White Light/White Heat

Don't think I've ever really understood the appeal to The Velvet Underground. Definitely cool and experimental for the time, but idk, just doesn't grab me

The Good: Smooth public transportation!
The Bad: Finding out that, on this underground, there isn’t anything velvet, just a bunch of annoying travels living in their own sphere…
The Ugly: The white light intensifying photophobia for those who suffer from that…

I am about 1/3rd into this list, and I believe this is my first Velvet Underground, or, as the hip cats call them VU.

Couple of things which have become clear to me:
I am not a hip cat
I don’t understand hip cat music
It is becoming increasingly clearer to me that the author of this list is a hip cat with so-so taste in music—that is a personal opinion, however, based on the amount of people who start this journey to only bail-out before having rated 100 albums is astonishing

Anyway, I am in it for the long run…

Regarding the album; first time I listened I was paying closer attention to work related things and had this on the background, and the experience was not a bad one, while the second time I paid closer attention to the album and the last song just about killed my nerves…
What was interesting, at least, was how the album just starts—I believe this to be the first time and the experience is very interesting.

Overall, I will give the album a 3* because the noise at the end, the song which all the hip cats swoon over, is the one that makes me want to punch a pencil into my ear after 1 minute, knowing there are 16 minutes of that annoying noise left to listen to.

Even all these years later there is still something exciting about listening to these rough, dissonant sounds. The Velvet Underground tapped into something, and it definitely isn't for everyone, but it sure does it for me.
4

God, I love it. One of four perfect records by the perfect band. Chaos and beauty.

Have a solid rhythm section with a hypnotic, regular beat and you can be as pretentious and experimental as you want.

Lou Reed is such a unique song writer. Often imitated, never duplicated. I can't say I enjoyed this album, but I am certain it is the work of a genius.

Chaotic fuzzy drones, wild guitar parts that dissolve into squals of feedback, dark intense bass riffs, frenzied drumming, lo-fi production and wild expressive performances all combine create a hypnotic hallucinogenic atmosphere. Extremely cathartic noise. Sister Ray is the star of the album, but the title track is a great garage rock track that basically invents pop punk. Lady Godiva and Here She Comes now features more of their gentle darkly pretty songwriting. The Gift is kind of annoying though.

A bit too experimental, but it certainly has its moments.

I'm now convinced I dislike most things that came out of Lou Reed's head. The album actually started strong with the chanting "White light/White heat" elements on the first song. The vignette described in The Gift was also very good. After that things got either forgettable or annoying. Sister Ray is a tedious trash song which the experimental aspects were improved upon by kraut rock bands of the 70s.
All around a few moments of interest in another meh Reed album. 2/5

TRASH

Spotify linked to the Deluxe Edition of this album, so that is the one I listened to and reviewed here. The original album is ok, nothing to jump up and down about. There is a 17 minute song about blowjobs on it (Sister Ray), so ya know, top marks for that, lol. There is also a comical 8 minute spoken word song that tells the story of a lad named Waldo who mailed himself to his girlfriends place because he was afraid that she was getting railed by different dudes.

The additional content on the deluxe edition (some extra songs, and some live content) is really solid. Truthfully, I feel that the deluxe edition of the album brings this album from like a 3.5 to a 4 star. Some really solid tunes, and a bit less experimental.

Favourite songs: Stephanie Says, Beginning to See the Light, Guess I'm Falling In Love, Run Run Run, Sister Ray, The Gift

Least favourite songs: I Heard Her Call My Name

4/5

2.67

Demasiado corto.

The Velvet Underground are properly arty and weird, particularly on this album, but I do dig it. I’m tuned into the energy of it, even when it's chucking out frenetic drums at you and weird screeching guitars. Or a whole short story set to a grungy jam track.

I know songs like “I Heard Her Call My Name” are obnoxious and noisy, but something about it works for me still. I'm still tapping my foot a good deal. The last track is a jam, until it does actually get a bit much.

I like this, and I like their style, man.

3.5 rounded up.

What the hell is The Gift!? Motherfucker Lou, Sister Ray is so poorly mixed. god this stuff is a pain to listen to. Wow what a real pile of shit.

Meh

Let me state: I just listened to the original version of the album. From my research this is what is in the 1001 book, not the deluxe version, which has over an additional hour of material.

The original version is a tight 40 minutes of very varied material, fin spoken word to distortion really punk sounds. I appreciate that after listening to several albums that were very repetitive. The band wasn’t afraid to experiment musically, and the lyrics don’t hold back. Clearly going for shock value at times, but hey that’s rock and roll.
This is not the first time in this project where I was forced to listen to an artist i didn’t think I enjoyed, and ended up being impressed! I’m not saying I’m ever going to be the Velvet Underground’s biggest fan, but this was an interesting listen.

I appreciate the experimental nature of this but it’s a tough listen. Tracks 3 and 4 are good tunes, though. I always liked the Nirvana cover of the latter.

Really unremarkable offering from a band I have quite enjoyed in the past. Not sure this one deserves its placement. 2.5/5

Great but it's got nothing on their previous album. I like most of these songs better on the 1993 live album.

A proper classic.

White Light White Heat sounds dangerous from the outset. It is raw, abrasive and completely uncompromising. There is very little polish here, and that is exactly the point. The guitars are distorted, the rhythms feel almost chaotic at times, and the whole record has an intensity that still feels bold decades later.

The lyrics are sharp and confrontational, tackling subjects that very few bands were willing to go near at the time. It feels important, not just musically but culturally. You can hear the blueprint for so much punk and alternative rock that followed.

It is not an easy listen, but it is a rewarding one. There is a confidence in how far they push things, and that tension gives the album its power.

Favourite song: White Light White Heat and The Gift
Least favourite song: None. Every track earns its place
Album artwork: Simple and stark, perfectly matching the stripped back, confrontational sound