Best Ever Albums

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

19loveless91 — Thu, 6 Oct 2011 00:23:06 GMT

Author: 19loveless91

Posted: 10/06/2011 04:23

hairymarx1 wrote:

Yep, he was their main songwriter. Where are you going with this?

Well I guess my main point is that you can't compare Loaded with The Division Bell (or AMLoR) - Gilmour rarely ever wrote lyrics before that. Then the second point is that considering Lou Reed wrote most of the songs even on their first three albums, it's hard to attribute the "lack of depth in the songs" (I disagree with that btw) to the fact that he was the only songwriter.. It's true that the absence of John Cale is noticeable (I guess in lack of experimentation) but I still don't think that means it shouldn't be called a "VU" album - after all it was still the same guy that wrote most of the VU songs right? Or is it the quality of songs that in your opinion decides whether an album should be attributed to the band? (kind of like some Pink Floyd fans accept The Final Cut as a proper Pink Floyd album, but not AMLoR and TDB)

On a side note, what do you think about their self titled one then?

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

hairymarx1 — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 16:59:26 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 10/05/2011 20:59

Yep, he was their main songwriter. Where are you going with this?

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

19loveless91 — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 16:08:22 GMT

Author: 19loveless91

Posted: 10/05/2011 20:08

hairymarx1 wrote:

Polythene Pam wrote:

loaded is a VU album in the same way that the Division Bell is a Pink Floyd album.

I agree. Essentially this is a Lou Reed album and for a very good reason: He is the only original member. The songs have no depth and some are among the weakest of his career. Overall, the album is the epitome of mediocrity given the high standards of their first two. It's a travesty to call this a Velvet Underground album.

Did Lou Reed not write the majority of VU songs?

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

hairymarx1 — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 15:59:43 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 10/05/2011 19:59

Polythene Pam wrote:

loaded is a VU album in the same way that the Division Bell is a Pink Floyd album.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Mr. Shankly — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 23:07:38 GMT

Author: Mr. Shankly

Posted: 10/03/2011 03:07

I love it. It's one of their most diverse records and is strong throughout. I do think The Ocean should have been on it. That's one of their best songs. I recommend the reissue, but it's got some essential bonus tracks.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

alelsupreme — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 12:45:48 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 10/02/2011 16:45

Nah, I don't see it as them selling out, you can see this is Lou beginning the style he would do in his solo career. I just don't like it.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Romanelli — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 10:40:24 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 10/02/2011 14:40

Thank God that Loaded doesn't have anything like "The Murder Mystery" or any of their unlistenable "experiments". Sure, it's an album full of pop rock songs. But don't lie. So are Revolver, Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper, Nevermind, The White Album, Zeppelin IV, and London Calling...all from the overall top 10. And, yeah, the production may be not the best...but if it was, you'd hate it even more because that's not how the Velvets were "supposed" to sound.

People get upset when bands spread their wings and do something different. I've heard people say that the Velvets "sold out" on Loaded. I say, pah. Loaded is a great record, and deserves its spot on these charts a lot more than some other stinkers that have ended up ahead of it that are much, much worse in terms of songs, playing, and production.

Loaded shows that they could do it. And it shows that Lou Reed was THE real strength of the band. The first 5 songs here are as strong as ANY first five on a rock album. "Who Loves The Sun" is brilliant...a completely depressing lyric hidden in a 60's upbeat pop song. "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll" are two of Reed's best songs. "Cool It Down" and "New Age" round out an amazing album side.

Side two isn't as strong, but it's still better than most. Overall, this may not be the same sound as the first 3 albums, but that's okay. In my opinion, this album completes the band and is a necessary part of their legacy.

Also, skip the Fully Loaded Edition. The original 10 songs and 23 outtakes? Completely unneccesary and bloated.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

19loveless91 — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 09:51:39 GMT

Author: 19loveless91

Posted: 10/02/2011 13:51

I don't think it's as good as their self titled one, but this is the side of VU I like most (ie not the experimental side of WL,WH).. Sweet Jane, Rock & Roll and I found a reason are all great songs

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

alelsupreme — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 06:15:54 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 10/02/2011 10:15

I have nothing against pop rock. Just this sort. Sweet Jane is good, but my god the recording quality is terrible.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Anonymous — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 04:55:01 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 10/02/2011 08:55

besteveruser wrote:

I happen to love pop/rock, and most every band I love that was influenced by them is just pop/rock stuff, so of course I like the album that sounds like that stuff.

Well put, and that about sums up my sentiment on this album as well. 😄

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

besteveruser — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 21:22:21 GMT

Author: besteveruser

Posted: 10/02/2011 01:22

I only listened to The Velvet Underground for the first time this year.

They were built up so much as a legendary act that I was sort of turned off of ever wanting to explore their music. But then I finally decided I needed to hear them while I was still sort of young, since I was supposed to have listened to them years ago as a young teenage music nerd building up the foundation of my musical tastes listening to every "Great Band."

And (surprise) it turns out I think they're amazing.

And Loaded is my favorite. Yes, it is the closest thing they have to boring pop/rock, but I happen to love pop/rock, and most every band I love that was influenced by them is just pop/rock stuff, so of course I like the album that sounds like that stuff.

Rock And Roll is my favorite VU song. But Sweet Jane is close, and I have a thing for New Age.

I think I just really love dirty disposable guitar-pop music from the early seventies (like glam rock), and this is pretty much that.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Sean — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 17:53:50 GMT

Author: Sean

Posted: 10/01/2011 21:53

Great Album

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

mooseboy101 — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 17:35:04 GMT

Author: mooseboy101

Posted: 10/01/2011 21:35

Sweet Jane's a fun little song......and that's about it.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Norman Bates — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 17:26:19 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 10/01/2011 21:26

itsit wrote:

Don't like it, boring pop rock.

You mean, like Kasabian for instance ?

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

alelsupreme — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 17:23:55 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 10/01/2011 21:23

Don't like it, boring pop rock.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Norman Bates — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 16:02:45 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 10/01/2011 20:02

Despite its reputation, it's still a good record. Nowhere near White Light/White Heat, but it's a more than decent release, you might enjoy it more than you think (i.e. if you don't know it already).

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

cartoken — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 15:40:37 GMT

Author: cartoken

Posted: 10/01/2011 19:40

As much as good as VU & Nico

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Anonymous — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 15:10:04 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 10/01/2011 19:10

loaded is a VU album in the same way that the Division Bell is a Pink Floyd album.

Re: Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

Hayden — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 15:05:08 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 10/01/2011 19:05

😎

Album of the day (#324): Loaded by The Velvet Underground

BestEverAlbums — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 15:00:09 GMT

Author: BestEverAlbums

Posted: 10/01/2011 19:00

Today's album of the day

Loaded by The Velvet Underground (View album)

Year: 1970.
Overall rank: 156
Average rating: 83/100 (from 137 votes).

Tracks:
1. Who Loves The Sun
2. Sweet Jane
3. Rock And Roll
4. Cool It Down
5. New Age
6. Head Held High
7. Lonesome Cowboy Bill
8. I Found A Reason
9. Train Round The Bend
10. Oh! Sweet Nuthin'