The Velvet Underground and Nico
Velvet Underground
Verve, 1967
much of what we take for granted in rock would not exist without this New York band’s debut: the androgynous sexuality of glam; punk’s raw noir; the all-black ennui of goth. Lou Reed documented carnal desire and drug addiction with pop wisdom; bassistviolist John Cale added pulse and drone; Nico, a German vocalist brought on by manager Andy Warhol, added an icy femininity. Rejected as nihilistic by the love crowd in 1967, it’s the most prophetic rock album ever made.