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This is one of THE most influential rock & roll albums ever. Brian Eno noted that “it didn’t sell many copies but everyone who bought it went and formed a band.”
Stylistically, their influence is enormous. REM started with a sound very much like VU & a bunch of VU covers. Mazzy Star's sound has everything distorted at 11 with the volume turned down, and, on Hunky Dory, Bowie noted “some VU White Light returned with thanks”.
The VU has also been covered by Japan, Joy Division, REM, Nick Cave, Nirvana, Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, and stacks more.
We talk about the songs' gritty NY style, much of it about drugs, and contrast that with the California sounds of the time. We also talk about Lou Reed's songwriting, with beautiful, tender lyrics in a song like "I'll be your Mirror" at the same time as those of a song like "Heroin"!
Mick is a huge VU fan, but the PhatMan is not convinced!
References: The Velvet Underground, Matthew Sweet, Eno, Rick Wakeman, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, Matthew Sweet, Susanna Hoffs and Victor Bockris.
Rick Wakeman:
https://youtu.be/AXlZ0x0Ghrk
https://youtu.be/CL9NJh_0oy4
https://open.spotify.com/album/0ALQd0pjofVj8QQecUnP6l?si=JAZfyViATs6DMOpA2WovlQ
Matthew Sweet:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4F71ROKxuStS3pwxVkJIcH?si=QMIYBNUDRFmJDz1p_19t7A
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