Reviews (page 6 of 15)
An album that just sounds cool, the vibes are cool, the music is cool, the people who listen to it are cool. 4 stars
A fabulous album. Great collection of songs and that influential sound....
A whole ass vibe.
My teenage self is flailing in joy
4.1/pretty cool sounding for '69
Solid album from beginning to end.
Красиво и хорошо
Me ha gustao. Solo conocía el mítico del plátano. Este es más suave, melódico, más tranquilo. Menos experimental y más pop supongo.
Great!
The OG indie band
So this is the second time I've been given this album now, and upon another listen I'm moving it from 3 stars to 4, I really do quite like it! A few of the tracks I forget exist in the middle but a lot of them all standout to me.
This is the first band that I've listnened to one of their albums all the way through before starting this and as I do love the Velvet Underground, it was plesant to listen to these songs as I've only heard a few on this LP. Very decent album, not as good as TVU & Nico and Loaded but I'd say #3 is a good spot for a great band.
Really enjoyed basically all of this, and Pale Blue Eyes cements it as a fairly classic album. Really good
All vibes and I'm here for it. Don't think I ever listened to this album outside of Pale Blue Eyes. Good stuff. 3.75/5
insanely damn good
Very good...although not as good as The Velvet Underground & Nico. I am particularly fond of After Hours.
It would not make me move to New York and crash on the manager's couch, but this is a pretty good album. It took me a while to appreciate Lou Reed's songs (apart from his voice and his sound) and most of these are very good and not especially challenging (except The Murder Mystery).
Really enjoyed this album. Easy listen and quite a vibe aside from some religious stuff
7/10
Alright I’m a total music noob and have listened to approximately 0 velvet underground songs. This was not what I was expecting at all. It didn’t knock my socks off, but there were definitely some shining moments for me. Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, and After Hours were all great. The murder song was pretty whack, but I think this album is deserving of soft to decent 4.
I have conflicting feelings about this album. Candy Says is such a beautiful song. What Goes On is also a great song, feels of it's time. I love when Velvet Underground has the driving rhythm and they just vamp on a couple chords. I got lost on the next couple songs. Not feeling Jesus in here. These songs aren't bad or anything, I just don't think they are of the same caliber as the first two. Then we get to "The Murder Mystery" which starts off excellent and then devolves into the most art-rock 9 minute track of all time. So much talking and then some faux-lounge duet thing going on. Truly the first bad song and it takes so much out of this record. But then After Hours is a timeless song that I love with all my heart. I really don't know where to rate this because the bookend tracks are so good, but the Murder Mystery is painful. I'll throw a 4 on this, I loved a couple songs. I liked some songs, and only didn't like 1 track. After Hours is soooo good it is an instant +1 on the whole album. 4/5
J’aime bien ! C’est moins mélancolique que ce que j’attendais. À réécouter
"Murder Mystery" is het enige minpuntje, maar dat wordt direct daarna ruimschoots goedgemaakt door mijn favoriet "After Hours".
Ditching art rock abrasion for ballads and rock and roll, this continues to prove the Velvets could do it all. B-side is a bit weak, though.
Probably not our favourite velvet underground album but it does have some very strong songs on it. Especially pale blue eyes.
Enjoyed the progression of this album. Some parts were nothing special but they still contributed to the story. 8/10
Interesting but not my style
BEST SONGS: - The Murder Mystery - Pale Blue Eyes
I liked two of the songs in this album! What Goes On was pretty good. But over all I think the songs were too slow for me.
неееет я просрала несколько дней😭 альбом показался медленным для меня, но некоторые песни зашли хорошо
Much better than with Nico droning on and on, I actually really enjoyed listening to this one!
A lot of my personal favs.
First velvet Undergroknd that I actually like. Usually I just don’t get it.
4.3 stars rounded down.
I loved it, the middle songs were a bit repetitive tho (ik it's the point but it kinda broke the vibe) (ik it's the point again but I was vibing bro) but it got great again. I always love a bit of noise in my albums
I rather liked this; it's better than The Velvet Underground & Nico I had earlier in the project. I would happily listen to this again.
I like the cinematic-esque sound they were going for here I found it kinda captivating, the songwriting was also very solid and the stratchey vocals were annoying sometimes but helped give the album a certain tone which I think worked.
Nice chill, experimental, really enjoyed most of it.
a classic, one of their best, always a good listen!
Not very clearly recorded and very soft songs. Songs are pleasant.
4/4,5
This one took me by surprise. I am familiar with a handful of their songs from the first two albums, but I hadn't heard anything from this one before. What Goes On is now one of my favorite songs, I knew it immediately when it started. The only song I really didn't like is The Murder Mystery.
has a very different vibe from there other work but its still great. considering how avant garde and crazy their other work is its cool that they would release a more accessible and pleasing to the ear. proves that they are indeed great musicians. you can't write them off as talentless and pretentious like how most experimental bands get treated by general audiences.
A surprisingly enjoyable album. I feel like Velvet Underground has been filled with a lot of highs and an equal amount of lows. This one fits right there in the middle. I liked it and would probably listen to it again.
This is good stuff. Minimalist in its own way, it still covers a surprising range of sounds- not something you'd expect after their debut with Nico. I enjoy all the experimentation here, with perhaps the lone exception being The Murder Mystery. Playing a different set of lyrics in each ear simultaneously is sadistic.
That was good. I've always liked Pale Blue Eyes but hadn't listened to this album before. What Goes On and Beginning to See The Light stood out. I actually I liked pretty much all the songs, but am sitting on the fence regarding The Murder Mystery.
El principio del indie, excelente
A nawet niezłe
The Velvet Underground often contains an intimacy and a fragility in their presentation of the "new" rock and roll, or rather new for the time. Their vision of rock was pretty expansive and inclusive, even if the sounds themselves were incredibly repetitive and hypnotic. Lou is a hell of a frontman, there's an eeriness to his swag, idk how to explain it. His vocals beat you over the head the same way the instrumentals do. Even with his insistence at times, theres a gentleness to the honesty of this record. When it comes to love, Lou is often strangely esoteric in his language, and he sort of continues that theme on a ton of his solo stuff too. This was not my fav velvet underground album simply because I find some songs a tad bit grading, and the repetitive nature of the grooves mixed with Lou's meandering style contrast eachother in unpleasant ways. It's no wonder the shortest (and best) track on this album is After Hours and also lacks Lou's vocals entirely in exchange for Maureen's, who are far sweeter. Lou's vocals are about as sweet as a rambly ol jalopy. I would say most of these songs are esoteric explorations of the self in relation to the divine. The rock sounds on this album can be quite thrilling and surprising, White Light/White Heat sure is a trip. Lou's certainly a memorable romantic doing his best to croon and seduce on this one and I'll give him that. Strange swag forever.
Another one I had listened to before, even though it's not as weird as the previous two TVU albums and instead has more of their kind of slow songs, it's still very enjoyable and I kinda forgot about that. I don't have much more to say than yeah, it's a great album if a little behind its two predecessors
Another solid offering from VU. This one isn’t my favorite of their discography, I lean more towards VU&N and Loaded, but this is always an interesting, strange, druggy listen.
Standout Songs: What Goes On Pale Blue Eyes Beginning To See The Light That's The Story Of My Life When I saw I got a Velvet Underground album I felt sick to my stomach because I was familiar with their noise rock type music, which is a style I don’t particularly enjoy. I went into this with the lowest of expectations and was pleasantly surprised. This album takes a step back from their more experimental work to focus on topics of love and religion. A very beautifully written album that I’m glad I gave a chance to.
Great album, though not as good as Velvet and Nico. It's refreshing listening to simple music, especially in this day of over produced nonsense. Lou Reed's voice is still spectacular
First four songs are pretty good all things considered. Candy Says is very melancholy, with probably the best songwriting on the album. After Pale Blue Eyes the album falls off a cliff- not bad but not nearly to the expertise of the first four. Murder Mystery kind of sucks. Just monotonous for 9 bloody minutes. After Hours might just be the best song on the album though. Incredible closer to an alright to good album. Overall, Velvet Underground gets a 3.5
Very familiar with this one, so I decided to change things up today by listening to the Closet Mix for once. I don't think the difference is quite as drastic as some people make it out to be (with the obvious exception of "Some Kinda Love"), but it's nice to have a change of pace every once in a while. The more intimate songs are my favorites by a long shot, the rockers just don't work quite as well with this new, meeker sound, though I still do quite like "Beginning to See the Light". I guess it's the two songs between that and "Murder Mystery" that really hurt the overall strength of this album. Those are just too slight and wouldn't work on any album.
Even considering the fact that the 60s was an experimental time in popular music, it's crazy to me that songs like "The Murder Mystery" were being made in 1969. I like this album a lot.
Thoughts before listening: Most of my knowledge about Velvet Underground is with the VU and Nico album that I owned and Loaded which Phish covered. I also know they have an album called White Light White Heat. While this album has a familiar cover, I am not associating it with any of their songs. Review: So this is their 3rd of 4 albums and was seen at the time as a departure from their sound. Very quiet and subdued for a lot of the tracks and lacking the experimentation that had defined their first 2 releases, this is certainly a different version of the band from the one that was seen as a major inspiration for the punk scene. While I do enjoy some of the more rocking songs like "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light", the best song on the album is "Pale Blue Eyes" which is a tender love song. Like a lot of the VU's output, there is a certain fragile nature to the sound here with both the music and Lou Reed's voice sounding like they could collapse at any time. However this is a very effective release. I was surprised by how much I didn't like parts of the ...and Nico album when I listened as part of this project, and I am equally as surprised by how much I am enjoying this one. 4-stars
Had me grooving while cleaning. Pale Blue Eyes and Beginning to see the light stood out
Some classics on here
More tuneful than I expected, aside from “The Murder Mystery.” Love “Pale Blue Eyes” which apparently was meant to be a hit.
I am listening to this album directly after "Napalm Death". It's like slipping into a nice warm bath after being dunked in a swamp. The velvet underground are a salve for my weary soul. "Candy Says" is a very pretty song. I love the quiet harmonies and the peaceful guitar. The opening riff on "Some Kinda Love" is so nice. The vocals sit on top of it very nicely. "The Murder Mystery" is tripping me out. "After Hours" might be my favorite song on the record. This is a pleasant album. Nothing blows my mind, but I like it. 7/10
Iconic cover. 1. Actually like this. Took a few listens (and several years) to realize this. 2. Great song. 3. Great song. Is this about Nico? 4. Also good song. 5. Fun song. Interesting guitar. 6. Good song. Also about Nico? 7. Good. 8. Ok. 9. Ok. 10. Is Bob Dylan influenced by TVU? An ok song. 11. Funky guitar. They actually bother to play guitar more than usual. They really don't care about instrumentation at all. OVERALL: An excellent album. Liked it more than I remember.
Crazy that they can depart from their abrasive, noise-rock and still sound this good. The Murder Mystery is a really interesting song, albeit not one that I enjoy. Great album, 9/10
I’ve known about VU forever and heard and loved Sweet Jane, etc. But I always avoided diving in because I suspected they were too “arty” for me. So i was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the first few tracks on this album, and, of course, Sweet Jane. It would have been a strong 5, but there were a few parts that were too experimental for me (i don’t go much for atonal, in pop music). It lands at a pleasantly-surprised 4 — I’ll definitely listen again.
Rating: 8/10 Starts off incredible and ends on a decent note. The best songs are gorgeous, which is amplified by the vastly improved production on this album. Some songs are just pretty underwhelming, The Murder Mystery is simultaneously intriguing and awful and stains the album a bit. Despite some shortcomings, still a great album.
I liked this more than expected. Probably the only reason it's not in contention for a five is The Murder Mystery song. Songs: Candy Says, What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning to See the Light (maybe), After Hours
I don't know why I've never got around to listening to these guys but I'm glad I finally did.
Already listened
Bra den her
I enjoy the bizarre spaciness this album has, in comparison to some of the more known VU records. Feels very much like something I would have had on while munching on an edible in college, the lyrics are affective.
3.5
4.5
so you are telling me that i am going to another VU album after listening to lou reed's solo album one days later? and anyway, candy says made me cry. 4/5
Nice to revisit this classic.
A solid, chill album that's great for a Friday night at home. It's not perfect (looking at you The Murder Mystery), but it has a timeless quality that will definitely have me revisiting it. Highlights: Pale Blue Eyes Candy Says
This record has a soft, hazy intimacy that really appeals to me. It was my first time listening to it on Friday, but it felt like an old favourite I’ve listened to 100 times - in a good way. I wouldn’t call this a no-skip (The Murder Mystery felt like a failed experiment), but I really liked this. I’ll definitely come back to this album.
I find it hard to describe The Velvet Underground because normally this is the band you reference when describing other bands. Most rock band are influenced by them or influenced by somebody influenced by them. But i'll do my best. So ya... this is a great record. I really enjoyed it. It definitely focuses more on songwriting/vibe than the debut. Gone are the noisy freakouts and abrasive instrumental bits. It's more restrained, and poppy. Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes and After Hours are just beautiful, low key tunes. I knew Pale Blue Eyes going in but the other 2 were a complete surprise. There are still those classic driving, escalating Velvet songs... more low key versions of heroine... but still very propulsive... like you're running down a hill... and gravity takes over. What Goes On and Beginning to See the Light and I'm Set Free definitely fit this mold. Really... most of the songs on this record are great. I won't list them all here. Buttttttt it's not a perfect record... who authorized The Murder Mystery? That song really drags on and on. The second half with the piano is good... but the first half is a real slog. I think if they cut it down to like 4 minutes, it coulda worked. On other records they've done weird talky tracks way better, like The Gift on White Light/White Heat. Other than that, i don't have many complaints and I plan to revisit this album.... especially After Hours. You did it Lou. You fuckin did it.
I can't think objectively about this band. They are almost mythical. Did they even actually make music? They did, and it's pretty good.
I'm a fan of VU, they have a few on this playlist and my awareness of their place in rock n' roll history has been amplified thanks to the Top 1001. Love "Candy Says", I actually was first made aware of it through the Blind Melon cover, which is faster and kicks ass. Odd song to intro an album with considering "What Goes On" is more upbeat and speaks better to their overall sound. I know "What Goes On" as a cover song as well, seems the influence by VU is long and wide. "Pale Blue Eyes" is a solid song, covered by many people, and it sounds great all these years later. The only shitty song is "The Murder Mystery", the rest is all enjoyable and worthy of a 2nd listen. I'd say this album has aged better than most albums from 1969, it doesn't sound as dated and could be popular today. The influence is obvious, the songs are strong, it holds up well after 50+ years and it deserves a spot on this list.
i loooved this, gave me the beatles, chris isaak and jeff buckley vibes - i love how mellow it was, and the lyrics for alot of the songs were adorable!! i am now a huge fan of velvet underground
The guitar is proper like Beatles , this is such a vibe . I heard the name on a music podcast before(Neeky I know ) but never thought to listen and it’s such a vibe . This week has actually been really good . Apart from that dion geezer . He can fuck right off. But this is such a vibe and it’s so like summery . Good music to cry to I feel . Some of I’m set free sounds like Robbie Williams . Don’t hate me if you disagree ! Fucking hell the murder mystery is long , but it doesn’t feel like it . Kudos to that!
Nice tunes and lyrics thx!
Amazing
Pretty chill
Not my go to VU Album - but my, it’s good
Nice. That's how I'd describe this. White Light/ White Heat is a more exciting album and more up my alley, but this is pretty sweet. Pale Blue Eyes is one of my faves on here. If WL/WH is the party, this album is the recovery. Three stars.
Wonderfully weird.
Bit weird but ok
Waar dissonantie de boventoon voerde op de eerste twee albums van VU, is deze derde plaat veel meditatiever. Door het wegvallen van John Cale leest deze plaat ook veel meer als een spirituele en mentale exploratie van Lou Reed zelf, wat een aantal van zijn meest intieme composities oplevert. De introverte folk/pop songs als 'Candy Says' en 'Pale Blue Eyes' zijn ontroerend goed, en zouden uiteindelijk net zo'n voetafdruk achter laten op de indie-muziek van later als dat een stormachtige White Light/White Heat dat zou doen. Maar voor mij is het toch nog de wisselwerking met wat snellere, energiekere, en 'coolere' songs als 'What Goes On' of 'Some Kinda Love' die uiteindelijk de plaat weer in de regio 'goed tot zeer goed' trekt. Vanaf het weinig kleurrijke 'Jesus' tot de laatste twee tracks is het wat minder, waardoor het qua consistentie het debuut niet bij kan benen. Maar met de hoogst eigenaardige - maar toch passende - twee laatste songs hoor je ondanks dat deze plaat best wel veilig was, dat VU toch altijd grenzen aan het verleggen is. 8/10 Highlights: What Goes On Pale Blue Eyes After Hours
Bijzonder mooie plaat van the Velvet Underground. Hoe vet de experimenten van deze band ook zijn, soms luistert dat gewoon niet zo lekker weg. Het tegendeel is hier waar. De songs zijn intiemer, kleiner en meer folky. Dat staat mij wel aan. En tegelijk laat VU zien gewoon nog heerlijk te kunnen experimenteren aan het eind van het album. Maar ook daar blijft het intiem. After Hours vind ik een onroerend mooi einde. De plaat mist hier en daar de energie van het debuut maar ik wel bijzonder mooi. 8/10 Highlights What Goes On (Stone Roses??) Pale Blue Eyes After Hours
I quite enjoyed this album. Some of the songs were beautiful and some were strange, but overall, I liked it.
great
Love the velvet underground man they're so sick
Betydligt bättre än wl/wh. Förutom näst sista låten (murder mystery) som är urkukad. Sista låten är inte heller så bra. Men resten är mycket bra.
Cool
Way more stripped down than the other Velvet Underground albums I’ve listened to thus far, really like it
A lot less insane than the other Velvet Underground stuff I've heard, pretty solid!
So I had a Velvet Underground phase in high school but somehow missed/didn't get to this album, which is a shame. I knew Pale Blue Eyes from a best-of compilation I had but the others were new to me. The album is more subdued than their more rocking material but I kind of dig the simplicity of it. "The Murder Mystery" was kind of a trip listening to on ear buds though, heh.
Only song I didn't really care for was The Murder Mystery. Pale Blue Eyes was my favorite, but it's their most recognized song, so that wasn't a surprise. Really liked After Hours as well (sung by their drummer). Another influential album from late 60's/70's. 4/5.
Frábær plata.
Mjög góð plata. Pale blue eyes frábært lag. Banana platan er samt betri.
out with the Cale, in with the Yule. the effect this simple lineup change had on TVU is pretty hard to overstate. save for the 9-minute psych-tinged surrealism of "The Murder Mystery" (by far the most interesting song here), any trace of the avant-garde elements which colored their debut and defined their sophomore effort are essentially gone here on LP3, which is either their first or second self-titled album, depending on how you want to count it. on the one hand, the band's pivot to a straightforward rock sound automatically makes this album just a little less interesting to me compared to the first two. on the other, that's just me wanting this to be something other than what it is. with Reed as the sole songwriter, it's no surprise that both the compositions and their orchestrations are heavily stripped back; after all, this is the guy who famously said that "Two chords is pushing it." a lot of the time, you're left rocking between the 1 chord and the 4. you're sort of forced into this hypnosis in a similar way to the minimal music being written in New York City at the same time as TVU was active. the lyrics are, similarly, a lot less taboo than the band had become known for. if anything, I feel like there might have even been a little too much edge sanded off in comparison with their previous work. despite that, I really appreciate how this album shows off the band's ability to thrive in many different musical contexts. there's still some interesting instrumentation quirks to be found; it's hard to think of this as being a "sell-out" record, since the band's identity is still pretty well intact. that definitely didn't stay true for much longer after this album, though! decent 8/10.
Candy says comienza con un estilo similar al de su debut, música onírica y calmada. Por cierto la voz es del nuevo: Dog Youle. El tema está dedicado a Candy Darling, un transexual de la troupe de Andy Warhol, a quien Reed también le dedicaría “Walk On The Wild Side” en 1972. Pale blue eyes es casi una nana. Exquisita, apenas la voz de Reed, la guitarra de Sterling y Tucker tocando la pandereta. What goes on acelera, y ya mete distorsión. Some Kinda love es una de sus mejores canciones. Jesus es otra joya, que cierra la cara A. La mayoría de grupos de los 90 se la saben de memoria (otros como Galaxie 500, Low o Spacemen 3 construyeron carreras gloriosas a partir de estos andamiajes). Abre la otra mitad del disco Beginning To See The Light, que es un clásico. I'm Set Free y That's The Story Of My Life siguen por caminos bucólicos. The Murder Mystery es una tormenta o una pesadilla de más de 8 minutos que acaba bien. After Hours con Maureen Tucker sonando tan ridículamente infantil como Reed imaginaba. La batalla la ganaba Lou Reed a de John Cale ajeno a la idea de suavizar su música y hacerla más popular (su anterior White light/ White heat fue un avispero de ruido y experimentación abocado al fracaso). Sin Cale, el sonido era lo que Lou Reed haría desde entonces y le llevaría a la gloria. Sobre todo porque sus pedales y amplis se los habían robado de gira (algo similar a lo que les pasó a Sonic Youth décadas después). Disco bueno? Disco excelente!!
A hidden gem from the 60s. Among so many classic albums that came out at the end of that decade, Velvet Underground may sometimes go unnoticed, but it's always a pleasure to listen to them. I think 4 stars is a fair rating.
Solid listen, I was giving to the mellow vocals, creative sounds and arrangements. Looking forward to listening to it again sometime
Already listened to this it's really good though
Ziemlich gutes Album für einen entspannten Abend. Vor allem auch eine sehr schöne Überraschung, dass 'Pale Blue Eyes' drauf ist.
Went into this one completely blind and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Relaxed, soft, charming. Lots of great material - "Candy Says," "Pale Blue Eyes," the long experimental "The Murder Mysteries," and more. More time with this one might bump it up higher for me. Surprised to see this is Lou Reed, since I disliked Berlin.
It’s good but it’s missing something or someone oh yea that’s John Cale. I do love moe tucker singing the last song and I will always love the velvet underground and there meandering melodies. I bet this album is better when you are on the pot, ya know the marajuanas …
4.5
I don't know how I never knew of them before. I almost feel ashamed. I look forward to adding this to my record collection. This is a solid recommendation for anyone that enjoys artists like the Doors
I find The Velvet Underground to be highly overrated. But, that doesn’t mean they are bad. In fact, they are quite good. Like this album a lot. But for me, it’s not on God tier like a lot of people put it on.
Pretty good, the murder mystery was something unique, could see the inspiration behind sweater song there. But did not have a sensory overload moment like heroin.
Love this album, very Beattles vibe but not all identical. Didn't realize this was Lou Reed's band. Need to check out more of there stuff. They took some creative liberties when I am sure it was not normal to. Also some classic good stuff here. 8.7/10
Why is there so much classic rock on this list boomers are so fucking embarassing. Great album though I do love it. Pale Blue Eyes is an all timer.
I really enjoyed this and can see how they were such an influence on later bands. Sounds ahead of its time.
I like the velvet underground but this is not my favorite from them. 3.5
Shambolic and druggy. Perhaps no album could better be described as "proto". You can hear the future 80's to aughts bands that would mine this album for inspiration. At times, though, it feels like you need to be as high as them to appreciate the woozy vibes. "Pale Blue Eyes" is maybe the epitome of Lou Reed's songwriting.
Perfect Sunday morning album. Very chill
Very nice album, a lot softer and slower than some other VU albums, but its atmosphere is mellow, melodic and even mysterious. Though not quite the same without John Cale. I still enjoyed it quite a bit..fav song is The Murder Mystery.
Beautiful, pre-indie. Soft and often sweet, and, in turns, brilliant. Still, there would only be a handful of tracks I'd like to listen to frequently. I admit I can see the powerful influence on later music, but I can't put it in the category of my list of all time greats. 3.5/5
Comfort music to me.
Fand es schön aber etwas langweilig, aber After Hours am Ende richtig nice
Solid album, After Hours is a hidden gem.
Me gustó, es entretenido. Me gusta la calidad de la grabación
No one else quite like the VU. Awesome music.
When I was a freshman in high school, one of my best friends got followed while wearing a Velvet Underground shirt. He thought he was about to get jumped, but the person just asked for a cigarette. My friend didn't have any, and the guy just confusedly asked "Velvet Underground? Isn't that some acid rock band?" -- probably assuming my friend smoked. Not really, no, but acid rock isn't as wrong as it might seem, at least on this release. Cool stuff -- a restrained, thoughtful folk-rock departure from their previous work. Like if the Beatles smoked cigarettes instead of trying LSD. I think I'll stick with the noisier, earlier stuff, though.
I really like this. I listened to a few of the other Velvet Underground albums over the years and this was completely different, but I thought it was really really good.
Very good. I liked every song until the murder mystery which I strongly disliked
The album started out normally. I was waiting for it to get avant-garde-y and it did with Murder Mystery. Great album
Not as good as their first, but still am enjoyable listen. 8/10
It really is a template for so much modern indie
Lou Reed really outdid himself here. Probably his most emotional album album ever. So intimate and powerful ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Amazing album, will be giving it more listens in future
If the Velvet Underground established cool with Nico in 1967 and destroyed rock and roll on “Sister Ray” in 1968 then 1969’s eponymous third album was a gorgeous garden coming out of the ashes of the wreckage. There’s some absolutely stunning numbers here, including “Candy Says”, “Pale Blue Eyes”, “Beginning to See the Light”, and “I’m Set Free”. It’s probably the band’s high point, despite it being their quietest effort. I personally love Loaded, but it was a commercial effort that signified the end of the absolute raw nerve the band had tapped into. But here there’s a transformation and one that produces some incredible pop music for us to enjoy.
slam dunk #1 TVU album for me, great pop songwriting & enough experimentation to meet quota with The Murder Mystery
I love the psychadelic tones of the velvet underground. I was less familiar with this album that others but it was really great
This was unexpectedly enjoyable. I will definitely be returning to this album. The only track I didn't like was the long one that sounded nothing like the rest of the album, but overall really solid and I'll be checking out more VU because of it.
Interesting
We were pleasantly surprised by most of the album, although we could absolutely have done without the nine-minute chaos of "The Murder Mystery."
This is night and day different from White Light/ White Heat, an album I abhorred. This actually pretty nice. Gone are the 8 minute songs ans overly distorted sounds and the shoegaze vibe. Now there's actual song structure with some beautiful songs like Pale Blue Eyes. I even kind of liked the long song this time, where The Murder Mystery kind of sounds like Chop Suey by SOAD. I enjoyed this enough to give it a bonus star because I was really expecting to hate it.
Crazy - this album is pretty great. Not sure what happened between 1967 and 1969, but VU made me…happy…with this album. Clever, melodic songwriting without the avant garde focus of the banana album.
Weirdly I’d never heard this entire album. Actually really enjoyed the mellow vibe of it and will def purely be relistening. In some ways I enjoyed this more than The Velvet Underground and Nico which is saying a lot.
Very interesting album with a ton of variety even if some of the songs demonstrated questionable decision-making in the songwriting process.
Liked it more than I thought. Some weird songs in there. Not perfect singing but I like the cozy and intimate feel of the recording. Especially love the first song.
Wow ahead of its time especially the murder mystery which is a chaotic but awesome experimental song with two vocals interjecting with one another, not a bad song on here other than Jesus which was pretty mid.
Solid but not mind-blowing
My introduction to The Velvet Underground! I knew Pale Blue Eyes, but the rest was new to me. Each song is memorable in its own way, and I liked them all. PBE, Jesus, Beginning To See The Light, and The Murder Mystery were my favorites, and After Hours is such a nice closer.
Gentle Rock/ folk rock Album, very soothing Best Song: After Hours or Jesus
Velvet Underground is a vast improvement over the ‘67 album with Nico. (This one is actually enjoyable to listen to.) Thinking back, this one might be the album that got people talking about their music instead of the banana art work on cover of their debut. VU was a no longer a band by the time I started listening to music, but they were always overrated in my experience. I believe the vinyl of the album did not include the live cuts. I’ll listen to it again when I need a trip back in time to the late ‘60s (3.85*s)
This album is a lot more cohesive (and a lot less heroin-ed) than the previous entry. You can tell the whole band is really vibing; it's polished but still maintains grit. I love their moody, melancholy sound that many later bands strive for but don't land as successfully as VU. The album starts and ends strong with lots of really good tracks in between. The song writing puts Lou Reed's versatility on full display. I'd be amiss to not mention "The Murder Mystery" because it's so strangely fascinating and ahead of its time (also very Velvet). I dig it but can see how other's may not. I listened to this album many times over and it gets better each time. The lyrics are really introspective, contemplative, and emotional. Lou will swallow you up like a pill and puke you out in Warhol's art factory. 3.95
Despite never having lived in NYC or used heroin, I really like The Velvet Underground. The band and the album. Pale Blue Eyes is one of the best love songs of all time.
Wasn’t too familiar with Velvet Underground material before this list. They definetly continue to grow on me the more I listen.
'the murder mystery' hurt me and almost made me give it a 3, but the rest is good.
V good, I had only heard the Nico album before. I liked the gentle hazy vibe, Candy Says and I'm Set Free are gorgeous, The Murder Mystery is incredible. I let it play a second time so a solid 4
Found this to be pretty bloody lovely
These guys remain the goat that I often forget about when I'm trying to remember cool music that I want to listen to. They're also slightly too mainstream for me to be a "fan." Sameen is correct though, they are undeniable.
I always hated when people described music as 'timeless' because I don't really believe that things should exist outside of the context in which they were made... that being said one thing that has always attracted me to TVU is how they really straddle the line (I think) of music that your dad likes but also if I showed this to my nephew I think he'd really enjoy it... I don't really know how to describe it but TVU just has this undeniability ... also I did the whole Lou Reed solo discog last year and it was just so freaking good. I really love and respect him... the bisexual king <3 anyways, my preference of TVU albums puts this one at number three.. (I Love Loaded) but yea .. number three is still pretty damn good for this band!
I didn’t realise one of my favourite songs was by them
Very good instrumentals
Amazing band pretty good album
Not my favorite VU album but glad to have the guided relisten
I liked this!
likes: what goes on, the story of my life, after hours it's nice to listen to. 3.5/5
Just enough weird shit to keep a chill album interesting, plus I love Lou Reed so definitely biased going in. Newfound love for Moe Tucker for After Hours. Liked the chaos of Murder Mystery, and Pale Blue Eyes, Candy Says and I'm Set Free are classics for me.
I like this a lot more than the rating would suggest. Reminds me how inflated vibe reviews are. Really excited to check out more of their music, learn about it! Very subdued, but beautiful and not overdone. Candy says or After Hours for me. Sadly a stretch of forgettable songs in the middle but enough gold to be a 4 star! 3.5/5
Pretty easy to listen to. I enjoyed it.
4- Stars (10/15)
I rate Pale Blue eyes 3 stars because I don't really like this kind of music. And for murder mystery I rate it 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ because it had a little bit of rapping in it. I rate Jesus a 3.5 because i just don't really like it much.
Was enjoyable to listen to while running and making dinner. Great melodies to listen too
4.5/5 really good VU record. Their limited discography is so stellar though that this sometimes falls through the cracks
Some music is commercial and some music is art. Some are both, some are none. And in the Velvet Underground's case it is purely art and authentic tales from the banished and scorned 1960s NYC dingy artististic movement. Pre summer of love, and political revolutionary era. It is particularly just a testimony of the streets of New York in which one could very well lose their life for self expression. Creatives like Lou Reed, John Cale, Nico et al epitomize cool because they unabashedly express themselves in said fear state unapologetically. Its boring if you lack context and an artistic mind. But, definitely is an iconic piece of music for the devout historian and listener.
My first Velvet Underground album, and it won’t be my last. A simple album with beautiful melodies.
Some really beautiful songs on here, and Murder Mystery is just so ahead of its time!
Wasn't really thrilled about this one, and the intro didn't really helped. But by the second one to the end I discovered an incredible album and avant-garde. Sounds that I never listened in '60s music except for the monks. One of the best tack for me it's "jesus" because it precedes the slightly more emo punk of the 90s for the themes 8-9/10
Murder mystery was weird
Really good record.
Really enjoyed this, have never really listened to them but there are some serious tunes on this
I don't really like the Velvet Underground that much but i didn't hate this like i do Nico. I really enjoyed Pale Blue Eyes
This was better in the afternoon than in the morning but that’s ok we have an afternoon a day anyway
Really enjoyed this one some proper bangers
Great!
Everyone knows the famous Velvet Underground album with the Warhol banana but it's nice to have this on the list as well. I think a major factor in liking/disliking Velvet Underground has to do with your opinion of Lou Reed. I enjoy Lou's vocals so I like Velvet Underground but can understand it's not for everyone. Some lulls (Jesus) but the album as a whole is a worthwhile listen and I will likely listen to it in its entirety again. 7.75/10 (3.875/5)
Svag 4a. Riktigt stark första halva. Blir lite för avant-garde för mig andra halvan
Fantastic classic album from one of my favorite bands - of course. Pale Blue Eyes is just really amazing and tilts this album up. If you close the door...
A perfect encapsulation of this time in music and the band themselves.
A lot more tame then I expected. A pleasant listen. But not quite what I expected from one of the forefathers of punk rock.
7/10 Album sounds homely, like smoking weed and jamming out with your friends. Although I agree that The Velvet Underground gets more praise than they should get, there are definitely some songs I would return to. Favourite songs: Candy says Beginning to see the light Least favourite tracks: Murder mystery After hours
Epic. Weird. Banger
mag de gfühlt alti vibe wege uufnahme-eigeheite. song mit de ziit chli samey aber gefalled mer grundsätzlich. angenehm ruhig oft
There's something about of The Velvet Underground. The pared back simplicity. The driving momentum. The effortless cool that just oozes out of each track. Imagining someone listening to them for the first time I could see them missing what makes the non-single songs special. But the album is better than the sum of its parts. There is just something about The Velvet Underground. Candy Says - 2/5 What Goes On - 3.5/5 Some Kinda Love - 3/5 Pale Blue Eyes - 5+/5 Jesus - 3/5 Beginning to See the Light - 2.5/5 I'm Set Free - 2.5/5 That's the Story of My Life - 3.5/5 The Murder Mystery - 4/5 After Hours - 5/5
This album is lush in its guitars; it's almost like being carried down a river in a float. The lyrics are standard fare for the late 60s, but "The Murder Mystery" threw me for a loop with its abrupt switching in pace. Overall, I enjoyed this album, which was apparently a departure to the band's previous releases.
4.5
Beatlesy aber garagiger und experimenteller, Album nach Bananen Album und ohne Nico. Möchte ich nochmal hören
The Velvet Underground always sounds like New York. Lou Reed is a troubadour poet that conjurs a world around you with his storytelling. This album is a more straightforward rock album than previous forays, but still another excellent outing.
Liked the start. Nice and chilled. Last few tracks a bit too eclectic for me.
My favourite post John Cale VU. Love it when Moe sings. "average underground rock album from the 60's". Examples please?
suddenly i’m 16, wearing a diy screen print band tee and smoking belmont blues
undeniable but HONESTLY not as electric as i was expecting
Some real good songs on this. A little blues bbased locked, but nice. Best rock and roll always has a bit of jesus in it, and some sex. Amazing how dirty he gets without being obscene. Put the jelly on your shoulder!
Fav: I’m Set Free Least Fav: The Murder Mystery Better than their album w/ Nico imo
Lyrics are so good and everything sounds so clean and bright. Love it.
The vibe that spawned 1,000,000 vibes. Lou and company hit their chic palpatating stride on this album. Steered back toward pop from the total avant garde they find the scene. Yet still not complete. A few odd ones but overall probably the best Velvets release.
Consistently drew me in.
arelatively non eventful album right up until The Murder Mystery, which is insanely wierd and cool and a massive highlight from the album for me. the ablum without that song is a 3, but this one song elevates it to a 4 I think
Very enjoyable album, but I don't think it's as creative as some of their other albums. My favorite songs by them are the noisy ones, and there aren't really any on this album. This is my second listen to this album and I enjoyed it a lot more this time than the last, maybe I'll like it even more on a 3rd listen. High 4.
Ok but what if there was a banana
## In-Depth Review of *The Velvet Underground* (1969) by The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground's self-titled album, released in 1969, marks a significant departure from their earlier work, showcasing a softer, more introspective side of the band. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also evaluating its pros and cons. ### **Lyrics** The lyrical content of *The Velvet Underground* is notable for its emotional depth and exploration of complex themes. Lou Reed's songwriting continues to reflect his characteristic candor, but this album features a more subdued and contemplative tone compared to previous releases. - **Empathy and Identity**: The opening track, "Candy Says," presents a poignant portrayal of gender dysphoria. Reed's lyrics resonate with universal themes of identity and existential struggle, asking profound questions about self-perception and societal acceptance. The line "What do you think I’d see, if I could walk away from me?" encapsulates the internal conflict faced by the protagonist[1]. - **Love and Longing**: Songs like "Pale Blue Eyes" explore unrequited love through vivid imagery. Reed contrasts romantic ideals with the harsh realities of unattainable desires, creating an emotional landscape that many listeners can relate to. The lyrical simplicity paired with profound emotional weight is a hallmark of Reed's style throughout this album. - **Existential Themes**: Tracks such as "Some Kind of Love" and "That’s the Story of My Life" reflect on existence and morality in a light-hearted yet philosophically rich manner. The juxtaposition of breezy melodies with heavy themes creates a unique listening experience that invites introspection[1]. ### **Music** Musically, *The Velvet Underground* represents a blend of straightforward rock with elements of folk and country influences. The album is characterized by its understated instrumentation, which allows the lyrics to take center stage. - **Instrumentation**: The use of gentle guitar riffs, tambourine accents, and organ-driven melodies creates a serene soundscape that contrasts sharply with the band's earlier rawness. Doug Yule's vocals bring a softer touch to tracks like "Candy Says," while Reed's voice retains its signature edge[1]. - **Diverse Sound**: The album features a range of musical styles. For example, "What Goes On" incorporates a garage rock energy that is both catchy and contemplative. This diversity showcases the band's ability to experiment while maintaining accessibility[2]. - **Experimental Elements**: The closing track "After Hours," sung by drummer Moe Tucker, epitomizes the album's quirky charm. Its simplicity and vulnerability provide a fitting conclusion to an album that navigates complex emotional terrain[1]. ### **Production** The production quality of *The Velvet Underground* reflects the band's commitment to authenticity over polish. - **Raw Aesthetic**: Critics have noted that the production is intentionally crude, aligning with the band's ethos of rejecting mainstream norms in favor of a more genuine sound. This rawness enhances the emotional impact of the music, making it feel immediate and personal[2][3]. - **Contrast with Earlier Work**: Unlike their debut album produced by Andy Warhol, which featured avant-garde elements and experimental sounds, this self-titled record opts for straightforward arrangements that highlight songwriting over sonic experimentation. This shift may alienate some fans who preferred the band's earlier style but also invites new listeners who appreciate lyrical depth[3]. ### **Themes** Thematically, *The Velvet Underground* explores complex issues such as identity, love, faith, and existentialism. - **Exploration of Faith**: A trilogy of songs—"Jesus," "Beginning to See the Light," and "I’m Set Free"—delves into religious imagery as a metaphor for personal struggle. Reed's use of Christian symbolism conveys deep emotional resonance without overt irony; instead, it reflects genuine searching for meaning amidst chaos[1]. - **Existential Reflection**: Many tracks grapple with themes of longing and disillusionment. The recurring motif of searching for connection—whether through love or spiritual fulfillment—permeates the album's narrative arc[1][3]. ### **Influence** The influence of *The Velvet Underground* on subsequent music cannot be overstated. - **Pioneering Spirit**: By addressing taboo subjects such as addiction and sexuality in their lyrics, The Velvet Underground paved the way for future generations of artists to explore similar themes without fear of censorship or judgment. Their candid approach has influenced countless musicians across genres—from punk rock to alternative music[3]. - **Artistic Legacy**: The band's integration of avant-garde techniques into rock music has been recognized as revolutionary. They demonstrated that rawness could coexist with artistic expression, inspiring artists to embrace simplicity in their own work while maintaining depth[4]. ### **Pros and Cons** #### Pros - **Emotional Depth**: The album's lyrics are rich with emotion and introspection, offering listeners relatable themes. - **Musical Diversity**: A blend of styles keeps the album engaging while showcasing the band's versatility. - **Authentic Production**: The raw sound enhances the emotional resonance and aligns with the band's artistic vision. #### Cons - **Crude Production Quality**: Some may find the production lacking polish compared to contemporary albums. - **Shift in Style**: Fans expecting the edgy experimentation of earlier works may be disappointed by this more subdued approach. - **Accessibility Issues**: While many appreciate the lyrical depth, others might find some tracks less accessible due to their experimental nature or slower pace. ### Conclusion In summary, *The Velvet Underground* (1969) stands as a testament to the band's evolution while maintaining their core ethos. Through its introspective lyrics, diverse musicality, and authentic production choices, it captures a unique moment in rock history that continues to resonate today. While it may not appeal universally due to its departure from earlier styles or its raw production quality, its influence on music and culture remains profound—a true landmark in artistic expression.
Some kind of 'Beatels'-sound from the Westcoast
Really nice. Simple compositions, the most easygoing, graceful acoustic guitar arpeggios matching the docile, and surprisingly non-tone-deaf vocals from Lou Reed.
I love Lou Reed, and I own White Light, White Heat so I'm pretty familiar with this style. I have not heard these songs on this Velvet Underground release at all. Pale Blue Eyes is great and I think I've heard that before Beginning to See The Light was fun I'm Set Free I liked The Murder Mystery was good too, some crazy things going on in there and got kind of long.. oh I've heard After Hours before too, that's a great song. Definitely a 4 star album for me.
Good stuff.
Esperando que el próximo VU sea el que finalmente me haga click. Momentos muy chulos en este ("Pale Blue Eyes", "After Hours"), y otros un poco peores ("Murder Mystery"). Esperaremos a ver qué tal.
I thought it was good, in fact great for what I’m pretty sure is a debut. Weird and entertaining.
I'm such a sucker for The Velvet Underground. (I could do without the last two songs, so I always cut this album off early.)
Matices bonitos pero sutiles que mantienen la unidad del álbum. The Murder Mystery fue tremendo descubrimiento.
This was good but not as exciting as Velvet Underground and Nico which was a bit of a revelation.
After the abrasive noise of White Light/White Heat and the departure of John Cale, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground made a striking shift toward a more melodic, emotional, and accessible sound on their third, self-titled album. The plain black-and-white cover reflects the album's stripped-back, introspective nature, signalling a move away from the band’s previous chaos. Despite the shift toward accessibility, commercial success continued to elude them. The Velvet Underground delves into themes of isolation and loneliness, especially in tracks like “Pale Blue Eyes” and “Candy Says,” where Reed’s poignant lyrics capture raw emotional vulnerability. The album also pulses with nostalgia and regret, notably on “Jesus” and “I’m Set Free,” where Reed longs for a past that cannot be reclaimed. His introspective lyrics and sombre delivery highlight the emotional depth that would become a hallmark of his future solo work. A standout moment is Maureen Tucker’s unexpected lead vocals on “After Hours.” Tucker offers a fresh emotional layer with a tender, unadorned performance that contrasts sharply with the album’s otherwise melancholic tone. Her sweet voice adds a unique texture, providing a rare moment of warmth amidst the album’s quiet sorrow. Musically, the album is defined by a minimalist approach that places the lyrics at the forefront. Sparse arrangements create an intimate atmosphere, allowing Reed’s vocals to shine. His emotional rawness, particularly on tracks like “Pale Blue Eyes,” draws listeners into his world of personal reflection, laying the groundwork for the confessional songwriting that would dominate his solo career. While The Velvet Underground doesn’t carry the same groundbreaking impact as The Velvet Underground & Nico or the audacious shock factor of White Light/White Heat, it marks a pivotal moment in the band’s evolution. This album foreshadows Reed's later solo work, particularly in its focus on intimate, confessional songwriting that would define albums like Transformer and Berlin. The band’s shift from avant-garde experimentation to personal, emotionally-driven storytelling is a sign of Reed’s growing mastery as a songwriter, one that would profoundly shape his solo career. Did/Do I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? Borderline yes. Would this release make my personal list? I'd still take the debut over this. Will I be listening to it again? Definitely.
næs
3.5, nice soft album
Pale Blue Eyes and After Hours are a couple of my faves by them. Great album although a little more mellow than most of my fave VU tracks/albums
Such a boring listen. There is nothing noteworthy for any of the songs and makes me wonder why it even is considered as on lf the greatest of all time
1001 albums #12 sexy
After reading about creating this album you feel like it should be more interesting than it is. Still for the time it was released it seems quite fresh and even today the music still holds up.
Alright... to było dobre. 1969... shit, aż ciężko uwierzyć. Miałem wrażenie, że słucham czegoś istotnego, przełomowego w swoich czasach. I dziś też to się broni. Przesłuchałem dwa razy i odbiór za drugim lepszy - nie byłem pewien części utworów, ale za drugim razem siadły, zobaczyłem, że mają sens. Kompozycja płyty ma sens. Teksty są dobre, emocjonalne, liryczne, ale nie cringe'owe. Doceniam eksperymenty typu "the murder mystery" - nie jest to najprzyjemniejszy utwór do przesłuchania, ale o dziwo to nie jest tak, że mi się nie podoba, zwłaszcza fragmentami. Nie mam wyraźnego faworyta wśród piosenek, nic też nie jest imo wyraźnie słabsze. Damn... ja tu słyszę Roxy Music, Myslovitz... pewnie wiele innych, ale to pierwsze, co mi przychodzi do głowy. Ciekawa lekcja i doświadczenie.
it’s a good album overall. and then there’s The Murder Mystery. i have no idea what it’s about but my god it’s amazing. does the heavy lifting but it does it well and easily
Very cohesive. Different sound than I'm used to hearing from this time period and I love it.
I liked this album much better than I expected. I have a lot of respect for The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, but I have never really liked their output. Besides The Idiot and Transformer period Lou Reed, I tend to not personally enjoy his other work. However, this album was more folky and more smooth and enjoyable for me. I'd like to listen to it again to try to fully understand the reason it has been lauded so much, as not a lot stood out to me, but it is good songwriting, and it obviously had influence.
A very well named band bc this does sound quite velvety
55 years later everything laid out here still seems incredibly dominant within a certain type of person's idea of what it means to be cool
Super chill, but still upbeat and not boring. Spoken-word songs are a big damper, especially toward the end, but I can appreciate them as pieces of art. All the other songs are good for a listen on a slow day. Vocals are average, a little below at times, but not obnoxious in any way and fit the vibe. It's not a perfect album, but not trying to be. Favorite song: What Goes On.
First time of album. All good (although I deduct a star for Murder Mystery). Velvety tones by Lou. can't believe this is '69
Lou Reed escapes from some of the eccentricities of the Warhol factory and gets to grips with his music in this enjoyable album. The first track ('Candy Says'0 sets out his agenda and it appears to be actual songs and music that mean something to him, is it autobiographical? The tracks don't disappoint and the vocals are always clear with no over-produced arrangements, these support the lyrics and are well-played; although I couldn't make sense of 'the Murder Mystery' which does go on a bit. I hear a sardonic wit at work here and the seeds of his "Transformer" album (which I love).
What one tuner would have done for them!
8.5/10
pleasantly surprised
Lovely stuff. Coming at this expecting White Light, White Heat stompers will yield disappointment but there's loads of introspective niceness here.
already listened good psych rock album
Did The Velvet Underground get clean? I enjoyed this one a lot. Nothing groundbreaking, because it's really only possible to break ground once like this (with a few exceptions). But I did like this one a lot, especially the ending - I was transfixed by "The Murder Mystery", which works very will with the extremely ahead-of-its-time "After Hours" as a denouement.
First of all, this album sounds really good. Everything is so crisp and clear. The songs are also very good. I get the idea behind The Murder Mystery, but it’s probably not one I would go back to. I can really see how influential they are when one of my first thoughts was “this kinda reminds me of The Strokes”. Favorite songs were What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning To See The Light, I’m Set Free, and After Hours.
Likes this one a lot more than the other album I listened to. I think it was because it was a lot more normal. Standouts: What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes, Beginning To See The Light, and After Hours.
Love this album.
While I do enjoy their more experimental work, I love this album for it's straight-forward approach. Rock, blues, and ballads galore here with very little of the weirdo stuff they are more known for. Solid release.
Favourite songs: What Goes On, Some Kinda Love, Beginning to See the Light, Pale Blue Eyes, That's the Story of My Life Least favourite songs: The Murder Mystery, Jesus 4/5
All-time great. Pale Blue Eyes is some of the most beautiful songwriting I've ever heard
Love us or just like us it is an important.
This was my first time listening to this album. It was a very laid-back and somber listen. Overall I liked it except, for "The Murder Mystery" which was a little out there. It was interesting to listen to the song with vocals by Moe Tucker, which reminded me a lot of when Meg White would sing in the White Stripes.
en loop todo el dia. top song: After hours
Very good. Velvet Underground just makes banger after banger 8/10
Creative and original, maybe too unpolished for my tastes. A few great ones. 3.7
Fun, slow, low key velvet underground
The Velvet Underground's third studio effort sees the band toning down their experimental tendencies to prove that they're no one-trick pony. Indeed, much of the self-titled album is a soft, tender foray into straightforward rock songs. No avant-garde songs about a guy mailing himself to his lover and getting accidently killed by a boxcutter, no, this has simply pleasant songs above love and faith. You'd think they lost their edge, but The Velvet Underground are sharper than ever with some frankly beautiful music to boot.
Subdued production and personal lyrics, my favorite VU album.
nice chill pretty cool
Always liked this album. Not perfect but most songs I would listen to again.
Shockingly amazing album. I know that The Underground has always had a cult following, and I love some of their tunes, but this album shocked me for sure. Extremely tender with well placed energy
Fun album. Not a lot of production just some instruments and vocals. Creative lyrics. Very entertaining. Singable ear worms coming from melodic chord changes. Wish it were longer.
This is a great album, I enjoy it.
good
4.5
Side one I loved a light 4½, but the second half lost me... Except for the closer.. I loved that one. I'm keeping the volume unit meter at 7.75 ★★★½
4.5 / 5
4.5
I can finally admit to liking Velvet Underground now I guess. Really cool album. 4 stars
Knew about half the album already, great listen. 4.25/5
Much better than other VU/Lou Reed albums. 5/5 except for "The Murder Mystery" which was very 60s, very psychedelic, but not for me.
Fun for everyone
This album is okay. There were quite a few good songs, but nothing too special in my opinion. I might give it a rating of 3/5, but I think that’s just my personal preference, and the album is objectively better. 4/5 It's a good listen.
Cool 60s Rippin cigs with Andy Warhol Don’t get the end of this one
There are two sides slugging it out in my mind to proclaim judgement on The Velvet Underground. In time, discovering this album may be looked back on as a significant victory for the ‘Actually Quite Good’ camp and a bitter blow for team ‘Heinously Overrated’. This is infinitely better than White Light / White Heat, and while the banana album has a greater mix of styles and experimental flair in its favour, this one beats it where pure melody and songwriting is concerned. It’s a grower, too.
Better the second time through.
I can imagine putting this on the record player and chilling to it while I got a nice heroin high.
I'd only really listened to the debut before, and loved the softer tracks so this is pretty good. I quite enjoyed the experimental ending, so this scrapes into the fours.
Like Zappa, I was expecting this to feel more experimental and out there than it was. Only "Murder Mystery" was outside the norm. Instead a lot of this sounded like they were writing the blueprint for how dozens of future Indie bands would construct songs.
I already had a few of these saved to playlists, but mostly enjoyed what I didn't know - from the sad, dreamy alienation of 'Candy Says' to the upbeat folk rock of 'Beginning to See the Light.' Only the experimental 'Murder Mystery' felt like a swing & a miss. & even then, I can see the through line from it's spoken word sound to bands like King Missile and Cake.
cohesive, some gems, the murder mystery alone deserves a star more
Pale Blue Eyes is the stand-out track here. I really liked "After Hours" too. I doubt I would have guessed it was a VU track if you had played it for me and made me tell you the artist. They were less noise-experiment here and seemed like they actually cared about melody and song structure on this album. Even "Murder Mystery" which gets a little noisy was still quite pleasant. Better than White Light / White Heat but not as good as The Velvet Underground and Nico.
I was entertained. Not life-changing. Some great songwriting, some weirdness in a good way.
Candy Says: absolutely stunning lyrics and so well produced, not overly musical but a full emotional experience What goes on: hated the guitar riff Some kinda love: meh Pale blue eyes: brilliant opening lyrics. “Thought of you as everything I had, but, couldn’t keep.” (J, E, M) Murder Mystery: purity cool, and new wave like System of a Down meets she wants revenge
While not fully developed yet, Lou Reed's lasting, indelible mark on the punk and new wave scene can already be witnessed here.
Definitely a classic, I'm not sure it is quite as exciting as their debut and therefore I never really put this album into my rotation. But that isn't a knock on the quality....it is there. Murder Mystery is probably the only song on here that really perks up my ears and makes me want to immediately re-listen. So I can't give it a full 5 stars even though it arguable deserves it.
I was ready to come in with the hot take that Velvet Underground is overrated and was only popular bc of Andy Warhol, but this album was actually really good. Good job folks
I can almost forgive someone for not immediately vibing with this album if it was their first exposure to The Velvet Underground. It doesn't smack you in the face with an overt message as to why this band is held in such high regard. No. Their self titled third album is a far more subtle LP and I think it deserves more than one listen for it to click. It is the definition of a 'grower' if there ever was one. The first 6 tracks, lyrically, cover subjects such as transgenderism, love songs, existentialism, and seeking redemption through religion (even though Lou Reed claims ‘Jesus’ is not a religious song); all layered on top of subtle, restrained experimentation that at first listen might not sound like anything special. But after another, maybe 2 more listens it can really start to open your ears up. Most of it is mellow and some of it certainly demands an attentive listener. But it is rewarding nonetheless. The second half is where I feel ‘The Velvet Underground’ really opens up. The lyrically genius and upbeat ‘Beginning To See The Light’, the minimal and catchy ‘That’s The Story Of My Life’, the absolute attack (in the best way possible) on the ears and many other senses ‘The Murder Mystery’, and the addictive quick two minute outro ‘After Hours’. It makes the first half seem like the calm peace before a storm of elements; and it is a stronger half all the more for it. I give this album a 4. A high 4. Because it certainly is not the band’s best work, in my opinion. But it is still a great album. It is simultaneously all-over-the-place stylistically, yet somehow feels extremely coherent. It features well written - often genius lyrics, and experimentation that doesn’t take away from it being accessible. It may not be the best starting point for new potential fans, but it is certainly is worth visiting nonetheless.
The album showcases some excellent work. The slow songs stand out as the best, and overall, the album is one of my favorites. My favorite tracks are 'Pale Blue Eyes' and 'Candy Says.' The experimental aspect of 'Murder Mystery' was particularly special, leaving me in awe
This was a more accessible album by The Velvet Underground. I enjoyed it! Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Solid Classic Rock
Pretty good but a little disappointed. I might be in the majority but I don't care for After Hours. No instrumentals which is kinda what I dig about VU and vocals from the drummer? I get that its different and outsider music and the lyrics are deep but it's just kinda mid to me. Other songs are great, like What Goes On, Murder Mystery, Candy Says, and Pale Blue Eyes. The rest is kinda falls short of hype this band has earned. Excited to hear VU with Nico and White Light, which I think are more experimental
Loved it, all of it. Even The Murder Mystery. Especially The Murder Mystery.
are you a bad enough dude to self-title half of your discography? condemning generations to go "is that the one with the banana or the other one?" i think this album (and velvet underground in general) is so hard to talk about because they are so influential that they don't seem novel or groundbreaking any more. we miss why they mattered or what made them stand out. THAT BEING SAID THOUGH, i would only enter a room with lou reed in it en route to killing him with a hammer. lou reed is a corpse with a reputation hanging off of it. unfortunately his band is ok. but his band is also better when john cale is in it. i've got plenty more to say about that discount ben stiller-looking ass but I will save it for when this stupid fucking list probably forces us to listen to transformer
Very calm vibe w/ mellow production, good for a night listen. Was worried about this one cause of the John Cale earlier, turns out he wasn't involved in this one (maybe someday I'll find something of his I enjoy)
I really don't understand the Velvet Underground
Increíble álbum. No me imaginaba que el resto de su discografía sea así. Temáticamente me gustó mucho.
The album opens up with a hauntingly beautiful tune, with "Candy Says"( a song which is still very relevant). The album has some classic bangers, and some duds. "The Murder Mystery" sounds like a long lost System Of A Down song. They were ahead of their time, which makes me appreciate Lou Reed before his solo career(I do find it a bit questionable that their self-titled album is their third album, but I'll digress). Favorite Track: "Candy Says"
I love 'Pale Blue Eyes', but the self-titled third album from The Velvet Underground is just missing that special Cale magic to make it a classic in my book.
While I think Doug Yule is great, you can still sense that John Cale is missing from this line-up. “Pale Blue Eyes” is an obvious highlight, but the record truly peaks with the chaotic “The Murder Mystery” that is just pure imagination run amok.
4.5 rounded down i’d prob place it among the lower ranks of the vu discography, but its still pretty got dam good ! highlights: candy says, what goes on, after hours (aug 11 2024)
Understand Reed's influence, still a little slow even for my sad heart. Murder mystery a favorite
I'd only heard Stephanie Says until I listened to this album. What a breath of fresh air after Tago Mago by Can.
kinda interesting, v chill but a lot going on in the songs, i enjoyed it.
These guys are good at the sleepy vibes. Sleepy music that actually tends to be pretty dank.