Trout Mask Replica vs. The Velvet Underground & Nico

Howard the Duck · 03-20-2012, 12:59 AM

i think Beefheart's Bluejeans and Moonbeams is a bit underrated

not really "His Tragic Band" and smooth accessibility doesn't necessarily equate crap - although i concur the last 2 songs are pretty much insufferable

i mean Kate Bush likes it and so do I

blastingas10 · 03-20-2012, 12:14 PM

"party of special things to do" is a bad ass song.

**Frownland** · 03-20-2012, 07:36 PM

Bluejeans and Moonbeams is okay, but not for repeat listens. Nowhere near the replayability that TMR has.

Sir Loin Steak · 04-22-2012, 05:20 AM

I'd definitely gift my vote to Velvet Underground & Nico, that record surpassed my preconceptions by far and I'm usually one to be let down by hype. And what's more, I was into it straight away, it wasn't a sinker. Whereas with the Beefheart record, I've been listening to it for about a month or so now and yeah it's good but it's difficult to get into. But then again, my love affair with Beefheart is just beginning...

TMR - 7/10
VU&N - 9/10

cLoCkWeRk · 04-22-2012, 11:31 AM

Trout Mask, granted it is more strange and strange music appeals to me!

Automatic Writing · 05-14-2012, 11:40 PM

Well, it took me about 3x through Trout Mask to really get into it, and it definitely blows me away everytime. However, nothing quite compares to the first time I heard The Velvet Underground and Nico. From Sunday Morning to Venus in Furs and Heroin, the songs are just brilliant. I don't think I can even name a song off Trout Mask, but clearly both are amazing works of art.

blastingas10 · 05-15-2012, 06:31 PM

Trout mask wins if we're judging on which one is more experimental, but the VU wins if we're judging on whichever is better music.

Holerbot6000 · 06-18-2012, 01:15 AM

Wow - what an interesting pairing of records to have a face-off with. I don't actually see any correlation between the two records that would even warrant a comparison, since they're so radically different. Might be a lack of imagination on my part though.

I wonder how 'Avant Garde' VU&N would have been had John Cale not been in the band. His influence in songs like 'Black Angels Death Song' and 'Venus & Furs' is so prominent. He brought that whole LaMonte Young Avant-Jazz thing into the band and he took it with him when he left. You can hear trappings of Cale's Avant leanings throughout his entire solo career, whereas Lou pretty quickly reverted to the same kind of classic rock&roll sound he was into even before VU. Cale also produced all of Nico's most interesting stuff too. I personally think Lou did his best work with the VU but I think without Cale they might have just been another rock & roll band.

Beefheart/Trout Mask was a whole different animal. I don't possess the tongue to properly sing it's praises. I've been listening to that album for 30 years and it still surprises and delights me. It's like the history of American music fed through a crazy kaleidoscope full of texture and sound and mad interpretation.

For me, VU&N is an essential rock&roll album I will always hold dear and it was obviously very influential, but personally, I think Trout Mask is much more of an important musical statement. Just my two cents though. No offense.

Funny that the guy with the Residents avatar didn't like Trout Mask - didn't Beefheart always complain that they stole their entire sound from 'The Blimp'? I love the early Residents, but I have to say, i think he may have something there...

Lynch · 06-19-2012, 05:18 PM

The Velvet Underground & Nico for me, I've always been a sucker for this. Although Trout Mask Replica is a great album, I listened to TVU & N first so it has a nostalgia mark for me.

Forward To Death · 06-19-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holerbot6000

Wow - what an interesting pairing of records to have a face-off with. I don't actually see any correlation between the two records that would even warrant a comparison, since they're so radically different. Might be a lack of imagination on my part though.

I wonder how 'Avant Garde' VU&N would have been had John Cale not been in the band. His influence in songs like 'Black Angels Death Song' and 'Venus & Furs' is so prominent. He brought that whole LaMonte Young Avant-Jazz thing into the band and he took it with him when he left. You can hear trappings of Cale's Avant leanings throughout his entire solo career, whereas Lou pretty quickly reverted to the same kind of classic rock&roll sound he was into even before VU. Cale also produced all of Nico's most interesting stuff too. I personally think Lou did his best work with the VU but I think without Cale they might have just been another rock & roll band.

Beefheart/Trout Mask was a whole different animal. I don't possess the tongue to properly sing it's praises. I've been listening to that album for 30 years and it still surprises and delights me. It's like the history of American music fed through a crazy kaleidoscope full of texture and sound and mad interpretation.

For me, VU&N is an essential rock&roll album I will always hold dear and it was obviously very influential, but personally, I think Trout Mask is much more of an important musical statement. Just my two cents though. No offense.

Funny that the guy with the Residents avatar didn't like Trout Mask - didn't Beefheart always complain that they stole their entire sound from 'The Blimp'? I love the early Residents, but I have to say, i think he may have something there...

They're both highly influential albums on the alternative music scene that they essentially helped to shape. I don't think the comparison is about sound at all.

View Poll Results: Choose.
Trout Mask Replica (1969)	29	44.62%
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)	36	55.38%
Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll

03-20-2012, 07:36 PM	#43 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Bluejeans and Moonbeams is okay, but not for repeat listens. Nowhere near the replayability that TMR has. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

03-20-2012, 12:14 PM	#42 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	"party of special things to do" is a bad ass song.

04-22-2012, 05:20 AM	#44 (permalink)
Sir Loin Steak Groupie Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 6	I'd definitely gift my vote to Velvet Underground & Nico, that record surpassed my preconceptions by far and I'm usually one to be let down by hype. And what's more, I was into it straight away, it wasn't a sinker. Whereas with the Beefheart record, I've been listening to it for about a month or so now and yeah it's good but it's difficult to get into. But then again, my love affair with Beefheart is just beginning... TMR - 7/10 VU&N - 9/10

04-22-2012, 11:31 AM	#45 (permalink)
cLoCkWeRk Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Nestled in the North Carolina mountains. Posts: 65	Trout Mask, granted it is more strange and strange music appeals to me!

05-14-2012, 11:40 PM	#46 (permalink)
Automatic Writing Groupie Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 19	Well, it took me about 3x through Trout Mask to really get into it, and it definitely blows me away everytime. However, nothing quite compares to the first time I heard The Velvet Underground and Nico. From Sunday Morning to Venus in Furs and Heroin, the songs are just brilliant. I don't think I can even name a song off Trout Mask, but clearly both are amazing works of art.

05-15-2012, 06:31 PM	#47 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	Trout mask wins if we're judging on which one is more experimental, but the VU wins if we're judging on whichever is better music.

06-18-2012, 01:15 AM	#48 (permalink)
Holerbot6000 Music Mutant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: near a record store Posts: 327	Wow - what an interesting pairing of records to have a face-off with. I don't actually see any correlation between the two records that would even warrant a comparison, since they're so radically different. Might be a lack of imagination on my part though. I wonder how 'Avant Garde' VU&N would have been had John Cale not been in the band. His influence in songs like 'Black Angels Death Song' and 'Venus & Furs' is so prominent. He brought that whole LaMonte Young Avant-Jazz thing into the band and he took it with him when he left. You can hear trappings of Cale's Avant leanings throughout his entire solo career, whereas Lou pretty quickly reverted to the same kind of classic rock&roll sound he was into even before VU. Cale also produced all of Nico's most interesting stuff too. I personally think Lou did his best work with the VU but I think without Cale they might have just been another rock & roll band. Beefheart/Trout Mask was a whole different animal. I don't possess the tongue to properly sing it's praises. I've been listening to that album for 30 years and it still surprises and delights me. It's like the history of American music fed through a crazy kaleidoscope full of texture and sound and mad interpretation. For me, VU&N is an essential rock&roll album I will always hold dear and it was obviously very influential, but personally, I think Trout Mask is much more of an important musical statement. Just my two cents though. No offense. Funny that the guy with the Residents avatar didn't like Trout Mask - didn't Beefheart always complain that they stole their entire sound from 'The Blimp'? I love the early Residents, but I have to say, i think he may have something there...

06-19-2012, 05:18 PM	#49 (permalink)
Lynch Groupie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cambridge Posts: 1	The Velvet Underground & Nico for me, I've always been a sucker for this. Although Trout Mask Replica is a great album, I listened to TVU & N first so it has a nostalgia mark for me.