Something about distractions
Sarah Vaughan
Ultimate Sarah Vaughan
Meh. In a certain quiet mood, not bad. Otherwise, ends up going right past my ears. I realize I should have a more sophisticated palette, but I don't, apparently. Her voice is sweet and powerful, but I like my jazz with a bit more fire.
Caetano Veloso
A prime figure in the Tropicalia movement, which ensures his name in the pantheon of musical geniuses. I need to purchase more albums by him (most are contained in compilations), besides these two albums....
Caetano Veloso 1986
recorded in New York's Vanguard Studios, mostly accompanied only by his own guitar playing. Covers Billy Jean, and manages to make it interesting. Also his famous songs O Leaozinho and Terra (found on the David Byrne comps, and elsewhere). Play this right before or after White Light/White Heat for best effect.
Estrangeiro
Excellent rock album. I don't understand Portuguese, but there are fragments and phrases in English (Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder get name dropped in the first song, O Estrangeiro). Full rock band, but Brazilian in nature. Very cool.
Velvet Underground
In the pantheon of influential artists, the Velvet Underground are high on the list. I basically wore these albums out playing them on vinyl, and the music still sounds fresh today. Trey Buck, before he wigged out on Wild Turkey, turned me on to them in the late 80s (well, I owned the album with Nico, but didn't play it religiously).
1969 Volume 1 and 2. Live album, recorded as the band was starting to fall apart. On vinyl, was released as a double album, but for some reason you have to purchase the CDs separately. The sound could have been cleaned up a bit, but it isn't bad. The music, on the other hand, is more straightforward compared to earlier VU periods, but still rocks. Lots better than Live at Max's Kansas City. Goofy cover. Not really sexy, not really weird, just goofy.
Another View
Out-takes, released after the big V.U. resurgence in the late 80's (which included yours truly). A few tunes are just average (Coney Island Steeplechase, Ride Into the Sun), some are better (early version of Rock and Roll for instance). Completists only.
Live at Max's Kansas City
Allegedly Lou Reed's last performance with V.U., and it shows. No Mo Tucker either, and it shows (or sounds? whatever). Only get it if you have every other Velvet album. Not that it is a horrible record, just there are others that are much better.
Loaded and
(Fully Loaded
I have both because I'm a dork, but here I'll concentrate on the expanded version. More conventional (John Cale had left) commercial-sounding record, but still compelling. Sweet Jane (with and without extra lyrics), Rock and Roll, Sad Song, Satellite of Love, etc. I'm not sure the Fully Loaded version is much better than the original, though some of demos are interesting, perhaps because I know the released versions so well, the demos are different enough to have merit. Who knows. Train Round the Bend (all versions) - love the guitar.
Velvet Underground
My favorite Velvets album, on most days. Diverse character of songs, rockers and folk-rockers.
V.U.
another nearly great album, this time assembled from the cast-off studio work between Loaded and the third album. John Cale makes a token appearance.
Velvet Underground and Nico
Other than European Son, which always got skipped when playing on vinyl, and didn't even make the transition to MP3, every song is great, or at least pretty damn good. Heroin is a little overplayed, though I still get a rush listening to the last couple minutes, and Run, Run, Run is a little bit of a filler, but the ethereal All Tomorrow's Parties and the spooky Venus in Furs more than make up for them. There She Goes Again is a little bit misogynistic, but as far as I can tell, Lou Reed is no Ike Turner/Rick James (bitch) woman hater. Desert Island disc.
“White Light/White Heat” (The Velvet Underground)
Sister Ray occasionally starts to grate on the nerves after about 11-13 minutes (of 17), perhaps there should have been an edited alternative version? Sometimes I play it all the way through, sometimes skip it around this point, and sometimes just tune it out. And the short story channel of The Gift gets turned down frequently, leaving just the instrumental track, which is just moderately good. The other four songs are stunningly great. I Heard Her Call My Name is a little freaked out for mellow moods, and Lady Godiva's Operation is odd. Depending on what desert I'm stranded on, and with whom, I might bring this album.
Tags: music
