Topic: Lou Reed or The Velvet Underground (Read 9606 times)

Emaline · « **on:** 17 Jul 2007, 20:14 »

So, a number of my friends and I have been discussing this for quite sometime. A lot of us agree that Lou Reed is better on his own, whereas some of us prefer The Velvet Underground. What do you guys think?

David_Dovey · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 20:45 »

Iron Maiden

Tago Mago · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 21:13 »

On both their earlier and later records, the Velvet Underground had incredible chemistry and ingenius songwriters. All of their songs had some interesting or special quality about them, even if they weren't always as forward-reaching as "Venus in Furs" or "Sister Ray". I definitely think Lou did his best work with them. On the other hand, I have a lot more trouble understanding solo Lou than I do understanding the Velvet Underground. An album like Berlin has lots of cool and thrilling moments, but I can only describe the actual songs as...well, unpleasant, if that makes sense. They aren't the kind of songs I can turn to in times of distress, the same way I can turn to the third Velvet Underground album. I feel the same even about Lou's more straightforwardly sentimental music. I can never tell what his angle is, so it can never mean the same.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 21:59 »

Someone should YSI a lot of Lou Reed and Velvet Underground albums so people who have no real basis for knowing can decide, you know?

Emaline · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 22:36 »

No, Kieffer, I don't.

I had kinda thought that everybody has heard Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground.

amok · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 22:49 »

I've heard neither but I flipped a coin and Lou Reed wins.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 23:12 »

Keiffer, that's illegal

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Jul 2007, 23:37 »

OKAY- HERE IS THE ANSWER PEOPLE. It's the Velvet Underground. Hands down. Transformers a great album, but it's just all down hill from there. Somewhere along the line he just became a wank, and in my opinion should have died with the seventies. The Velvet Underground on the other hand, managed to die with the sixties, and that's just damn cool. And anyway the Velvets had Lou Reed AND John Cale. Who could argue with that?

Inlander · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 00:26 »

Quote from: Ishotdanieljohnston on 17 Jul 2007, 23:37

Transformers a great album

There's a joke to be made about Metal Machine Music in there somewhere.

Johnny C · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 00:37 »

Quote from: Ishotdanieljohnston on 17 Jul 2007, 23:37

the Velvets had Lou Reed AND John Cale. Who could argue with that?

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 01:40 »

I am going to be heretical and say that i prefer my Velvets without John Cale. The Velvet Underground is my favourite album, there is something about it that none of the others can amtch for me. Next up is WL/WH then probably a tie between VU & Nico and Loaded, with VU (the outtakes comp) being a very solid album on its own right. This makes 4 excellent, superb, just too good for me to describe with words albums and one really good compilation for me. on the other hand, Lou Reed solo only has a few of good releases. Transformers is a superb album, but it is worth noting that many of its best tunes were written for the velvet underground. Berlin is even better and Street Hassle was pretty good too, except for the title track which is a fucking fantastic song.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 03:18 »

I repeat:

Lou Reed= Should be dead

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 03:22 »

I don't know, the spport he has given to some people (eg Antony) makes it worthwhile for him to be around, in my opinion

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 08:06 »

The Velvet Underground. Reed's solo shit has never interested me. I thought Transformer was boring, but I'm not a fan of glam rock. So I also hate Ziggy Stardust.

The Velvet Underground's impact on Western music is rivaled only by the Beatles in my opinion. You still hear bands borrowing from them or being influenced by them.

CookedHaggis · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 10:39 »

I think Sick Boy put it best:

Quote

Well, at one time, you've got it, and then you lose it, and it's gone forever. All walks of life: George Best, for example. Had it, lost it. Or David Bowie, or Lou Reed...

- Some of his solo stuff's not bad.

- No, it's not bad, but it's not great either. And in your heart you kind of know that although it sounds all right, it's actually just....shite.

brew · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 10:42 »

John Cale was the whole reason the band was any good.

Catacombs · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 11:51 »

I haven't heard anything by either, although the live version of Lou Reeds Sweet Jane is fanfuckingtastic.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 12:49 »

Quote from: Emaline on 17 Jul 2007, 22:36

No, Kieffer, I don't.

I had kinda thought that everybody has heard Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground.

Well you should YSI them because I have never really listened to these guys some people could probably use a more full introduction to their sound

Thrillho · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 12:58 »

I don't like much Velvet Underground, so I'll take Lou Reed, particularly since 'Perfect Day' is probably one of the greatest songs ever written.

Emaline · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 13:16 »

Quote from: Dirk Hopeless on 18 Jul 2007, 12:49

Quote from: Emaline on 17 Jul 2007, 22:36
No, Kieffer, I don't.

I had kinda thought that everybody has heard Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground.

Well you should YSI them because I have never really listened to these guys some people could probably use a more full introduction to their sound

You're shitting me right? I kinda had to pegged for a musical know-it-all.

Tago Mago · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 14:46 »

I was listening to The Velvet Underground & Nico at work this morning and OH MY GOD HOW IS IT THAT EVEN AFTER 7 YEARS IN MY LIFE THIS ALBUM STILL FIXES MY ATTENTION UNLIKE ANY OTHER AND REVEALS NEW THINGS ON EACH LISTEN!? For instance, I never really noted just how advanced a song "Run Run Run" is. At first it just sounds like a cool, laid-back garage-rock contrast to the Warholian heights of "Venus in Furs," but I'm certain that nothing like that guitar, which pops up again in "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "European Son" and achieves overdrive in "I Heard Her Call My Name," had ever been heard before that point.

squawk · « **Reply #21 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 15:46 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 18 Jun 2006, 19:02

Q: When you're a rockstar, what do you do with a book?

A: LOU REED IT

Thrillho · « **Reply #22 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 15:51 »

Okay to those of you who are VU fans..

...are you seriously telling me that you can stand to listen to the songs with Nico's vocals all the way through? She is one of the worst 'singers' in the history of rock. To me at least, she's completely unlistenable. Sounds like a tuneless poser who thinks she's important and great and actually isn't at all, and yet people still TELL her she's important and great.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 15:56 »

I am not a big fan of her. However, i think that she does spund ok and even pretty great on I'll Be your Mirror (whcih is my favourite song off that record)

Tago Mago · « **Reply #24 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 16:09 »

She sounds just strange and androgynous enough to be a perfect fit for that record (Lou Reed parallels her androgyny in "Sunday Morning"). I wouldn't kick her off for all the sweetie-pie Mo Tucker lullabies in the world. And she's perfect for "All Tomorrow's Parties," which despite being the holiest song Lou ever wrote becomes far more interesting with such a difficult vocalist as Nico.

But if you ask me, her best ever song is "Facing the Wind".

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #25 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 18:03 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 18 Jul 2007, 15:51

Okay to those of you who are VU fans..

...are you seriously telling me that you can stand to listen to the songs with Nico's vocals all the way through? She is one of the worst 'singers' in the history of rock. To me at least, she's completely unlistenable. Sounds like a tuneless poser who thinks she's important and great and actually isn't at all, and yet people still TELL her she's important and great.

Right, because nobody could possible like something that you don't.

I don't mind Nico's VU songs, and I absolutely love The Marble Index. Not because I'm supposed to, or because hipsters do, or even because Lester Bangs did. But because it's a singular piece of art that doesn't sound like anything else I've ever heard. Also: John Cale.

Johnny C · « **Reply #26 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 22:36 »

I love her cover of Bowie's "'Heroes'" almost as much as I love the original version.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 03:52 »

Quote from: E. Spaceman on 18 Jul 2007, 03:22

I don't know, the spport he has given to some people (eg Antony) makes it worthwhile for him to be around, in my opinion

I'm pretty sure Antony could've coped without the help of Lou

What do people think of White Light White Heat? It's there only album that hasn't really been discussed.

Thrillho · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 07:20 »

Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 18 Jul 2007, 18:03

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 18 Jul 2007, 15:51
Okay to those of you who are VU fans..

...are you seriously telling me that you can stand to listen to the songs with Nico's vocals all the way through? She is one of the worst 'singers' in the history of rock. To me at least, she's completely unlistenable. Sounds like a tuneless poser who thinks she's important and great and actually isn't at all, and yet people still TELL her she's important and great.

Right, because nobody could possible like something that you don't.

I don't mind Nico's VU songs, and I absolutely love The Marble Index. Not because I'm supposed to, or because hipsters do, or even because Lester Bangs did. But because it's a singular piece of art that doesn't sound like anything else I've ever heard. Also: John Cale.

I was not aiming to be an asshole. I was asking a question with some vitriol. And at no point in my post did I even attempt to imply that any of you guys are hipsters pretending to like this band, the last sentence was a comment on those around at the time.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 09:23 »

White Light, White Heat is a crazy, uneven album. I admire that they actually put 'The Gift' and 'Lady Godiva's Operation' on it, but I never both to listen to those, unless it's to turn off the one stereo side during 'The Gift' to hear the raging jam in the other channel.

Otherwise, it's one of rock's most primal releases, right up there with Funhouse. There's no denying 'Sister Ray', but let us not forget the title track and 'Heard Her Call My Name.'

SeanBateman · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 10:24 »

Quote from: Emaline on 18 Jul 2007, 13:16

Quote from: Dirk Hopeless on 18 Jul 2007, 12:49
Quote from: Emaline on 17 Jul 2007, 22:36
No, Kieffer, I don't.

I had kinda thought that everybody has heard Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground.

I know a lot of things about music, and the things I know I tend to think I know pretty well. I've just never gotten around to the Velvet Underground, I guess. Or Bowie, for that matter.

Also, tommy, sit on it and spin.
Well you should YSI them because I have never really listened to these guys some people could probably use a more full introduction to their sound

You're shitting me right? I kinda had to pegged for a musical know-it-all.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 13:43 »

Woah what happened to that post.

Also tommy don't act like you know the music I enjoy.

Misereatur · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 14:03 »

I also never got around to really dig into Lou Reed and VU. Although, I love Berlin.

Tago Mago · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 14:41 »

Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 19 Jul 2007, 09:23

White Light, White Heat is a crazy, uneven album. I admire that they actually put 'The Gift' and 'Lady Godiva's Operation' on it, but I never both to listen to those, unless it's to turn off the one stereo side during 'The Gift' to hear the raging jam in the other channel.

Otherwise, it's one of rock's most primal releases, right up there with Funhouse. There's no denying 'Sister Ray', but let us not forget the title track and 'Heard Her Call My Name.'

Hey, those are great songs! Lou Reed never gave a better vocal performance than in that verse,

Shaved and hairless, what once was.... SCREAMING
Now lies silent and... ALMOST SLEEPING

Johnny C · « **Reply #34 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 20:59 »

YOU DON'T KNOW ME

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Lou Reed or The Velvet Underground (Read 9606 times)

SeanBateman

ScrambledGregs

CookedHaggis

SeanBateman

ScrambledGregs

ScrambledGregs

SeanBateman

SeanBateman