![\"\"](\"http:\/\/graffiti.ntci.on.ca\/2011-12\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/velvet-velvet_03.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Velvet\u00a0Underground<\/p>\n
By: The Velvet Underground<\/p>\n
Released: March 1969<\/p>\n
The Velvet Underground was an extremely influential American band from New If I were to describe this album in one word, it would be \u201cinviting.\u201d It is so Even though The Velvet Underground<\/em> may not be as edgy as their first two Gabe Lindsay The Velvet\u00a0Underground By: The Velvet Underground Released: March 1969 The Velvet Underground was an extremely influential American band from New York City. In their tenure, the Velvet Underground, fronted by Lou Reed, released four albums from 1967-1970. Even … Continue reading
\nYork City. In their tenure, the Velvet Underground, fronted by Lou Reed, released four albums from 1967-1970. Even though they were generally a commercial failure, they are now considered to be one of the greatest and most influential bands of the 1960s, receiving widespread critical acclaim and accolades. Their first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, <\/em>(Nico being the German singer who collaborated with the band for this album), was released on March 12, 1967. The album, sporting its distinctive Andy
\nWarhol-designed \u201cbanana\u201d cover, was not only a financial failure, but it was
\nalso panned by critics at the time, likely due to its experimental nature and
\ncontroversial subject matter. It is now considered to be amongst the all-time
\ngreats, ranking amongst the likes of Sgt. Pepper\u2019s<\/em> and Pet Sounds<\/em>
\n(and, yes, I would definitely<\/em> recommend it). The next album was entitled
\nWhite Light\/White Heat<\/em>. White Light\/White Heat<\/em> was released a
\nyear later on January 30, 1968. This time, the Velvets amped up the
\nexperimentalism, featuring a more aggressively distorted, feedback-driven
\nsound. Even though it was a commercial failure, it had a notable influence on
\npunk bands and other experimental rock groups such as Sonic Youth. It is now
\ncritically acclaimed. I would also recommend it, though I must warn you, it is not<\/em>
\nfor the faint of heart.
\nAfter White Light\/White Heat<\/em> and John Cale\u2019s departure \u2013 and Doug Yule\u2019s
\njoining \u2013 \u00a0The Velvet Underground ditched their extremely experimental sound, and took a more stark approach. With this came the release of their self-titled album. Released a year later in 1969, The Velvet Underground<\/em> is not as artsy as their first album with Nico, and it is not as experimental as White Light\/White Heat<\/em>. Instead, it is an
\nabsolutely beautiful folk rock album that has yet to receive the respect that
\nis due, despite its recent critical acclaim. (In 2003, it was ranked #314 on Rolling
\nStone<\/em>\u2019s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.) It is also among the Velvet
\nUnderground\u2019s more accessible albums, along with their next album Loaded<\/em>,
\nand is a good place to start off with them.<\/p>\n
\nintimate that when I listen to it, it feels as if I am actually in the dark and
\nseedy room, with the band, as shown in the photo on the album cover; and the
\nsongs are just so nice and not overtly arty or jarring, that it
\nalmost feels as if it is not really the Velvet Underground, prior to their commercialized Loaded<\/em>. This is because the songs are so melodic and so easy to listen to, yet not exactly \u201cpop\u201d. That is the reason why I think this album is so great. Despite the
\nrather low fidelity production, the album still retains that touchingly
\nbeautiful intimacy that is signature to this album. For instance, the guitar
\ntones on this album are so sweet, rich, and soulful, as opposed to the grating
\ndistortion that is found on White Light\/White Heat<\/em>. The only
\nexperimental song is \u201cMurder Mystery,\u201d though even that song is not that<\/em>
\nexperimental. It almost feels as if I can (dare I say it) actually have a
\nconnection with the band at its core. The songs also have substance, and all of
\nthem can easily stand on their own, yet they collectively come together to make
\na cohesive unit, flowing beautifully from one song to the next.<\/p>\n
\nalbums, it is still an outstanding album that frankly deserves more
\nrecognition. It is just so lovely and beautiful, yet rough around the edges,
\nand so intimate that it is hard to dismiss as a weak album. Even though I would
\nrecommend this to anybody, I would highly <\/em>recommend this album to anybody that is into the current indie rock\/indie pop scene, and anybody that wants to be introduced to this fabulous band.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"