Velvet Underground And Nico, The/The Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground (The)/Nico > Reviews > Since Heroin has no category of its own....

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Unique, cool and cheap
Disadvantages:	Ever so slightly pretentious

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Yep it was just a pink banana – ‘no, go on put it on its post modern’ Warhol would have said, ‘please don’t – no one will by it if you do’ Lou Reed would have said, ‘fu*k you – im paying, im putting it on anyway’ Warhol would have said…I just think that’s the way the whole album would have gone –Ive always thought Warhol was pretty cack and I think his only good influence on art was to use his money and power to give the real geniuses such as Lou Reed and the Velvet underground room to flourish

Im sat here listening to it now though – its just the kind of inspiration I need to write a new review because this collaboration between Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground is a true classic. It isn’t the easiest album to discover- no single Lou Reed song ever urged me to explore deeper and I wasn’t aware of its influence on Apocalypse Now, it never sold particularly well when released in the 60s and what’s the point in scratching under the surface in a time period when so much cream was sitting on top? This album has now however rightfully got a huge cult following.

Everyone knows a bit about Lou Reed – he’s the guy who wrote Perfect day and yes, he’s the old wrinkly one who sings the opening (and closing) line in the children in need charity version– the one everyone says who the hell is that when your doing a who’s who of who’s in the video. You may even know a couple of his other songs – ‘A walk on the wild side’ for instance but all that would be a bit like remembering Paul McCartney for doing the frog song without ever hearing any Beatles tunes. Lou Reed was the lead singer in one of the greatest band in the 60s and with the other members of the Velvet Underground, Nico and Mr Andy Warhol produced what in my opinion is the best album, of the that decade.

The Velvet Undergrounds line up was:

Lou Reed - lead vocals, guitar, some keyboards
John Cale - bass, viola, backing vocals
Sterling Morrison - guitar, backing vocals
Mo Tucker - drums, some vocals

They were a band rooted in the Andy Warhol inspired New York Psychedelic culture but were at the same time a band who used the experimentation and influences from the period to transcend the genre and create a whole new dark culture of their own. But enough of the silly talk – Lou Reed was a magnificent front man/ songwriter, John Cale an equally talented experimental instrumentalist and there was even a girl on drums – what’s going on there? Together they combined with a slightly dodgy voiced though undeniably sexy kraut singer, Nico, and the frankly nuts Andy Warhol to provide some totally inspired and original music.

Sunday Morning 9/10

The first song of the album doesn’t exactly set the tone though it does help to illustrate the diversity the band has. Being a laid back affair the song is similar but superior in every way to perfect day. Lou said ‘this is about when you’ve done something….so sad’ but I have no idea what he’s talking about. Its just extremely enjoyable and peaceful throughout, something that the rest of the band like to describe as the feeling you get after a big night out on the tiles which I relate to more. As ever not allowing Reed to steal all the credit for the tune Cale plays his part playing a Celeste – don’t know what it is but its sounds superb.

I'm Waiting For The Man 7/10

A slightly faster tune as way of introduction to what is to come this song isn’t one of my favourites. Lou has a fair stab with some raspy vocals and the playings nice and tight but there is nothing special here. Filler anyone? Maybe but it fits in nicely with what’s to come

Femme Fatale 8/10

The first song where Nico really comes into to play its really all about her bittersweet and decidedly strange Germanic voice. The song is very much about her and Reed tries to portray her as the kind of heartbreaker that the title suggests. Again not one of the greatest tracks on the album but a good way of introducing Nico’s influence

Venus in Furs 10/10

Probably the best song on the album this track is a bit of an all time classic. Most people have heard it – it’s the kind of twangy one from Apocalypse Now which (along with The Doors’s ‘The End’) helps encapsulate the whole feel of the movie. Although its not particularly cheery you’ve got to admire the feeling Cales screaming Viola and Reeds screwed up lyrics produce. Its like nothing produced before or since and this track for optimises what the album is all about and encapsulates everything that made the Velvet Underground so great.

Run Run Run 6/10

A bit of a come down after Venus in Furs Im not a great fan of this tune. Its not terrible but is probably the weak point of the album – as close as The Velvet underground get to a filler.

All Tomorrow’s Parties 9/10

Another tune with strong emphasis on Nicos vocals its all about her intense and heavily accented voice. I always relate it to Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit – they feel similar and both helped raise the level of the LSD inspired music being released around the time. Its actually Andy Warhols favourite Velvet Underground track and much of that was down to Reeds lyrics being perfectly executed by Nicos haunting style.

Heroin 10/10

I’ve never been a fan of telling people what songs mean, from the artists view or your own because, after all music’s all about what it means to you but to be honest its pretty obvious what’s going on here. Cales instrumentals again help add life to the track as Lou brings us up to a crescendo and back down again in a way which im guessing is the closest way I will ever get to taking Heroin myself. Its another genuinely classic track.

There She Goes Again 9/10

Another of Lou’s ballads this tune, though not quite as elegant as the opening track is easily the equal in terms of Lou showing his vocal and lyrical talents. Apparently its Sterling Morrisons favourite track its more about the band playing a tune together than Reed or Cale standing out and it has a little tribute to Marvin Gaye in there as well. A very good tune showing the Velvets were a band rather than a group of talented individuals.

I'll Be Your Mirror 8/10

Much in the same fold as All Tomorrows parties it is another of Nico’s tracks. Again Warhol encouraged Reed to write this song specifically for Nico but it unveils a much more gentle side to her performance being the anti to Femme Fatal helping to develop the mystique Nico caries throughout the album

The Black Angel's Death Song 8/10

Probably one of the most hated/loved songs on the album this tune splits peoples opinions as much as the album does itself. As you may tell from the title its not a happy tune, many people like to relate some of the obscure lyrics to Bob Dylan but I cant see it myself. John Cales screeching instrumentals could be seen as being both sublime or ridiculous but they definatly make the whole tune uncomfortable. I see it as being in the same mould as Venus in Furs but one step further down Mr Warhols experimental road which to be honest isn’t the best place to go.

European Sun 7/10

Not the strongest of finishes to the album this is basically just chaos. Its Cales big finish and instead of going out in style he makes a statement going maybe slightly over the top with all the screeching and crashing. It was never going to be the most popular of their songs but it is still easy to appreciate what Cale has done.

Overall id say this is simply a classic album. Though as my first paragraph may suggest im not Andy Warhols greatest fan Im sure it was the artistic freedom he gave the band that really allowed them to flourish, and of course it was his inspired choice to pair them with Nico so he does deserve many of the plaudits. The songs acted so well at the time as the anti to all peace and love bubblegum crap that was being spewed by everyone else, it’s such a cliché to say that they influenced a generation and I wont say it because as far as im concerned Mr Bob Dylan was the true trendsetter of the time but there is no doubting that with the Doors the Velvet Underground just pulled music into a slightly more surreal and uncomfortable place years before Nirvana, Radiohead and the Smiths made doing so cool.