it's only $7.99 and thats a good price plus i've been thinking of getting for a long time. suggestions would be appreciated.

I brought this Monday and I had mixed feelings about it first too. When I popped this in the CD player for the first time ever, it sounded pretty good and Nico has a beautiful voice. Even though this band didn't know how to play music, they proved that you can still make innovative stuff. Heroin is one of most challenging and complex songs I've ever heard. I was first introduced to the band after watching Oliver Stone's bioflick, The Doors almost a million times. Anyway I love most of the material on here. If you're really interested in 60's stuff, pick that one up too. I really need to listen to it a litte bit more to appreciate it a little more though.
[Edited 8/6/05 13:15pm]

thanks silverchild. i think i'm gonna buy it now.

yes.

I don't care for it, but just listen for yourself I'd say.

Its a fantastic album, but the sound quality really drags it down. Femme Fatale is such a great song but almost unlistenable due to the poor quality.

Tom said:

There is a two-disc deluxe edition of the album with that peelable bananna, but I didn't pick that version up. I just picked up the single disc version. Maybe you should check out that version and see how the sound quality is because Universal sound enigneers can make some dynamic sound quality.
[Edited 8/6/05 20:41pm]

i'd get the recently released velvet underground GOLD anthology - it has all but one or two songs from the banana album on it, plus a bunch of other stuff. if you can find it cheap, it's worth the few extra bucks.

Anxiety said:

Do u recommend it to casual fans?

silverchild said:

yeah, because i'm a casual fan of VU and i like it. it's got all the stuff that you usually read/hear associated with them. in my opinion, it's the only VU album i really need in my collection. now, when moonbeam or gangstafam see this thread, i'm sure they'll have something altogether different to say...

You need this album! It is without peer for influence, in my opinion- perhaps the first alternative album. It is challenging, diverse and full of great writing and great vision. These songs will haunt you.

silverchild said:

The 2-disc version is worth getting for the improved sound quality as well as the inclusion of 5 tracks (arguably the 5 best) from Nico's brilliant Chelsea Girls album!

Yes, get it. ASAP.

you should get this album, it's an essential. it's one of those albums that defined the modern day music. Back in 1967 it was largely ignored by the public but through the years more and more people and artists draw inspiration from this fine piece of music. Listen to the slow drum on Heroin as it slowly picks up speed and that wall of guitars comes crashing in. listen to Lou's heavenly vocals on Sunday morning... Feel the breedy sleazy feel of Venus in Furs, this album gets under your skin and stays there for a while changing your perspection of music and and other things

Yes the 2 disc edition is definetely worth getting, great sound quality and a peelable banana!! just like the original record

I'd say yes.

I first bought this after hearing it mentioned by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran in an interview back in '85. I picked it up sight unseen. At first listen, I wasn't moved at all. Over time, it's become one of my favorites. It's minimalism at it's finest. And proof positive that great songwriting trumps great musicianship every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

oh man i gotta get this but i don't know whether to get this or Paul's Boutique first. which one should i pick up first?

BillieSparks said:

Get both, they're probably 7.99 or 8.99 in wrecka stow bins.
[Edited 8/8/05 5:05am]

BillieSparks said:

paul's boutique has more music on it...just sayin...

but yeah, you should be able to find both for cheap, if not used at a wrecka stow, then used online at half.com or amazon.com.

silverchild said:

They are both must-haves. Shell it out.

Anxiety said:

And see I jumped in and bought the huge boxset right away when I got into VU. An old roommate was a big fan and when he and I parted ways I missed it too much. The boxset has all of their albums, demos, and tons of extras and live stuff. I can't imagine living without it.

Oh and for the record, I like Beasties lots more than Lou Reed/VU.

The deluxe edition is worth shelling out the bucks for. It's an essential album for any alternative music lover. This is the original alternative. Art rock at it's best.

'Sunday Morning' is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It's almost like a lullaby!

Nico's voice will haunt the hell out of you. 'Femme Fatal' is amazing...the whole thing is amazing...go get it!

peace

CarrieMpls said:

Do you mean the Peel Slowly & See box set, CarrieMpls? I think I saw this one this weekend at my nearby wrecka stow and the cover did look very exact like their debut, but I didn't know it had all of their albums. I thought it was a compilation of demos and unreleased stuff they did exclusively for their 1967 groundbreaker. I might think a little more about getting this, but for now i'm gonna check out the recent Gold compilation.
[Edited 8/8/05 11:41am]

silverchild said:

That's it.
It's got all of their studio albums (I believe) with extras on every disc and a dis of just early demos. And a very nice booklet.

CarrieMpls said:

Worth every penny.

When I first heard it, I was a 16 year old geek in a isolated town in rural Canada where music didn't get much more sophisticated than the latest hair metal act. At the time, it seemed like the most vital, powerful thing I'd ever experienced. Can it still have that effect on someone in this day and age after 15 plus years of alt-rock prominence? I might have though it wouldn't, but the fact that so many people here still swear by this album (and, oddly enough, seem to think that Nico can actually sing) suggests that it still has the ability to grip people.

So yeah, buy it. You could do worse with your money.

damosuzuki said:

I fell in love with this album over the past year.

damosuzuki said:

She can't sing. But that's why we love her.

Bought the cd thursday and I love it. "Sunday Morning" & "Venus In Furs". This album is amazing.

Tom said:

i got it on vinyl and the sound quality on that is perfect. You need to get yourself a record player or the remastered version of the CD!