Velvet Underground

duga · 02-12-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

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.

TheCunningStunt · 02-12-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

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.

duga · 02-12-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

or maybe it was just a sign of it's time and special back then.

pretty much this. like i said, i like them but i can see how people may not be partial to them. the main point, though, is it was pretty original music at its time.

TheCunningStunt · 02-12-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

pretty much this. like i said, i like them but i can see how people may not be partial to them. the main point, though, is it was pretty original music at its time.

Around 64 they started making music? Original because it showed despite Beatlemania and the stones, that there was other things going on as well? If it's that I can understand, if it's because of the music I don't really see it.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 02-12-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Maybe it needs more listens or maybe it was just a sign of it's time and special back then.

The only problem with this theory was that nobody bought it back then.

The Velvet Underground are the ultimate poser band, I doubt most people who namecheck them actually feel the need to listen to them, they just say they like them.

The bands they influenced were much much better than they were.

duga · 02-12-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

The only problem with this theory was that nobody bought it back then.

The Velvet Underground are the ultimate poser band, I doubt most people who namecheck them actually feel the need to listen to them, they just say they like them.

The bands they influenced were much much better than they were.

yeah...i agree with this. i've listened to them enough to say i really enjoy their music and i am also a lou reed fan...but i don't think i can say i've been hit with a big urge to pop on some VU recently.

**Janszoon** · 02-12-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

The only problem with this theory was that nobody bought it back then.

That's a pretty good point.

I've never been a huge fan of them myself, but I think it's pretty much impossible for me to give them a fair listen because, on the one hand, I feel like I'm supposed to like them and on the other hand I strongly associate them with a particular breed of pompous douchebag that I went to college with.

clutnuckle · 02-13-2010, 01:27 PM

& Nico is very overrated. Not bad, and 3-4 songs are actually very good. White Light/White Heat is the only Velvet album worth writing home about in my opinion.

TockTockTock · 11-26-2010, 02:54 PM

What is so great about "The Black Angel's Death Song"? It sounds terrible and the violin playing is shotty.

right-track · 11-26-2010, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackPat

What is so great about "The Black Angel's Death Song"? It sounds terrible and the violin playing is shotty.

Firstly, the "violin" is a viola and the "shotty" playing you describe is performed by a trained musician.
This leads me to believe it's obviously intentional.
Hardly surprising coming from an experimental musician. Not all music has to be musical.

02-13-2010, 01:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
clutnuckle Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: -_-_-_-_~__~-~_-`_`-~_-`-~-~ Posts: 1,276	& Nico is very overrated. Not bad, and 3-4 songs are actually very good. White Light/White Heat is the only Velvet album worth writing home about in my opinion.

11-26-2010, 02:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	What is so great about "The Black Angel's Death Song"? It sounds terrible and the violin playing is shotty.