The Velvet Underground

The extended instrumental vamp at the end of "What Goes On" might be the most boring thing I've listened to on this list.

Boring as hell.

this was so thoroughly boring that it made me go look for the context on why it's on the list and i found the explanation wanting. it sounds like there's a producer in the studio glaring at lou reed to make sure he doesn't get too lou reed about anything

Strange group. Strange music.

I’m not a huge fan of this one, it’s fine, but not very interesting. I’ll say 1.something, but not enough to round up to 2 stars.

Ugh, again, Black Francis may like Lou Reed, but I'm not a fan. This album is another reminder that I don't really think Lou Reed is a good songwriter and he's not a great guitar player either. I just don't see the love/excitement for this band. They're way overrated.

I would give this zero if I could. Lou Reed sucks.

p172. 1969. 1 star. Mostly average 60s songs from a mostly average 60s band. You can see why it didn't sell at the time. Reduced from 2 stars to 1 because of the abomination that is "The Murder Mystery".

What a dreadful noise

I just don't understand the hype with this band.

This is the 4th Lou Reed album that I’ve gotten on this list so far. I love this album list because it gives artists I’ve previously disliked a chance to prove their discography. That said, I still can’t stand Lou Reed. How is his music so glorified?? This absolutely sucks. If the only person to ever do heroin was Lou Reed, no one would have listened to this

Even though (all but one of) these tracks don't have unreasonably long run times, they sure do FEEL unreasonably long. I think, perhaps, it's the incessantly bland and repetitive melodies in the background with nothing vocally or harmonically interesting in the foreground that makes this an absolute chore to listen to. In the face of undeserved hype, I very confidently give this dross a 1.

This is the 90th album I’m rating. I hate Lou Reed and without Nico I can’t imagine this album being any good. Adding to my Playlist - Candy Says, What Goes on, I’m Set Free, and After Hours. Not Adding to my Playlist - Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, Beginning to see the Light, That’s the Story of my Life, The Murder Mystery Candy Says - I’m sorry Lou Reed. Some Kinda Love - I just learned that wan’t Lou Reed. Lou Reed this sucks. All in all I liked 4/10 songs. Lou Reed kinda sucks.

Not a Lou Reed fan so this was a problem for me.

Just not my thing. Too old and dated, would never want these songs coming up on shuffle.

Not my style

Ne :( Das Lied in dem Jesus gepriesen wird und Murder Mystery stechen besonders hervor

Kinda boring tbh, only interesting thing was The Murder Mystery.

i am just not a fan of this style of music, at least from this era. i love about half of the rock music from the 60s and can't handle the other half.

Too sleepy for me

Obviously I've heard of The Velvet Underground before. The Warhol cover is inescapable, but I had only listened to that album. Mostly for Nico's vocals, I mean, "Femme Fatale" is incredible. So, going into this, I sort of had an idea of what I was going to get. With a lot of 60s rock albums I expect to hear what I can only imagine the most cliche 60s vision is. You and a bunch of smelly hippies piling into a VW bus and hitting the road from your podunk small town to head to Woodstock. That's what the first three tracks sound like. As the album goes on, every song starts to sound the exact same. Until you get to "The Murder Mystery." I have never heard a song like this before. They mixed different vocals to two different audio channels so the different vocals are talking over each other and my brain can't decide if it likes it or not. All that to say, I'll probably never listen to this again, but you can always appreciate something that laid the groundworks for an entire genre.

I dont like this song i dont like the song jesus because of the rhythm I don't like it

I don't like pale blue eyes song becuase the beat is faster than the speaker. Murderer mystery song i dont like it because the lyrics are wierd and the beat is kinda good. i dont like the jesus song because it very calm but the music is good like the guittar

Singers could not sing on pitch, drums were really random (like a 2 year old played them) every song is a ballad apart from one or 2 songs. I actually ended up skipping some songs because they were predictable and repetitive. The upbeat song consisted of the lead singer trying to belt off their part. It was very repetitive and boring. I can at least say I gave it a chance.

Properly hate this, a chore to get through

Not worth a listen.

The first song gave me hope I'd like this album but ended up getting bored. Didn't save any songs.

Not a fan. Nothing here for me. I disliked it less than the Lou Reed solo album that was served up to me a while back, but that's just because he doesn't sing every song on this album. 1 star.

Long, repetive lyricism. Did not finish.

I understand this is an influential album, it just doesn't speak to me musically at all.

Everything written about this album keeps referring to it as "rock & roll". Is the rock & roll in the room with us right now? I'm Set Free has the worst guitar solo I've ever heard. I think The Murder Mystery is about awful vocalists murdering an extremely simple melody. The mystery part is about why anyone would want to listen to this. I wish I could unlisten to this. Unfortunately, I know there's another Velvet Underground album on this list coming up at some point. At least that one has a good album cover to look at. 1

The Murder Mystery Track is trippy with the L and R audio. They play two different songs almost but it somehow fits as one song... It was weird but cool haha. Pale Blue Eyes was the best song on the album

Nicht meine Richtung

Boring

First song was bloody awful. Second song - the bit that was enjoyable was when no one was singing. Third song sounded a bit country. Completely forgettable. Fourth song - can't hold a note Fifth song - a song about ruddy Jesus Sixth song - sounds like budget Bowie Seventh song - whiny Eighth song - two minutes repeating 'that's the story of my life' Ninth song - a load of talking over music, bloody awful, cacophony of shite Tenth song - new voice. Still not in key. This was painful.

Ne :( Das Lied in dem Jesus gepriesen wird und Murder Mystery stechen besonders hervor

The most coherent thing I have heard out of Lou Reed, yet not enough.

The Murder Mystery might be one of the most pretentious songs I've ever heard. It tries too hard to be interesting and experimental. The random talking over the music that reminds me of someone reciting a pledge of some sort is absolutely awful and annoying. It doesn't add to the song. And I honestly don't see how they thought this was cool or good at all. My thoughts are: Too many drugs have distorted their judgment. I fucking hate it. The music and vocals are absolutely trash. Akin to a toddler banging on instruments and talking over each other. Some songs on this record are great. Better than some on the 🍌 album. But this record is overshadowed by shit songs. It ruins the decent songs. What a shit choice in tracks. You go from Beatles esque songs, to Doors esque songs... To songs that that sounds like I'm fist fucking myself. I can't. Those shit songs have tarnished the good in this record. Maybe I'm in a shit mood while listening to this... But I don't care.

Not my style, some of the songs were very long and very busy.

60’s

Didn’t like it, not for me. One song was pretty good but the entire album itself was pretty bad.

Highly overrated. Not a fan. Self indulgent and whiny

Too depressing & boring for me.

Not one of these tracks goes anywhere. I expected a lot more from one of the most renowned bands of all time.

I wasn't a fan

Though influential to many bands in the later years, this one doesn’t hold up well. Sounds like something you hear on extended anniversary albums popular today where studio demos are included.

Not for me. 1/5

Boring, I couldn't understand this album.

One good song on here and it’s the first one. The rest is drivel and every one is too long.

It's a very soft and quiet album. Musically not the best outing from the group, but lyrically maybe their strongest album. To me the sound is just terrible and makes this album really hard to listen to.

Stupid posing

Smooth & folk-like

Disclaimer: I’m not a fan of the Velvet Underground (only heard Nico) and I really dislike Lou Reeds music and how he behaved. It always seemed they went out of their way to be counter culture cool, but that’s just me. I understand music lovers will talk about the influence this band and albums had on music which I very much appreciate. But listing to this was no joy for me and it was boring and dated.

I just cannot with this album. Off-key, drowsy, pathos-inducing music. Yes, I know it’s considered classic. Emphasis for me on “ic”.

Nope, not for me.

I thought I would like this but I didn’t. A lot of noisy guitar strumming and repetitive sounds. It was annoying.

Hated it.

Could put me right to sleep. Listened to murder mystery for 30 seconds before hittjhh by NEXT!

Absolutely terrible. Not only do I hate it, I don’t like anybody who likes it. Not music.

Not my type

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.

Definitely not my type of music.

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.

i get this is a seminal album. i hated it. i'm going back to snsd.

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.

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.

I don't think I've taken enough drugs in my life to make this album make sense

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

Not a fan

Extremely overrated. Album had nothing going for it

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

No

unbearably slow paced

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.

Boring, monotone nonsense. Lou reed is not a genius. The emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. Stop pretending Lou reed is talented.

Definitely not my style. Too slow

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.

It is man years ago, and I dont tune in on this album, sorry.....

Soooooo slow

Not the best album very up and down. Wouldn’t say it would be one I’d ever really go back to and listen too

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.

Didn’t like this one

Not an album that would make top 1000 list. 👎🏼

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.

Not my taste but that’s ok

Pretty boring. "What goes on" was the highlight.

What’s the attraction?

1.5

Great relaxing album with serious undertones