930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: HoyaSaxa03 on November 18, 2006, 03:10:00 pm
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is it possible that "sister ray" (the 17+ minute last track on "white light/white heat") is their best song?
the repetitive "sucking on my ding-dong" and "searching for a main-line" lyrics get a little old, but the music is just mind-blowing shit ... it seems like every 4 minutes or so they switch up the guitar effects and cover A LOT of ground
i guess it's almost impossible to compare "sister ray" to something like "stephanie says", but i think i'd put "sister ray" at #1
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there are at least 18 best velvet underground songs.
among them are every song on white light/white heat, "venus in furs," "i'll be your mirror," "heroin," "femme fatale," "sweet jane," "new age," "rock and roll," "pale blue eyes," "ride into the sun," "ocean"...
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I suppose an argument could me made that the faux-boogie-woogie pianner, snarling guitars and barrelhouse stomp of "I'm Waiting For The Man", tied to the seamy, desperate lyrical thread that ripped open a side of urban life that had never been poked at so branzenly in popular song, was a moment that tied the 50's & 60's together in a watershed way. Which would make it a pretty good song within the band's canon...
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the correct answer is ... "i heard her call my name"
the guitar squeal after the second "and then my mind split open" is perhaps the best moment in rock history.
thanks for playing!
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I don't think any band ever blew my mind so bad as the first time I heard the VU when I was 14 or 15. "The Black Angel's Death Song" was some seriously dark and wicked shit for me to digest.
I can't pick a best song...mrpee's argument for Waiting for my Man is a good one, though it's far from my favorite song by them. They just turned rock and pop music on it's ear with that whole album.
And BookerT, I'm with you on that guitar squeal.
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'What Goes On' from 1969
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I'd have to go with Sister Ray. Tough question!
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Sooo hard to pick a "best," because their songs are great for such widely differing reasons... from brilliant noise to brilliant perfectly pristine pop.
I think there IS one thing we can all agree on though -- that the Feelies' limp, soul-less cover of "What Goes On" didn't even come close to doing that song justice.
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New Age. Specifically the version from the "Velvet Underground Live 1969" album.
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the noise they tease out of their guitars around 10:30-11:10 in 'sister ray' sounds a lot like the sound that bands like the jesus & mary chain and ministry (especially on 'stigmata') would find 15 yrs later
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Sunday Morning, but how can you really choose? Time to break out the well-worn cds out again. it seems like every few years something happens- a movie soundtrack, a conversation with an old friend, this post- and V.U. are back in the every day rotation. Great question!
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I was always a fan of Heroin.
Oh, Sweet Nuthin!, Rock and Roll, Pale Blue Eyes, New Age, Sweet Jane, All Tomorrow's Parties...a few other favorites.
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I can't fucking answer this question. You're making my brain hurt.
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Who's the Velvet Underground? Are they coming to town soon?
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Rock and Roll or I'm Sticking With You? I really got into this band bigtime about 3 years ago when I got the box set. I never have really gotten into White Light White Heat though. Most people sat it is their best, but it doesn't do much for me... Maybe it will click with me someday?
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Originally posted by DriveWay:
Rock and Roll or I'm Sticking With You? I really got into this band bigtime about 3 years ago when I got the box set. I never have really gotten into White Light White Heat though. Most people sat it is their best, but it doesn't do much for me... Maybe it will click with me someday?
Keep plugging away. It's definitely inaccessible, but once you get into it, it's well worth it.
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Am I the only one who listens to "Loaded" more than their other stuff? I love "Rock'n'Roll"...and "Oh Sweet Nuthin'" is just sublime.
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i love all of them equally, except for squeeze, hahaha. i suppose i rank white light/white heat a tad higher just because i think every song on it -- and every minute of every song -- is just immaculate. i don't think "lady godiva's operation," "the gift," and "i heard her call my name" are given their proper credit. going back to the first one, i even love the completely abrasive guitar noodling of "european son."
but you really can't go wrong with the self-titled third album -- which directly influenced such wonderful bands like galaxie 500, yo la tengo, the feelies, the clean, etc -- or loaded, which is full of anthems. "i found a reason" is another beautiful velvets song.
they were the first band to successfully write catchy, simple pop songs while simultaneously exploring the physical properties of sound and making jarring avant-garde art with it.
and lou reed and john cale both went on to make way better solo records than john lennon, paul mccartney, george harrison, pete townsend, or any member of the stones. cale, especially, should be noted for his spectacular run of albums from 1969-1979.
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"This is one of my most hated bands, because they promote bad lifestyle choices" ---my wife this morning.
I once had a friend stop speaking to me because I told her I though the VU was overrated. We probably had other issues, but that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
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Wait a minute, are you Al Gore?!
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Originally posted by bearman:
Am I the only one who listens to "Loaded" more than their other stuff? I love "Rock'n'Roll"...and "Oh Sweet Nuthin'" is just sublime.
I'm with you on that one bearman. Loaded's a great album.
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Originally posted by Weird Little Self Loathing Man:
"This is one of my most hated bands, because they promote bad lifestyle choices" ---my wife this morning.
So that pretty much narrows her playlist down to whale songs and Zamfir.
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But not Killer Whale songs, as they promote the needless slaughter of seals for sport.
Originally posted by econo:
Originally posted by Weird Little Self Loathing Man:
"This is one of my most hated bands, because they promote bad lifestyle choices" ---my wife this morning.
So that pretty much narrows her playlist down to whale songs and Zamfir. [/b]
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If I HAD TO CHOOSE, and thank fucking god I don't; I'd go w/BookerT and say "I Heard Her Call My Name," in particular for that exact moment of guitar scree he mentioned.
On the Velvets tip, I have a funny story about a recent experience DJing at the club. I spun for the two Black Keys/Black Angels shows a week or two ago. I was not familiar w/the Black Angels, but w/that name, who wouldn't conjure up the Velvets? As it turns out, the only Velvets records I brought with me were WLWH & "Loaded." I didn't want to be too obvious, and play "Black Angels Death Song;" that would just be mean.
So, I think I played something off of "Loaded" on Sunday night, something that wouldn't be too obvious. So, lo and behold, they do turn out to be one of the most blatantly Velvets inspired bands I've ever seen. Not bad, but a little too obvious, and just a tad not original enough. Also, too young ang cute, to let it pass.
I'm in transition, and the bulk of my music collection is in storage, so even though I wanted to grab the first album, and play "Black Angel's Death Song," I didn't have the opportunity. I ended up playing "I Heard Her Call My Name," like two songs into the night. Well, damned if their soundman doesn't show up in the DJ booth within ten minutes, asking what that really cool song I played was! He didn't even recognize the Velvet Underground! I'm sorry, but that was just too funny. But I will give him credit for recognizing the genius.
Just had to relate that story. Look for my setlists, in another, soon to be posted thread, and if yr interested, Add me on "the myspaces,"* and join my Yahoo! Group.
* Thank you Borat!
DJ Tommy B
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Yes, far too violent.
Originally posted by nkotb:
But not Killer Whale songs, as they promote the needless slaughter of seals for sport.
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I have always been a big fan of "The Murder Mystery"
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i just realized that i have a cover of "sister ray" done by joy division ... it's on their odds-and-sodds comp "still" and it's not really that good
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When you say "Killer Whales" do you mean they wailed on him until they killed him down in Penetration Park?
Originally posted by nkotb:
But not Killer Whale songs, as they promote the needless slaughter of seals for sport.
Originally posted by econo:
Originally posted by Weird Little Self Loathing Man:
"This is one of my most hated bands, because they promote bad lifestyle choices" ---my wife this morning.
So that pretty much narrows her playlist down to whale songs and Zamfir. [/b]
[/b]
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blah blah blah what most people said above blah blah.
But my favorite is Lady Godiva..
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Here She Comes Now and There She Goes Again are worth mentioning.
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Listen to Echo and the Bunnymen cover The Velvet Underground (https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/listen-to-echo-and-the-bunnymen-cover-the-velvet-underground/)
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Some Kinda Love
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one of my favorites isn't on any of their official releases
recorded in 69, but didn't get released until 84 with VU
She's My Best Friend
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while we are on the topic
Favorite VU cover
In my opinion, this is better than the original
https://youtu.be/ugYDgf8PAis