The Velvet Underground

White Light/White Heat is amazing. It is a monument to the noise and decadence of the dark side of New York in the 1960's. The Velvet's second album is an avant garde/punk classic.

The amount of distortion on the album is incredible. Songs like "Lady Godiva's Operation" and "I Heard Her Call My Name" spew it out all over your ears. I'm not even going to describe "Sister Ray." You know what it's distortive sound is like.

The songwriting on White Light/White Heat is certainly up to par with The Velvet Underground & Nico. "White Light/White Heat," "Lady Godiva's Operation," "Here She Comes Now," and "I Heard Her Call My Name," are all as good as any VU & Nico song. However, two songs on WH/WL are better than any song on VU & Nico: "The Gift" and "Sister Ray."

"The Gift" is one of the most haunting songs you'll ever hear. John Cale's Welsh accent mixed with Lou Reed's strange story and screeching guitar make "The Gift" a true milestone in rock music.

And of course there's "Sister Ray." "Sister Ray" is one of the 1960's most innovative and daring songs. Clocking in at 17:27, this giant of a song contains overly distorted, improvised music from Lou's guitar and John's Vox organ that produces amazing solos and a Hell of a lot of noise. Plus, the decadent lyrics add a whole new depth to the song.

Overall, although both are really great albums, White Light/White Heat takes the cake for me.

 

I'm sorry Katie, but whatever you said kinda went over my head...

Explain, please.

 

"I'd hit it" is a common term the pervert crowd uses. It's another way to say "I'd fuck him".

Therefore, it was uncalled for, even by my standards.

 

I agree with WH/WL being amazing. The first time I heard "The Gift" I was amazed... but, in total quality and performance, as much as it may illustrate N.Y. of the era... muiscly and lyricly... TVU & N does it for me.

 

Yeah... it's hard to choose, though. I'm sure there is one thing we can agree on, though: The Velvets were best with John Cale.

 

Bloody definetly.

 

"The Velvet Underground" was thier only truly good album without Cale.

 

I thought that's what you meant...

 

Well he IS in a cool band...

 

A friend of mine works at Hot Topic, and they just got VU t-shirts. Blech. Commercialization.

 

Yeah, Loaded is nothing great. Reed's and Cale's early solo albums are easily better than Loaded.

 

Bleh, fawk that.

 

You should have a sign on your head that says "If you're in a cool band, it's your lucky day."

 

Katie no like zee Hot Topic.

 

Oh my god YES!!! Genius idea!

 

They always make fun of me or stare me down if I go in there with friends.
I don't belong.

 

Well, they don't know a thing. They give me weird looks too.

You are just too cool for them, and they're jealous.

 

Damn straight.

Once again, we've managed to pull a thread's original topic completely off the map...this is sad, Katie.

 

And it's my own thread too.


Back to Velvet Underground!

Everybody, which of their songs is your least favorite?

 

Probably "Head Held High."