Another, less interesting view
But it was clear they had exhausted all the best material on VU, so here we're left with an admirably planned, but gratuitously executed collection of scraps. After VU justly became one of the group's most beloved albums, Verve took another scoop into the vaults. The psychedelic-Arabic blend "Hey Mr. Rain" (presented in two different versions - the second is slightly weaker, with heavy guitar blasts that break the mood) is a fine song, featuring one of John Cale's most eerie viola performances; "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together" is a lightweight but fun burst of rock energy; and the vocal-free demo of "Guess I'm Falling in Love" at least has a good guitar track. But in other cases they dig too deep. I mean, does the world really need instrumental demos of "I'm Gonna Move Right In" or "Ride Into the Sun"? The reason why "Guess I'm Falling in Love" works, even as an instrumental demo, is because it looks to be the start of a good song. "Move Right In" and "Ride Into the Sun," on the other hand, look to be the start of mediocre songs. "Ferryboat Bill" is one of the group's most annoying songs, and "Coney Island Steeplechase" is only slightly better. And the alternate version of "Rock and Roll" is kind of boring - stick to the original, which absolutely rules. Unlike VU, this is inessential, but it does have great cover art and a few good songs.
It stands on its own
85 years later I still feel that way. I started listening to the Velvet Undeground right around the time this collection was issued, so when I heard these songs I didn't think of them as a collection of extras for the completist, just another album from a band I liked. And that's the short and long of it.
Cool, I guess
People have a fetishistic attachment to the kind of thing "Another View" purportedly offers, but I've never understood it. As much as I love The Velvet Underground, and I do love them, I could never really get into the whole cult of undiscovered recordings. Admittedly, I really liked "VU" and "Live At Max's Kansas City", and let me say for the record that "VU and Nico" is my favorite album of all time, and I would go so far as to say that "White Light White Heat" is a close second. . . but "Another View"? I could go either way.
As for the particulars, here goes: first there's "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together". It's pretty good, has that late VU bouncy vibe. Could very well be a "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" b-side. Then there's "I'm Gonna Move Right In", the first of three (!) instrumental tracks. Why three? Who knows. "Ride Into the Sun" is certainly the most inexplicable of the three, sounding more like a full-formed (if uninspired) Stones song that they forgot to record the vocals to. "Guess I'm Falling In Love", the last of the three, is more typical of early-VU (Consulting the liner notes, I see it was recorded in '67, the earliest of any AV track) and recalls "Sister Ray" in its pummeling overdrive. Truth be told, it could very well be an earlier, curtailed recording of "Ray" wherein John Cale's keyboard was unplugged.
As for the non-instrumental tracks. . . well, its a bit of a hodge-podge. The two versions of "Hey Mr. Rain" are understandable, if a bit needless. Both were recorded in '68 and recall early VU, inasmuch as they both feature a viola. "Coney Island Steeplechase" is an interesting inclusion, insofar as it more reasoundingly echoes The Strokes than any other VU song I can remember. Much to my chagrin, "Ferryboat Bill" did not so much recall "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" as it did. . . i dunno, The Doors? The vocals and composition on Bill also have a distinctly post-VU Lou Reed flare, for what that's worth. Finally there's an early recording of "Rock and Roll", which I liked far less than the "Loaded" version. It's one of those great simple songs that, if you break it down to its constituent particles, sometimes doesn't sound so great.
The interesting thing here, of course, is the fact that any review of this album is completely moot. You'll either never hear about it and never purchase it, or you'll buy it out of an obligatory devotion to the band and cherish it no matter the quality of the music. If you're borderline, however, as I am, I'd check out "VU" or "Live at Max's Kansas City" first. .
Another View (that is, mine.)
This was actually my second Velvet Album (I stood repeated listenings of the 'banana' album, and the stooges first, MC 5's Kick Out the Jams. . ) But, anyway. With limited exposure to this band I thoroughly ejoyed Another View! At the time, I just assumed Ride Into the Sun was meant to be that wistful instrumental! Ferryboat Bill is, in the context of the Velvets, a much weirder tune than The Gift. Rock and Roll does seem a much crisper version than on Loaded (which was frequently on the radio. ) Maybe I have a preference for some of these simply through bias toward the way I discovered them. I would like to believe, because I play music, that there is true merit to these versions. And I actualy prefer version one of Mr Rain think of it as one of those murderous mid-Atlantic states Augusts. This is how you'd feel. )
I think if I were more commercially minded I'd dismiss this album.
.
yeah
although i still believe that this is the least essential of all of the studio stuff released by the VU i have come to really enjoy this album. I posted a review of this a few months after i first got it, with a more negative tone, after many many listens i have a new review.
I am still not a fan of the version of were gonna have a real good time together (i like the lou reed street hassle version please)
but. . .
im gonna move right in, coney island, and hey mr rain are so fantastic. . .
ride into the sun may be the most beautiful set of chords i have ever heard. . . .
lastly, i think that the instrumental version of guess im falling in love is so incredible. the lead guitar is maybe my favorite ever. . . i really wish they recorded a studio version of the song with vocals. . .
anyway, i would give this 3. 5 stars. because it is not increadible as a whole, but the high points on this collection are among some of my favorites. . . the velvet underground remains my favorite band, so this was definately a worthy purchase, but you should exhaust the 4 studio albums and VU VU before this, in my opinion
love Jordan.
You can see a complete list of all The Velvet Underground discography, or go back to the The Velvet Underground tabs
|
