The Velvet Underground & Nico

When I first heard of The Velvet Underground, all I imagined was some band playing in an underground club with some crappy velvet carpet underneath them. This naive image changed the second I listened to The Velvet Underground & Nico for the first time. For those who are vaguely familiar with The Velvet Underground, it’s reasonable to say that the first thing that comes to mind when hearing “Velvet Underground” is Lou Reed. And while Lou Reed is undoubtedly an incredible artist in his own right, and how, at least with the band’s later albums, The Velvet Underground was a creative outlet which would display Reed’s distinct style to the musical world, the band as a whole is worthy of praise and recognition for the collective effort found in all of their albums pre-1971, which is when Reed left the band. To put it simply: The Velvet Underground & Nico is a wonderful album that should not be overlooked.

The album was released in March of 1967, in the midst of a vast amount of change in the world of rock music. Hendrix was about to change the perception of electric guitar, Sgt. Pepper was about to alter what we call “popular music”, and the drunken/psychedelic feel of The Doors had premiered to the world two months prior with their eponymous debut album. Likewise, The Velvet Underground & Nico is notable for its drastically different style of rock which fans had been accustomed to until that point. And, with any drastic switch from the norm, the album was poorly received both critically and commercially upon its initial release. But, much like so many great pieces of art before it, the album has since been revered for many of its characteristics.

Definitely the most controversial change within the album was its lyrical content. In songs such as “I’m Waiting for the Man” and “Venus in Furs”. heroin and sadomasochism are openly referenced. While these topics can cause some people to squirm, the approach to such topics in the album is amazingly drab. Meaning, the stinging vocals of Reed and the lulling, Germanic tone of Nico (who would only collaborate with The Velvet Underground on this album) present heroin and sex in a very objective, straightforward manner. And songs like “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and “Sunday Morning,” which have no “outlandish” lyrics, become excellently numbing tunes; they can put you to sleep with the soothing harmonies and are appreciable even in their simplicity.

Also, the unconventional instrumentation of the album is both mesmerizing and irritable. While “Sunday Morning”’s innocent, trademark celesta sound is beautifully presented, “Black Angel’s Death Song” and its sporadic viola are understandably unbearable, even for fans of the more experimental/avant-garde style. However, this funky arrangement of instruments works… for the most part. Lou Reed’s unique take on the role of lead guitarist and Maureen Tucker’s simple to-the-beat percussion style create very catchy and pleasant rhythms and solos. Even John Cale’s viola on “Venus in Furs” can pass as a reasonable accompaniment, but mostly because the tuning of Reed’s guitar serves as a sort of damage control on Cale’s manic playing style. Then there’s “Heroin”, one of the pinnacle songs on The Velvet Underground & Nico. Truly, “Heroin” is where the creative lyrics and simple but sharp guitar style of Lou Reed consummates its relationship with the bizarre style of John Cale. The inoculated delivery of Reed’s lyrics, the up-and-down pacing of his guitar solos and Sterling Morrison’s rhythm guitar, the increasingly hurried drumming of Mo Tucker, and the absurdly ear-piercing sound of Cale’s viola all combine to make an artistic portrayal of drug use. And while it surely isn’t “pretty,” at least in the traditional sense, “Heroin”’s steady ascension and frantic crescendo/downfall combine in an enthralling 7-minute long musical wonder.

So, while the artsy and experimental rock style may turn off some people to this album, the rugged feel present in (most of) the album, the especially unique musical/lyrical style and the proto-punk style of songs like “Run Run Run” make The Velvet Underground & Nico a must for rock fanatics. If you can bear screeching viola sections, enjoy distinct guitar and drumming styles, and love calming and acidic lyrics, listen to The Velvet Underground & Nico.