The Velvet Underground & Nico

Starts off ok and then just keeps getting worse.

I'm so glad I listened to that. There is such an obvious straight line from Lou Reed to Bob Dylan and in the opposite direction to the talking heads. That was magnificent, so familiar and unlike anything else. Brilliant.

HLs: "I'll Be Your Mirror", "Femme Fatale", "Venus in Furs", "All Tomorrow's Parties" (again with this song), "The Black Angel's Death Song"

Finally sitting down with this oft-talked about album. Earns its reputation as prescient of many later genres of music- CureSonicYouthR.E.M.Morrissey and so on

wasn't feeling all of the extended jams & drone elements, just *most* of them

May 21 2023

This is obviously a landmark album, they are undoubtedly pioneers in many ways, and there are some amazing tracks on it, but as an album there are two things that bug me about it:

1) It feels sort of inconsistent - especially going back and forth with Nico as vocalist, but also simply going from songs that sound so poppy (even if the lyrics tell a different story), to such abrasive and experimental material.

2) It was recorded horribly. Some might say that adds to its charm, but it was not a joy to listen to for me. It could use a good remix/remaster in my opinion. I much preferred listening to the Mono version on the super deluxe edition.

All that is to guiltily explain why I gave it a 4 from an expected 5. I still like it, it's absolutely a landmark album, but by no means their best work.

It feels a bit blasphemous only giving this a 4, but it is what it is. Obviously very influential in many ways, but a several of these songs just aren't great. Nico's singing is way off, and Lou Reed's isn't much better. although this is probably his best.

It’s hard to fathom that this was released in ‘67. It’s even more unfathomable to what extent The Velvet Underground & Nico influenced not only future bands but future genres altogether.

Lulling you into a state of false safety with “Sunday Morning” everything involves into a state of frenzy the further the album progresses. In the end you don’t even know what hits you as “The Black Angel’s Death Song” and “European Son” collapses into sonic dismay.

I’m not always sure that this record wants for me to stay. But long ago I firmly decided against it’s possible wishes.

All Nico all day please.

Great album. Just an interesting vibe the whole way through. 4.5/5

one of my favorite albums

All the makings of a classic. Fresh, subversive and catchy while still having some edge. Love this album.

I had this at the age of about 21 as part of the Peel Slowly and See boxset. It's still amazing, a gritty backlash against the staid pop that dominated airwaves in the 1960s.

"The Velvet Underground & Nico" is an album I was afraid to listen to because of its reputation. However, it's such a classic album that I could not understand how much geniality it compresses.

Finish my listening session; I can say that it is pretty nice but also pretty typical. But, listening to it in 2022 is much different from listening to it in 1967. The album was released one year after "Pet Sounds," which means the revolution was everywhere around Velvet Underground guys. So it was "easy" to capture the moment and put it all together.

The last songs of the album, mixing some noise and raw distortion into pieces, are engaging experimentally, but even these songs do not sound so revolutionary to me. It's still a gratifying experience, and now that I'm not afraid anymore, I can search for more Velvet Underground. Some months ago, I received "White Light / White Heat" on this list, and I could not understand it. After Listening to this one, I can conclude two things:
- they weren't as revolutionary as I thought
- Not understanding it made it even better for some reason.

Nope. Off their faces, clearly, and Nico just can't sing. It's not quite as bad as her solo album, but still the 2nd worst album I have ever listened to in full.
How this got on the list, I will never know.
Absolutely rubbish; 0 🌟

Klassikko eikä syyttä. Viiltävän ivallinen sävy ja hieno tasapainottelua rajujen tekstien ja kevyemmän musiikillisen otteen välillä. 4/5.

banana

I don't see what the big deal of this band is, but maybe its more of an influence thing than an actual product thing. Of course, when Andy motherfucking Warhol makes your album art I guess that's a good sign. Venus In Furs is not great as a song but cool as an artistic expression. Heroin is a legitimate masterpiece work of art. European Son is minutes of aimless noodling and feedback. I am docking a star for that bullshit.

I hated White Light/White Heat but I went into this ready to give it a chance. I'd call Side 1 (the first six tracks) a 4, maybe even a 5. Great song-writing. Venus in Furs is probably the nicest sounding song ever written about BDSM. I really liked the droning viola in this. All Tomorrow's Parties is an excellent song - I knew the cover version by Japan, but never heard the original. Good stuff. Side 2 has way too much annoying feedback and sloppy guitar, similar to White Light/White Heat, which makes me want to give Side 2 a 2 at best. In fact, after listening to these two albums, I think Lou Reed was just a lousy guitarist who covered it up by playing noise solos. Ever time Lou Reed plays a sloppy solo filled with feedback I want to punch him, which would be rude since he's dead. I'll give the whole thing a 3. I understand its influence, but I can't take the noise.

Disco redondo, completo, un lujo escuchar esto hoy en día. Quitando alguna canción que no me termina de gustar por prejuicios más que otra cosa, creo que es un disco con 5 estrellas en casi todas las canciones y por supuesto con 5 estrellas como conjunto sin dudarlo.