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The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground

  • AMG Review of The Velvet Underground

    Amg
    Mark Deming
    All Music Guide

    Upon first release, the Velvet Underground's self-titled third album must have surprised their fans nearly as much as their first two albums shocked the few mainstream music fans who heard them. After testing the limits of how musically and thematically challenging ock could be on Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat, this 1969 release sounded spare, quiet, and contemplative, as if the previous albums documented some manic, speed-fueled party and this was the subdued morning after. (The album's relative calm has often been attributed to the departure of the band's most committed avant-gardist, John Cale, in the fall of 1968; the arrival of new bassist Doug Yule; and the theft of the band's amplifiers shortly before they began recording.) But Lou Reed's lyrical exploration of the demimonde is as keen here as on any album he ever made, while displaying a warmth and compassion he sometimes denied his characters. "Candy Says," "Pale Blue Eyes," and "I'm Set Free" may be more muted in approach than what the band had done in the past, but "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light" made it clear the VU still loved ock & roll, and "The Murder Mystery" (which mixes and matches four separate poetic narratives) is as brave and uncompromising as anything on White Light/White Heat. This album sounds less like the Velvet Underground than any of their studio albums, but it's as personal, honest, and moving as anything Lou Reed ever committed to tape.

The 9's Have It: Historical Reasoning Why 2009 Will Be A Great Year for Music
10 months ago

Inspired By Tim Duffy 2008 was a shit year for music. With the economy falling down around us, the music industry continued to crumble under the pressure of the internet...falling down, down, down and barely even pulling in a cent (or so they would like you to believe). Bands inspired by the few cash cows we have left aped and copied their way through records. Folks were led to believe that...

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Pale Blue Eyes
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

They lasted only 5 years, 1967 - 1972. They never found a mainstream audience despite the presence of two of the more creative and innovative artists of their day, John Cale and Lou Reed. At one point they were actually managed by Andy Warhol.Brian Eno once said “Sure, the first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but of those ten thousand people, every last one of them went out a.

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The Velvet Underground and Bessie Smith
over 2 years ago

Lemon Twist's recent post and praise about hearing The Velvet Underground for the first time made me think about when I first of them....(thanks LT for triggering fond memories in my mind!)During my senior year in high school (Spring '88), I sat in front of this guy named John in history class. We often talked about music, and he turned me on to lots of cool things (like the Dr. Demento show f...

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The Song Questionnaire
over 2 years ago
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Does the Proust questionnaire ring a bell?Cartoon by David Levine © all rights reservedIt is a series of questions that the French writer took twice. First on his 13th birthday, then a second time when he turned twenty. The idea is to learn about yourself through general questions on your characters and feelings.I would like to propose to you to do the same with the following questions all sung..

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Andy Warhol was right...
over 2 years ago
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Everybody will be famous for 15 minutes. As i clicked over to CNN to make sure that we haven't illegally invaded any other countries since I last checked, i couldn't help but to notice their 'EXCLUSIVE' interview with the 'stylist' who shaved Britney's head.Speaking of heads, mine hurts...and speaking of Andy Warhol, I will let Lou Reed take you the rest of the way home with what I consider to ...

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Between thought and expression
over 2 years ago
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Knackered, spent and ever so slightly sick...more dead than alive really...Artwork by Scott © all rights reservedBetween thought and expression lies a lifetimeSituations arise because of the weather[...]The possibilities are endlessAnd for me to miss oneWould seem to be groundless(A track to shake off a momentary mood)

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New gadgets
over 3 years ago
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OK...i am still replacing stuff from the fire...and i finally get to buy some fun stuff. So I need suggestions. I am looking to get a digital camera and an mp3 player...I am limiting myself to $250 for each.Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...especially with the camera...so MANY to choose from, would love to hear some mog-o-matic reviews!bPSI really am a junkie...i started to panic bec...

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friday random ten, 1969 edition
about 1 year ago

1. Buffy Sainte-Marie, "God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot." What she brings to mind probably depends on when you were born. In the early-60s, she was the earnest Native American folkie with the vibrato in her vocals ... in the 70s she was a semi-regular on Sesame Street (the video link, not a song, comes from that show). She was once married to a surfer dude, she has a Ph.D., and in 1969, she recor...

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Pale Blue Eyes
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

They lasted only 5 years, 1967 - 1972. They never found a mainstream audience despite the presence of two of the more creative and innovative artists of their day, John Cale and Lou Reed. At one point they were actually managed by Andy Warhol.Brian Eno once said “Sure, the first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but of those ten thousand people, every last one of them went out a.

More >
The Velvet Underground and Bessie Smith
over 2 years ago

Lemon Twist's recent post and praise about hearing The Velvet Underground for the first time made me think about when I first of them....(thanks LT for triggering fond memories in my mind!)During my senior year in high school (Spring '88), I sat in front of this guy named John in history class. We often talked about music, and he turned me on to lots of cool things (like the Dr. Demento show f...

More >
The 9's Have It: Historical Reasoning Why 2009 Will Be A Great Year for Music
10 months ago

Inspired By Tim Duffy 2008 was a shit year for music. With the economy falling down around us, the music industry continued to crumble under the pressure of the internet...falling down, down, down and barely even pulling in a cent (or so they would like you to believe). Bands inspired by the few cash cows we have left aped and copied their way through records. Folks were led to believe that...

More >

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