Customer Reviews

Very Best of

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most fans of the VU are very dedicated and over-familiar with this legendary band's classic albums. That means they my not like this non-chronological sequence of tracks. I find it a refreshing listening experience because it highlights the individual songs instead of the overall feel of those album masterpieces. It's great to hear Pale Blue Eyes after All Tomorrow's Parties and to have it followed by Femme Fatale, it somehow seems right. Another refreshing sequence is the wistful Sunday Morning being followed by Rock `n Roll, which concludes the album. Of course this collection excludes some familiar tracks like The Gift but it does include most of their most accessible numbers like Sweet Jane, Waiting For The Man Venus In Furs and the aforementioned Pale Blue Eyes. Plus the controversial and experimental White Light White Heat and the overwhelming Heroin. A good selection, in my book, that's why I don't hesitate to give it five stars.

This is THEE best collection of V.U. songs in one " Greatest hits " package I have ever heard ....contains a lot of framiliar classics with a couple deep album tracks as well....BUT the real kicker is the PHENOMENAL sound quality of this disc !!!.....They REALLY did a nice job selecting and re-mastering all the songs.....I am a HUGE fan of V.U. and would have to say that this disc is THEE one to pick up for an ' overview' of their work and the best possible sound quality on the market......you can't go wrong with this disc... worth the money....!

I'm sure some might disagree, but for the new fan this is pretty much Velvet Underground 101. It's easily their best single-disc collection now, and three tracks longer than the older "Best Of". Sure I could pick another song or two to toss on, but it's hard to complain when this gives us "Sweet Jane", "Heroin", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "Femme Fatale", and "Pale Blue Eyes". Regardless of how one might catagorize VU, be it classic rock, early alternative, glam, punk, art-rock, they were one of the first, and I would say best. I'll admit I like some nice artwork too, and "The Very Best Of" also gives you that.

First of all a Velvet Underground best of with a sticker for Hyundai is repulsive. I'm sticking with you is a fun song, and one many fans probably do not have. It was first released on the 1984 album V.U. One song that currently get radio play on (big plug!) WEHM is Loaded's Who Loves the Sun. That ought to be on this compilation. As with all Velvet releases, too many songs from the debut. It is a great album, but if you are reading this still, you have that album. Get the real albums, and Another View and VU instead. It will be more pricey, but these are some of the most important, influential records I own.

Velvet Underground is just one of those bands you can lay back, burn some incense and relax. You get your moneys' worth from this one. It's a long c.d. Venus in Furs is my absolute favorite. I could play this one over and over and never get tired of it. Mellow and alluring are two words I'd use to describe their music.

I admit that I bought this CD just for "Heroin" but the whole album is worth listening to and relaxing.

I am not an expert on Velvet Underground so I will not pretend to be one like some reviewers may pretend to do when reviewing music. All I know is, I really enjoyed every single song on this album. It is rare that I find an album where I really like every single song. A few of the songs are a little out there (some prolonged screechy guitar), but that is to be expected. It's not Brittany Spears. If you want pop go find Bieber. I've been having good luck with albums lately though. I just purchased Violent Femmes (self titled album) and the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack. Both were very good. I would also recommend picking up NYC Man: Lou Reed The Collection. It is a 2 disc set of 31 songs. Lou Reed helped to select the compilation, the sequence of it and helped to get the right people to work on the album of his collected works. It's the largest affordable collection i could find of his work. I would also recommend downloading "Set the Twilight Reeling" of the album of the same name, and downloading "Cremation - Ashes to Ashes" from his "Magic & Loss" album. You can go to YouTube and listen to these songs being sung live by Lou to see if they are for you.

How could a supposedly comprehensive compilation of VU tracks not contain a single cut from Loaded? Where's "Sweet Jane"? Where's "Rock 'n Roll"? Those songs are just as much a part of VU's legacy as anything from VU & Nico, and it's ludicrous that they aren't represented. Sure, John Cale left prior to Loaded, but that doesn't mean it isn't a part of the band's catalogue. Also, there's an obvious predilection on the part of whoever assembled this CD to negate all the great experimental work the band put out. "European Sun" is arguably as significant a VU & Nico track as "Heroin", and where's "Sister Ray"? Including only "White Light/White Heat" and "Here She Comes Now" makes White Light/White Heat seem like The Velvet Underground and Nico Part II, which it obviously is not. WL/WH should be appreciated for the dark nihilist art piece that it is. Let's have a real VU retrospective, one that better encapsulates the band's monolithic influence on American art. Better yet, let's not have any retrospective at all.