Extremely poignant and intensely calming. Lou Reed has one of the most soothing voices ever, and the lo-fi aesthetic only adds to the homely feel. Favorite Tracks: "Candy Says", "Pale Blue Eyes", "Jesus", "The Murder Mystery", "After Hours"
The Velvet Underground's self-titled work is an enchanting folk-rock staple. The record begins with "Candy Says", a very delicate introduction to the record that sets a really cozy vibe. I love the moving guitar lines and subtly present bass work present on songs like "Some Kinda Love", and the personality-driven vocals from Lou Reed deliver on "Pale Blue Eyes" with its Bob Dylan-esque heartbreak song structure and "Jesus" as he harmonizes with bassist Doug Yule. The folk tracks "That's The Story Of My Life" and "After Hours" are two of my favorites, with both being very short and sweet pieces that showcase the best of The VU's songwriting abilities. The band also shows their capability in providing rocking bangers like "Beginning To See The Light" and "I'm Set Free", with the latter carrying an interesting sense of dynamics as it continually builds and retreats. The only underwhelming experience comes in "What Goes On", with energized riffs that get drowned out halfway through by organs and an enveloping fuzzy guitar solo that didn't work for me. The track starts with a lot of intrigue and ends by repeating that same motif for too long without evolving on it much, with the middle portion feeling somewhat out-of-place. This doesn't do much to bring the rest of the record down, especially with songs like the penultimate "The Murder Mystery", which is sprawling and confusing in the best ways. It features odd sounds effects and an intriguing drum pattern that pairs well with the ramblings and guitars during the verses, while the back-and-forth choruses between Reed and drummer Maureen Tucker give a break from the break-neck pace with slick guitar and organ lines. The song is overwhelming and captivating in its creativity, proving to be a stand-out in the tracklist. The sentimental, engaging, and bold efforts that The Velvet Underground make on this record pay off in an amazing display of songwriting and personality. BEST TRACKS: Candy Says, Pale Blue Eyes, The Murder Mystery, After Hours WORST TRACKS: What Goes On