It made it all the more shocking to wake up the next morning to Facebook status's saying "RIP Lou Reed."
According to this article The Velvet Underground influenced artists "R.E.M., David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, the Talking Heads, Roxy Music, U2 and Patti Smith." Their four albums weren't very popular at the times of their release. However, the lyrical quality is unbelievable.
From the song "Herion"
"And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds"
The reason this music was so influential was because it was some of the first rock music with lyrics that were meaningful. The songs were about deeper subjects that hadn't before been put into song.
There are many artists now that resemble the Velvet Underground were in the 60s and 70s. What current acts do you think will be considered legends in the future?
A few of my guesses are Jack White, Wilco, Beck, The Black Keys, maybe Lady Gaga.
What are your predictions?
While I wholeheartedly support your very apparent love of the Velvet Underground, I disagree with your theory that there are "many artists now that resemble the Velvet Underground." The reason the Velvet Underground were so groundbreaking were that created music that was not and has not since been paralleled in its lyrical complexity or simplistic charm. While the artists you listed clearly draw very much from the Velvet Underground, I think you are confusing influence and similarity.
ReplyDeleteI think that Spoon will be considered a legend in the future and maybe the Strokes.
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