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WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT, the Velvet Underground's second album, is the band at their most calculated and perverse, but also shows another side. It is a glimpse of the more accessible rock which Lou Reed wrote, but wasn't fully comfortable with until the group's third album. WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT also introduced guitar sounds and production so abrasive that the feel wasn't duplicated until even punk had matured into New York's downtown art/noise scene nearly twenty years later.
WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT is an exhausting exercise in opposites. The aching beauty of "Here She Comes Now" features a delicate guitar melody and Reed's most innocent vocals since the debut's "Sunday Morning"; it sniffs around Lou's taste for ballads, but throws in the cruel "oh she looks so good/oh she's made out of wood" refrain for effect. The title track would even be playful if not for the instrumental speed rushes and vocal harmonies so discordant they're sinister. It also turns out to be a perfect primer for "Sister Ray," a depraved freak show of prostitutes, junkies and what happens when the cops come banging at the door. Musically, "Sister Ray" is a jarring guitar crash, clocking in at 17:25, fully showing the Velvet's musical ferociousness. As organ washes clash with jagged locomotive guitars, Reed whirls off descriptions of sailors and transsexuals who "want to know a way to earn a dollar." Such snapshots into the Velvet Underground's twin sides make WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT indispensable.
Photographers: Susan Cooper; Billy Name.
Velvet Underground: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar, piano); Sterling Morrison (vocals, guitar, bass); John Cale (vocals, electric viola, organ, bass); Maureen Tucker (percussion).
Personnel: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); Sterling Morrison (vocals, guitar, bass guitar); John Cale (vocals, viola, electric viola, organ, keyboards, bass guitar); Maureen Tucker (percussion).
Rolling Stone (4/11/02, p.105) - Ranked #1 in Rolling Stone's "50 Coolest Records" - "...Sublimely beautiful rock & roll noise..." Spin - Included in Spin's list of the Top Ten College Cult Classics - "...arguably the best, and at very least the most intense, V.U. work ever waxed." Mojo (Publisher) (p.52) - Ranked #13 in Mojo's "The 50 Most Out There Albums Of All Time" - "The Velvet's second album contained their noisiest, over-amped feedback-ridden distortion and lyrical outrage."
Yes, me again I meant to giv it five stars last time but screwed it up. Submitted by a reviewer (Hereford, England) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
BUY THE IMPORT!!! The sound quality of this remastered CD is very POOR. If you love VU then do not torture yourself with this version. Buy the import from Japan! The sound quality of that import is superb! This music on the album obviously deserves a million stars out of 5 which is why I give this release a 2. Spend the extra money for the import, you won't be sorry! Submitted by bp (atlanta) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 3 found this helpful.
One of the 10 definitive rock & roll albums All 6 songs: classic. Of course this contains the original version of White Light, and with all the remakes out there (by Bowie, Ronson, Lou, Velvets live, ...) it's remarkable that none of them even comes close. This album brought rock and roll to the next level and is a must-have! Submitted by Jason (New York, NY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Mind Blowing, Superb, Life Changing A truly stunning album. Luv it or hate it, it WILL change u. I mean it. There isn't a bad track on the entire album. The best tracks are 'Sister Ray' (the reason why the Buzzcocks formed) and 'Here She Comes Now' (better known for the cover version by Nirvana). This album also makes it into Kurt Cobain's top 50 album list, and if u don't believe me check out the journals, luv, peace, gravy, bye. Submitted by a reviewer (Hereford, England) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Amazing A wondrous venture into experimental rock, which changed the underground rock music scene from then on... Submitted by Ashwin (Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 3 found this helpful.
Yes, me again
BUY THE IMPORT!!!
One of the 10 definitive rock & roll albums
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