent. I also dislike the vocals throughout, but especially the woman’s. 1. Pale Blue Eyes 2. What Goes On 3. That’s the Story of My Life 4. I’m Set Free 5. Jesus 6. The Murder Mystery 7. Some Kinda Love 8. Candy Says 9. Beginning to See the Light 10. After Hours
Meh. Trying too hard to be edgy.
Actually own this album. Totally unappreciated album and band...
I think this album is nice. It was simple, pleasant, and sounded nice while listening to it. Then I got to “The Murder Mystery” and felt a total whiplash. Maybe I need to listen to it again, but it really ruined the vibe the album had previously set up. I think that if you are going to experiment, it’s better to do it across the whole project and not just throw it in at the end… dunno. Good album, though. Favorite tracks: I’m Set Free, Pale Blue Eyes 3
I don't know what I love about The Velvet Underground but there's something they're doing right.
3/4
It's not as groundbreaking as their first album, but damn if this still isn't excellent. It's The Velvet Underground much more subdued, but they do it so well. Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes are each absolutely perfect songs.
As good as this band is, and for as much as Lou commands the direction of the album, this one kind of missed the mark for me. I never cared for the decision to scale back on the “abrasiveness” of White Light, and I would’ve preferred a continuation on the weird train. That said, Pale Blue Eyes is a beautiful track, and this is still far from a bad album.
Lou Reed kicked John Cale out of the band and a lot of The Velvet Underground’s thrilling experimentation left with him, as is evidenced by this tame, though lovely, post-split record.
This was a change in style for the Velvet Underground. Gone was the heroin-drenched experimentation. This record brought a more straight-forward rock sound. I think Reed’s songwriting really shines on this one.
I really enjoyed this and think this deserves the five and banana album deserves the four. Sounds like TVU are pulling music into the future, so far ahead of the game are they.
Fantastic pop album. You can still find some touches of early Velvet Underground flavor in the instrumentation and songwriting. It's bittersweet, mellow, and a shift from the vibes of VU's first two albums with the exception of the song The Murder Mystery which sounds like it is right of White Light/White Heat. Highlight tracks include What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning To See The Light, I'm Set Free, and the closer After Hours. This album really shows how good of a songwriter Lou Reed is and how diverse Velvet Underground can sound. Not my all-time favorite album of theirs, I would definitely rate VU & Nico higher. But it's a close race for the second spot between this one and WL/WH.
I liked What Goes On a lot and the Beatles influence is tattooed on this album’s face (in a good way)
The more I listen to Lou Reed, the more I realize he influenced a variety of musicians who came after him. With albums like this one, it isn’t too hard to see why. “Candy Says” is one of the Velvet Underground’s more underrated tracks, with introspective lines like “What do you think I’d see / If I could walk away from me?” I didn’t know the band had ever ventured into Southern twang, but they pull it off well in “Some Kinda Love.” The simplistic instrumentals and raw emotion in “Pale Blue Eyes” make it the best song on the album and one of Lou Reed’s best songs ever. While nearly impossible to follow, the parallel storylines in “The Murder Mystery” are an interesting stylistic choice. About halfway through I wonder if Patrick Bateman might walk through the door and explain to me, ax in hand, his interpretation of the song like he does so enthusiastically with “The Power of Love,” and by the end I tell myself the track could inspire a Coen Brothers thriller. The singalong song “After Hours” is a strange way to end the album after the tumultuous penultimate piece, but its simplicity is welcome. It’s not as good as Loaded or their debut album with Nico, but the Velvet Underground’s self-titled record is where contemplative psychedelic meets the early stages of new wave. It has a couple of uninspiring tracks, but overall, it’s an enjoyable listen.
jaha samaa bändiä näin lähwllä toisiaan. heikompaa, aikaisempaa työtä tässä...poisalta-albumiesque albumi. ymmärrän miksi kuunteluun lähti...mutta ei käydä visiitillä tulevaisuydessa heh murder mystery
this was a pretty awesome album there were some elements during the listening where i thought these guys know how to write interesting songs and its not like i didnt think they could but i have had middle expectations for most of the albums i have listened to recently they havent all delivered that much but this was an exception almost to the extent of giving it 5 stars i think if this cant get a 5 star from me then most older music wont get anything more than a 4 i think i prefer the production of somewhat newer music
Solid throughout with some absolute bangers.
One of my favorite albums of all time
Bland, beige, and morose rock music. Recording quality seems poor and muddy. I don’t understand the allure. Like Arcade Fire, I think I am supposed to really like this band but… meh. Nothing on this record makes me want to hear it again. One star.
feelign generous, but more like a 3.5
Boring, monotone nonsense. Lou reed is not a genius. The emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. Stop pretending Lou reed is talented.
Good stuff. Pleasant to listen to.
I mean it's the Velvet Underground so it's great. However I do think this is my least favorite true Velvet Underground album, sorry Squeeze is not the Velvet Underground. Heavy on ballads but some amazing ones, Pale Blue Eyes is just outstanding. Murder Mystery is the weakest song, seems like a retread of the The Gift but not as well executed. It's a 4.5 but what the hell I'll round up.
Aside from a couple songs I could do without (I’m Set Free, Murder Mystery) it’s a really good UV record. Just not as brilliant as the first 2 records.
I liked it better then the last time I listened to it. It's the least interesting VU record to me.
It's good but I like some of VU's other stuff better, and some of Reed's solo stuff better. Not a bad album at all, but not my favorite.
It’s been awhile since I’ve listened to this one. I was going in thinking I’d give it a three, but listened and was reminded why I always think so fondly of VU.
Definitely not my style. Too slow
At first I found this kinda sleepy and underwhelming, I didn't grow up on them though their legacy looms large, but the second half of the album won me over. Listened to it a few more times this weekend and it continued to grow on me. Some stuff still hits me at odd angles but overall I really appreciated it.
Not quite a 5 but close. Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning to See the Light, After Hours - a lot to love here. VU eased back on the throttle but still put out a fantastic record with some of their biggest hits.
Much more main stream sound from the Velvet Underground for this album. Lyrics aren't as dark and songs have almost a pop feel. Lou Reed is clearly the star.
I can hear the roots of Indie Rock in this album. “What Goes On” and “Beginning to See the Light” were my favorites.
I really like the idea of the Velvet Underground, and some of their other work (white light white heat, Venus in furs) is inspirational. This? Less so. I've heard that the first Velvets album only sold 10,000 copies,but that everyone who bought a copy formed a band.on the basis of this, they were all the kind of pseudo lo-fi, feckless, boring indie bands I despise. It's not all bad. Candy Says,Pale Blue Eyes and beginning to see the light are nice enough. I just can't get away from the conceited indie boys that inevitably followed
Having previously heard the album they did with Nico, and finding it bordering on too chaotic, I did miss a bit of that chaos on this album, but have to say I found it really lovely - one of the better Lou Reed projects I've come across.
Gammalt men mysigt
Gentle, swaying, earnest and experimental in a way that preserves its edge decade after decade. One of the best albums ever made.
fine.
Idk how this gets rated high on all time lists
Mieux que l’autre mais lui est trop slowbine genre ok mais encore une fois pas top
Like it alright. Repetitive lyrically but the music is very layered and fun. Highlights: Pale Blue Eyes. Not sure where i've heard this one previously but this gave a hit of nostalgia I wasn't prepared for. After Hours. This was a nice change of pace from the nightmare that was Murder Mystery. Lowlights: The Murder Mystery was a real freakin' weird one.
I'm sure there will be other reviewers that will go into detail about how influential the Velvet Underground is/was for soooo many bands that came after them. They are the ultimate garage band. Listening to this album, all you want to do is pull out your guitar, get your friends together, write some songs and become rock stars. The Velvet Underground actually makes you believe the dream is possible. In their case, throw in a little heroin to get the creative juices flowing. I only gave it 4 stars because the stuff that comes after this album is 5 star fantastic.
The machine has started the week kindly. I won't try to write something new about a record that's been dissected, scrutinised, extolled and rolled between many a sticky hand. My experience of listening to this today was marred by some randomizer I couldn't switch off in the car that kept jumbling the record, usually to play 'After Hours', one of the two songs on this record that I find a little irritating - the other is 'Murder Mystery' - though I'm glad they exist. The randomizer also threw 'Foggy Notion' at me, which is not on the record, but should have been, and is one of my favourite rockers in their repertoire, so irritated me in a different way. So I'm knocking one star off their six as punishment.
Love all of this ("The Murder Mystery" included), probably the VU album I listen to most (sorry, John and/or Mark). I could play "What Goes On" on repeat ad infinitum, love that proto-Motorik drone groove (see also "Foggy Notion" elsewhere). Just so good
Rating: +++ It was good, not amazing. I particularly appreciate Pale Blue Eyes (my favourite of the album). Also, the last song was quite interesting in its composition. It makes me want to discover more of the band, which, to be honest, I've heard of but not properly listened to.
lovelovelove
i do like some of the velvet underground’s other songs, but the only songs that really stood out to me on this album were “pale blue eyes” and “after hours” (which i had heard before). “candy says”, “jesus”, and “that’s the story of my life” weren’t bad either. i liked the calming, simple vibes of those songs. overall, i only really liked half of the songs in the album.
This feels like a Velvets morning acoustic jam after a long night. Dolly and riveting.
I overall liked it, few of the songs didn’t care for but I understand why so many people were influenced by this album. After Hours was a huge favorite of mine before listening to the album.
lovely
Solid album. A great listen, I became a Velvet Underground fan after this.
Really like it, not obsessed with it but it's definitely got it's own vibe to it, apparently makes for a perfect album to walk to. I'll come back to this one for sure Stand out tracks: Pale Blue Eyes Beginning to see the Light After Hours
not bad
High 3/ low 4. At the minute it's a 3, but I'm well aware that this could grow into a 4/5. The big two highlights are Pale Blue Eyes and After Hours. The low light is Murder Mystery, which feels like its influenced alot of bad songs.
Not my thing. Not really a Lou Reed fan, so not a shocker. Call it 2.5.
I'm a fan of artsy weirdos 4.5 stars
Way too slow and dreamy for my tastes.
I've not listened to much Velvet Underground before now. From what I've been told, this album is more reflective and mellow compared to the band's previous recordings. I liked it - the songs are simple, the lyrics are good, and I was entertained.
less personality than the solo lou reed stuff, and the lou reed i expected only came out on the 3rd track. love how they let the instrumental shine. fav songs: candy says, some kinda love
Not a single dud on this.
Murder Mystery was fun, the rest less so
I thought this was softer sounding than I would associate with the Velvet Underground. Quite straightforward folky songs for the most part, with a couple of noteable exceptions. With it being self titled I assumed it was their first album so I was quite surprised this was their 3rd album and was an attempt at back to basics. I liked it fine but it feels like a step back from The Velvet Underground and Nico
no. I did not give this album a chance because the second I saw who this was I turned on volume one and left the room. No.
In perhaps the exact same vein as Kurt Cobain, I will never understand - nor honestly give a shit about - the obsession with Lou Reed. Just awful. I want to give this a 1 just for my visceral hatred of The Lou Reed Family Funtime Experience but to be fair (why) after listening I will begrudgingly admit this is "better" than their previous 2 nightmare albums which I had the misfortune of being forced to listen to again this year. So/yet if I take away the moniker "Velvet Underground" what would I objectively think? Likely that this is/was a fairly unspectacular, unmemorable, but surprisingly safe album. That's still covered with Lou Reed's terrible voice and pedestrian musical imagination, but I'm grading on a curve here. It's just fine and boring and we'll slap a 2 on it and move on. 3/10 2 stars.
Very relaxed album. Never hit the charts either cause it wasnt getting much marketing. Andy warhol managed this group. This is my first impression of them. Its a pleasant listen, albeit murder mystery was a cool concept track, it didnt need to be 8 minutes. Some of it felt beatlesesque, while some of it would make for good driving music.
All very good