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The Velvet Underground - VU Audio CD

A fair review of the The Velvet Underground "VU" 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.

Band: The Velvet Underground
Title: VU
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: I Can't Stand It 2: Stephanie Says 3: She's My Best Friend 4: Lisa Says 5: Ocean 6: Foggy Notion 7: Temptation Inside Your Heart 8: One of These Days 9: Andy's Chest 10: I'm Sticking With You

The Great Lost Velvet Underground Album
Their debut peaked at #171 on the charts; the next two didn't even make it that high. None of the Velvet Underground's first three albums on the Verve label sold well. For years, rumors persisted of a fourth album of material recorded while the band was still under contract to Verve, but nothing ever came of it. (The band's final album, _Loaded_, was released on Warner Brothers in 1970).

Then in 1985, shortly after Verve remastered and released the groups first three albums, the tapes for _VU_ were discovered; the album's release was accompanied by triumphant reviews. "Foggy Notion" combines Reed's bizarre lyrics with a rock solid rhythm section; Mo Tucker is in rare form here, laying out a metronome beat that just will not die. "Ocean" hypnotizes the listener with its rolling cymbals and dreamy vocals, while the opening track, "I Can't Stand It," paints a hilariously accurate picture of what it means to live among bohemians-from-hell. While most bands change their sound over the years, the Velvets recast themselves with each new release. _VU_ is no exception; the album's ballads, such as "Stephanie Says" and "She's My Best Friend," combine Reed's wry sense of humor with energetic arrangements. Closing the album is a soft duet between Reed and Mo Tucker, "I'm Sticking With You. " While many of these songs were later recorded by Lou Reed on his solo albums, these arrangements are vastly superior.

It's rare that a good album is released fifteen years after a band breaks up, but that's exactly what happened here. Brian Eno once joked that only a handful of people ever bought a Velvet Underground album, but those who did went on to start their own band. You may like the Velvet's, you may dislike them, but it's impossible to be neutral.

great album
the band's songs are more melodic and less experimental noiscapes that characterized the content of their first two records. this is probably my favorite vu record. the modern lover's first album is very influenced by the vu music recorded in this era. i like the vu's music from this period. .

A fantastic out takes collection.
Before switcihng labels, however, the group had recorded several songs for what was to be their fourth Verve album. In 1969, the Velvet Underground parted ways with Verve Records (which, along with its parent ocmpany MGM, had released their first three albums) and signed with Atlantic, recording and releasing 1970's Loaded. None of those songs followed the group to Atlantic, and for years they languished in MGM's vaults. Then, in the 80s, as the Velvets' posthumous legend grew and the group's albums began to be re-released on vinyl and CD, the folks over at MGM released 10 of those "lost tracks" as VU (others surfaced on Another View). The songs, recorded between 1968 and 1969, are in a similar vein to the band's gentle, melodic third album. With the exception of "Stephanie Says" and "Temptation Inside Your Heart" (which feature our old friend John Cale), these songs were recorded with multi-instrumentalist Doug Yule, as well as de-facto leader Lou Reed, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Maureen Tucker.

But enough about that. You're probably here because you wanna know if it's a good album. It is- as a matter of fact, it's fantastic, easily as good as any of their "official" releases. For one thing, the disc shows Reed's growth as a lyricist: "Lisa Says" is one of his most heartrendingly beautiful compositions (and he's written a lot of beautiful songs), full of quiet yearning and subdued passion. "Stephanie Says" and "She's My Best Friend" are similar, although slightly more dreamy and surreal. All three songs are also musically superb, full of lilting melodies and twisting guitar lines. The jolting "I Can't Stand It" is one of the group's finest rockers, and "Ocean" is one of their dreamiest, most ethereal explorations. "Andy's Chest" and "I'm Sticking With You" are lightweight (almost childish) but undeniably fun, with gently playful melodies and lyrics. "Temptation Inside Your Heart" is a bouncy rocker with some great vocal asides from Reed, and "One of these Days" is a pleasently weird electric-country vamp. Best of all is "Foggy Notion," which is simply one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time: It's a rollicking, raving fist-pumper with some wonderfully weightless guitars, a storming pulse of rhythm, and some of the greatest sleazily exuberant sing-along lyrics ever. Dancde to it or die.

If you've never listened to the Velvets before, you may want to start elsewhere, but if you're a fan of the group, this is an invaluable aritfact of the later period Velvet Underground that is worth every penny. Happy listening! .

The Fifth Essential Velvet Underground Album
Actually, there are two songs here--"Stephanie Says" and "Temptation Inside Your Heart"--that were recorded in February 1968, when John Cale was still in the band, though the others all date from May through October 1969. This collection captures the Velvet Underground halfway between their amazing third album (self-titled) and their more commercial-sounding final album (Loaded). It is freely admitted in the liner notes that this is not the "Great Lost Velvet Underground Album. " However, the songs do flow together nicely, and most of them are very good.

At least three tracks are instant classics: "I Can't Stand It," "Foggy Notion," and "Stephanie Says. " A couple others--"Lisa Says" and "Ocean"--are almost as good. Only one song here, "One of These Days," sounds like it would've been a good fit for "Loaded," as it has that country-blues feel that the band was getting into at the time. There are two songs in this collection that were not included in the "Peel Slowly and See" box set, and I have to admit that they picked the best two to omit: "Andy's Chest" works much better on Reed's campy "Transformer" album, and "She's My Best Friend" is sort of a throwaway.

Still, this is a fairly solid release. At one time I owned the second album of Velvet Underground outtakes, "Another View," and I was so unimpressed that I sold it back. But this one definitely belongs in your collection if you already own the four official studio albums that were released during the band's lifetime. .

(3.5 stars) The first six songs would've been welcome on any VU album
It's too bad that the Velvets were dropped from their label while working on their aborted fourth album, since half of this (which collects that material) and half of Loaded could've easily been VU's best effort. The last four, not so much. Take rockers I Can't Stand It and Foggy Notion (with great guitar from Sterling Morrison, an underrated guitarist), add a couple of lovely ballads (Lisa Says; She's My Best Friend; Stephanie Says; the Ocean), and you've got pure gold, right? Side two isn't as good: Andy's Chest is goofy, but better heard on Lou Reed's Transformer album; I'm Sticking with You is a half-serious sendup that veers dangerously close to self-parody; Temptation Inside Your Heart is weak; One of These Days is too. But the best songs on this disc make it a near must-have.

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.