The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground. Is there a better rock band than The Velvets? There are a few who are as good , but definitely not better. Certainly not from my point of view. The band, to some extent, has attained a mythical status. And there are reasons. The Velvet Underground were reviled and ignored during their lifetime (1965-70), by critics and public alike. That same band and that same music was later hailed as one of the most influential in the history of rock music! Therefore, this blog is going to revolve around their music (and of many others), lyrics and who they were. It is just a modest endeavour to remedy the warped definition of rock music a majority of rock listerners have conceived about the genre in this country.

The songs on the band's four proper LPs are ageless, timeless, and flawless. From the first album with Nico (Andy Warhol's famous banana cover), to White Light/White Heat, to the self titled third record, and to the last studio record, Loaded, the band covered a wide range of musical and emotional states. From dark pop to freaky drug inspired noise wails.

In the sixties, Velvets made the kind of music which was totally disconnected from that generation's state of mind. This was precisely the reason why they never sold records during their lifetime. The realism in their New York sound (their hometown) was muffled by the peace and psychedelia found in the sound of other bands like The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. It was the Woodstock generation, remember.

The band has been referenced, covered and revered countless times, and still it is not enough. The world could always be doing with more Velvet credence. (Cue the music to "As Time Goes By" here...) And the band just keeps sounding better and better. Check back in another hundred years to see if any of these songs are dated, and turn up "Run Run Run" real loud and enjoy.

P S: My favourite Velvet song? This would be a blasphemy. But if push comes to shove - "Sister Ray" from White Light/White Heat. For many it is just noise, but for me it is 17 minutes of guitar screaming in ecstasy.