My personal favorite is "The Velvet Underground". Much more introspective than the first two albums, I really love the album start to finish, especially the songs "Candy Says", "What Goes On", "Some Kind Of Love", "Pale Blue Eyes", and "Beginning To See The Light". when I DJ'ed, I would often play the song "Afterhours" at the end of the night, the perfect closing song.

I'd say my favorite VU album has certainly evolved over the years, and quite a few of them have had their moment when they were at the top of the list.

I really like 1969: The Velvet Underground Live, it's the best live document of the band, particularly the version of the song "The Ocean" on it.

Depends on the day---split between Loaded and White Light/White Heat. I enjoy both for entirely different reasons, though I'm voting Loaded because its early and my brother just gave me a vicodin.

stevenstillborn wrote:I'd say it's a toss up between the first two. But, based on the fact that WL/WH has "The Gift" on it, I'm goin' with VU&N.

the fact that WL/WH has "I Heard Her Call My Name" on it pretty much beats everything else.

That and "Sister Ray".

Besides, Nico ruins the debut.

VU for "Ocean" and Live ("the one with the butt on the cover") for "Ocean" and the rave-ups.

1969 Live. "Ocean" on there is awesome.

White Light/White Heat.

I listen to the greatest hits CD more than any other one, this is the only band I even own a greatest hits CD of and it's worked out just fine for me

if I gotta pick I gotta go Nico I guess

I've got to go with WL/WH simply because "Sister Ray" and "I Heard Her Call My Name" are on it. "Sister Ray" is just amazing. It starts out as bare-bones, trashy, garage-band rock and roll, but, about a third of the way through, it morphs into a searing, soaring mixture of Cale's organ solo and Sterling Morrison's rabid rhythm-guitar strumming. The song just completely disintegrates halfway through, and the next nine minutes are filled with wild, ecstatic jamming.

"I Heard Her Call My Name" was the inspiration for Robert Quine to start playing in the sort of style featured on the debut Voidoids album. Manic, entrancing solos by Reed.

I love those two songs, and "The Gift" is fine, too. However, the first three LPs all have great songs on them, and the live album, as Steve mentioned, is good as well; it's pure proto-Feelies. Hence, it's really a close call here.

I think the Velvet Underground (neck and neck with the TROUT MASK-era Magic Band) were probably the best rock band in America before Television came on the scene. So many great bands and composers are direct descendants of their approach: Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, the Ramones, Merzbow, the Voidoids, Pere Ubu, the Dead C, Tony Conrad, Suicide etc.

Linus Van Pelt wrote:

Steve V. wrote:It is a big fucking toss-up between VU&N and WL/WH.
...
WL/WH is still my favorite though.

+1

+1

Though when I'm feeling bummed out I swing the other way.

None of the records are as cohesive to me, and I find myself skipping a bunch of tracks.

Does anyone love, I mean really love Loaded?

I like it, but I have to be in the mood for it.

burun wrote:Does anyone love, I mean really love Loaded?

I like it, but I have to be in the mood for it.

It's a good album, but it's more a collection of songs, than a cohesive album where each song flows into and informs the following song.

For me, The Velvet Underground is the most cohesive of their albums. It's really an album about questioning, discovery and redemption.