Hey Pep! wrote:Question: where do they stand today? where would you rank them?
OK, I realise that to some, the question may seem pointless - they're a great band and we should all dig them and why pit them against others?....but it really interests me.
Pretty high I would say. They do have an reputation of respectability, though. Even people who haven't heard them tend to have a good impression. They added a tonne of character to pop music and were, perhaps, the first truly
urban band.
They're great, right? The meaning of the word is debased through overuse. They're great like the Stones or the Beatles. Really very very good.
They're not nearly of the level of consistency as The Beatles and neither were they as ambitious or as capable as The Who.
The Velvets released three flat-out terrific albums with an utter bum record in between, but '
Loaded' (brilliant as it is) is a record by a band which has run its course. They simply lacked the chops to take it any further. There's not a single new musical idea in the whole of that album. It's a summary record.
In 1980 everybody namechecked 'em. These days nobody does. Certainly not up-and-coming bands. Why?
Because namechecking means nothing. If the last generation namechecked Soundgarden, this generation will namecheck ABBA just to not be like the old lot. It's one of those terribly annoying things that bands
do.
I love the Fall more than any other band, but I'd say the Velvet Underground are the greatest band of all time.
Oh dear.
