The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground Review

The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground

full review

Tracklist:
1. Candy Says
2. What Goes On
3. Some Kinda Love
4. Pale Blue Eyes
5. Jesus
6. Beginning to See the Light
7. I'm Set Free
8. That's the Story of My Life
9. Murder Mystery
10. After Hours

Release Date: 1969

user rating

4.2
excellent

Chart.

other reviews

Steven Gore (4.5)
Getting the balance just about right, the Velvets go from strength to strength on their most subtly...

related

The Velvet Underground an

White Light/White Heat

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On 16 Lists

5.0
classic

Kingadamx USER (18 Reviews)

2005-01-14 | 27 comments | 2,544 views

3 of 3 thought this review was well written

The Band's 3rd Album, released in 1969 after John Cale left the group, was released to no critical acclaim and hardly any consumer interest. This is definetly the band's softest album, which was quite a change after White Light/White Heat. This album isn't nearly as psychedelic as The Velvet Undeground anc Nico but not as poppy as Loaded. It is almost as if the band had found their own medium in this record.

1. Candy Says - This is a really relaxing song. The guitar chords in the background just make you kind of at ease. This song encompasses some amazing songwriting ability. There are some excellent vocal harmonies near the end of the song.
Rating: 5/5

2. What Goes On - This song has great rhythm guitar in it. There is an organ in the background heightening the band's sound. The guitar solo in the middle of the song is executed nicely with a strange effect on the guitar. The song ends with some rhythm guitar play.
Rating: 4/5

3. Some Kinda Love - The guitar riff in this song gives off a bright feel. This song is a little repetitive until the very end of the song where the guitar changes a little bit. Other than that the vocals are done great by Reed.
Rating: 3.4/5

4. Pale Blue Eyes - The guitar melody in the background gives a very ambient sense. There is a litte guitar solo in the middle of the song just seems to take you away like a Jerry Garcia solo. There is a nice bass line in this song.
Rating: 3.8/5

5. Jesus - The guitar accompaniment to the vocals is great. The backing vocals just lift you up. This song could make you be uplifted more than any Chrstian Rock Band could. This is one of my favorite cuts off of this album. There is a nice little interlude in the middle of the song.
Rating: 5/5

6. Beginning to See the Light - The album picks up the pace with a heavy rocker with a strong rhythm guitar backing. The chorus has backing vocals that slow the song down a little bit, but Reed brings back the verse with his great lead vocals. The band just plays their hardest on this cut.
Rating: 4.5/5

7. I'm Set Free - The band starts out very slow and then starts to heighten up. But it is followed by a very slow verse again. the guitar solo is done at the peak of the song when the band heightens themselves up. The backing vocals near the end of the song bring the band up again.
Rating: 4/5

8. That's the Story of My Life - The percussion gives a very odd sounding beat. This is a short filler song that has a nice bluesy sort of guitar solo in the middle of the song.
Rating: 3.5/5

9. Murder Mystery - The song starts out with some great heightening rhythm guitar which slows down into an organ solo. There are people talking in the background which can not be understood because they are talking at the same time and very fast, this is used as a chorus. The vocals are done in a very mellow tone which eases the song after the heavy talking. This is the most unique song on the album. If you listen to the words they tell about killing people and some various phrases at some points. The end of the song is played by a piano and the song is being sung at a very strange rhythm and tone which ends with someone banging on the piano giving an eerie feel to an end of an eerie song.
Rating: 5/5

10. After Hours - Maureen Tucker sings the lead on this song. This song is really catchy and I believe it is a perfect way to end this album. The songwriting is just great and it was a great choice to have it sung by a woman.
Rating: 4.5/5

This is not the best Velvet Underground album nor is it the worst. I find that encompasses great songwriting and playing by one of the most influential bands of the Twentieth Century. If you are new to the velvets this wouldn't be a bad place to start.

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