The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground (1969)

The Velvet Underground was one of the most influential bands of the 1960s, even if their record sales did not show for much. As one music critic put it, everyone who bought their debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico, started a band. They were the first group to add gritty lyrics to a gritty sound. People liked seeing films and reading about drugs, sex, and things among this vein of life, but hearing them in a song was revolutionary. The Velvet Underground, released in 1969, was the group's third release. The album saw the addition of Doug Yule replacing John Cale. Cale's experimental approach to music colored the groups first two records, neither of which had a hit or even sold many copies. The Velvet Underground saw the group write and record more commercial music, while still retaining the sound that makes their music so exciting and soothing at times. Filled with rock songs and ballads, The Velvet Underground marked a serious departure from the experimental approach that John Cale had brought to their music. When Cale left the group, Lou Reed's influence directed how their third record would sound. 

The album kicks off with "Candy Says", a ballad type song  about a cross dresser who is later referenced in Reed's 1972 single "Walk On The Wild Side". The vocals have a special charm, being sung by new member and multi-instrumentalist Doug Yule. "What Goes On", which shares a name with a song off The Beatles 1965 Rubber Soul, is a good example of the new rock & roll Velvet Underground, and has a similar sound to "Beginning To See The Light". Most of the rest of the songs, "Some Kinda Love", "Jesus", "Pale Blue Eyes", "I'm Set Free", and "That's The Story Of My Life" are laid back, mellow compositions, placing value on lyrical content, rather than an experimental sound. This leads many to say The Velvet Underground was basically Reed with a backing band, which to some extent may be true. But that doesn't make it any less brilliant. 

The one experimental-type song on the album, "The Murder Mystery", consists of a raga rhythm, an eerie organ, and multiple spoken word passages by members of the band, all describing a strange murder mystery tale. The final track, "After Hours", has Maureen Tucker, the drummer, on vocals and bass and guitar accompanying what turns out to be a beautiful child-like voice, and a fantastic closing song to The Velvet Underground's most accessible album for those trying to get in to their fantastic collection of music.