Review #23: Velvet Underground & Nico, Velvet Underground & Nico

#23: Velvet Underground & Nico, Velvet Underground & Nico

Now is probably a good time to mention that I had steadily been losing my sanity ever since #20, Kid A. It was so rapid that I barely noticed it until the Velvet Underground came on. (I probably should have had some idea during Ready to Die, #22, though.)

Then darkness fell once again, and the Velvet Underground came on, and suddenly I was in a giant moving lava lamp. I couldn’t even tell if I liked this music or not (though I did notice when it was painful to my ears), I just knew that I had meant to drive to Philadelphia and instead ended up driving into space.

Upon a second listen, I felt a bit more sane, and was able to determine that 1) I love Nico’s accent but don’t love her voice, and 2) I like Lou Reed more than the Velvet Underground. Ah, well.

FAVORITE SONGS:

“I’m Waiting For the Man” — Lou Reed’s vocals don’t make sense for me on some of these songs, but they make sense here.

“Venus In Furs” — This one sounds the most like losing your mind, but it’s also my favorite. Lou Reed was a poet, RIP.

“Run Run Run” — Anything vaguely bluesy is pretty amenable to me, especially when they’re about girls who sell their soul.

“All Tomorrow’s Parties” — Okay this is one of the only songs that Nico’s voice works for me on. The guitar and piano parts are so dynamic and lovely.

“Heroin” — This song has no right being as beautiful as it is. Lou Reed’s little giggle when he says It’s my wife/And it’s my life is so sad.

“The Black Angel’s Death Song” — This sounds just like goth Bob Dylan.

“European Son” — Whoa, it’s an electric guitar freaking out on a surfer-style riff for eight minutes. This song sounds exactly like a car crash.

LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:

“Sunday Morning” — This is the first time I’ve disliked the opening song on an album so much. It sounds like it’s supposed to cause aneurysms in babies.

“Femme Fatale” — Is this a joke? Is this Nico’s real voice? And every single male backup vocal is off-pitch.

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” — Nico baffles me.

IS RS FULL OF IT?

Listen, not all music is dancing music. Some music is “Let’s drink wine and finger-paint in space” music. Furthermore, I found a thousand and one covers of “Sunday Morning”, and when that many people love something I hate it usually means that I just don’t get it.

Review #22: Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G.

Review #24: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles