The Velvet Underground

Though New York City eventually serves as a showcase for every big-time rock group, it
spawns very few–and the Velvet Underground was about the only group that denizens of
the ultimate terminal city could call their own. Andy Warhol found them and put them on
tour as part of a show called The Exploding Plastic Inevitable, and the Velvet Underground
skulked through flower - powered American days like shadows from the dark-si... More >

Recorded in notorious lo-fi from the table of Warhol hanger-on Brigid Polk in 1970, Lou Reed's last Velvets show until 1993 is one of the few collector's items to gain patina with the remastered, bonus-cutted, double-disc overkill of the CD era. Although the basic effect is still that of hearing a band from the back of a noisy bar, the audio is crisper and more forceful. Although John Cale and Mo Tucker are gone, Reed does sing songs performed in their official studio versions by Nico and Doug Yule. And although Live 1969 remains the essential document, it is kinda cool to hear Brigid's buddies chatting obliviously about Nixon and Tuinols as punk's forefathers go gamely into that good night. (Grade - ***)