I don't see how you can love their s/t and hate Loaded, they're essentially two parts of the same album.

Has anyone actually listened to that album?

Believe me I don't hate Loaded at all. I think it's a record that certainly has moments, notably Sweet Jane, Who Loves the Sun?, and Oh! Sweet Nuthin' but is largely unimpressive. Cale's absence really shows on that one. And I don't see a correlation between their self titled album and Loaded at all. In terms of songwriting, they might as well be opposites. The VU is a confessional and quiet album whereas Loaded is relatively bombastic pop record.

I don't know... I certainly haven't. But then again all I've really listened to by them is Loaded....

Still? You told me that like six months ago! You really need to get on that... you're missing a lot.

Yeah... I know.

I've listened to The Velvet Underground and Nico on vinyl once.... but I plan on getting it digitally soon enough. I don't even know why I haven't yet.

I really despise Loaded as well. There were a couple good songs, Sweet Jane, Who Loves the Sun and New Age, but the rest of it was just annoying. I also found White Light/White Heat to be a little much for me. I actually only liked The Gift and Here She Comes Now.

That being said, VU & Nico and there self titled album are among the best, most original pieces of art I've ever heard. I think they still stand up well today even. Lou Reed was one sick ****, and that's an important part of being a great artist sometimes lol.

Some of my lesser known favorites are Venus in Furs, The Black Angel's Death Song and Jesus. Everyone should check this band out, they influenced alot of bands, even if you can't hear it right off the bat.

'You Got No Right' is my fav. Velvet Underground. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWPxgHGs1E4

This is one band I never 'got'.

you are definitely not alone, but i think most who don't "get" them have a hard time imagining listening to this band when they were actually around. they really were something special then, and only sound tired at all now because so many bands have emulated them.

i think the appeal a lot of people see in the velvet underground is based on the fact that there is a lot of skill and creativity in their music that is ahead of its time. their music was written well enough to really amaze people, and it was written simply enough so that someone could feel they might be able to write music, as well. it has been noted that most people that listened to the velvet underground when they first showed up subsequently went out and started a band themselves.

People tend to use words like 'feel' 'skill' 'creativity' 'unique' when describing their music, I mean it's alright, nothing against what they did, but people seem to think of it as being something special and I just don't see it. VU & Nico is the only album I've listened to though, listened to it about 3 times and never took to it. Maybe it needs more listens or maybe it was just a sign of it's time and special back then.