Audio CD review:
Velvet Underground & Nico - Unripened

Velvet Underground & Nico - Unripened

Band: Velvet Underground & Nico Title: Unripened Rating: Release Date: 2007-03-20 Media: Audio CD Tracks:

The Velvet Underground And Nico: Beta Version Suffice to say, this is a bootlegged copy of the acetate version of the Velvet Underground's first record. If you've found your way to this page, then you probably already know the story behind this disc. The acetate featured nine of the album's eleven songs ("Sunday Morning" and "There She Goes Again" weren't added until later) in a different sequencing- emphasis is placed on the group's more experimental songs, with "European Son" and "The Black Angel's Death Song" serving as the opening one-two punch. The songs, which were engineered by Norman Dolph and John Licata, all appear in different mixes than on the officially released record. On top of that, three of the songs- "Heroin. " "I'm Waiting For The Man," and "Venus In Furs"- are completely different takes. The overall sound of the album is rougher and more ragged- it reflects but doesn't quite capture the strange grace and primal beauty of the album that was ultimately released. To tell the truth, this record is often more of a novelty than a true revelation. These different mixes are murkier and rougher, with a more bass-heavy sound that tends to downplay the vocals and guitars. This works to the benefit of the albums rawer moments- "Run Run Run" sounds great here- but against its more beautiful ones- "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "I'll Be Your Mirror" sound muffled and cold. The notable exception to this rule is "Femme Fatale. " Dolph and Licata make percussion the song's focal point, emphasizing its strange, hypnotic rhythms. As a result, this version oozes dreamy cool without sacrificing its tense, paranoid undercurrent. "European Son," which is identified in the liner notes as being a different take, actually sounds like an extended mix of the commonly known version, with a somewhat different guitar part. It's the same cathartic white-noise labyrinth that we all know and love (or hate with a flaming passion. Po-tay-to po-tah-to). The three alternate (or, if you prefer, "original") versions are curios more than anything else. They sound like rough demos, especially the ultra-primitive version of "I'm Waiting For The Man. " The song is a little bit bluesier than the official version, but by no means is it better. In fact, it sounds flat and lifeless in places, completely absent of the dense rhythmic constructions of the released versions. Similarly, "Venus In Furs" isn't the darkly majestic classic that it would soon become. "Heroin" fares the best, although it had always derived its power from the fact that it sounds like a demo anyway, so no big surprise there. Plus, Lou Reed's vocals sounded better- more convincing, more in tune with the song's raw majesty- on the non-acetate recording. As a whole, Unripened is an interesting record (and one that should be released by a major record company), but not a truly revealing or exciting one. It's a great historical artifact, and to be sure, Velvet Underground fans should snatch this up as soon as possible. Just don't expect an uncaged masterpiece. It certainly doesn't top the officially released version of the Velvet Underground And Nico. The Holy Grail? Touted as "arguably one of the most important "lost" music recordings out there," this is the original version of the album, recorded 4/25/66, that Andy Warhol presented to Columbia. Remember that rare VU album that sold on eBay for $155,000 recently? Here it is on CD. Google "velvet underground wfmu dolph" for a great story of how this recording surfaced. The track order is different than on the commercial release, and "Sunday Morning" is missing, and one other track, I think; some tracks sound essentially the same but others are markedly different, and to my ears rawer and a bit more exciting. I've listened to it several times in a row to determine is the excitement wasn't due merely to the novelty, but I prefer this version. The mono sound is a bit distorted but entirely listenable, and the scratches and pops from the acetate only add to the cacaphonous thrill of what was already a terrific album. Casual fans will be satisfied with the official release, but serious fans will want to include this in their collection. You can see a complete list of all Velvet Underground & Nico discography, or go back to the Velvet Underground & Nico tabs