The Velvet Underground

Monótono. A voz é boa, mais se torna muito repetitivo.

Great album. Pretty soft and sweet. I’ll definitely be back.

Buen disco, muy digerible. Me gustaron mucho varias canciones. Pale Blue Eyes es una canción muy linda, The Murder Mystery es una joya experimental, se me hizo muy buena esa canción y muy atinado el lugar en que se puso en el disco, despues de una pista con disonancias (bien hechas, escuche varios tritonos que suenan increíble), con una polifonía vocal muy rara y arrítmica en varias partes, te llega una dulce After Hours para finalizar el disco. La experiencia es muy gratificante y genial. Buen disco.

This is my 4th album review on here, so ive never really listened to 60s rock before as a 2000/10s hiphop listener. That being said, this is an album that gets better after every listen. I can only imagine what the VU & Nico album sounds like. Easily 4 stars. Best song: The Murder Mystery Was this album better than yesterday’s album, Hot Fuss by The Killers? Yes.

It was fine.

I like this one okay. 3 stars

Niice

Liked the album with Niko, didn’t get this one.

Solid album. Pale Blue Eyes is an all time fave. I enjoyed this

Alright kinda liked it

Pretty good

Good easy listening music.

A nice, low temp, easy listen

Nico will never fail you.

good vibe but no that good

127/1001 First listen. Garbage does a version of candy says. Didn’t know it was a cover till now. The rest of this album is okay. Better than the last two albums of theirs I’ve heard on this list. Just barely though. I still don’t get this band. 4/10

Some of this I liked a lot, some of it I do not

Nöd s ganze album glost leider aber het mir eigentlich no gfalle

This just SOUNDS like 1969 - for better or for worse. I didn't hate it but expected more due to years of hearing their name. Without Warhol's name would they be as relevant today? Favorite song: What Goes On

Acceptable. Beginning To See The Light The Murder Mystery After Hours Candy Says Those songs left the most impression on me. I might venture out and listen to more, but only time will tell.

4/10

grande chialade type beat after hours is amazing

Not for me.

Greatest running order of any album? What a flow. What a band. Adore it.

Yeah ok, never has got my blood running really & never will really. Sunday Morning a nice little ballad.

It helps that I'm in Paris, but this makes me want to pick up smoking and sit outside a Parisian Café, with shades on and a cravat. So cool, so ahead.

I had much lower expectations, and it was pretty decent (technically an unrelated note: I hate Andy Warhol)

Общая оценка: 5.6/10 Атмосфера – 8 / 10 Эмоции – 4 /10 Переслушиваемость – 7 /10 Личное удовольствие – 8 /10 Запоминаемость – 3 /10 Визуальность – 4 / 10 Время суток: спокойный летний день

-1 for the nazi singer, but otherwise no notes.

I've already visited White Light / White Heat, and this is the follow-up, and also a reaction to the previous album. John Cale, who wanted to keep doing all sorts of crazy stuff, was ditched, as Lou wanted to create an album that the public would like. It didn't work, as their self-titled effort failed to chart at all. But it's gained a lot of critical praise in the years since. Part of me understands why, there are quite a few nice, melodic songs on here. "Candy Says" is a touching song about Candy Darling, a transvestite in Lou Reed's orbit, with insightful lyrics and a wonderful singing performance by Doug Yule. "What Goes On," "Pale Blue Eyes," "Beginning to See the Light" and "I'm Set Free" are all amiable listens. For me, there's nothing that really sparks excitement (and the nine-minute "Murder Mystery" is a giant skip, although the sections with Reed and Mo Tucker singing are alright) but overall, it's a nice listen. This exercise isn't going to include the Velvet Underground's fourth album, Loaded, so I'll mention it here as it's a contender for my favorite album of theirs. I think it features some of Reed's best pop songwriting, melded to the Velvets distinctive eclecticism. The three opening songs "Who Loves The Sun," "Sweet Jane," "Rock & Roll" and the raucous closer "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" are among my favorite songs of theirs. A criminally overlooked album, even by the Velvets themselves. When they re-united in 1993, the only songs from it they included in their set list were "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll."

After listening to the dreadful White Light/White Heat recently, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the opening track was a lot calmer and slower. 'Oh this could be interesting' I thought. I was wrong. What a snoozefest of an album. It's gone from one extreme (WL/WH) to the other, and neither are any good. Highlight of the album was After Hours - mainly because it doesn't feature Lou Reeds depressing voice.

4.2

i just can’t with lou reed. from every interview i’ve read or seen, he seems like an insufferable douche. much of this album is either boring or unlistenable.

The stuff I like gets canceled about by the weird.

This was so nice to listen to. Each song kinda blended together and felt like one thing.

Very chill and interesting album, would listen to again.

4/5 God.... yes. Just yes. This album was so well-rounded and lovely, and the last song ended the album in such a nice way. I love the Velvet Underground.

Interesting sound. 'Missing link' between classic 60s pop sound and punk. What Goes On is a good example of proto-punk. Some Kinda Love is fun, Lou Reed gets his classic delivery style, must have been very controversial at the time Pale Blue Eyes is quite a beautiful tender son From Jesus we see a drop in quality.. The Murder Mystery has an increase in quality with an avant-garde, psychedelic sound. Best track - What Goes On, Some Kinda Love, The Murder Mystery 4 stars - just enough to bring it up from a 3

I'm glad the Velvets were a thing. I'm glad they opened the door for so many bands. I'm glad I listened to them a lot in my younger days. I don't listen to them much these days.

Started out okay but the last few songs are pretty weak. 2 stars or D+.

Classic

94/100

love, listened twice

Listening to this album evokes a somewhat unsettling, flickering stillness. Purposefully underproduced and intimate, it is The Velvet Underground at their most vulnerable. It is easy to get lost in the tracks, some of which, admittedly, blend together in terms of sound. Most of the songs, apart from "Pale Blue Eyes", the dream pop of "Candy Says" and the experimental "Murder Mystery" are straightforward, rock songs about love. Resultantly, it is perhaps "After Hours" which is the most significant track on the album. It is a song offering respite from the relative messiness of the rest of the album, and is refreshingly simple; stripped back acoustics are paired with a thumping bass, clear vocals and a narrator dreaming. Of something impossible, yes, but still dreaming. And it is this naivete that concludes the album that has stayed with me the most.

Ich war schon darauf eingestellt, hier wieder zu schreiben, dass ich Lou Reeds Stimme nicht mag und, dass das deswegen mit The Velvet Underground und mir eh nie was werden wird. Aber hier komme ich mit dem Gesang gut zurecht. Bin überrascht, vielleicht hat das die Band für mich "unlocked".

норм но переслушивать буду редко. Афтер аурс вообще зачетная

yeah that cover looks like it came straight up from the underground. as for the music. not my cup of tea I fear. it's too nothingburger of an album

Lou Reed wanted to switch things up after two albums and accidentally laid the foundation for shoegaze and countless indie rock bands. You may not appreciate his New York street poet delivery, but there's no denying the influence of this record.

Just an overall really enjoyable album

left no notes but enjoyed a lot haha

very easy to listen to, feels almost dreamlike pretty weird vibes but in a good way i like it did not know what was going on for the entirety of murder mystery

Not my favourite album by The Velvet Underground but still love Lou Reed’s voice. Feels more commercial than their earlier albums. Have a feeling this will grow on me with further listens but on a first listen it’s only a 3.

86/100. The Velvet Underground’s self-titled album is an emotionally raw pop-rock record, exploring themes of love, longing, vulnerability, and personal reflection. The album has a chill, intimate vibe, making it a deeply fulfilling listening experience. Stripped down yet impactful, it showcases the band’s ability to create subtle yet powerful music.

paul blue eyes will always have a weird special place in my heart (fuck my ex bf)

Top Songs: Pale Blue Eyes After Hours

Ok but didn't love it as much as the Nico one 3.5 rounded down to 3.

Listenable

Holy shit I just don’t like the velvet underground. The second album I’ve listened to from this band and I hate it. It starts strong with Candy Says, but then just gets worse and worse. Every song suffers from the same problem: it starts of great, continues in its minimalistic nature, and then goes absolutely nowhere, and then just keeps repeating for 5 minutes. It’s all the same. It doesn’t develop or just stop. I zoned out so many times, when I zoned back in it was the exact lyrics and instrumentals.

der erste song ist so interessant, finde Candy says richtig richtig gut, hätte nicht gedacht, dass das aus 1969 ist. => generell so so cool, finde das immer noch crazy dass das so alt ist, finde fast jeden song richtig cool und das album hat mich sehr überrascht

Incredible vibes

Me gustó mucho, un sonido inesperado.

iconic tracks

- Lou Reed (racist) assaulted women. Another on the boycott list. An article about the biographer of Notes from the Velvet Underground: The Life of Lou Reed reads: "During the process of writing the book, which comes out on 22 October, Sounes became aware of Reed’s many disruptive moods, and drew new conclusions about the pioneering musician. 'I loved his music, but you have to go where the story goes,' he told The Daily Beast. 'The obituaries were a bit too kind, he was really a very unpleasant man. A monster really; I think truly the word monster is applicable.'" - I listened to this album a lot before I knew about the above, and it includes a handful of really great songs (e.g., Candy Says, What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes (beautiful, but too long because it doesn't really go anywhere), Beginning To See The Light, After Hours...) that range from catchy, hazy, and rocking with some well-done distortion. But, mostly hazy - this album is melancholy and slow for the most part. - Thoughtful instrumentation, including, of course, lots of the quintessential jangly heroin-y guitar playing. - Some songs that are very skippable: Some Kinda Love, Jesus, I'm Set Free, That's The Story of My Life... - And can't review this album without saying that I hate The Murder Mystery. So annoying and pretentious. Yes, there are interesting elements to it, but it goes on forever, so it all gets really irritating very quickly. - It's a 3.5 for me, I'll probably round down because there are so many songs that are mid.

After The Beatles maybe the band that has had the most influence on my life. From my first exposure to The VU via their debut album (I liked the pink banana on the cover LOL) back when I was a little brat too young to be thinking about pink bananas and spanking butts - I fell in love. No other band (not even The Beatles) reminds me more of myself. If I was music, I would be the first 4 VU albums. Squeeze is NOT me. It's an imposter! A creeper! A self-loathing lout! I can't imagine the world without me.

gaby’s says listen!

A new iteration of the band and largely devoid of cales avant garde influence, lou might be at his melodic peak and I can’t get enough of sterlings guitar tone. Perfect in a new way.

Loved every second of it. Never wanted it to end. This one is going into the regular rotation. My favorite track was "The Murder Mystery" -- it was a tour de force. The end part where they sing different things at the same time was some of the most impressive song production I've ever heard.

The Murder Mystery knocks this down one star

The Good: Who doesn’t like velvet??? The Bad: Of course, if it’s been underground… it’s a little coarse… The Ugly: Album and band name… So yeah, listened to this a couple of times, because I’ve been real behind on my album rating activities… this album was presented to me 2 1/2 months ago, and I still don’t really have anything special to say… So, shoot through the middle and give it a 3*

They have one foot into rock and another into blues. I prefer when they choose one or the other but I feel like the whole industry may have been in transition during their time.

Pretty chill, will have to go back to it some other time to explore what's been done.

This is one I hadn't heard before. I was honestly hooked even from the beginning song. The banana album gets so much credit, but I really enjoyed this.

It's not as good as the debut but it's still brilliant. Another album where I like every single track. Candy Says, After Hours and Pale Blue Eyes especially are some of their best

A pretty calm album. Songs get pretty repetitive sometimes. Im not a big fan of most old music like this, but i can still appreciate it most of the time. This album feels sort of empty a lot of the time and none of the songs feel unique except for "The Murder Mystery" which is probably my favourite track.

Great album. Really liked it. Can’t understand why I didn’t listen to it years ago.

Lou Reed vocals tolerable, other vocalists needy; Jesus worship track saved & shared. Who knew VU wrote & performed praise music?!?

Not as amazing as Nico, but still an amazing album. Candy Says. Pale Blue Eyes. Beginning to see the Light.

Dug the guitar groovyness. Felt subtle, but intriguing. Reed's prose has always been engaging, but can grow tiresome at times (the lyrics are compelling). Enjoyed the weirdness of variety of MURDER MYSTERY.

I’ve listened before and liked them a lot but this go around made me want to get deeper into their discography

don't get the appeal beyond "fine"

Wonderful! It seems like I have to keep re-learning this lesson, but I really need to stop assuming things about bands based on their publicly identifying fans.

A classic.

I want to sit in the back of a bar and have this entire album played while my friends and I reminisce about the past and plan for the future.

It’s iconic. But, I just couldn’t get there with it. It can’t be them. It must be me…

Calm pleasant sound

Too sober to enjoy Murder Mystery, but I loved the rest of the album.

Not my favorite VU album which means I like it instead of loving it.

Really liked it!

A classic. I feel like half of my record collection wouldn't exist with Murder Mystery or What Goes On...

After Hours ❤️

Incredible - 5 Stars.

Well that was lovely.

Sleepy music from the late 60s with some psychedelic moments that bring you back to the music.

That's it? This band has such a reputation, didn't really do much for me.

Velvet underground is wel leuk vond het alleen beetje crazy toen het over jezus ging

Okay

4.5 - has some beautiful songs. I’m set free is one of my favorites.

на самом деле средне, особенно по сравнению с дебютником, но пойдет

I've always heard of Velvet Underground, but I think that the only song I knew was Pale Blue Eyes. I have to admit I was underwhelmed by the album. It seemed like almost all of the songs were pretty similar - low energy sort of strummy vibe. For a band that i always here is super influential, it didn't blow me away. The highlights were Pale Blue Eyes and the funky end to Murder Mystery

Pretty much Raine's review. I can see some stuff to like here, see how this was influential to sort of sad-sack indie rock like Pavement, but the high moments were a little too few and far between.

I must not be getting why this is rated so highly. It's nice softish rock, but not anything special. Pale Blue Eyes is pretty good. Also, what the hell is going on in The Murder Mystery.

The Velvet Chads 4.5

It's fine. I guess an album that was somehow more daring at the time?

5/10. Default sound, default lyrics. The album are not actual nowadays unfortunally. by the way last two songs are not bad. These are the best in the album

meh, not so remarkable

Really wish i could rate 3.5

Favorite Track: What Goes On

This was great. Even the odd experimental craziness that was murder mystery worked for me. 5/5

It is still a great listen and got a positive vote from my nine year old granddaughter as well. A sound of it's own.

I had higher expectations for this album, but it still ended up being pretty good. But it is a little too slow and chill for my liking.

Apparently this is an important album but for me it was a bit dull, a bit uninspiring. Nothing horrible but nothing to match some of Lou Reeds solo stuff

There was an episode of the Amazing Spider-Man where J. Jonah Jameson was invited to see this new rock and roll band, the Squawkers. Unfortunately the Fiddler wiped them out. The Velvet Underground remind me of the Squawkers. There were there to embody the rock and roll spirit, and to annoy squares, but if the Fiddler erased them I wouldn’t ever think about them.

While "The Velvet Underground" is undoubtedly charming, it fails to resonate with me quite enough to warrant the classic status others bestow upon it. It is certainly a pleasant listen, headlined by the standout brilliance of 'Candy Says', but it lacks a consistent identity. The inclusion of 'The Murder Mystery' is a particular sticking point; though it’s an audacious piece of avant-garde experimentation, it feels jarringly out of place against the hushed, melodic backdrop of the rest of the album. This album sits right on the cusp between three and four stars, but as I prefer to accentuate the positive and acknowledge its clear merits, I’m leaning towards the higher mark. Side one 1 "Candy Says" (5/5) 2 "What Goes On" (4/5) 3 "Some Kinda Love" (3/5) 4 "Pale Blue Eyes" (4/5) 5 "Jesus" (4/5) Side two 1 "Beginning to See the Light" (3/5) 2 "I'm Set Free" (3/5) 3 "That's the Story of My Life" (3/5) 4 "The Murder Mystery" (3/5) 5 "After Hours" (4/5) Total - 36 Average -3.6 230/1001 127/230 albums reviewed were new to me

I really enjoyed it. Very chill, subtle but profound songwriting. Enjoyable both in background music and in listening with attention to every word.

4.7

Easy listening, love some 60s fags

No drone rock like "Heroin", no long freak outs like "Sister Ray". Maybe with the exception of "The Murder Mystery", a pretty straightforward album; not quite what I was expecting. But still great, and ahead of its time.

62/1088 4.0028 There has always been a ton of hype about TVU but I never knew much more than Lou Reed's Sweet Jane and TAWOTWS. The music is beautiful, very unique and pleasant sounds. I must say that I'm a TVU fan after listening to the album 3 times. Great stuff from start to finish and I'd be excited to put this on for someone, young or old. Can't wait to get their other albums! Hits...candy says, murder mystery.

Nice chill album, pale blue eye a highlight

It was ok. Pale Blue Eyes as the highlight that helped it drag into a 3.

I listened to this twice and I still can't remember anything about it

Ikke deres beste album, unødvendig listefyll.

It was pretty good. Nothing really amazed me but would probably listen again. Favorite: Candy Says

No notes

AWESOME

Ti accoglie e ti respinge allo stesso tempo, può essere un album di sottofondo quanto di profonda inquietudine se ascoltato (e letto) con attenzione.

Okay, a bit repetitive.

I liked this. It had a very chill vibe and was pretty easy listening, but musically stimulating at the same time. Might revisit.

Hat mir gut gefallen, lief den ganzen Morgen Nebenher.

My introduction to this group, the vocals can sometimes be a bit too quiet. But the instrumentals are great. Gonna revisit.

Kind of sleepy music for a Monday, but I enjoyed it. Some songs felt oddly spontaneous (in a good way); didn't feel quite like your typical late-60s rock album. This is somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4, but close enough to a 4 that I'll bump it up.

Not spectacular, but wonderful. Low key. Perfect in it's own imperfect way

Gostei bastante. Lembra um pouco Beatles. Ouviria novamente

Rare for a band to have an eponymous third album. Doug Yule replaced John Cale and we now have a more mellow set of less obtuse songs but they still have electric strum DIY sound that became so influential. A yes from me for a band I don’t rate THAT much.

Nico had to leave the band shortly after this album to create her true persona, Nico Nico Nii

quitando the murder mystery que es más rara que un perro verde me ha encantado esta experiencia <3

No john cale, m0 sings What goes on Some kinda of love Pale blue eyes Beginning to see the light The murder mystery After hours

Ehhhhh, this was a fine album. I don't want to blame oversaturation of this era on this list as the downfall here, but that could be a factor. The biggest thing that stood out to me was the production, the album felt very subdued and crisp, definitely worth listening to in stereo. Other than that... The Murder Mystery stood out? At the end of the day, there's nothing here that I would go out of my way for again, and here at the end of it I'm kind of left just completely disinterested. 2.5, I guess.

Its okay

++*: After Hours ++: Candy Says, What Goes On, Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, Beginning to See the Light, I'm Set Free, The Murder Mystery +: That's the Story of My Life 9,7/10

Ei toiminut omaan korvaan ollenkaan.

Yhhh, ei todellakaan iskenyt. Tiesin bändin nimestä entuudeltaan että tämä oli joku uranuurtaja tjsp, mutta en minä sitä kuunnellessa huomannut. Ja kuuntelin levyn vielä kahdesti jotta ymmärtäisin. Mutta en ymmärtänyt. Biisit oli hempoisia, tylsiä ja niissä oli sama komppi koko biisin ajan, biisit eteni niinkuin veturit: tasaisesti ja tasaisesti, välillä pysähdyttiin asemalle vaihtamaan biisiä ja sitten mentiin taas tasaisesti. Ehkä tätä pitäisi kuunnella pikku jointtipaukuissa, kuten varmasti on kuuskytäluvulla tehty, ja sitten se kuulostaisi jotenkin paremmalta.

Bändin kuullut ennen, tätä levyä ei tule aiemmin kuunneltua. Aika lepposaa kuunneltavaa toka vikaa 8 min sekoilua lukuunottamatta. Loppu arvio 3/5.

First vibes Beatles but depressing, latter half trippy

Album No. 0133 on my list. To me, The Velvet Underground was always one of these bands that, despite creating a lot of other good music, was mostly associated with one album. Like Fleetwood Mac and "Rumors", or Alanis Morissette with "Jagged Little Pill". You know they have other music to listen to, but that one album is always the first thing that comes to mind. Due to success, cultural significance, or just quality. For The Velvet Underground, this album would be "The Velvet Underground and Nico". I had reviewed this album before (it was actually one of my first on the list), and I found it... well... okay. Since I assumed this was their greatest album, I didn't have high expectations for this one. But I was wrong. I actually like "The Velvet Underground" better than "The Velvet Underground and Nico". Except for "The Murder Mystery", the experimental nature of which I can appreciate but which I find annoying, all tracks on this are pretty good! Compared to the uber-album, I feel there has been a maturation in the songwriting. The experimental nature is still there, but the tracks feel somewhat more concise and catchy without getting too boring. The album sounds better as well. I'll add "Candy Says", "Pale Blue Eyes", "Beginning To See The Light", and "After Hours" to my playlist. Good stuff overall! 4/5 stars.

A simple masterpiece that will revolutionize music in the upcoming years and will influence many, many great artists.

Different than what I expect from VU, but pretty solid.

I loved this

48. it was alright

A bit more accessible than their other records. Quite a relaxing album and very nice to listen to which, whilst I'm not saying this is a bad thing, isn't an attribute the records they released prior to this have.

Except for that one song this is a great album.

I don’t know if I’m uncultured or not but this did not hit the mark It was just boring

I just love this band so much man

Enjoyed this album, good vibes well written.

Can't be certain I've listened to this before, but 4 songs in I am nothing short of in love. Candy Says is quite a low-tempo opener and an absolutely beautiful song. What Goes On has a wonderful warmth about it. Pale Blue Eyes is a familiar one, though I can't say where exactly I've heard it. Such a simple, yet effective piece on which Lou Reed's characteristic deadpan delivery sounds about as smooth as it ever has. Might be one of the best songs I've listened to in recent memory. The Murder Mystery is a kooky one -- instrumentals make me think a lot of Explosions in the Sky -- with the overlaid rampages spoken word. After Hours is a nice stripped down closer. Loved this album through and through. Sneaky 5.

Pale Blue Eyes and Murder Mystery were my favorites on this one. All in all, nothing in this album really screamed 4 to me. I know that this band has some renown to them, but I don't really understand it after a single listen of each of their albums.

This was more tame than that album that has the banana on the cover...until that last song that was super heroiny sounding and made my skin crawl. But the album was a cool listen and is a low 4

Pale Blue Eyes is a pretty beautiful number. Nothing crazy of note stuck out to me on this, until I hit The Murder Mystery. Reminds me of some Doors. Then it just turns into a bad acid trip. This album was perfectly fine. I still don't think I understand the huge draw to Velvet Underground. Maybe I'll revisit them in a few years to see if anything has changed.

Прекрасний альбом, якраз для мого сьогоднішнього настрою.

Fine

Blues. Beatles Lite.

I dig it. A little repetitive as the album goes, but can see the appeal.

A couple great tunes and some boring ones and then that terrible murder mystery thing. 3/5

An easy listener that tries some interesting ideas but fall short of the mark. After Hours slaps though.

Um álbum tranquilo,suave, monótono,e principalmente,entediante.

I feel like I'm walking through house on the rock while listening to this. A bit hard to focus on it with how much stereo effects L/R sweeps and fades are happening it's a bit much on headphones. Album is enjoyable.

Actually never listened to full album by them. Realised they’re really good. On this one I can hear how they influenced the later work of my favourite band, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, and it makes sense that John Cale (I know he’s not on this one) would call their debut his favourite album.

What are these guys famous for? I guess standards were lower in the 60s. Idk. Vocals were giving bob dylan at times. Some kinda love was my favorite. “Some kinds of love are mistaken for vision”. I’m giving a solid 4/10 here boys.

I was gonna give this album a 5, but if you guys can give Dark Side a 4, I can give this a 4. Let’s be honest, everything after Heroin is a drag. And I get you invented feedback, but where do we draw the line between important and enjoyable?

first VU LP without John Cale, so the melodic sensibilities come more to the forefront here. you also get vocal turns from Doug Yule on the opening track and from Mo Tucker on the closer track, and they both crush. "What Goes On" is one of the all time greatest rhythm jams, especially their live recordings from other releases (notably the version from The Matrix Tapes).

The whole album felt like the guitarists were constantly switching between strumming at their nipples and strumming at their waist. The change in pace and heaviness kept me on edge and helped me understand why this group is considered so influential. I LOVED everything about "Pale Blue Eyes". The guitar on this song was enough to make me want to dust off the old axe. "Jesus", "Beginning to see the light", and "I'm set free" made a great little story in the middle. "The Murder Mystery" was wonderfully chaotic and utilized stereo in a real cool way. Other random thoughts: "Some kinda love" - deadpan vocals reminded me of CAKE "Jesus" - Reminded me of Iroh's "Leaves of the Vine" from AtLA. "The Murder Mystery" - Sounded a bit like Chop Suey for a second Overall, an awesome album!

Can you imagine if Moe Tucker had ever hit a cymbal hard? The world might be a totally different place.

I love them all, and it feels heretical to say, but this is probably my favorite VU record. At least the one I listen to the most. They lose the camp without Nico, the abrasiveness without John Cale, the cachet without Warhol, but really tap into the sweetness about hard living when they focus on songs. They sound more like a band on this record than on any of the others. "What Goes On" and "Some Kinda Love" are the best grooves they ever came up with and "Candy Says" and "Pale Blue Eyes" are as pretty a songs as there are.

VU’s third album feels like the calm clarity after a hard night of indulgence. Melody has taken primacy, John Cale and his violin are gone, and songs like “Beginning to See the Light” and “What Goes On” suddenly don’t sound all that far apart from the then-current sounds emerging from Haight Ashbury or even the British Invasion. But it’s still the Velvet Underground, and a dark undercurrent still pervades. Their most approachable LP after Loaded, which had the hits.

More accessible than the debut, thats for sure.

It's the VU. It's good. It's fine. I wish this list was limited to one album per artist, though. I don't own this particular one on vinyl so listened to the Spotify version. Which sounds horribly in terms of recording quality. Not sure that's part of the original version or not. I do have a soft spot for this one, though, mainly for the closing track sung by their drummer Maureen.

A lot less noisy than other VU albums, but just as good. And you know what, a good enough level of noise and craziness. Great shit.

The Murder Mystery was a listenable song…everything else was putting me to sleep:/

Tres jazzy, album long, precurseur pour l’epoque, n’ont rencontre le succes que dans les annees 70. Rock doux et mélodieux. Pas fan de la voix féminine

This is my favorite VU album by a mile, and y'know what? Still not the "legendary" record people make it out to be. It's good-ish. Some definite moments, but there just isn't a good hook here. VU: Not for me. Can't say I didn't try... 5/10

I love the unconventionality of The Velvet Undergound.

Contrary opinion about the Velvet underground they are not the revolutionary band some think they are . This is gods but nothing much more than average underground rock album from the '60s. There are some interesting instrumentation and generally they offer an interesting enough mixture of rock and avant garde things, but it never gets into plane so ends up very middle of the road to me. More meandering than experimental . I can appreciate murder mystery but 1/2 of it is shit and 1/2 interesting with out being great

I've tried... I just don't like this. 2/5

Simpelt på ytan men med en väldigt speciell drömlik känsla. Eller helt enkelt "de har nåt".

Lät bra men, kanske påverkad av hype kring bandet, så kände jag inget högre betyg än såhär under en första lyssning.

Kul att lyssna på ett klassiskt band jag aldrig gett mig in på, och flera låtar höll jäkligt hög kvalitet imo - och håller himla bra såhär långt efteråt!

Lät bra men kanske lite småtråkigt.

Quiet, contemplative and delicious VU album. Pale Blue Eyes is a mega tune.

For a group that eventually became a bit of a cliché, this album is a breath of fresh air. It’s easily the most listenable thing in the catalog because it isn't dripping in attitude. It feels like a band finally comfortable in its own skin. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Candy Says - What Goes On - Pale Blue Eyes - After Hours

Thought this was mainly a bit dull and then that song second to last was just bonkers!

I think this album has kind and friendly melodies, liked to listen it🥹 but to me it is very similar to many music in 60th years era)

dope

Very overated average.

Very enjoyable background music

Surprisingly didnt fall in love with this one. With how much i like & nico I should be drawing out over this. But im not. Its still good dont get me wrong. Very good even. But im not saving a bunch of tracks and into every song. But as a whole piece I think it shines more. Really all I saved was pale blue eyes and after hours. But everything else is great too. Just not that eye catching. Or ear i guess. Its still the velvet underground and that counts for a whole lot. Good record overall though. Absolutely

A beautiful chill album from a usually chaotic avant garde band. Candy Says and Afterhours are my favorites from this album.

first album back after a pause, very special, i loved learning new facts about the songs, and actually trying to decode the lyrics like poems

Horrible. Basic lyrics and music was louder than the voice.

it's cool but not my cup of tea

There’s a lot going on here. And it’s being done without much. This is (for the most part) stripped back, folky, jangly rock. Tracks like Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes are so simple, accessible, empathetic, and lovely while a track like “Murder Mystery” is basically inaccessible between overlapped spoken multi-channel lyrics and crashing piano. I appreciate any risk an artist is willing to take and sometimes, as is the case with The Velvet Underground (self-titled), that risk is taken in attempting to appeal to the masses. I’m never opposed to the “you just don’t get it, but there’s nothing to get”-edness of some music. This album does the opposite when, at times, it is so on the nose, it comes off as dull for the sake of being dull like on Jesus and Beginning To See The Light. This project has moments that are delightful and genuine, bonkers, and silly. I just wish it held off on some of the self-aware irony.

This was ok. I love the song Pale Blue Eyes. I like Lou Reed’s voice.

very slow

This albums weird. The whole time I was waiting for it to be charmingly weird but it never was. I like some of the tunes but the whole thing is understated.

Eh

Every twee indie record of the past 30 years needs to give this record its flowers. This is my go-to Velvets record when I'm not in the mood for the chaotic noise of the debut album. 'Candy Says' and 'Pale Blue Eyes' are two of the most beautiful songs ever. 'After Hours' is a delightfully innocent closer that features drummer Moe Tucker on lead. This is one of the best albums of the 60s for sure.

The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground’s 1969 self-titled effort is a "warm and intimate" masterclass in atmosphere. It is the ultimate "lounging" record—a collection of songs that encourage "reminiscing" through their quiet, soulful simplicity. Tracks like "Candy Says," "Pale Blue Eyes," and "Jesus" hit the brain with a level of emotional "musicianship" that doesn't require volume to be powerful. While the experimental chaos of "The Murder Mystery" can feel a bit "overwhelming," it remains a "passable" detour in an otherwise "immaculate" body of work. It is a deeply "human" album that trades the noise of their earlier work for a sophisticated, late-night vulnerability.

Not their best, but damn good

Too many drugs.

Their albums are uneven, but very good

it's a shame the first song is the best one by a mile! the last one's good too. the repetition's a lot and halfway through you could tell every song's got the same formula. an album only to be listened to when it's quiet past 9pm. not a daytime album unless you're alone in the kitchen baking a nice cake and the sun's peeking through the windows. not at all what i'd usually pick out but i'm glad i listened because i need to listen to new things outside of my comfort zone!

I really enjoy Lou Reed’s work - I’m always so drawn to his music and voice. This was a good album, some really good tracks show up here - namely Pale Blue Eyes, The Murder Mystery, and After Hours. It’s got a timeless sound while carrying the softness that I hear in most music from the 60s. Not Velvet Underrated’s best work, but pretty darn good.

nunca entendi quem classificava esse álbum como chato ou quando diziam que ele dá sono. esse só é mais um álbum melancólico e introspectivo, e é lindo. o estilo que lou reed usa nas músicas é tão particular e própria dele, isso dá um toque muito especial ao disco pra mim.

sadly, despite liking other the velvet underground's works, this one didn't resonate with me. it just felt a little bit too monotonous and cohesive in a way that didn't allow me to form a strongly positive opinion. however, i reallyyyy liked "what goes on", "pale blue eyes" and "after hours". "murder mystery", on the other hand was very hard to listen, despite me understanding the creative choices made here. overall, the album as a whole didnt resonate with me much so that's why i give it a 2 (would give it a 2.5 if it was possible)

Top 10 albums to fall asleep to

Essential

2 STARS Only enjoyed two songs from the album. Pale Blue Eyes Candy Says

this gives me sufjan steven vibes within how quiet and peacefully beautiful it sounds. the overall vibe of this album so far feels very melancholic with a sense of humour. i appreciate the fact that this album only has 10 songs since long albums are typically filled with some generic songs, but these are all bangers.

They were really ahead of their time...I was pleasantly surprised with the whole album.

The bomb

Needs more than 5 stars. OG indie band

Good

First VU album where they were trying to make a pop record. Without John Cale the experimental stuff (the murder mystery) does fall short. Doug Yule’s first record with them and as always his voice is beautiful and really adds some depth to Candy says that Reed could write but not sing. It’s definitely in my top 3 vu songs. My first VU album I ever heard- so always a 5, despite the fact that it definitely has a couple skips on it.

normal guy voice: I LOVE THE VELVET UNDERGROUND New fav: The Murder Mystery

loved down. already somewhat familiar with the album but great to sit and listen to. love when lou reed moans a little 👍

All-timer

Personally not very into soft indie bedroom music but if there's one group I'll allow it it's the Velvet Underground esp because of Candy Says <3 Favorites: Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes

Although I love The Velvet Underground And Nico, I’ve never really listened to any of their other albums. Listening to this made me wonder why - I liked it a lot.

meh

lindo dms

Definitely not something I’d usually enjoy, but this album was a pleasant listen. It’s definitely too sonically mellow and peaceful for my taste. Still, this album managed to keep its atmosphere from being boring while sprinkling in some pretty unique and interesting parts (although not nearly as much as in their debut). 7/10

Some great stuff, some very middling. Pale Blue Eyes is a beautiful love song and always chokes me up. But then murder mystery is 9 minutes of boring and annoying.

Yet another incredibly boring album on this list. All of the songs sound the same. No life or variation in any of these tracks

My third favorite velvet underground record. A bit more esoteric in my opinion but still pretty great

I have deliberately laxed my standards on what a 5 star album is. I used to reserve that kind of score for transcendent, life-changing experiences...but that's limiting, isn't it? Why can't something just be a kickass collection of songs? If there are no bad songs, it might as well be 5 stars, right? This album is one of those. The experimental edge of their previous work is gone, but they still come in hot with an almost perfect set of tunes. The stretch from Candy Says through Beginning to See The Light alone is so flawless that it earns the album a high rating.

This was so boring :x It didnt start that bad but as the album went i just couldnt even finish it

I liked it but it didn't stand out much to me

A bit boring for my taste, most the songs in the album didn't left that much of an impression to me

A really relaxed and nostalgic album

зацепил только парочкой спокойных песен особенно первая прикольная а так ни о чем, но предпоследняя песня прям крейзи, очевидно, с каким-то гениальным смыслом, но мне лень

Well, this is at least a more cohesive effort than their others on this list.

I think u have to listen to this album on the right mood and if u are actively looking for this kind of slow and romantic music. For my it was not that interesting other than wanting to understand the lyrics, it was kinda boring and I wanted to skip most of the songs.

The low-key version of the Velvets opens with some stunners. Maybe drifts a little in the second half but still loads to love here.

Mostly boring and repetitive but The Murder Mystery saved the album from a 2 Standouts: - What Goes On - I'm Set Free - The Murder Mystery

Liker d! hørt før ofc. ikke min favoritt velvet underground da

trop lent et une chanson carrément s'appelle jésus

An interesting start to the project, to say the least. I can understand why there are mixed feelings about this album, how some people find it bland or uninspiring. The instrumentation doesn't reach out and grab you (except in some of the more experimental tracks, such as "The Murder Mystery"), but there is a depth to the songwriting underneath.

I've always enjoyed the Velvet Underground and I enjoyed this album, they achieved such a melancholy and gritty sound which I somehow also find relaxing and tender. I like the collaborative vocals, and the mix of songs like PBE to punchier ones Murder Mystery

I LOVED this album. Not sure why I initially thought I wouldn’t enjoy this album but I ended up thinking it was amazing. Firstly, the production across the album was SO good, I loved how raw/gritty the music felt, it had great cohesion, you could totally zone out while listening to this album and still think it was great. It does feel a bit less experimental than other VU songs so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it more. Vocals were spot on and at points reminded me of early Beatles, every song was so unique in its own way but never out of place. Can’t really think of a better album to be self titled, they really nailed the tone/mood/vibe which has rarely been replicated.

Boring and pointless, just some goofy ass 60s bullshit

Pleasantly surprised by the use of the organ on What Goes On. Love me an organ. Sensationally groovy and smooth. A perfect Sunday album. Top 3 1. Pale Blue Eyes 2.I'm Set Free 3. Jesus

Not my style, too abstract

i mean it's good and I can appreciate it, but kinda boring. musically interesting for the time it came out though.

W album. 27/27

This is the album I would play at a nostalgic life reset trip. Which I recently just had lol. I’m in LOVE with it. The sound is BEAUTIFUL, and the lyrics give me so much joy and love and everything else in between. I love life and I love this album.

Bra musikk, men ikke så mange bangers. Blir fort litt for rotete for min del

43m 10 songs Pale blue eyes ❤️❤️

Awesome

Great album! I never listened to the velvet underground very much but I quite like this one!

Best Track - "Pale Blue Eyes"

Interesting at first

Did not hold our interest

Cozy Lou Reed

At first I like the slow songs and all the vibe, but then it turned fast and then there's some almost psychedelic 9 min track. Id say non-consistant

Favorite track: Pale Blue Eyes

I've heard the Velvets classics like Sweet Jane et al and was familiar with Pale Blue Eyes from the REM cover, so I was expecting to like this one a lot and discover some new stuff. I'd say it was a bit of a soft disappointment, Beginning to See the Light was pretty good but I felt most of the album was pretty mid.

The lo-fi sound space works really well, the atmosphere is amazing and very cozy. They seem in full control while also being vulnerable. Best song: Candy Says Worst song: The Murder Mystery Cover check: That is in fact The Velvet Underground

I'm a fan of Lou Reed and his approach to lyricism and songwriting. If you listened to the Velvet Underground's songs as instrumentals only, I think most of the time you might think of them as this bright and sunny pop band with beautiful melodies founded in the major scale (the major scale is almost always bright and makes you feel "nice" or "good" when you listen to it as opposed to the minor scales that normally contain more gloomy notes). On the flip side, if you read their lyrics as poetry and separate from its instrumentation, the lyrics can be surreal or twisted. Not dark, per say, but they don't always match their backing tracks. I don't know if that makes any sense, but that's the best way I can describe how I interpret the Velvet Underground.

Reading some of the public reviews for this one hurt. I love this album! It's so tender and endearing in a way that VU had never really done before. It was their most accessible album they'd made to that point. With John Cale leaving, they basically dropped the entire experimental layer of their music and went for a much more sweet and less aggressive sound. I think they nailed it.

Another major favorite. Dropping some of the experimental attunements of the previous two albums (Murder Mystery notwithstanding) to embrace some more traditional, sensitive songwriting - The Velvet Underground's self titled (no Nico) is a really rich and beautiful album that still channels lo-fi garage energy despite being well enmeshed with the Warhol Factory scene by this point. Great showcase of everyone's talents. Quietly really ambitious even as it trends away from what made WL/WH and TVU&Nico so seismic. Reed made the right call on making this one "poppier" so to speak but it's still got weirdo alternative bite. Favorite Tracks: What Goes On, Beginning to See the Light, Pale Blue Eyes, The Murder Mystery, After Hours

Great Groove on What goes on, love this guitar. Feels like classic new york. Pale blue eyes is one of the best songs I've ever heard of course Beginning to see the light makes you sound like you're running through the streets of new york

Not as great as I remember. Interestingly experimental, but they swung too far after White Heat and lost a little electricity and passion. Lou is always great... Probably should be a 4, but I'm feeling 3 right now.

I love the velvet underground

not my style. 3 stars. knew murder mystery from tik tok LOL

There were some songs I really liked that had the vibe of the music in Juliet, Naked, but then there were some songs that had really minimalist stuff going on where it was one chord (basically) the whole song and I couldn't listen to it, I had to skip it. The last song was my favorite - After Hours, and it's sung by someone not in the band. Hilarious.

While it still struggles a bit sonically, this album remains so groundbreaking in so many ways. Nico's raspy Bohemian voice with zero fucks to give and Lou Reed already showing what a powerful musician he was make this record a standout.

Not bad, easy listening and a couple of good ones The Murder Mystery was the highlight. 3/5

Good album, but not my favorite. Very chill vibe. Already had Pale Blue Eyes saved. Listening to this album made me feel like I was driving on country roads in the PNW.

Great album, a definite listen again. 8/10

Very mellow and slow. Not really my thing

average album vocals seem a bit weak, expected more. overall rating: 3.5/5 favourite tracks: i’m set free, the murder mystery least favourite track: jesus

Once again I don’t quite know where to begin—but this time it’s not for lack of ideas. There’s simply so much to say. Let’s start with The Velvet Underground themselves. I’ve always had a soft spot for them. Their debut with Nico—the banana album, for anyone who’s been living under a musical rock—is an absolute masterpiece, to the point where I once had it framed on my wall as a kind of homage. Not for the cover art, but for what it represents. I also own the two albums that followed, including this one, but until recently I knew them less well. In fact, I first encountered several of these songs through the live versions on Bettie Serveert’s tribute album. The podcast guys famously dislike The Velvet Underground—save for one of them—but that tends to happen with music that stubbornly refuses to stay within the lines. Despite the title, this is not the debut but the third album. In a way, the banana record was already eponymous too, just with Nico’s name added. What really sets this album apart from the first two is a major lineup change: John Cale was gone, replaced by Doug Yule. Lou Reed wrote all the songs. And while I’ve never truly connected with Lou Reed’s solo work—some albums, yes, but nothing that really grabs me—this record absolutely does. This is, quite simply, an outstanding album. Its opening alone is remarkable. Sequencing matters, and here it’s almost counterintuitive. “Candy Says” is a quiet, tender, fragile song—not at all what you’d expect as an opener. And yet it works perfectly. The album contains several songs in that restrained, intimate vein, and those are largely what it’s remembered for. “Pale Blue Eyes,” by far the most streamed track, sits back-to-back with “Jesus,” sung jointly by Reed and Yule, who also sings lead on “Candy Says.” Drummer Maureen “Moe” Tucker is also given the microphone, which is… debatable. She provides a second vocal line on “The Murder Mystery” and sings solo on the closing track, “After Hours.” Her lack of conventional vocal ability arguably exceeds her lack of conventional drumming ability—she’s famous for her minimalist style, after all. The singing is wobbly, especially on the last-call, lights-coming-on closer. And yet, in a strange, almost hypnotic way, it works. “After Hours” is a genuine earworm. Besides, anyone claiming Nico could sing might consider either starting or stopping medication. For me, however, the real highlights lie elsewhere: in the uptempo rockers and in the album’s one truly experimental piece. The first category includes the magnificent “What Goes On” and the even more magnificent “Beginning to See the Light.” On the former, Doug Yule plays an organ part so absurdly simple that it almost invites you to play along—and yet it’s devastatingly effective. Those basic chords lift the song like a rocket launch. “Beginning to See the Light” is an absolute beast of a track and, not coincidentally, the standout moment on the Bettie Serveert tribute. And then there’s “The Murder Mystery.” Where the band mostly colors within the lines on this album—certainly compared to the first two—this track veers off entirely. It grates, it’s uncomfortable, at times borderline painful, and it goes on far too long. In other words: it’s fantastic. This is music that challenges and provokes. Naturally, it has the fewest Spotify streams. Yes, it’s nearly nine minutes long and takes up over 20% of the album, but still—people could try a little harder. Is the album perfect? No. “Some Kinda Love” drifts into a Grateful Dead–style Americana haze that’s far less compelling. But before that becomes an issue, the aching beauty of “Pale Blue Eyes” arrives to put things right. Listen to this album. Give it more than one spin—it may take a moment to settle in. But once it does, you’re left with a quiet, strange, deeply rewarding masterpiece. And don’t skip “The Murder Mystery.”

A great album brought down by an overly avant closer.

3/5

It's fine. It's nice. I can hear the bands it influenced. That Murder song is fun. The guitars are way too jangly.

Nesse álbum a banda já mostra que seria diferente. Ainda tá em busca de um som mais singular, mas a genialidade está presente. QoA Cloudscape.

Love The Velvet Underground. And I love this album.

I enjoy Pale Blue Eyes, but this album doesn't come close to their album including Nico.

Wallpaper. Boring wallpaper

good, but not really my thing

This feels like a betrayal of my younger self, the teenager from a small town who wanted to be cool and worldly. But I don't think I like the Velvet Underground as much any more. What once felt profound now just seems like the pseudo-intellectual ramblings of a junkie some of the time. And it really annoys me when people don't sing in tune. Perhaps I have become old man shouts at cloud. The album got better as it went on, though. I still think I've gone off art school rock a bit in general, but this was experimental and subversive for its time and about half of it was an enjoyable listen.

Love anything velvet underground

Well...middle of the day working in the office is NOT the best time to listen to this one. It's good -- really good -- but out there -- far out! I enjoyed enoigh to give it a critical listen at a later date, but until then, 4 stars.

Liked it better than I expected. I like a nicer slower tempo record

Enjoyed this more than I expected going in. Enjoyed this far more than the other album of theirs I listened to.

Slow, Melancholy, forgettable, unremarkable, and boring at times I dont think I'll revisit the whole album often, if ever, but Candy Says is a beautiful song I liked. I really disliked The Murder Mystery. Overall I give the album a shrug.

I really like the Velvet Underground, and Pale Blue Eyes was already one of my favorite songs so I loved listening to the rest! I really like this era of music and I thought they have a really cool, diverse spread on this one album. I LOVED After Hours, and found it super nice at the end. It feels super cozy and comforting compared to some other music I’ve heard from them, and that’s why I like it so much.

Pale Blue Eyes ✅

This, after The Band by The Band, put me on the back foot immediately but fuck me there's a gorgeous album waiting to be let out here. Pale Blue Eyes and The Murder Mystery steal the show, with the latter's chaotic instrumentation and panned vocals remind me of Circle Takes The Square, while hearing After Hours for the first time broke me

not terribly familiar with anything beyond their highest played songs. While I didn't hate the record, I feel this was another "you had to be there" albums, that held much more weight 50 years ago. I'd give it a 2.5 if I could.

This was fun, and I like The Velvet Underground generally, but it wasn't like super amazing or whatever.