Reviews (page 9 of 13)
I didn’t really get into this, but kind of see at alternative music in ‘69 instead of the Beatles and such.
At first you’re like “cool” but after gmhslf the album you’re like “ok I get it.”
This is super solid 60s underground rock. Good production value, good songs, lush music. I really like this except for The Murder Mystery, which is a confusing addition.
I do appreciate that this album is very diverse stylistically. The downside being that some songs I enjoy much more than others. The first half of the album felt more like classic rock, but then it felt like the band evolved into something more experimental during the making of the album. I didn’t vibe with a few of the later tracks but it was interesting to see the evolution.
I enjoy their first two albums more, but this one is pretty good as well. 7/10 Favourite track: What Goes On
Decent
Es schwankte von nervig bis echt in Ordnung.
If I took LSD, then I think it would be cool to be listening to this when I did. Sounds a bit like I imagine the trip to be... mellow at the start, a descent into shite at the end (except for the jolly final track).
Not their best
Mueeeeh
It's not bad per se, and miles better than I was anticipating after having experienced some of the material The Velvet Underground released with Nico. It's just ... a little boring. None of the songs were particularly noteworthy. 2.5/5
Read one review that said this is the studio album by The velvet Underground that sounds least like the Velvet Underground. It's interesting that this is the studio album by The Velvet Underground that I've enjoyed the most.
I didn’t really get this one. It’s not bad but it’s just like depressed Beatles imo
3.4/5 Surprisingly good, I expected a different vibe. Jamming out to this while shaving and cutting my hair means that it's solid. Not completely what I'd intentionally listen to, but it fills the role of background music really well.
2,9/5
Well, that was a really fun art rock album. I can completely see why they got hype early and stayed hyped.
Good listen. Influential. Just not enough replay ability to be higher for me
VU really missed John Cale
Every time I listen to the Velvet Underground I feel like I’m not cool enough to listen to the Velvet Underground. This was solid.
Decent folksy/rockly ballad album
(3.5)
Pretty good
Still not quite grasping what the big deal was.
A lot more accessible than I expected - I quite enjoyed it.
This album is like taking a sick day from work because you’re stressed and feeling burnt out. You think it could be worth going and doing some sort of outdoor activity but you looked at your phone when you woke up and saw there was a hit and run not far from your house and it just made you uninspired to get out of bed.
I thought it'd be "cooler"
This is a tough one to rate. I dig it, but not enough to fully give it a 4 star. I can hear this as a predecessor to so many different bands and albums. From Radiohead to Belle and Sebastian to Sonic Youth, I can hear its influence being echoed. I played it a couple times and it stuck with me, but just not enough to land that 4th star. I might come back to it though. 3.75
Not my favorite VU album
pretty pretty good
I don't mind the Velvets, but this was a bit of a dirge if I'm honest, and didn't capture my attention. One listen perhaps isn't enough. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 maybe I should ★★★☆☆ (5/10)
As mellow, dull and boring as fall weather. While you are inside, and dry. With nothing to do. Maybe having a tea. Wait, this actually doesn't sound so bad.
Not bad at all. For 1969 it sure felt like I was listening to the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack but with a splash of the Beatles.
So quirky! I wouldn't go out of my way toto listen to this again but it was a fun time
on the border between forgettable and annoying
Võibolla ei keskendunud piisavalt albumi kuulamise ajal, aga minu jaoks jäid lood enamjaolt väga sarnaseks ja raske on neid eristada. Kõigil on nii sarnane kõla ja pillide balanss. Seega kahju, et midagi konkreetset ei jäänud meelde väga. Tore kuulamine iga ja 2 lugu (Candy Says ja Pale Blue Eyes) jätsin isegi Spotify Liked Songs sekka, aga album tervikuna pole tänapäeva kontekstis väga märkimisväärne. Tugevaim mõte, mis albumis minus tekitas, on see, et ma peaks rohkem ja keskendunumalt sõnu kuulama ning tekitama sellest harjumuse (sest praegu ma reaalselt ei oska sõnu kuulata). Jääb tunne, et kui teha need lood ümber natuke modernsema ja erilisema produga, siis nad jääksid rohkem kõrvu.
I liked the other VU albums I've listened to better.
3.4 2x walking around Bozeman
3.5
OK sans plus.
Ah yes, another Velvet Underground album. I keep getting told how important this band was, and this is the third album from the band in this book. I do enjoy the solo records by members of this band, especially 1919 from John Cale, but I can't help but believe there isn't much on here that justifies its inclusion. I am starting to believe Velvet Underground is considered one of the most important bands ever simply because so many people say they are one of the most important bands ever. For me, including three albums by one band is saying, "This was a great band that consistently put out great albums," and I don't believe that is true for the Velvet Underground. They were influential and deservedly so. There are good songs on the album but if this were by a band not named "Velvet Underground" then I don't know if it would be in the book. My favorite songs were: Candy Says What Goes On Pale Blue Eyes Beginning to See the Light That's the Story of My Life
Classic 60s album, mellow and introspective. It captures the feeling of being an outsider, and finding yourself in situations that hurt you even as they feel comforting in the moment. Very strange and bittersweet space where you know you should move on and better yourself, but struggle to let go. Instrumentation has a very classical, restrained approach, nothing flashy, soft percussion, gentle bass, and delicate guitar strums. Gives the songs a fragile, intimate feeling. I like how the instrumentation is played harder or softer depending on the emotion being expressed in the lyrics, dynamics are used quite well. it’s subtle but it makes difference. Themes revolve around love, gender identity, drug addiction, and anxiety. Everything sound very tender, emotionally heavy and vulnerable. Candy Says is very powerful considering how progressive it was for its time, Pale Blue Eyes is a classic love song mentioning both guilt and repetition like stuck in the loop of an old affair and longing that person, or that feeling? After Hours is the one I relate to most in my personal life especially however.
I feel like this record was ahead of its time. I feel like some of the instrumentation sounds modern. Favourite Track(s): Some Kinda Love, The Murder Mystery Least Favourite Track(s): Jesus
Solid melodic pre-punk that gets a little experimental at times. Liked Songs Added: What Goes On Pale Blue Eyes
Perfekter Soundtrack für Herbsttag mit Nebeldecke...heute der Fall. Beginning to see light gibt Beatles-Vibes und The Murder Mystery macht mich wahnsinnig. Aber lovely ehrlich alles zusammen. Würde die Schallplatte mal auflegen.
Decent album. I just found The Murder Mystery quite messy.
I get it is influential and creative, but as a pure listening experience I can get why nobody cared at Andy Warhol's party in the 60s.
Не мое…
The Velvets ... one of those things that are cool because they're cool, or cool people thought they were cool ... Whatever. I never understood the appeal.
Solid stuff
Ok, pale blue eyes is a great song
It has 3/4 classics but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. Very folky in a way, an intersection between that and beat poetry in many ways. Lou could really sing and had a lovely voice.
Stark 3a. Fin musik, unik, före sin tid. Lite för långsam och tråkig för min smak. Inslag av blues. + after hours , pale blue eyes (lyssnat på förut)
Cutesy vibe, for chill atmosphere
I do enjoy the velvet underground, but I prefer the andy Warhol album and lou reed stuff to the Jesusy songs. Warm production fills out the old tape recording sounds, great beach day album where you can tune in an d out of it while listening to the ocean, so you can filter out half the b/s that’s on this one.
There are good songs on here but as an album there are a lot of dull points. Still worth listening to though
The murder mystery + after hours are really good, but what is that Jesus song Overall, simple but good
I can’t put my finger on where I’ve heard some of these songs before. There are some strong tunes here but then there’s also The Murder Mystery… wtf was that?
Though I really am a fan of velvet underground this album never grabbed me as much as their other stuff. It seems a bit tame, which isn't bad but it doesnt give that edge that they usually have.
The Velvet Underground is another case of a band I’ve heard rave reviews for that has been a bit of a let down on this project. Maybe I’m just not getting it and at points there were songs I found myself enjoying, but for the most part it was just a bland listening experience. It’s certainly not a “bad” album by any means, but it just feels “meh”. 3/5
Fairly nice listen
On first listen, a couple songs were nice or interesting I would enjoy again but by today's standards if avant garde meant slightly shit this is a 5.
Rv
After hearing about the Velvet Underground for years and never listening, this was extremely disappointing as a first album. Murder Mystery was the best track by far and the only reason this isn't a 2.
Good
This was okay. I know these guys were like the shit and pioneered some new psychedelic type music but, not that cool. 3 stars.
Good variety - some rogue moments towards the end. 3.
Not their best album. Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, and Beginning To See the Light are the standouts among some snoozers.
this is music to cook to for me. calm, easy to tune in and out to. the lyrics are good and the melodies stick. even when the voice can become grating, the instrumentals are what are really enjoyable to me about this album. liked: candy says, some kinda love, pale blue eyes,
Pretty standard jangly guitar stuff until the end where you can see why they made impact. However, I feel their subsequent albums do the jangly stuff and the experimental stuff better.
Good! But veryyy quiet. 3/5
Psst..hey, budding music cognoscente. You're fine with the Velvet Underground's greatest hits. They'll pluck "Pale Blue Eyes" and "Beginning to See the Light" from this album, which works. If what we'll very loosely call "hits" hook you, then take a deep dive into the albums. You may also discover, like I did long ago, that a little Lou Reed goes a long way.
I was real excited for this, it's music I'm aware of but not familiar with. After a couple of listens, I can understand why it's never come up in conversation. I think this was impressive at its time, but now in 2025 it's soft background rock. Not bad but, nothing particularly amazing in the general scheme of it. I'm not a fan of the switching of vocalists throughout the project, it doesn't seem balanced, feels like a forced foot to be considered creative. Otherwise, the overall production is pretty good. We can hear that Beatles-rock era in the sound while still being a unique effort. "The Murder Mystery" is an amazing piece of work. I wish it had its own album, that'd probably be a 4/5 record. 2.8/5
its alright. Listened to it once and already forgot what it sounded like. Not very memorable for me ig.
6/10
Album is much more straightforward than The Velvet Underground and Nico. I think I like that album more overall; the production on this album being more subdued is fine, but I don't love it. There's some solid tracks here, like What Goes On and Pale Blue Eyes. Lyrically the album is as good as anything else by TVU. There's even a decent prog track here in the form of The Murder Mystery. After Hours is a very sweet album closer. I thing this is an album that's easy to like but hard for me to love.
I quite liked The Velvet Underground. I have already heard this band's collaborative effort with Nico and that album suffered from the issue of the music not being very good and sounding very poorly produced but here, The Velvet Underground have absolutely stepped up their game. The music here is actually really solid with very few hiccups, it reminds me most of a very soft Beatles record. They also brought one of the best aspects about The Velvet Underground & Nico and that being the vocals as they still sound very good. The last album was only able to receive a 2.5 but this album managed to score a whole 3. Best Song: After Hours Worst Song: Jesus
Ispirato
Good but not maybe my first choice.
Feels almost nostalgic but I'm not sure why.
this isn't the banana album 🤔
For how much this group is lauded I suppose I was expecting a little more. I didn't hate the vibe and definitely felt it was fitting the cover but it really did feel like a good chunk of this was just a jam session where they were just throwing out whatever their mood ring was suggesting
While the influence of the Velvet Underground cannot be overstated, I am finding it difficult to marry up that fact with the reality of what I'm listening to. Sure, the big songs on here are good, and maybe a couple of deep cuts I haven't heard before. But the majority of this stuff is repetitive and forgettable. The enjoyment I got from the delightful surprise that is After Hours is massively outweighed by having to sit through stuff like The Murder Mystery. 5/5 for influence, 2/5 for how boring this was outside of the highlights. This album is really carried by 3-4 songs. Highlights: Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, After Hours
I own and like VU & Nico but this is the first album besides that I’ve listened to. It probably needs more than one listen, there were some hallmarks here but I struggled to grasp onto it in the setting I was in.. that being a French campsite. There were good moments but I’ll have to return to this to properly assess.
Pretty good! No strong feelings
Koliko sam mrzila njihov prošli album ovo je čudo neviđeno da mi se dobar dio ovoga ozbiljno sviđa. Ima tu opet i smeća ali dominira neki Creamast vajb. Ovo im je puno bolje išlo.
Mellow and restrained. Not amazing, but pleasant.
Not sure what to say about this! Found most of it dull and nothing much stood out initially although Beginning to See the Light was a welcome cool change and then you get the complete oddball surprise of Murder Mystery?! A very strange song but I surprisingly found I liked it a lot. And then the closer is very sweet and soft. So a mixed bag for sure!
I feel like this album could've been vastly improved upon if the singer just said less. Maybe even nothing.
Look, I think Pale Blue Eyes is one of my favorite songs & I danced to a Velvet Underground song at my wedding…this was sleepy as hell
Pale Blue Eyes slaps.
только что втирала Наташе как людям могут нравиться песни мимо нот, но не мне, не мне… ну хотя бы интересно и не неприятно (не палп). и неожиданно что такой старый альбом
3 stars - pretty good fun!
Good elements, purposefully confused whole.
Не дуже викупаю цей альбом
Album 874 of 1089 The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground (1969) Rating : 3 / 5 Hate to sound cliché, but I really expected to like this one more than I did. I’ve enjoyed a lot of what I’ve heard from them before and thought of them as a band I liked, but this listen makes me wonder if maybe I just got caught up in a few standout tracks from elsewhere. It’s certainly listenable - nothing offensive to the ear - and there are some interesting aspects here and there, but nothing really grabbed me or demanded my attention. They saved the best track ("After Hours) for last. “Candy Says” and “Pale Blue Eyes” show flashes of that gentle, reflective side they do well, but overall the album just didn’t land in a memorable way for me. Sometimes “interesting” can go in many directions, and in this case, it never quite took off.
Pale Blue Eyes almost made it a 4, but other than that I felt the album a bit too forgettable.
3.5
Dope wasn’t expecting this. Pretty cool, I enjoyed it
3.2
3.75
never rlly clicked w me but i understand why ppl like it
Non molto da dire, musica da background, ma non per questo è brutta
mi è piaciuto molto, dava molte vibes da elvis presley
This album is such a mixed bag. The highs are pretty good (Im Set Free, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus...), even thought they are not risky at all, but the lows (The Murder Mystery, Some Kinda Love...) tend to be such disruptures that messess a good amount of the album. The Middle part of the album is pretty good while not being anything amazing while the extremes (start and end) are such a mix of ideas that dont stick and vary crazily in quality. Before ending, just wanna say The Murder Mystery is such a weird experience, but bad weird, and I love experimental music and risky songs but this one just comes out as a vomit of words with barely any coherence to try and make a story while sacrificing the listening experience. Just an awful song Overall, its a 74/100, wont be coming back to listen the album but some songs like Im Set Free or Pale Blue Eyes are coming to my playlists
The Murder Mystery was actually very fun
No es mi album favorito de velvet underground, aun asi , es musica que me gusta
An ok album without being anything overly memorable. I enjoyed it but I’m unlikely to ever revisit it
I know nothing about the Velvet Underground, so I was excited for this to pop up in my assignment since I knew this was a blindspot in my music knowledge. Sadly, this was not at all what I had in mind. Slow-to-midtempo songs with repetitive choruses. Nothing entirely memorable while some tracks are just downright bizarre (The Murder Mystery). I'm not surprised at all this band doesn't get ANY radio airplay and never makes it to mix tapes. It's all so middling. Why does their reputation precede them?! Hopefully, I'll find out if I get another assignment for The Velvet Underground.
I love the intimate feel. I'm a big Elliot Smith fan and a moderate Alex G fan, and candy girl was a strong start for me. Everything else, while meaningful, was just too sloppy to keep me engaged.
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: 16/1001 If released today, the album could pass for a modern day indie release. It's a testament to the timeless nature of this album with its subdued sound and experimental sprinkles. It's quite warm in its exploration of the concept of love, but with lulls that feel less inviting and pushed me away. I had moments of intrigue, and moments of sheer confusion, and one moment of both. The various vocals and ebbing sound work really well conceptually and bring about the most unique aspect of the collection. Experimental flairs add life to the album, though the resonance varies for me. The versatility of the album helps set the tone for each track. While I think the album would struggle to stand out against a broader array of music more finetuned, for the 60s this is a masterclass that no doubt can stand on its own even today. Podium: 1. What Goes On 2. Pale Blue Eyes 3. After Hours Honorable Mention: The Murder Mystery & After Hours Overall, there are songs on the album that I could live without, others I'm glad I heard but won't be returning to, some that challenged my ears and stood out, and some overall keepers. It's definitely worthy of a listen, but not a full experience I could see craving on my own again, as the more lackluster and repetitive tracks lose me. My engagement level fluctuated tremendously throughout this album, and for these reasons I give The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground 3.5/5 stars P.S. Other than Chop Suey, what other songs does The Murder Mystery remind you of? It's been driving me crazy trying to place the spoken, overlapping vocals.
Heared VU&N and WL/WH before, liked some of it, hated some of it. But it puzzled me. VU doing (mostly) soft pop rock album? I don't know how to feel about it. Songs are nice, but only What Goes On and Murder Mystery really caught my attention. In places it's more accessible than stuff from the first two albums, but in return, it's less rewarding
A pleasant listen with some interesting songs, like the second to last one. Listened to it two times and it grew on me. During the first listening I thought it was a bit bland, but with the second time I thought it became more exciting. The bland rock became well thought through tracks that worked well together.
I clearly spent a lot of time listening to this in college if I was remembering the words to Murder Mystery. The first half felt like it was flirting with getting a 2 rating, but the end of the album really picked it up
Not as difficult of a listen as some of their other albums even if I spent too much time listening to Pale Blue Eyes as a teenager and kind of got sick of it.
The hype surrounding the Velvet Underground used to put me off, so I never gave them a fair try in the past - a mistake that is now fixed. Their eponym album is a very decent folk-rock offering with a few twists. I expected something trippier and more experimental, but I still dig the overall vibe. To my own surprise, I enjoyed the ballads more than the rock tracks. Some hypnotic moments here an there. Nothing life-changing, but a pleasant listen.
I really enjoyed listening to this Velvet Underground album I had never heard before. The subtlety in both the soft songs and the more rock ones is surprising, and Lou Reed almost has a voice
Fun!
Kinda cool vibe
I have learned I really don't like Lou Reed going through this list, but this was better than many of his other works. It was more refined and subtle than his other works. 3/5
This list has too much Lou Reed
Definitely good songs on here, but many just went on way longer than necessary. It loses at least 1 star just for "The Murder Mystery... beatnick-style nonsense read over noise. That's nine minutes of my life I'll never get back. 😄
Was finding this incredibly bland until the last two tracks. I really don't get the hype with the Velvet Underground. 2.9/5
Enjoyed it , was a good listen
Ok at times but not super interesting after all these years. I am a fan of Lou Reed but I don’t see myself coming back to this. I think it is a step down from the magic of their debut. Not bad but not memorable
норм, но миксинг подвел, низ слишком гудит даже в наушника, не оч приятно было слушать...
Ganska bra ändå. Gillar sång, bra låthantverk. Rätt varierat. Har mer personlighet än plain-rocken som brukar dyka upp. Blir ibland väl flummigt. Hade funkat ännu bättre i bil. Kommer lyssna igen: ja kanske Bästa spår: d- pale blue eyes Dw- after hours Betyg: D- 5 av 10 ( 3 av 5) Dw- 5 av 10 (3 av 5)
This is a strange one. It sounds more like a collection of B-sides than like a regular album. Some individual tracks sound quite good and there's nothing horrendous on here. But it doesn't really work as an album.
Late '60s prog rock. Very laid-back and easy to listen to. Nico's voice is an acquired taste. Folk rock.
Really hit or miss for me. I really liked some of the songs (Pale Blue Eyes), and others just felt very busy. Overall good, but wouldn't listen straight through the album again.
22/1001 The Velvet Underground - s/t Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ I've tried to get into the Velvet Underground before with listens to both the album with Nico and Loaded and the music has always held me at a distance. It's the same with this album unfortunately. Not that there's anything I actively dislike here, it just never grabbed my attention, bar a couple of songs. A shame really.
This is the best the velvet underground album imo but it’s still not my favorite
This list loves Lou Reed. I like this more than the previous Lou Reed we have encountered, but I'm unlikely to revisit it.
Loved a few songs. Not so much others. Ultimately okay, I appreciate the roots it set it place for future experimental rock.
this was fine, i wouldnt have called this rock, it was pretty soft
This was a relaxing listen and arguably ahead of its time for ‘69. Better than a run of the mill 3 but not quite a 4 for me. 3.5/4
It’s pretty amazing to think that this album is from 1969. The sounds, production and overall feel could have it being easily mistaken for an indie band of the last few decades. Pale Blue Eyes continues to be a top track (check out REM’s version on their 1986 b-side and outtake compilation Dead Letter Office). But there were other chill surprises too. That being said, an automatic downgrade due to the 9-minute attempted artsy drivel Murder Mystery track.
God I hate giving 3s but that’s where I am on this. Decent. Didn’t really pull me one way or the other.
I’m not familiar with earlier Velvet Underground so the radical departure is lost on me, but this a fairly enjoyable 60’s/70’s light but still introspective album. I especially love After Hours Abs I’m Set Free.
Didn't expect this album to be this gentle. It was mostly soft and comforting, and even the relatively more energetic tracks had a chill vibe to them. I don't think I'll revisit this album soon, except for a couple of songs. fav tracks: "Candy Says", "Pale Blue Eyes", "After Hours" "Jesus" has a nice, pleasant melody. "The Murder Mystery" is a bit too long, but I love the experimentation, especially in the vocals. I have never heard a song that has two different lead vocals on the left and right headphones. 3/5
I liked it! Not normally the kind of stuff I'd listen to but it was pretty cool. 'Candy Says' and 'What goes on' were my favourites. 'The Murder Mystery' was an odd but fun song, even found myself going back to listen to that a few times.
This is the first Velvet Underground album without John Cale, and for better or worse (depending on who you ask) his absence is felt. Without his shrieking weaponization of the cello, The Velvet Underground's sound feels a little less "punky proto noise rock" and a little more "art pop/rock classic", and this has resulted in this album being one of The Velvet Underground's most accessible, with noteworthy results. This self-titled is kind of a perennial favorite, mostly for those who (understandably) couldn't get into White Light / White Heat. And, while they did dial it back here a little, a lot of the best songs here still show some echoes of their avant-garde roots. On What Goes On, Jesus, Some Kinda Love, and I'm Set Free, a lot of the drone-y minimalism of the band's older stuff still appears in a more tamed form. And, while I don't know if it's one of the band's more successful avant pieces, The Murder Mystery is pretty cool, if slightly long winded. But there are also moments here that very successfully capture more conventional songwriting. Pale Blue Eyes is a wildly successful, very tender love song. After Hours is vulnerable and sparse. And, say what you will about Lou Reed's personality, with its ups and downs, but Candy Says is an incredibly empathetic, very sweet song aiming to capture the experience of transness in a way that I truly appreciate. Unfortunately, there are some songs that don't fully sell me here. I think side 2 is generally the weaker one here. I don't really like Beginning To See The Light, That's The Story Of My Life's kind of country feel doesn't really fully sell me, and as interesting as it is, The Murder Mystery is an overlong mixed bag. Ultimately, there's a lot of good here, and while the second half is a little spotty, I think The Velvet Underground's first venture into more accessible music was very successful. This is justifiable as an essential, and I am glad I heard it.
xulo xulo la meua cançó fav ha sigut la de beginning to see the light super bon rollera molt guay tot i la veu del q canta és perfecta
3.5
Very Bob Dylan by someone else. Another album where I liked everything on it (except murder party) but nothing sticks out to come back to or listen to again. I was definitely expecting a more rockin album but I liked the vibe.
Don't quite understand this? What appears to be a fair to middling, some decent tunes some filler, end of the 60s album that is just what was then mainstream mainly acoustic fare with the odd excursion into neverland. It doesn’t exactly stand out, and not surprisingly it didn’t it appear to sell well, it’s not Abbey road, let it bleed or the Band. So why is it here. The subsequent idolising of the VU name I'm supposing. A level of mythologising personally don’t quite understand. If I hear this and didn't tell know who it was wouldn’t guess expect for his vocals.me I don’t get Reeds supposed Artistic aim to elevate rnr through darker and more experimental, apart from 1 track it could be anyone. It’s like ok if you like the period which I do, but nothing special 3 Star.
It's real stripped and simple. Not sure it's my thing constantly but really good. Sort of a quiet catchiness. Suddenly Murder Mystery shows some of the strangeness that's possible here.
Early alternative music - has its moments, but generally not for me
It really is the blueprint. Dream pop, garage rock, psychedelic rock… It’s all there.
It was pretty good but what the hell was that murder mystery song?? 10 minutes of what i would describe as "proto system of a down"
Velvet Underground is one of those bands that was highly influential to a generation… just not MY generation. Musically, it’s fine. And I’m sure it was a breath of fresh air when it was new. To my GenX ears, though, it’s not particularly outstanding.
Good 70s rock album
strong start, weaker finish
A couple great songs but overrated
The Velvet Underground only had one great album and it wasn't this one.
When I think of "rock bands" this isn't what I was thinking of or really desiring. I prefer faster stuff. But I'm not saying this was bad. If I was just chilling and hanging out with friends, this would be a good background to our activities.
It's ok. Something like 3/5
"Sometimes I feel so happy Sometimes I feel so sad" Eu também, Lou, eu também...
I was really not enjoying it, but the last two songs brought me back around a bit. Probably my least favourite 3/5
A strong album from a legendary act. There are pockets of real charm throughout: Pale Blue Eyes is the clear standout, and the playful After Hours is such a refreshing palate cleanser after the experimental onslaught of Murder Mystery. I really enjoyed my time with this one, and have a few favourites that I’ll be revisiting. However: I question what Reed was thinking with Jesus. In general, I find pseudo religious soul searching music tedious and rarely worth paying attention. “Oh I’m so lost, and need to fill my spirit up with love and god, etc.” There’s nothing special in such messages. We’re all in the same boat, and a lot of us don’t need God to feel fulfilled. Reed explicitly stated that this was not a particularly Christian song; however, belting out “I am beginning to see the light” at the start of the next track only extends the tedium of one the record’s key themes. Which is frustrating because both songs in question are performed exceedingly well and sound great! So it gets a 3 for me for a couple of missteps, but I still absolutely love what I’m hearing for the most part.
I enjoyed this album more than the previous Velvet Underground. But it's still pretty underwhelming and it hasn't aged great. 6,5/10 fav song : Beginning to see the light & What Goes on
I was underwhelmed.
This was OK, but I think I liked the debut album with Nico a bit better.
Wanted to like it more than I actually did.
Just average music. Kinda good at times, kinda boring at times. Like a shittier version of the Beatles.
Pretty crazy this was released in 1969. Dude was into something, sounds like it could have been recorded 5 years ago. That said, there are lots of snoozers in this album.
Pale Blue Eyes is really nice. The rest is dull
Enjoyed enough. Will revisit again
Not my fave VU album but got some highlights too
Lower 7/10, not a bad album but not as great as the fabled banana album. Much prefer other projects that do it better such as most Yo La Tengo albums.
Fine enough, influential for its time, but i feel the passage of time has not been kind to it.
European Son knocked down the score
This album feels polarizing for me. Actually that's not true, it's more a tolerable spectrum. Some songs are ok some are very annoying. And I think it has everything to do with authenticity for me. Some songs feel like real songs from real artists, and others feel like art school shit that's trying too hard to be cool.
I can't stand the banana record, but this one is much better.
Op zich best leuk en rustig en mooi, maar wat saai.
Eh, it didn’t do much for me. It was a lot slower than I was expecting.
I enjoyed my first pass of this album but feel like there's depth beneath the surface that should be explored to fully appreciate this work. I've never really listened to the Velvet Underground before this, so I look forward to hearing more of their other albums as well. Standout tracks: Candy Says, The Murder Mystery
Mukava, että pysyy rauhallisena eikä säikyttele kuin ihan hitusen Murder mysteryn tosi ärsyttävillä päällekkäisillä puheraidoilla. Tahtoisin silti tarttuvammat melodiat rauhallisiin biiseihin.
Rock and roll -bändi. Monella tapaa harvinaisen oivaltava sellainen, ja tällä LP:llä parhaimmillaan vähän vähemmän rockina (Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes). Erityismaininta: Jeesus-biisi, joka jää soimaan päähän.
Among the two Lou Reed solo albums I've heard on this list--Berlin and Transformer, this is far super and much more listenable. Transformer was the worst, and Berlin was just kind of OK. It seems like the Velvet Underground somehow managed to rein in Reed's goofier and more "experimental" urges for the most part and just made low key soft rock that mostly works. The only song I'd heard before here was Pale Blue Eyes, but most of the rest is pretty even. I'm Set Free is a good track. Murder Mystery is a pretty good song, and something, randomly, that sounds like it would be a great System of the Down cover. 3/5
Relaxing
Ihan ok
Mainly very good instrumentals and def a good album to play on the background. Yet it still has some identity and creative songmaking.
Not really my style of music, getting pretty bored
I’m a sucker for 60s music so couldnt not like this, though not s fan of the band. But apart from that iconic 60s psychedelic soft rock sound, the tracks weren't memorable. 3
Sounds like The Beatles but much less British
Generally like The Velvet Underground and Lue Reeds voice is a dream. Murder Mystery is an interesting noise rock song that was unexpected.
best song: the murder mystery best chill song: pale blue eyes
Meh
It’s a decent album, but it’s nothing really to get over excited about. VU have made better albums, but it was pleasant enough listening. Not keen on The Murder Mystery and hated it after near 9 minutes. It doesn’t seem to fit on this album, it’s got more White Light/White Heat vibes. Huge fan of Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes. And the Moe Tucker closer is an underrated classic. It’s a pleasant enough effort, and although I have a copy it’s rarely in my rotation selection.
Not quote as good as their debut 3/5
I understand WHY this is here. It’s cool, it’s interesting. It’s not boring. But the vocals are god awful. While they certainly add to the “cool” factor, they make for a more difficult listen.
i wish they were all like sunday morning but alas
Lori- 6.5 Mike- 7.5 Michael- 7 Miles- 5.5 Cole- 7
Not their best album, but it was good. Made me want to check out more of their stuff
Här snackar vi kontraster (eller troligen mer drognykterhet) jämfört med White light/White heat. Den här är ju nämligen väldigt mycket bättre, undantaget Murder mystery som är mer i linje med föregående skiva. Tyvärr är det låten också irriterande lång. Pale blue eyes är en riktig höjdare, men jag skulle vilja ha åtminstone en eller ett par till av den klassen för ett högre betyg. Stark trea.
I didn't know this album but knew the band of course. I expected more but of course it is ok.
It's okay
It was ok. Maybe not what I was in the mood for. Not familiar so it might take me another listen.
Good but not as good as other VU. 3/5
No really bad songs no really good songs decent but hardly essential
3.5 It’s crazy how modern “After Hours” sounds. Like, the tone and the instrumentation and the voice and the lyrics; it could be an indie pop hit from 2010. A song totally out of time
meh - I liked the non-Lou Reed songs the best. still need to figure out the hype with VU
Heard of the band, and of the lead singer Lou Reed, but don't think I know any specifics. Pleasant, kind of chill vibe, but I don't think I'd listen to most of the album again, it didn't really speak to me. The only exception was the song Murder Mystery, which tickled my brain in the same way as Glass' Einstein on the Beach or Berio's Sinphonia, with two overlapping vocal tracks at different speeds - I'd relisten to that sometime.
We love Pale Blue Eyes
Probably my favorite Velvet Underground album. The run from Pale Blue Eyes > Jesus > Beginning to See the Light is excellent. The Murder Mystery is very annoying (and by far the longest song), dragging this down from 4 to 3.
Decent but not great
Might need a few more listens to appreciate it, but I'd have to remind myself "This is The Velvet Underground, it's supposed to be legendary". There is something charming about Pale Blue Eyes, Candy Says, and some others on the album, but kind've only because I know it's The Velvet Underground.
Highlights: - Some kinda love - Pale Blue Eyes - That’s the story of my life - After Hours
I’m sure this was revolutionary at the time but it doesn’t do much for me today. 3/5 because I saved 2 songs, but I won’t be revisiting this one often. It’s technically very sound, just not my jam.
Ein paar spannende Stücke wie "The Murder Mystery". Sonst typischer 60/70er Rock. 3/5
I really like some VU stuff. I really don't care for others. This has some of each.
Bit gody in places which I wasn't expecting, but I liked the last two songs
This was pretty good but I found some parts a little boring. My favorite was “Pale Blue Eyes”. 3.5/5
I think I enjoyed this album overall more compared to the others I listened to so far. There was no specific one song I thought stood out though which was the main downfall for me (I didn't massively enjoy pale blue eyes). The sounds feels quite similar to the Beatles though which is why I mostly enjoyed it
Cool. Velvet is best for me in small doses. Well, small doses of Lou Reed. Honestly my favorite album of theirs is VU, which is so playful and divergent from their typical, well, drone. There’s some killer music on here, of course.
Not really my thing, but fine enough.
it was okay, pale blue eyes was the highlight for me and that ending track was good. overall it's an okay album
Some surprisingly good tracks mixed with some creative, but unmelodious and boring numbers. At least, if you’re not dropping acid, I imagine.
Mostly mellow rock. Almost hard to believe that this is the same group from their previous two albums when you compare the sound. Not to say that this is utterly unenjoyable, just different than what I was expecting going into this blind. Tracks like "Pale Blue Eyes" and "After Hours" were pleasant to listen to thanks to their more melodic-focused nature. "The Murder Mystery", on the other hand, was interesting for many reasons. I can't even imagine what went into the inspiration for that track.
Don't really understand the hype
Its alright good music but not a special album at all.
Had to listen to this After Hours, but That’s the Story of My Life.
316/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Beat, 1969 -> 3
calming, introspective collection with some touching ballads like “pale blue eyes”
Heroine.chic
The music is pretty stripped down. The expected rock instruments are all there, but they are subtle and not always pronounced.The lyrics are mostly simple and not as subversive and I was led to believe they might be based on the description of the band on YouTube Music. The Murder Mystery stands out to me because WTF IS GOING ON on this track. Two different sets of lyrics happening on the same track, one in each ear. Wild.
I can see how this album was influential, but it didnt do much for me. Its was a little light for me, and the songs seemed to blend together. Not bad for sure, but nothing really captivating. Overall- 2.5/5
Ok, I know it's gonna look biased. But this one is a bit better, almost deserving being on that list. But what do I know, 1001 is a large number of albums, perhaps they can't all be perfect - I guess it's not what it's about. Anyway, I went into this album expecting to another reminiscent entry, cuz they're "THE" Velvet Underground, so their first album *must* be on this list, it's a CLASSIC! But I discovered an album with something of a merit. Not mostly bullshit like I had expected. There are some nice tunes, some sweet tunes, and most importantly some imagination. But ok, I must admit that some tunes were somewhat familiar to me since I think my sister used to listen to this album when we lived together at our family home. So there might very well be some bias indeed. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could cuz 4 stars, I decided, is saved for really, REALLY good imperfect albums, and this one is just good. 3 it is.
I enjoyed this album a lot more than The Velvet Underground & Nico. It's not quite a four-star offering, so I'll give it three.
Nothing really stood out to me on this album. The vocals weren't very interesting and the instrumental arrangements were a bit tame to be truly interesting. All in all, didn't hate it, but didn't really like it. Pale Blue Eyes probably best track on album.
Some pleasant but largely unmemorable folky-rock tunes, and also The Murder Mystery, which is insane.
I once wrote a 12 page paper in college about the cultural impact of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground. I, however, will not be doing that again. We’re going to keep it short this time. Still a solid album, but it has always felt like something is missing compared to previous records and that is more than likely attributed to John Cale leaving. There are great tracks like What Goes On and tracks where the band is obviously enjoying themselves like Murder Mystery, but more than anything this record feels like there’s forced vocal collaboration with less worthy vocalists and is probably what pushed Lou to do solo work.
6.5/10
interesting, I think it'd 'get better' with more listenings
This ranges between pleasant and boring. “The Murder Mystery” is an interesting track.
liked this more than expected considering how much i hated the Lou Reed album we had
The first Velvet Underground album following John Cale's departure presents a notably quieter and more minimalist sound. This transition marks a departure from the infused chaos of "White Light/White Heat," yet the band retains a degree of their signature grit and rawness. "Pale Blue Eyes" has been my favorite track from this album, and perhaps my favorite overall from the Velvet Underground. Other notable songs include "Candy Says," "What Goes On," and "Beginning to See The Light." However, the album falters with the experimental piece "The Murder Mystery." While I can appreciate the artistic intent behind it, the result is an incoherent mess that is difficult to listen to. It raises the question of how many listeners tuned out at this point, missing the final track "After Hours," which is another gem. Overall, I find the album to be uneven, but worth completely listening to at least once. The best tracks are extremely enjoyable, some of the greatest from the Velvet Underground, which makes them (at least) worth listening to on repeat.
This seemed so restrained, pleasant even until the penultimate track when normal VU appeared restored.
It was okay, and I’m sure for its time it was great, but it’s hard not to listen to it with 2025 ears.
Could've sworn that last song was Kimya Dawson.
Comfy to listen to, this almost sounds like something that could release in the early 2000s.
I feel like if every song was like song 1, this would be a solid 4 for me. "The Murder Mystery" was pretty long, odd, and boring, but songs like "Candy Says" and "After Hours" were amazing. Those 2 just fit the vibe I wanted for the album, and at times i felt like I got it, but others, I didnt. Overall, it was a solid album. Liked Songs and Least Favorite: Listed Above^
Pleasant enough (probably a 3.5, really) though I prefer the banana album to this one.
Didn’t like this as much as the last Velvet Underground album I had here, maybe I got this on the wrong day or am too worn out to listen with full attention. Or maybe other VU albums hit on a good day.
Não é pra mim, muito modorrento.
Lou is a fun character. I always assumed a lot of these phychedlic art rock bands were actually on to something and were enlightened in someway. Looking back now it's clear they were just fucked up. It's still fun to listen to though! This album in particular reminds me of summer/having a good time. Not the worst images to conjure.
I've always wanted to like Velvet Underground bc it seems like a cool band to like. Now that I've listened to an album, my overall take is that they're a little too arty for my taste -Pale Blue Eyes was a fun playful contrast between lyrics and music -The Murder Mystery was a real trip, man. I didn't like it but it was distinctive - Overall just doesn't do it for me. I rate on vibes, and the vibes were MID
Respect it, but not my thing
Vind het tweede album een stuk beter
Not the best of their albums. I did like the fact that they all wrote songs.
One of those “I didn’t know they made music like this back then” albums. You can hear a lot of small indie, acoustic-ish bands in this record. If I knew more about The Velvet Undergound, maybe I would appreciate the change up even more.
Glad I noticed there are 2 mixes of this album, because I prefer the Closet mix. I feel like one's appreciation of this album will largely depend on how much you like their musical output. For me, The Velvet Underground has always been a band whose music and influence I respect, but it never fully connects with me. This album only reinforces that. The songs are good, but I feel like other artists who heard it built better music from it in the years that followed. Granted, we also got a lot of poor imitations, compared to which this sounds brilliant. Judging it on its own merits isn't easy over 50 years later, unless it's somehow the first music you ever heard. But I did listen to both mixes, and it's a good collection of songs. I don't love it, but that's OK.
okay
Not bad. I have heard this one before and it was a nice refresher. Just don't go looking for White Light/White Heat.
Great!
I have heard the name of the band throughout my life in various media but I have never listened to the velvet underground and its not at all what I expected. For some reason I thought they would be a lot more punk-ish. That being said this is a really nice album with some good songs and some I didn't really like. Not my cup of tea for everyday listening but not bad at all.
Song: pale blue eyes i like this song because it is quiet and calming Song: Murder mystery i dont like this song because it sounds like they're saying random words and it's kind of crazy sounding Song: Jesus I like this song because i love Jesus and it talks about him.
it seems very classy and calming song but its not something i would pick if i was looking for songs it seem very quiet also.the second song the person singing was diffent then the first song the 3rd song seem calm like the first one
I don't really like this album because I don't really like this type of music.
I like the song "Pale Blue Eyes" because it's gentle and sweet. I don't like "Murder Mystery" because it sounds messy and strange. I think "Jesus" is not the greatest but not the worst because I don't like the organs but the singing sounds nice.
Most of this has been fine, the Murder Mystery was just noise at points though.
Not a bad album. I do listen to VU once in a while but i’d get bored of the sound quickly if i were to ever listen to them as much as i listen to other bands. Funny thing is some of those bands are said to be inspired by VU and Lou Reed which makes me believe they are a bit overrated because i don’t see how can they be put unto them same level of inspiration as The Beatles or Pink Floyd. Maybe i’m being judgemental because of the Warhol scene they were a part of. Anyway even though i may sound harsh by my previous words, i enjoy 60’s rock music so this wasn’t a bad time. Candy Says and Pale Blue Eyes are constant songs on my playlists but The Murder Mystery was hard to get through.
Candy Says - 5/5 What Goes On - 3/5 Some Kinda Love - 3/5 Pale Blue Eyes - 5/5 Jesus - 2/5 Beginning To See The Light - 4/5 I'm Set Free - 3/5 That's The Story Of My Life - 3/5 The Murder Mystery - 2/5 After Hours - 4/5 Average score: 3.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The first half of the album is brutally boring, but after you hit Beginning to See the Light, interesting things start happening. Not sure if it's enough to make up for the miserable beginning.
It’s OK
Pale Blue Eyes, beginning to see the light and murder mystery standout tracks. Enjoyed the album but not a classic
Not as good as I was expecting which surprised me, some solid tunes
Overall, the sounds, the vibe on this album is moody and melancholic. Musically, it's pretty impressive. The fact that this was released back in 1969, it makes it quite before its time. Classed as alternative and experimental underground sound, it would have been ahead of its time. This album was released when Lou Reed was in his 3rd line phase (HD detail). "What Goes On" is probably my favourite off this album. Great guitar riffs, beats and catchy lyrics.
It starts off a little slow but I'm not sure that's a bad thing. Kind of easing you in maybe? But for the most part it is a pretty subdued record. Sound-wise anyway. It seems to be a super personal album, the lyrics are fantastic as they are with most Velvet Underground. I think what sets this apart from similar albums from the same time period is just that this seems more experimental. I mean it may not be avant-garde, with the exception of The Murder Mystery, but you can definitely see them leaning in that direction and inspiring New Wave to follow. All in all I like this album but not as much as some others from Velvet Underground or Lou Reed. I think this one would rate a 3.5/5 for me and I'll round down because it's just not quite there to give it a 4.
Side one isn't great, mostly sounded like demos (I liked Pale Blue Eyes though). Side two rocks. Murder Mystery is a notable song, although not sure how I feel about it to be totally honest. Incredibly unique regardless.
Better with Nico
Not my cup of tea xd roquillo de chil
It’s fine. The Velvets did better in their time.
Ondergewaardeerd album met echt goede nummers. Niet hun beste, maar wel echt de moeite. 3.4
Meh
Har potential att bli bra. Måste lyssna lite mer bara.
Favorite Track: What Goes On
Nice relaxing tunes, didn’t enjoy the murder mystery as it was chaotic having 2 songs at once. But no real complaints just nice chill music :)
Not something I would usually listen to, but a good album, especially modern considering when it came out.
They gave us Lou Reed, so I love them for that, but there were only a couple of songs that I thought stood above their peers. I recall that they inspired a lot of bands. Maybe they’re a victim of their own success?
This isn't a bad record, especially not for when it was released. However, it does pale compared to their other output (and Lou Reed and Nico's solo outputs). Pale Blue Eyes is a classic, though
Feels wrong to give this the same rating as the Kiss album I had yesterday, but that just narrowly avoided being a 2, and this just narrowly missed being a 4
Decent album. Enjoyable laid back ballads and rock tracks.
I quite liked this I think
Not quite to the iconic sound that made up their greatest hits here.
3/5
Great tunes and vibe. The psych influences and retro rock are so easy on the ears.
Enjoyed this. May have even gone higher if I was at home.
Some interesting stuff but some stuff that sounded boring too. I think it needs a few listens.
Groovy. Some great vibes but a few weirdos.
I wish I liked this more, I get that it's technically very good but none of the songs stood out to me
Better than the last VU I had.
The Velvets without John Cale certainly have a different sound. Much more straightforward -- the psychedelica less subtle. It's still good -- Uncle Lou's songwriting is solid as always -- but it doesn't quite hang together as well as some of the other entries from the VU. Unexpected bangers: Some Kinda Love, After Hours, I'm Set Free
Solid album. Didn’t click with me, but i would for sure enjoy later.
一開始聽起來是很舒服的專輯，溫暖民謠的感覺。但是「The Murder Mystery」這首歌真的很特別，交替的方式呈現一組男女合唱，像是講故事，另一組像是旁白或是兇手，快速唱著像是rap一樣。另外一首「Jesus」的旋律很喜歡。
Clearly a revolutionary band. But aside from a few songs, I never really got too much into them. This album was okay, but not my favorite.
A little too raw for me.
had some very interesting tracks, not necessarily what i expected but not bad. prob not in the rotation but nice to work to, 3.5?
This is great. There are some real gems on here - especially Pale Blue Eyes. But I do think that the record is front loaded. The closing song, though, is wonderful