My First Velvet Underground

Matthew correct:-
FACT= Friggin Awful Crappy Tripe.

Howard

Well I really liked the early singles and the first album ("Reel Around the Fountain" is especially lovely), but I thought they ended up repeating themselves after that, a few more good songs but rapidly diminishing returns.

So, maybe "Best Pop group of 1983" instead.

-- Ian

Well, whoever it was that started the hip-hop movement* is way more influencial and historically important than The Beatles. Obvious innit?

(* which isn't just rhyming, but the dancing, graffiti, clothing, etc)

Well, all of this stuff ultimately derives from the blues, so Robert Johnson would have a big claim there.

Apropos of nothing, I heard an interview recently with DJ Dangermouse, who, as you probably know, recently mixed Jay-z's Black Album with The Beatles' White Album to make The Grey Album. He reckoned Ringo was the greatest hip-hop drummer ever. Go figure.

-- Ian

Well, SSB, there is some hope as "Reel Around the Fountain" is one of my favourites. However, discounting the brilliance of "Meat is Murder" and genius of "The Queen is Dead" as merely repeating themselves to invite people to lump you in the same bracket of critical nouse as Alexis Petridis, Mick Parry and people who like Yes.

Matthew

PS For the record, the best bands ever are:

1= The Fall
1= The Smiths
3 The Pixies
4 Half Man Half Biscuit
5 The Beatles

Thus proving that The Beatles, are indeed over-rated unless you ackknowledge they are not actually as good as the Birkenhead funsters.

Well, The Fall are, indeed, unarguably great. I saw them play last year, supporting The Magic Band, hadn't seen them live for about 20 years, and M.E.S. is still a bile-ridden wind-up merchant, all power to him. The last album (Country on the Click) is excellent, a return to the form of Live at the Witch Trials and Dragnet.

Have to disagree on "Meat is Murder", I don't like it for the same reason that I don't like Morrisey's "Irish Blood English Heart" single, he annoys me when he adopts a hectoring tone. If I was being nasty I'd say my favourite song about vegetarianism is Steve Albini's "Steak and Black Onions", but I won't, as I wouldn't want to upset anyone, seeing as the opening line of that song is "Why don't you snuff it then, you plant-eating pussies?"

-- Ian

Ludwig I'm not sure if you're just having fun, but "whoever it was that started the hip-hop movement* is way more influencial and historically important than The Beatles" is like saying whoever it was that started the goth movement is way more influential than The Beatles.

Never did get the Pixies. I can't believe I'm the only one who finds their music real grating and annoying-like.

Alex,

Hand this to Mike and Matthew please. Mike especially.



Re: the Velvet Underground my order's been aggregated and shipped. It should arrive by Friday.

"that I don't like Morrisey's "Irish Blood English Heart" single, he annoys me when he adopts a hectoring tone"

Complaining about Morrissey hectoring is like complaining that Can are a little repetitive.

FWIW I think "You are the Quarry" is the best thing he's done since "Vauxhall & I".

Matthew

Quarryzzzzzzzzzz on vinyl and it's very good indeed.

Shame he didn't use Johnny ...guess he didn't keep moving as planned...

P

I think the Sugarhill Gang named 'hip hop' without actually being hip-hop, not that I know what hip hop actually is. Gil Scott Heron isn't hip-hop.

Anyway, we'd have preferred John Wayne.

Paul

Underworlds remix of B Movie is quite good

P

quote:

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Never did get the Pixies. I can't believe I'm the only one who finds their music real grating and annoying-like.

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No you're not. Now we really are talking overrated.

I received "Velvet Underground & Nico" and well, hmmmm.

Come on Ludwig, I need more support on my 'Overrated' argument. Tell us what you think!.