lapelazzuli's Full Review: Live at Max's Kansas City by The Velvet Undergroun...
The 'Live at Max's Kansas City' album represents an important landmark in the history of rock.
This performance, in fact, marked the end of The Velvet Underground union, giving the way to the Reed's solo career.
Recorded in a very rudimentary way by a fan of the group in one of the Lou's favourite gigs, the whole result gives a kind of 'taking part to the show' atmosphere: a kinda sensation a fan would surely enjoy. I still remember the first time I listened to the record: I was completely stirred up with The Velvets and their sound at that time, and those type of noises and scattered applause made me feel like I was there...plunged in a very 'mellow Velvet feeling'.
Yes, because is exactly a mellow impression the one that the album transfers during its proceeding. I must explain...
The band was at that time composed by Reed, Morrison and the Yule brothers, a team that had completely lost the rude, minimalist, and electric soul of the original group (where John Cale and Mo Tucker appeared), a soul that would have brought them into the fame of rock in the following decades: a sense of weariness was dragging the Velvets through the end of their route, and this docile pose (also reflected through their last album 'Loaded') spreads from the album to the hears of a neither careful listener or a prepared and demanding VU fan, who would likely and honestly wait to listen for something more.
The ten tracks choice covers a good part of the best creatures of the band, from their oldest (I'm Waiting For The Man, Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, I'll Be Your Mirror, Beginning To See The Light, Pale Blue Eyes) to their latest golden eggs (Sweet Jane, Lonesome Cowboy Bill, New Age, After Hours); nevertheless the performance is almost disappointing
This is a 'must have' piece for any fan and rock'n'roll history lover's collection , but I would never suggest it to anyone who would ask to me for the real essence of The Velvet Underground, an essence that remain the 'core' of Rock music.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.