Off The Tracks

Off The Tracks
  • Blog
    • Interviews
    • Miscellany
    • Special Guests
    • Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • The Vinyl Countdown
  • Back Catalogue
  • About
    • About
    • About the banner image
    • On Song
September 3, 2011 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 1869

The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground (1969)

There are four Velvet Underground albums and sure I’ve said before that Loaded is the sentimental favourite (my introduction to the band) and of course the debut album is the revelation. I’m a huge fan of White Light/White Heat too. But to my ears this is the album that has had the widest impact influence-wise. Well, maybe that’s not the right way to say it because I’m sure those first two stretched the furthest as introductions; as blasts of sound. But this album – the “consolidating one” – is the one I now hear most often in the work of others. Take someone like Dean Wareham – he’s all but based a career (and three different bands) on this album. And where the first two albums are remembered for their sound for their assault on songs – this one I remember for the songs. There’s still the edge/tension, absolutely (The Murder Mystery). There’s still some challenges and plenty of things that are challenging but this is an incredible collection of songs. I’ve always thought it would make a really cool show to get a bunch of musicians together and perform every song from this album – perhaps with slides or interpretive dance or something else happening; a theatre piece almost. And there are four or five songs that stand out still as most excellent songs for any band to learn and cover. It’s also easy to see and hear this now as the hinge between White Light/White Heat and Loaded. I also think Doug Yule has been so unfairly maligned and marginalised in the VU story. I thought he brought a lot to the group. Finally, I think this is the VU album that had the most influence (and is most representative) of Lou Reed’s writing across his solo career. He has returned to this album often for themes/ideas.

Sample Track: Beginning To See The Light

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown

Posted in The Vinyl Countdown and tagged with Beginning To See The Light, Dean Wareham, Doug Yule, Loaded, Lou Reed, The Murder Mystery, The Velvet Underground, Vinyl, VU, White Light/White Heat. RSS 2.0 feed.
« The Vinyl Countdown # 1870
The Vinyl Countdown # 1868 »

0 Responses to The Vinyl Countdown # 1869

  1. _Vince says:
    September 3, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    +1 about Doug Yule. I actually quite like the stuff he plays on.

  2. Samuel says:
    September 3, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Fuck yeah

Popular

  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 8 – Mark Knopfler
  • Janna Lapidus Leblanc: Four Years In Pictures
  • The Sad Story of Bob Welch: Fleetwood Mac’s Most Undervalued Member
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 11 – Lindsey Buckingham
  • Tea With Terrorists: Theatre
  • Sweetman Podcast: Episode 73 – Janna Lapidus Leblanc
  • Neil Peart Was The World’s Most Overrated Drummer
  • Bring Concert Films Back To the Big Screen
  • David Bowie’s Most Underrated Album: 1. Outside
  • A Very Benign And In-Character Midlife Crisis: I’m Back Buying CDs

Archives

Tags

Album Review Auckland Blog Book Book Review Chat Compilation DJ Drums DVD DVD Review EP Film Film Review Gig Gig Review Guest Blog Guitar Interview Jazz Live Live Gig LP Movie Music NZ Podcast Poem Poetry Record Records Simon Sweetman Soundtrack Spotify Stub Stubs Sweetman Podcast The Vinyl Countdown Vinyl Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron Wellington Wgtn Writing You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron [OST]

Categories

  • Back Catalogue
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • Miscellany
  • Mixtapes
  • Playlists
  • Podcasts
  • Reviews
  • Scene Of The Day
  • Special Guests
  • The Vinyl Countdown

Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

Off The Tracks aims to provide quality reviews and essays, regular blog updates about the shows, albums, books and movies you should be experiencing.

It's a passion project. Your support will help to keep Off The Tracks online.

All content © 2022 by Off The Tracks. WordPress Themes by Graph Paper Press