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The Velvet Underground

Loaded

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by HomicidalCarrot on 12/01/2007

Loaded, The Velvet Underground's fourth and most mainstream album, is definitely their worst. It's hard to believe that an album with "Sweet Jane" and "Rock and Roll", among the best rock songs of ALL TIME, could be so slight and laden with filler. One of the problems with the album is the prominence of Doug Yule, the band's bassist since their quiet, lovely self titled album in 1969. His reading of "Candy Says" on that album is exquisite but his style and delivery dominates so much on this album, with no song he sings as good as "Candy Says." Well, except for "Oh Sweet Nuthin!", maybe, but I'll get to that later. Still, most of the songs Lou Reed does sing are caricatures of his usually much better songs. There's the "tough rocker" song "Head Held High", which is as aimless and phoned in as "Rock'N' Me" by The Steve Miller Band. The 50's doo wop pastiche "I Found a Reason" is pleasant but forgettable. "Train Around The Bend" fares slightly better, but the remaining Reed sung tunes are mostly basic, run of the mill rock songs. The opening "Who Loves The Sun" sung by Yule, as formulaic and poppy as it is, is still a capable song. The closing Lou Reed written number, sung by Yule for some reason, "Oh Sweet Nuthin!" is an "epic" at over 7 minutes, with Yule's best vocals and some great guitar, but it is extremely underwhelming and boring compared to "Sister Ray", "European Son", and "Heroin". There are only really 5 truly good songs, if that. But Sweet Jane and Rock and Roll are so incredibly classic it may merit a purchase. Just don't be disappointed when you listen to the rest of Loaded.

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Album Details

Year: 1970
Label: Warner Bros.
Producer:
Musicians:

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I'm Bored - Bluemask

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Tracklist

1	Who Loves The Sun
2	Sweet Jane
3	Rock And Roll
4	Cool It Down
5	New Age
6	Head Held High
7	Lonesome Cowboy Bill
8	I Found A Reason
9	Train Round The Bend
10	Oh! Sweet Nuthin'
11	Ride Into The Sun
12	Ocean
14	Who Loves The Sun [Alternate Mix]
15	Sweet Jane [Early Version]
16	Cool It Down [Early Version]
17	I Found A Reason [Demo]

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