The Velvet Underground
by The Velvet Underground

From joannajewsom 04/18/2009 11:32 | #3618 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This album was a real shock for me. Funny how their, I think, most accessible album was the most shocking for me. When I looked into VU's music I started with the first album and went in chronological order. After wearing out VU & Nico and White Light/White Heat, I wanted more, so I went on the next album. Imagine the shock I had when I heard the sweet and delicate "Candy Says", the first track off the third album. Keep in mind, I'm coming straight off of the ear-shattering noise jam "Sister Ray", the last track off of their second album. For me, this is as much of a sign of their greatness as their more influential and groundbreaking works, because it shows that they were much more than a noisy art band. (Edited)

I agree with joanna, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I can picture an alternate universe where Velvet Underground (1969) was the band's debut record, followed by White Light/White Heat & then VU & Nico. In this parallel world the debut album lays down some basic though catchy tunes that highlight Reed's songwriting talent, while Murder Mystery highlights the experimental tendencies to come. Then comes White Light/White Heat, a spastic reaction to the soothing country jam of the first, a full-throttle amphetamine fueled romp through the hallways of chaos paving the way for the refined art found on VU & Nico. Another cool feature of this alternate reality is that Gnosticism is the unofficial religion of the USA and the streets are patroled by assault-rifle toting women in skimpy metallic armour. I pitched this idea to a publisher but they said it was 'juvenile & dorky' like something 'scribbled in a high-school nerds notebook' and that the 'Velvet Underground references are pretty obscure", but what do they know? (Edited)

From colonelchibbers 05/20/2015 04:51 | #141955 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

More than any other record, shows Lou Reed's talent as a songwriter. He has this ability to be personal and intimate which shows up more on this record than others. I love that side of him. This is the "pretty" Velvet Underground album. (Edited)

The softest Velvets album, at least of Lou Reeds tenure. Always has been my favorite. THe 3rd album is really an interesting departure from the first two in my opinion yet still original and artistic and creative and original like only they could be. A true gem. candy says and what goes on are two of the better vu songs you don't hear as much about as some others but are bot entrancing.. (Edited)

From bonafini 01/03/2014 21:49 | #99744 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Jesus is one of the most touching songs ever. And I say that as an atheist. (Edited)