NationStates Jolt Archive

Oh how I love thee! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Underground) Their first album sold practically no copies, Andy Warhol managed them for a while, and LOU REED was in it! How can you not love this incredibly underrated band?

I will acknowledge that several albums, The Velvet Underground and Nico especially, are an acquired taste. Doesn't make them any short of awesome, in fact, Venus in Furs is a personal favorite of mine.

So what do you think about them?

I never got the impression that they're unheard of... I haven't actually listened to them though.

I never got the impression that they're unheard of... I haven't actually listened to them though.

Not sure how I got that impression either. Fixed.

Lou Reed is the single biggest cause of the downfall of good music. His band also pretty much invented Andy Warhol who is the single biggest bad influence in the world of Art.


Oh and not a single "song" the Velvet underground produced even resembles music. It's an insult to rock and roll, and the ugly barnicle infested underbelly of rock.

How does the saying go? 'Only a hundred people bought the Velvet Underground's first album, but they were all inspired to form bands.' Something along those lines. But yeah, Velvet Underground were great. Lou Reed has amazing talent.

Lou Reed is the single biggest cause of the downfall of good music. His band also pretty much invented Andy Warhol who is the single biggest bad influence in the world of Art.


Oh and not a single "song" the Velvet underground produced even resembles music. It's an insult to rock and roll, and the ugly barnicle infested underbelly of rock.

Listen to the self titled album and you'll think differently.

The Velvet Underground and Nico is the most overrated album in history.

They rule. I only have two of their albums though, so far.

They're ridiculously overrated. Their groundwork was great and all, but their execution of it was terrible at best.

Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Professionals (formerly of the Sex Pistols) actually turned their groundwork into something decent, and can be heard on their 1-2-3 single. White Light, White Heat is the song performed.

It's done with panache, something the Velvet Underground lacked entirely. I'm not saying the guitar and vochal techniques were bad; I'm saying they were embarrassing.

I like 'em alright. The Gift is actually one of my favourite songs ever. It is in stereo, with music coming from one side and somebody reading a short story from the other. Highly recommend it.

One cannot deny the impact VU had on the music scene, especially the underground, especially punk rock in the late 1970's and the sounds that stemmed from punk. One of the best explanations I've heard, to whom I cannot properly attribute, was the fact that they were singing a song about heroin in 1967 while the Beatles were singing Sgt. Pepper and All You Need Is Love. Something must be said about that.

The quality of their music lies in the ears of the beholder. They're one of my favorite bands due to their versatility, their experimental nature, their ability to move me (White Light/White Heat, as a whole, friggin' grooves from beginning to end), and their overall freedom of sound. They do become overindulgent at times with me (The Black Angel's Death Song and European Son often get skipped), but that was all part of their expansion. They are certainly a must-hear band for anyone interested in the history and progression of rock and roll.

Some of the most profoundly disturbing music ever.

<3 them. White Light/White Heat is my favourite album by them and is easily in my top 10.

lol i suck at music .. can never remember names of songs tracks or bands .... and i must be going tone deaf .... the few times its been on the radio (so note not paying total attention) i cant say as i can recall Lou Reed doing a solo bit on it ... always sounds like a duet the whole way through (and the song aint that great either (give me repetitive dance music lol)

I'm listening to The Velvet Underground & Nico right now! Femme Fatale in fact.