Best Solo Album by Former Member of the Velvet Underground - Poll

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Listed chronologically. No live albums or EPs.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
John Cale - Paris 1919 (1973) 20
Lou Reed - Transformer (1972) 8
Lou Reed - Metal Machine Music (1975) 6
John Cale - Fear (1974) 5
Nico - Desertshore (1970) 5
Lou Reed - Coney Island Baby (1975) 5
Nico - The Marble Index (1969) 4
Lou Reed - New York (1989) 4
Lou Reed - New Sensations (1984) 3
Lou Reed - The Blue Mask (1982) 3
Lou Reed and John Cale - Songs for Drella (1990) 3
Lou Reed - Berlin (1973) 2
Mo Tucker - Dog Under Stress (1994) 2
Nico - Chelsea Girl (1967) 2
Lou Reed - Lulu (2011) 2
Lou Reed - Legendary Hearts (1983) 1
Mo Tucker - Playin' Possum (1981) 1
Nico - Drama in Exile (1981) 1
Lou Reed - Ecstasy (2000) 1
Lou Reed - Growing Up in Public (1980) 1
Lou Reed - Street Hassle (1978) 1
Mo Tucker - Life in Exile After Abdication (1989) 1
John Cale - Vintage Violence (1970) 1
Lou Reed - Lou Reed (1972) 1
John Cale - Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood (2012) 0
Mo Tucker - I Spent a Week There the Other Night (1991) 0
Lou Reed - Magic and Loss (1992) 0
Lou Reed - Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007) 0
John Cale - blackAcetate (2005) 0
Lou Reed - Set the Twilight Reeling (1996) 0
John Cale - Walking on Locusts (1996) 0
John Cale - HoboSapiens (2003) 0
Lou Reed - The Raven (2003) 0
John Cale - Words for the Dying (1989) 0
Lou Reed - Mistrial (1986) 0
Lou Reed - Sally Can't Dance (1974) 0
Nico - The End... (1974) 0
John Cale - Slow Dazzle (1975) 0
John Cale - Helen of Troy (1975) 0
Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Heart (1976) 0
John Cale - Honi Soit (1981) 0
Lou Reed - The Bells (1979) 0
John Cale - Music for a New Society (1982) 0
John Cale - Caribbean Sunset (1984) 0
John Cale - Artificial Intelligence (1985) 0
Nico - Camera Obscura (1985) 0
John Cale - The Academy in Peril (1972) 0


what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 20:32 (twelve years ago)

Paris 1919, ahead of Desertshore and Metal Machine Music.

― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, September 18, 2013 2:50 PM (42 minutes ago)

EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 20:34 (twelve years ago)

paris 1919 yet there's still marble index and desertshore and lol lulu

emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 20:36 (twelve years ago)

Got to go with EZ, though would sub Desertshore for 'all of the first three Nico records'.

emil.y, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:00 (twelve years ago)

That's fair. I just have an extra soft spot for Desertshore

EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:17 (twelve years ago)

God help me but I'm tempted to go with new sensations.

― da croupier, Wednesday, September 18, 2013 4

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:18 (twelve years ago)

― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, September 18, 2013 4:53 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Others:

Paris 1919
Fear
Slow Dazzle
Coney Island Baby
Life in Exile...
The Blue Mask
Legendary Hearts

but, yeah, I love the casual philosophizin' peeking behind the great riffs, awful drum sound, and popcraft on NS.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:18 (twelve years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga4q6IycZqg

ian, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:25 (twelve years ago)

I thought this meant you wouldn't be including solo stuff in your VU poll, but that one would be songs, so two separate things...Estimate I have 12-15 of these. Overall, Paris 1919; my three favourite songs are from other albums. Not a fan of Reed's solo career.

clemenza, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:36 (twelve years ago)

I'm not either until 1982.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:39 (twelve years ago)

madness.
actually, looking at lou's records, i dunno if there are any that i don't enjoy on some level. i'm not gonna rep hard for mistrial or anything, but I ... I enjoy it.

tylerw, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:44 (twelve years ago)

i'll consider repping hard for ecstasy. for all you lulu lovers, it's like lulu: the prequel.

tylerw, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:45 (twelve years ago)

I like the big seventies songs and "The Bells" and Coney Island Baby but he's so slovenly that it's hard to pay attention. In the seventies it's Cale >>>> Reed until 1982 when it's Reed >>>>>>> Cale

And, yeah, Mistrial has the title track and "Tell It to Your Heart"!

Ecstacy is pretty excellent.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:46 (twelve years ago)

I did, at one point in my life, like Street Hassle a lot, and the title song still moves me as used in The Squid & the Whale. But I haven't played the album in ages. The Blue Mask was where I lost interest. Christgau's love for it (which I think was stepped back a bit when the '80s book came out--even maybe by the time of Pazz & Jop) baffled me at the time. "The Gun" was the only song I liked on the whole thing.

clemenza, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:50 (twelve years ago)

i think transformer, coney island baby and street hassle are the essential 70s studio albums...used to love Berlin, but don't know if I ever want to hear it again.

tylerw, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:52 (twelve years ago)

Berlin is a guy trying to sound like he's watched the right porn and Fassbinder movies.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:53 (twelve years ago)

i love the VU but never really got into most of reed's solo stuff -- 'transformer' is good i guess. are any of the mo tucker albums any good?

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:58 (twelve years ago)

this is worth it for sure. also includes the only studio reunion of cale, reed, morrison & tucker
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m9HKZ1nyL._SY300_.jpg

tylerw, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 22:59 (twelve years ago)

This is from Life in Exile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-tWcC0rkM

With very few words, says a great deal.

clemenza, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:08 (twelve years ago)

which is the one with "Spam Again"? It's a raucous little garage record, and better than Reed's output at the time.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:09 (twelve years ago)

Berlin is a guy trying to sound like he's watched the right porn and Fassbinder movies.

I half-watched the recent live film thing with Antony and your boy Fernando and Steve Hunter and parts of it sort of work, but for the most part its overwrought and fussy.

"The Kids" is where it gets really effective.

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:16 (twelve years ago)

my 12" of Disco Mystic = VERY EFFECTIVE

nerve_pylon, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:21 (twelve years ago)

imho except for Coney Island Baby and Transformer all of Reed's albums are flawed and full of warts, failed experiments, poor production choices etc. but he always had at least one (and often a few) absolutely stunning, really emotionally heavy songs on each (on the Bells it's "Families" altho yeah "Disco Mystic" is a lot of fun).

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:27 (twelve years ago)

all of his 70s albums, that should say

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:28 (twelve years ago)

not as big a fan of Fernando Saunder's farting trombone lines as Alfred is

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:28 (twelve years ago)

I love a lot of John Cale but Coney Island Baby is an all-time record for me - it may not be perfect, but it is to me, you know?

combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:29 (twelve years ago)

no it is perfect

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:31 (twelve years ago)

I'm not a fan of fretless bass, but the way it's mixed on Reed's eighties records and the lines he plays he's a second guitar -- a crucial one once Reed fired Quine.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:34 (twelve years ago)

he = Saunders

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:34 (twelve years ago)

really one of the few records that continues to afford greater and greater pleasure to me year after year. "crazy feeling" such a groove, such a perfect lead-off track. I don't think he was ever better than he is on Coney Island Baby, really. xp Saunders is wonderful imo - really brought a lot to the sound.

combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:37 (twelve years ago)

I should listen to more Cale and Nico. Right now, this is honestly Metal Machine Music.

EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:41 (twelve years ago)

I can't bear solo Nico, sorry. It makes perfect sense she bedded Jackson Browne: that dolorous self-regard.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:45 (twelve years ago)

Spam Again? Exile/abdication, yeah I voted that one.

Mark G, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:51 (twelve years ago)

you wouldn't think it'd be easy to be the worst human being in a band with lou reed in it, but somehow nico managed it.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 23:56 (twelve years ago)

paris cause duh

i think songs for drella is up there with anything they've done and it's maybe my #2

iatee, Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:00 (twelve years ago)

is there really a disco mystic 12" and where can i hear this

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:38 (twelve years ago)

i mean is it an extended version or...?

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:40 (twelve years ago)

Berlin is a guy trying to sound like he's watched the right porn and Fassbinder movies.

― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, September 18, 2013 6:53 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

But the orchestrations are gorgeous. I used to listen to berlin continuously but I don't think I've put myself through the whole thing in years.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:46 (twelve years ago)

Where's Squeeze?

Lee626, Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:49 (twelve years ago)

damn this poll is hard. really could use a points system instead of just the one. lots of incredible records, lots of spotty records, lots of records that have great songs that sound much better live, and others that are conceptually great but to wearying to listen to.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:58 (twelve years ago)

this reminds me of how much of lou's 1970s and 80s catalog that i haven't listened to in too long and how much of cale's recent catalog i haven't paid attention to.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Thursday, 19 September 2013 00:59 (twelve years ago)

or at least devoted enough repeated listens to.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Thursday, 19 September 2013 01:00 (twelve years ago)

Where's Squeeze?

it was put out of its misery for the purposes of this poll

combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 19 September 2013 01:36 (twelve years ago)

In any case, it's a Velvet Underground album.

(ps, I know)

Mark G, Thursday, 19 September 2013 08:37 (twelve years ago)

Favourite Velvet Underground album (with extra facility)

It got two votes in the 'favourite' poll, one on the 4th fav and one on the 5th fav.

Mark G, Thursday, 19 September 2013 08:39 (twelve years ago)

new sensations over ecstasy

g simmel, Thursday, 19 September 2013 11:40 (twelve years ago)

damn this poll is hard. really could use a points system instead of just the one

on the poll thread most people said they wouldn't bother voting in a VU solo-only poll. so when the VU poll rolls around, it will be for both VU album material plus solo material. I expect that that will result in most of the solo stuff getting shunted aside (and Sister Ray as #1 lol) but what can I do, the great unwashed masses have spoken.

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 15:46 (twelve years ago)

though I've grown to like a lot of other stuff on this list more, not voting for Transformer (or Rock N Roll Animal) feels like a betrayal of 14-year-old me when I'd buy whatever the freaks behind the counter at the used record shop down the block from school told me was cool. Luckily they were good freaks. Parts of Transformer feel a little cornball to me now - but as a sign-post to the whole world of VU, it was a good place to start..

brio, Thursday, 19 September 2013 15:59 (twelve years ago)

Going from thinking "wow, these record collector freaks are so cool" to "bah, these record collector assholes are so annoying" at used record stores is a sad byproduct of the inevitable teenage hardening of the heart/wising up.

brio, Thursday, 19 September 2013 16:07 (twelve years ago)

Damn, no Church of Anthrax?

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 16:13 (twelve years ago)

yeah I kinda arbitrarily excluded that and Wrong Way Up

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 16:15 (twelve years ago)

Oh well, at least it was arbitrary

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 16:19 (twelve years ago)

if I had followed through entirely on the no collaborations rule I would have had to leave out Lulu, and we can't have that.

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 16:24 (twelve years ago)

Drella I guess is kinda neither-fish-nor-fowl.

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 16:41 (twelve years ago)

Berlin, esp. since the weather is getting cooler. It's one of my favorite autumn records.

kwhitehead, Thursday, 19 September 2013 17:01 (twelve years ago)

Don't want to sidetrack this poll, but "Sister Ray" would in no way be my pick to win the VU poll.

clemenza, Thursday, 19 September 2013 17:49 (twelve years ago)

not mine either I'm just judging by past Velvets' threads. feels like there's a sizable contingent here who are apeshit for WL/WH and that track in particular

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 17:50 (twelve years ago)

but yes we shall see won't we

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 17:50 (twelve years ago)

I like "Sister Ray" best of all as a particular performance - the whole one-take-no-splices real-time mythology of it. The way Cale and Reed take turns trying to drown each other out, the way Mo finally gets to cut loose with something approaching a solo after fifteen minutes of playing the simplest of backbeats. But there are certainly better VU songs.

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 18:18 (twelve years ago)

Hard to choose between Metal Machine Music (probably my favorite of Lou's solo records) and Marble Index, went with the latter.

When I first got into the Velvets I started buying whatever the new Lou record was at the time. I bought Mistrial the day it was released. After the first song, this unsettling sinking feeling set in...

punt cased (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 19 September 2013 18:41 (twelve years ago)

But enough of that. Now it's time to Sing Along With Lou:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Ngt7VY-Iw

punt cased (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 19 September 2013 18:42 (twelve years ago)

re: Mistrial David Fricke loved it

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 18:47 (twelve years ago)

Ha, I think that review was what convinced me to buy it. tbf, his solo at the end of "Video Violence" when I saw him that summer was life-changing.

punt cased (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 19 September 2013 18:51 (twelve years ago)

Is that the one-note solo?

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:11 (twelve years ago)

Log another vote for Coney Island Baby -- in particular, "Kicks" makes "Heroin" sound like a nursery rhyme.

No love for Doug Yule?

bodacious ignoramus, Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:14 (twelve years ago)

No, it was typical Lou, tearin' it up, tons of feedback and whammy-bar manipulation. I didn't know it was "typical Lou" at the time, though.

The performance from a bit later in that tour, the 1986 Amnesty International show at Giants Stadium, was in regular rotation on MTV for a bit. Dweezil Zappa (a VJ, briefly) called it "the worst guitar solo ever played." Higher praise I know not.

xp

punt cased (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:19 (twelve years ago)

I like his guitar work on Mistrial but the stuff is essentially demos recorded with Saunders.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:19 (twelve years ago)

Oh, I remember Dweezil dissing that solo! Carrying on the Zappa-Velvets rivalry to the next generation

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:21 (twelve years ago)

Dweezil Zappa (a VJ, briefly) called it "the worst guitar solo ever played." Higher praise I know not.
lol that is great

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:21 (twelve years ago)

what's the clip?

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:22 (twelve years ago)

test

Z S, Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:23 (twelve years ago)

yeah I wanna see this now

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:24 (twelve years ago)

uh, 2 different times (once yesterday, once a few minutes ago) i submitted a post about the greatness of coney island baby, and also about how i wish i knew more about post-1980s solo VU stuff, and both times the post has been missing when i came back.

Z S, Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:25 (twelve years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPgaaW2u_qs
says 1984 but must be 87.
insane that lou ever had a band like this

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:28 (twelve years ago)

xp

It used to be on YouTube, but apparently isn't anymore. Here's audio from around the same time:
http://youtu.be/ItWAWuc64x8

punt cased (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:28 (twelve years ago)

Christgau:

Mistrial [RCA Victor, 1986]
Young modern Lou makes his electronic move, dispensing with live drums on six tracks and leaving the programming to newly annointed computer whiz Fernando Saunders. Old fart Lou works up a pretty fair head of current decrying "Video Violence" and bows to the '80s by situating evil "Outside." His most expedient album since The Bells and his worst since Rock and Roll Heart. B

I'd imagine the New Sensations-Mistrial era was Lou's most MTV visible?

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:30 (twelve years ago)

ZS - you might've posted in the original thread -- shakey restarted it due to a missing album.
and yeah, 84-88 was probably the high point of lou as potential pop star... execs were praying he'd have some weird robert palmer-y crossover hit, i imagine.

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:35 (twelve years ago)

I used to see those videos on MuchMusic, so that's a good indicator, maybe. But my Muchviewing was at its peak in 1984-86, anyways.

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:38 (twelve years ago)

I thought this had been a hit, but apparently it didn't even chart.
(and I really hope that's actually Lou dancing at the end, but it probably isn't)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p1TrF-pVwQ

punt cased (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:40 (twelve years ago)

Hold your head up high, Lou

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:46 (twelve years ago)

It wasn't but thanks to "Suzanne" New Sensations was his highest charter in years

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 19:55 (twelve years ago)

"Blue Mask" for me. I think Xgau's review was right on the money and I'm pretty sure RS gave it a huge rave when it first came out, too. I love the intimate, stripped-down sound and guitar interplay between Reed and Quine, as well as the strong writing. Side 1 is definitely stronger than 2, however.

Jazzbo, Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:06 (twelve years ago)

It's one of the few if not the only mature-boomer albums of the eighties that sounds new and slightly dangerous.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:08 (twelve years ago)

prefer side 2 myself - while the Heroine is some sort of pathetic pseudo-poetic excercise, Average Guy is Lou at his hilarious best

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:09 (twelve years ago)

Day John Kennedy died just reminds me of the (far superior) Jim Carroll bit

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:10 (twelve years ago)

I do love "Average Guy," but "My House," Women," "Underneath the Bottle," "The Gun" and "The Blue Mask" is pretty strong stuff.

Jazzbo, Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:15 (twelve years ago)

"Women" was funnier the first time around when it was called "A Gift"

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:17 (twelve years ago)

The looong slow build at the beginning of "Our House" is sublime.

agree re ""Heroine."

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:20 (twelve years ago)

Voting Marble Index, just edging out Paris 1919.

Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:21 (twelve years ago)

very hard. paris 1919, music for a new society, new york and magic and loss are all phantastic albums. i think i am leaning towards magic & loss but i'd have to relisten to it.

it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:24 (twelve years ago)

I have a real soft spot for Magic & Loss - cut to it's best ten tracks, i'd probably have voted for it

da croupier, Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:28 (twelve years ago)

i could never get into marble index but i guess i am not the only one. nico somehow really goes on my nerves. 1st she can't sing. 2nd she has got that terrible german accent 3rd the songs are not really songs.

it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:29 (twelve years ago)

you gotta really appreciate that tragic german nihilisim schtick. I can't really get into it apart from her first album (and her Decca single w/Jimmy Page)

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:31 (twelve years ago)

Never liked Nico either

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:49 (twelve years ago)

(Still intend to hear June 1, 1974 someday tho)

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:50 (twelve years ago)

wtf
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1209ux_scooby-doo-mystery-incorporated-s02e06-art-of-darkness_shortfilms&start=42

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:55 (twelve years ago)

^^^features "Eeko" doing a parody of "All Tomorrow's Parties"

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 20:56 (twelve years ago)

Yes, June 1, 1971 would get my vote if balloted, if only for the beautifully cascading basslines on "Driving Me Backwards" (by Ayers?) that trumps the original in spades.

bodacious ignoramus, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:03 (twelve years ago)

*1974

bodacious ignoramus, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:04 (twelve years ago)

Nico's pronunciation of "clown" will always be the correct pronunciation of "clown" but otherwise she is a singing artist I don't often feel like playing.

i believe we can c.h.u.d. all night (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:14 (twelve years ago)

i'll consider repping hard for ecstasy. for all you lulu lovers, it's like lulu: the prequel.

― tylerw, Wednesday, September 18, 2013 5:45 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

63 cent used copy on Amazon purchased

chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:16 (twelve years ago)

money well spent!

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:17 (twelve years ago)

too goddamn long but it's got my favorite closing track on a Reed album ("Big Sky").

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:18 (twelve years ago)

Also the no live albums clause makes this very hard to vote, both of my fave former VU member records are live, Cale's Sabotage/Live and Sweet Lou's Take No Prisoners

chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:22 (twelve years ago)

I had to get it to under 50 poll options somehow

I will always stan for Take No Prisoners

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:26 (twelve years ago)

the very first Lou Reed album is really underrated, lots of unrecorded VU songs and this beauty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBAJLe8A6nc

( X '____' )/ (zappi), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:29 (twelve years ago)

cale's sabotage a close second behind Fragments of a Rainy Season.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:34 (twelve years ago)

the very first Lou Reed album

the only one without his ugly mug on the cover, I think...? I hate most of this album tbf. "Wild Child" is really good.

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:39 (twelve years ago)

Nico haters can gtfo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx30AU4yhxM

Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:42 (twelve years ago)

i'll consider repping hard for ecstasy. for all you lulu lovers, it's like lulu: the prequel.

especially "like a possum," which shares the lyric "wouldn't it be lovely" with "brandenburg gate"

emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:47 (twelve years ago)

that scooby doo thing is insane.

"emo art band saturday around noonish"

da croupier, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:48 (twelve years ago)

xp yeah like a possum, the title track and rock minuet are the most luluish ones. kind of aggressively unpleasant (in a good way!)

tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:49 (twelve years ago)

m-a-a-a-a-a-d
You make me mad.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:50 (twelve years ago)

i can't believe there was a half-hour of velvet underground and warhol jokes on some nu-scooby show

da croupier, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:50 (twelve years ago)

Now I'm imagining the band animated Hanna-Barbara style: Moe=Velma, Shaggy=Sterling, etc.

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:10 (twelve years ago)

uh did you watch that clip

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:11 (twelve years ago)

Can't see clips at work, unfortunately...did I imagine incorrectly?

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:17 (twelve years ago)

you're not too far off

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:19 (twelve years ago)

wow!

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:40 (twelve years ago)

people not interested in watching the whole half hour should catch the first three minutes, then skip ahead to 17:30 when scooby sings "all tomorrows parties" in a nico wig, followed by the unmasking of the villain, who's felled by a shirtless fred wearing a scarf and riding a bull.

I can't believe I'm not making this up.

da croupier, Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:51 (twelve years ago)

actually, i think it was a cow

da croupier, Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:51 (twelve years ago)

Good lord, I'm leaving work NOW - this must be seen

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 September 2013 22:52 (twelve years ago)

thank you so much for that scooby episode.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Friday, 20 September 2013 01:45 (twelve years ago)

spoilers: lou reed-alike did it because he's mad andy-warhol-alike molded him into a rockstar when he wanted to actually play polkas

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Friday, 20 September 2013 01:52 (twelve years ago)

lol "Butch Burbank"

I liked Fred-as-Joe Dallesandro

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Friday, 20 September 2013 01:57 (twelve years ago)

Wow, some serious backlash on Nico itt!

Couldn't get into Marble Index?! Wtf. You try again and get into it mister.

So much great records here: Berlin, Paris, MMM. But this will always be Nico for me. Will vote Marble Index, even though Desertshore is just as brilliant.

In the airplane over the .CSS (Le Bateau Ivre), Friday, 20 September 2013 02:03 (twelve years ago)

gotta rep for growing up in public as the great underrated lou album. its so much fun and actually has great orchestration. probably my fav orchestration in a lou album after berlin.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Friday, 20 September 2013 02:06 (twelve years ago)

I've listened to the Lou Reed albums the most and a bunch when I was a teenager, but at some point I kind of soured on his whole schtik and haven't listened to a whole album by him in at least 17 years.

I never heard John Cale's solo records until I was in college and I have all of his 70s records now. I finally picked up Church of Anthrax and the The Academy in Peril last and have been listening to them the most over the last decade. That said, I think Fear is probably my favorite record by Cale.

I had heard some Nico before and found them too much but at points quite impressive and scary. I got Chelsea Girl and The End, which are interesting, but I really got to be in a certain mood to check them out.

I've heard some of the Mo Tucker stuff, but I don't recall much about it and it never caught with me to get one of the CDs or LPs.

earlnash, Friday, 20 September 2013 02:53 (twelve years ago)

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lcdnxasCmx1qzezj5o1_500.jpg

Mark G, Friday, 20 September 2013 05:52 (twelve years ago)

Tough choice between Berlin and Songs for Drella. You wouldn't think that a Reed/Cale album could be so much at peace with itself as "Drella", but they nailed it. The stars really aligned for that one, with the right artists at the right point in their careers making songs about the right subject.

NoTimeBeforeTime, Friday, 20 September 2013 06:28 (twelve years ago)

Going with Paris 1919 but I also really love Coney Island Baby and The Marble Index (although my favourite song on the latter might be 'Roses in the Snow' which is a bonus track on the CD).

Coney has slowly become my favourite Lou record, the songwriting and playing is so strong but I also love how it sounds like Lou with nothing to prove.

Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 20 September 2013 11:47 (twelve years ago)

Music for a New Society has some of Cale's best songs but I haven't heard it in so long I can't remember if its all good

President Keyes, Friday, 20 September 2013 12:57 (twelve years ago)

It is apart from the song the record company made him put on it. Looks like "Paris 1919" is walking this but the lurkers will no doubt have their say. This is too painful a poll to vote in for me.

Tommy McTommy (Tom D.), Friday, 20 September 2013 12:58 (twelve years ago)

I kind of thought blue mask would walk it

President Keyes, Friday, 20 September 2013 13:04 (twelve years ago)

Legendary Hearts is underrated Lou (but I prefer Quine's "betrayed" solo on Live in Italy)

making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner), Friday, 20 September 2013 13:10 (twelve years ago)

http://thriftyvinyl.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/img_1601.jpg

a hard dom is good to find (Edward III), Friday, 20 September 2013 13:23 (twelve years ago)

RCA Special Value!

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Friday, 20 September 2013 13:32 (twelve years ago)

Ha, the only two eight-tracks I ever owned were Sally Can't Dance and Berlin.

I Am the Cosimo Code (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 20 September 2013 13:39 (twelve years ago)

voting for a lou album on the basis of quine's guitarywork seems silly. there's plenty of other great places to hear quine.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Friday, 20 September 2013 14:02 (twelve years ago)

didn't you just give an album a nod for underrated "orchestration"

da croupier, Friday, 20 September 2013 15:48 (twelve years ago)

there are plenty of other great places to hear orchestration

da croupier, Friday, 20 September 2013 15:48 (twelve years ago)

good point. its all boston pops for me from here on out.

Saul Goodberg (by Musket and Pup Tent) (s.clover), Friday, 20 September 2013 16:07 (twelve years ago)

and The Blue Mask was my intro to Quine.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 20 September 2013 16:11 (twelve years ago)

Like Quine fine on that record but not a big fan of the whale song bass lines.

I Am the Cosimo Code (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 20 September 2013 16:42 (twelve years ago)

Voted Marble Index.

am.curious.sometimes, Friday, 20 September 2013 21:59 (twelve years ago)

xp yes. i want Blue Mask with a fretted bass, stat.

nerve_pylon, Friday, 20 September 2013 22:11 (twelve years ago)

the whale song bass lines
this is called "Fernandizing" FYI

tylerw, Friday, 20 September 2013 22:14 (twelve years ago)

Ha, the only two eight-tracks I ever owned were Sally Can't Dance and Berlin.

Then you know that the 8-track version of "Berlin" has an extra instrumental coda not on the LP?

I owned the tape first and was baffled when I later bought the vinyl and found it slightly shortened.

"lol meth dear john" call (Myonga Vön Bontee), Friday, 20 September 2013 22:39 (twelve years ago)

OK wow @ Scooby

EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 20 September 2013 22:51 (twelve years ago)

I love Fernando Saunders bass style unapologetically and don't really get what people dislike in it - it's a beautiful sound to me.

combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 20 September 2013 23:14 (twelve years ago)

btw from the wiki it seems we've been missing a lot by not keeping up w/Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated:

A ghostly Puritan judge named Hebediah Grim begins terrorizing Crystal Cove and judging its female citizens, forcing Mystery Incorporated to investigate. At first they turn to Gary and Ethan, but both claim to have fought the monster themselves. Ethan suggests Doogle McGuinness, but the monster attacks as the gang is investigating him. Grim then turns his judgment upon Daphne, but Brad Chiles and Judy Reeves offer to help Fred protect her, and they set up a trap to capture Grim. They encourage Fred that he will be a great "trapsman" claiming it is "in his blood" and to believe in himself as they do. It is also shown that Daphne still has strong feelings for Fred, as well as that there are feelings between Mayor Nettles and Sheriff Stone. The episode ends with Cassidy Williams spying on the gang, Brad, and Judy.

Villain: Hebediah Grim/Gary and Ethan

Note: This episode is a parody of the slasher genre. The costume Scooby wears while he and Shaggy are spying on Ethan at the soccer field is similar to that of Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989).

A family vacationing in the Burlington Library is attacked by a shadowy fiend wearing a head similar to that of Anubis and is scared off when it assumes a werewolf-like form. Later, a landslide forces the gang to abandon their ski vacation and detours them to the same library, where they are greeted by its caretaker Dan Fluunk who explains to the gang the history behind the mansion, including that its builder and namesake had a fascination with groups of four people and an animal. Soon, strange things begin happening to the gang as their stay in the mansion progresses. Eventually, their experiences are revealed to be hallucinations brought on by the burning of a special kind of wood called Terror Wood. Meanwhile, Cassidy Williams continues her search for the truth behind what is happening to the gang now and what has happened to other mystery-solving groups in the past — including the Darrow family.

Overarching Mystery Events: The repeating pattern of mystery-solving groups, including the Darrow family and both incarnations of Mystery Incorporated, being haunted by the Planispheric Disk and the treasure it leads to, all of them consisting of four sleuths and an animal mascot; the Planispheric Disk user manual.

Villain: Fiend/Dan Fluunk

Notes: This episode bears similarities to the film The Shining. Though the monster is listed as "Fiend" in the credits, this is the only episode not featuring an in-show name for the monster. The gang's snow suits are similar to the ones they wore in the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode "That's Snow Ghost". Also, the family vacationing is the exact same family who were vacationing in the episode "The Creeping Creatures".

Since her accident with the herd, Scooby has been visiting Nova regularly in the hospital. Meanwhile, a deceased ska band returns from the grave and hypnotizes partygoers at the local nightclub to dance to their music. The dancers are taken to hospital, whereupon the gang is called to solve the mystery before they dance themselves to death. Eventually, the band hypnotizes Fred and the girls, forcing Scooby and Shaggy to turn to the Hex Girls for help.

Overarching Mystery Events: The gang discovers a musical phrase which has appeared on the Planispheric Disk. When the Hex Girls sing the phrase, the Disk reveals another set of coordinates, which leads the gang to the restaurant owned by Skipper Shelton, whereupon they find that his hat (given to him by Handsome Jimmy from "Night on Haunted Mountain") bears the name "S. Llave" written under the brim. Scooby visits Nova in the hospital, only to see her flatline. Just afterward, she sits up in bed and says "Nibiru. Nibiru is coming", before regaining life.

Villains: Ska Zombies, Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics

Notes: This is the second appearance of the Hex Girls, who have converted back to their original outfits as seen in Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost. The song "Who Do Voodoo?" from Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire is featured in this episode. The song "Stuck in My Throat" is also heard once more, as it was last featured in "Battle of the Humungonauts". This episode shows many similarities Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire; both have a band that has disappeared, and musicians being kidnapped. Martha Quinn plays herself, as the owner of Grooves from the Grave. The battle between the Ska Zombies and the Hex Girls is reminiscent of a scene in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, where the music from two rival bands generates monsters that start fighting each other; the winning monster wins the music competition. Music for Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics was written and performed by Dave Wakeling & The English Beat.[22]

combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 20 September 2013 23:22 (twelve years ago)

omg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzW5ApHYglU

combination hair (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 20 September 2013 23:23 (twelve years ago)

vintage violence just for the hell of it

Very gud laser controled organ. (Matt P), Friday, 20 September 2013 23:25 (twelve years ago)

i'll consider repping hard for ecstasy. for all you lulu lovers, it's like lulu: the prequel.

― tylerw, Wednesday, September 18, 2013 5:45 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

63 cent used copy on Amazon purchased

― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:16 (4 days ago) Permalink

money well spent!

― tylerw, Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:17 (4 days ago) Permalink

Spun it a few times this wknd, some of it is really great, some of it is really Lou, but yeah I'm digging it. "Like A Possum" is something.

chr1sb3singer, Monday, 23 September 2013 15:48 (twelve years ago)

for those complaining about Saunders, check out how he holds it down on "Big Sky"

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 September 2013 15:51 (twelve years ago)

I'm normally not a fan of that style of playing (nor of how far up in the mix he's normally mixed) but I must say it usually works in the context of Lou's work

chr1sb3singer, Monday, 23 September 2013 16:50 (twelve years ago)

after lou brought him back into the fold for set the twilight reeling, fernando's fernandizing was toned down quite a bit.

tylerw, Monday, 23 September 2013 16:57 (twelve years ago)

btw I don't meet many Set The Twilight Reeling fans but I think it's fun, throwaway, and has excellent gee-tar.

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 September 2013 16:59 (twelve years ago)

yeah, haven't listened to it in years, but i think it's pretty nice for the most part, kinda the 90s version of New Sensations.

tylerw, Monday, 23 September 2013 17:01 (twelve years ago)

Voting "Possum" cos while there are maybe some better albums as albums, it's the most interesting thing I've heard post-VU, and probably invents as many bands/genres as the first VU album.

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 23 September 2013 17:44 (twelve years ago)

I meant "Playing Possum". Yall need to listen to this if you haven't heard it yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e4voY_Vg-A

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 23 September 2013 17:53 (twelve years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 24 September 2013 00:01 (twelve years ago)

Blue Mask

kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 24 September 2013 00:21 (twelve years ago)

Drella by a mile.

piscesx, Tuesday, 24 September 2013 00:30 (twelve years ago)

oooohhhh new sensaaaatioonnnnns

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 24 September 2013 00:31 (twelve years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 00:01 (twelve years ago)

looooolll

first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 00:02 (twelve years ago)

hey, just noticing the absolutely lovely I spent a week there the other night by moe wasn't even listed.....at least ns got a few deserving votes......

making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 00:56 (twelve years ago)

i see u, two votes for lulu

emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 04:17 (twelve years ago)

the greatest disappointment

markers, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 04:23 (twelve years ago)

Thought about going with Street Hassle but can't remember if I voted. Glad it didn't get shut out.

I Am the Cosimo Code (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 04:23 (twelve years ago)

Pulled out Magic & Loss last weekend for the first time in eons, liked it, even if it's a bit monochromatic in one go. Some really good Feelies-sounding solos, which made me smile.

willem, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 09:04 (twelve years ago)

I spent a week there the other night by moe wasn't even listed

it was listed, nobody voted for it

these results are ridiculous btw

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:30 (twelve years ago)

i dunno, the best album definitely came out on top.

tylerw, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:32 (twelve years ago)

interesting that Reed got more votes overall tho

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:32 (twelve years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQzmQrtDkqg

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:33 (twelve years ago)

Reed coming out with more total votes interesting in light of this other poll: Lou Reed vs. John Cale poll - (solo careers only)

but bigger/different voting base I guess

what's up ugly girls? (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:43 (twelve years ago)

All the Cale fans were voting here for Moe and Sterling solo albums...

Mark G, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:45 (twelve years ago)

would reed walk away with Best Live Album by Former Member of the Velvet Underground - Poll?
guess it'd be take no prisoners vs. sabotage (or fragments of a rainy season)

tylerw, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:46 (twelve years ago)

Well, I'd rep for "Oh no, they're recording this show" but I haven't heard it. I have heard them live, though.

Mark G, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 15:59 (twelve years ago)

it is a fun listen and certainly good to hear sterling morrison back on guitar.

tylerw, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 16:01 (twelve years ago)

Will have to track it down.

If it's anything like the gig I saw, it will contain the one time Sterling sings (one line) on his own!.

Mark G, Thursday, 26 September 2013 08:22 (twelve years ago)


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