[ClearCase_guy]

I have wide ranging tastes, and listen to a lot of music which some people would consider “different”. But somehow, despite multiple attempts, I’ve never understood the appeal of the Velvet Undergound.

[sand lake bar]

It’s kinda like snails or sweetbreads. A few might be tasty, but not a whole bucketful.

[Skooz]

For me, their music ranges from absolutely mesmerizing and incredible to dull and plodding. Not a whole lot in-between.

On the whole, I like the Velvets. When they were good, they were very very good. Way ahead of their time.

I also find it interesting that two polar and intractable opposites of rock n roll, Prog Rock and Punk, trace their lineage through the Velvets. That's quite a trick.

[hc87]

I have wide ranging tastes, and listen to a lot of music which some people would consider “different”. But somehow, despite multiple attempts, I’ve never understood the appeal of the Velvet Undergound

They are the root of all Alternative Rock and, I think, worth a listen if you like the genre. If you're looking for an introduction, I'd suggest "VU" which was released in the '80s as a collection of studio material that never made it to album, due to the departure of John Cale and Lou Reed from the group. It has good material and a few songs ended up being re-recorded by Reed and released on his solo albums.

[radiohead]

I’ve been listening to a lot of VU over the past few years, some of which I remember when it first came out, some of which I’ve found fooling around on iTunes.

I have to admit I like this stuff. It sounds as good to me today as it did back then. I thought it might sound dated, but it doesn’t. It just sounds good.