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The Velvet Underground - Live MCMXCIII Audio CD

A fair review of the The Velvet Underground "Live MCMXCIII" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Velvet Underground reviews here, or go back to the The Velvet Underground tabs.

The Velvet Underground Band: The Velvet Underground
Title: Live MCMXCIII
Rating:
Release Date: 1993-10-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together 2: Venus in Furs 3: Guess I'm Falling in Love 4: After Hours 5: All Tomorrow's Parties 6: Some Kinda Love 7: I'll Be Your Mirror 8: Beginning to See the Light 9: Gift 10: I Heard Her Call My Name 11: Femme Fatale 12: Hey Mr. Rain 13: Sweet Jane 14: Velvet Nursery Rhyme 15: White Light/White Heat 16: I Am Sticking With You 17: Black Angel's Death Song 18: Rock & Roll 19: I Can't Stand It 20: I'm Waiting for My Man 21: Heroin 22: Coyote 23: Pale Blue Eyes

What's The Problem?? This Kicks Hard!!!
Lou Reed hadn't sounded anything like this in years (he slept-walked through live shows for many a day), Cale sings and plays his ass off, and Moe and Sterling are on fire (made all the more poignant by the fact that he may have been terminally ill for the shows). There's just no pleasing some people!! This legendary band gets back together, tours and releases this and a DVD, and self-proclaimed VU "nuts" are complaining. After years of listening to all of the boots and trying in vain to ignore their poor quality, this is a great souvenir of a moment in music history that cannot be repeated! So shut up and turn it up!!!!.


Tell Me a Story
Maybe they shouldn't have, but they did. . and this is a solid chronicle of Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker during three special performamnces on June 15-17 at L'Olympia (Paris) on the 1993 reunion tour for The Velvet Underground.

The 2-CD collection (clocking in at 128:39) is impressive - a single CD was also released - in scope and musicianship. There are only two new compositions - the brief Velvet Nursery Rhyme and Coyote - out of 23 total, but the band retains an amazing relevancy.

Though a variety of other projects never materialised after the tour, the power in storytelling while on stage is a tremendous reminder of what made VU one of the iconic groups from an era where a premium was placed on lyrics and music. .


velvet glove, iron fist
) this raw, rude, energised set has its own considerable merits. while its fashionable to uphold the view that the VU should never have reformed( preserve the mystique etc. Its so 'present tense' and free from nostalgia that it creates its own space. New song 'coyote' is very powerful.


One of Lou's best versions of "Pale Blue Eyes"...
The only version that holds up to it is Courtney Love's live version (which is also a killer). I still mix it and play it all the time. Docked a star for John Cale who is still arch after all these years (exception: Songs for Drella).


Excellent Live Performances of all the Classics (but one).
From the response of the audience to the Velvet's performances, I think the myth that only about a thousand people ever actually listened to The Velvet Underground (but, the story goes, each and every one of those thousand started a band influenced by the Velvets. `The Velvet Underground Live MCMXCIII (1993)' is a two CD set collected from performances at the Paris (France) L'Olympia Theater.

By some standards, this may not be a `great' live album, in the same league as `The Who Live at Leeds', but I think it is pretty darn good. Since this was recorded at least 25 years after the Velvet's prime and the release of their first two albums, from which most of this material comes, it is really a pleasure to hear Lou Reed and John Cale and Moe Tucker and Sterling Morrison in such good voice. (Well, Moe seems to be a bit raspy and forced on her single solo, but it was done for fun, so it sort of fits).

Since most of the material does come from the first two albums, there is a strong chance that all of your favorites will be here. And, when Lou or John does the vocal on a number originally sung by Nico, I think this live version is actually better, as I was never a big fan of Andy Wharhol's designated chanteuse.

The only number I miss is the last cut of the first album, `European Son to Delmore Schwartz', which was a great closing number. Instead, they close the CDs with a very quiet song, `Coyote', which, frankly, I don't recognize, so it may even be a Lou Reed number.

I am really happy that they stuck to the Velvet's material, even though both Reed and Cale have had successful solo careers. I am also very happy that we have the original four. I don't mean other sidemen couldn't have done as well, but I like to see the original band get the bread for doing the gig and not some pickup musicians backing Reed and Cale.

Thus, to answer the big question on all live or `best of' albums, is this worth the cost of duplicating the numbers. To me, a died in the wool fan and proud owner of two original vinyl albums with banana sticker intact, I believe this is well worth the ability to carry around in one jewel case, an album of good performances by the original band with enthusiastic audience in thrall.
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You can see a complete list of all The Velvet Underground discography, or go back to the The Velvet Underground tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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