The Velvet Underground
Live MCMXCIII

THE REVIEW

Music and God! An indisputable pair and impossible to criticize.

Since man was born, he has always encountered this surge of emotions, perhaps a little to savor it or perhaps a little to honor it. For thousands of years, depending on where he lives, his culture, and the period in which he grew up, he has influenced the change of this noble art culminating in this last century made up of a memorabilia of sounds and styles (modern era). From classical masters to jazz greats, from Elvis's rock 'n roll to the most experimental electronic music.

But if someone asked me: "In the last 50 years, who would you take with you to paradise the day you die?" Well... I would certainly throw out a multitude of names like "Frank Zappa", "Genesis", "Miles Davis", "Kraftwerk", etc... basically for all they have given to music in general and for having contributed to my emotional growth. But perhaps more than anyone I would say "The Velvet Underground"!

However, I would make it only a matter of personal affection since there are other legends like them, though very few. I just feel sorry for most of my peers who grew up with "Korn", "Red Hot....", "Linkin Park"... etc.. etc... who can’t get attached to other groups given the period. Being very young (23 years old), I have to reveal that today's music has very little to share with the past... sure... something is saved... but in sparse minority. Sometimes it feels good to hear music from the past!

For Example:

Would you want to compare "Marilyn Manson" (though I still consider him a good artist) with "Bowie" during the golden times of "Ziggy Stardust"? Today's German industrial-metal by "Rammstein" (not sure if I wrote it right!) with the past krautrock by "Popol Vuh", "Neu", and "Faust"? "Britney Spears" pop with that of "Michael Jackson"? The hip hop of "Eminem" and company with that of "Run DMC", "De La Soul", "N.W.A."?

Now it all seems like a recycle!

Anyway, let's stop here, otherwise, in the end, I won't get to tell you about this fabulous live!

I love "The Velvet Underground"! For all they have given to rock: glam, decadence, scorching lyrics, the use of the violin so perversely. The firstborns of everything that will trend in the following years and especially "Andy Warhol".

This is a stunning live that worthily closes the legend of this group in 1993: Lou and company are not as they were in their golden times but still give you goosebumps. John Cale sings "All Tomorrow's Parties", "Femme Fatale", "The Gift" and "I'm Waiting For The Man" and Maureen Tucker just returned to the group with "Afterhours" and "I'm Sticking With You".

There's no point in explaining the songs to you: those who truly love rock cannot not know them!

Lou Reed honors his gems and when he opens with "Heroin" and "Pale Blue Eyes" there is an uproar. I just regret the only discordant note which is the absence of "Sunday Morning", for the rest it's history.

I recommend it to everyone and regretfully for young people like me who do not know this legend!