Not Surprised. when I found no listing of The Velvet Underground in this site.if ever the phrase’not for money but art’(an equivocal statement)arises then VU aptly fit the role.so this is where I had to put their review.
’Sweet nothing’ literally that’s exactly how much records they sold from 1967 to 1971.yet they are accounted to be the most influential bands of all times.That got me thinking seriously I had never heard of the band until recently so I downloaded their music and got listening and aren’t they good. and the fact remains they as long as the band was together commercial success always eluded them that got me scratching my head how the hell can u say a band to be influential if no one listens to it?
phew what a contradiction I believe that’s what u were thinking but then as Brian eno cofounder of Roxy Music and producer of U2 and others, put it best when he said that although the Velvet Underground didn’t sell many albums, everyone who bought one went on to form a band. The New York Dolls, Patti Smith, the Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, U2, R.E.M., Roxy Music and Sonic Youth have all cited the Velvet Underground as a major influence.So what is it about the VU that makes them the thursdays child.Laying the groundwork in the Sixties for many tangents rock music would take in the ensuing decades.At a time when people were singing about love and peace these guys and a girl(I don’t consider nico to be a part of the band)were singing about drugs(heroin, white light/white heat), sexual deviancy(venus in furs)urban demimonde(all tomorrow’s party), bad love(pale blue eyes), salvation hence bringing rock n roll out of the closet and opening up new avenues and unexplored experimental realms.
The band came up with four albums
i)the velvet underground and nico
ii)white light white heat
iii)the VU
iv)loaded
but then enough material which was unearthed in the eighties that was released in the album “Another View”.The VU were intially patronised by the post modernist pop artist Andy Warhole their banana cover in the first album designed by andy warhole still remains a classic.
Let me make a brief review on each of the four albums.
The velvet underground and nico:eleven songs that would change all things that rock.The drug addiction songs heroin and I’m Waiting for the Man with moe tuker’s metronomic drums with gives the impression of the heartbeats of the addict is simply beautiful.Lou Reed fully explored his literary ground in this album and produced wonderful results with notable songs like’Femme Fatale” and “All Tomorrow’s Parties, ”.
White light/white heat:this album was more experimental with heavy sonic kicks.Full of distortion and leakages giving a sence of chaos especially the viola cries of cale in’sister ray’ a 17 min long
avant grade.A 17 min long song in 1966 was unheard of but then they started it all experimenting with avant grade jazz and distortion.This album has it all.The sounds heard here were way ahead of the times.
The Velvet underground: I’m Set Free, What Goes On and Beginning To See The Light are the noteable songs here its more light and easy going maybe VU felt a need to produce a hit after such a long time.The songs have the same signature lyrics of lou reed but cale had let the band by then so the stringed instruments arent explored as much here.
Loaded:Most of the songs in this album were sung by Yule the new band member after cale with a pop voice.This album is full of melodic and groovy tunes yet they failed to produced a hit.That seems inconceivable today, given its high quality and enduring influence.“Sweet Jane” and “Rock and Roll” – have become acknowledged classics reinforced by Reed’s literary intellect.
By then the band was almost broken with all its original members gone.It was only after that VU finally got the acknowledgement they deserved.Too bad they never got to enjoy their popularity as a band.So this is a band all rockers out there should listen to.Their influence is everywhere to see.However Lou Reeds later works haven’t scaled high as his early ones . except a few like’Walk on the Wild Side’ project.
PS.Ironically I had to place their review under this section.