#velvet underground
Song of the day - Candy Says by the Velvet Underground
There isn’t a sadder or more beautiful song ever recorded.
“Oh, it’s such a perfect day
I’m glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day…
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on…”
Thank you for everything.
Post link
Lou ReedofThe Velvet Underground (and with a considerable solo career beyond the band) passed away last year on October 27, 2013. Reed and company may as well be considered the first alternative rock band. Heralded as groundbreaking by their peers during what is considered by many to be the golden age of rock music. Velvet Underground did enjoy a kind of art-rock success below the mainstream success of many of their contemporaries. However, their legend has only grown since their breakup in 1970 and their influence on music is paralleled by only the likes of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bowie and very few others.
Lou Reed and many other legends of classic rock (1964-76) can be found on the Chop Shop design Rock Star available as a t-shirt, poster or as a limited edition letterpress print.
Post link
Patti Smith on the Velvet Underground, 1996:
a silver mylar pillowfloats solemnly
from the pale hands of Andy Warhol
through the Factory window
across the grainy New York skyline
and the sound embodying
that unheard work of art
was perhaps a work of art itself
the Velvet Underground
they were the stark elusive balloon
that burst upon a deflated scene
injecting that scene with a radiance
that connected poetry
the avant-garde
and rock-and-roll
they were a band of opposites
shooting freely from pole to pole
without apology
with dissonant beauty
trampling the flowers of peacemakers
treading the blonde depths
black in a white world
white in a black world
they opened wounds worth opening
with brutal innocence
without apology
cutting across the grain
gritty, urbanic
and in their search for the kingdom
for laughter
for salvation
they explored the
darkest areas of the psyche
and they
reimbursed and they delivered up
all of these things
all of these things can be
deemed romantic
but one aspect
can be truly romanticized
their work ethic
and the body they delivered up which is
being acknowledged this night
they are the Velvet Underground
and their work is
the clipper ship
they are the Velvet Underground
and we salute them
and mourn with them their captain
Sterling Morrison
who no doubt
in viewing these proceedings
might have
a bit of mythical contempt for us all
but would also feel a secret pride
and may John Cale
Maureen Tucker
and Lou Reed
share that pride and may they be as the
heroes of the song
“Waltzing Matilda” who
when the Sun rose
and they made to leave
sha-la-la-la-la
sha-la-la-la-la
not one regretted a thing
Post link
After profound inspection of this band I must say that you gotta listen to this song in particular. It captures all the highs of a 2010s indie band while being more than 50 years older than them.
Underrated 80’s Alternative Bands You Need to Listen To:
bc the 80s weren’t all just discos and legwarmers right?
The Replacements ~ a true underground band that’s wayyyy too underrated. just check them out
Minutemen~ that kind of effortless singing and basic riffs that just make really good, politically motivated music (lol)
The Feelies ~ nerdy, catchy stuff. for a reference, if weezer was a little older and was more punk
Mission of Burma ~ punk/alternative stuff, weird (but good) time shifts and piercing chords that aren’t basic or repetitive
The Cramps ~ super creepy but catchy music, it’s really unique garage-rock stuff
Gang of Four ~ part of the early punk movement, lots of political tunes with strong guitar/drum solos
The Dream Syndicate ☁️~ rock/alternative with a little bit of 80s pop elements included. super good guitar riffs and unique vocals
Meat Puppets ~ this is a mean emoji. but this band encompasses all aspects of rock and punk which makes really catchy and head banger music
‘But I know, oh
It’s just a temporary thing
Oh yeah, it’s just a temporary thing’
Lou Reed, 1942-2013
Prophetic that the Miles Davis of rock and roll passed away on a Sunday morning. The calm before the storm that was the the Velvet’s first album, this song has always been my favorite of theirs.
There’s a photo somewhere of a bunch of early 1970s luminaries sitting in some nondescript backstage. Everyone is in leather, everyone looks a bit gone, everyone is scowling. The lighting is too bright, the walls are too white. Lou’s off center, his jacket unzipped past a beautiful collarbone, and there, at the corner of his mouth, he’s smiling…just a little bit. Lou Reed.
Sterling Morrison continuing his education.
