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Album Details

• Artist: The Velvet Underground
• Album: Loaded (Remaster)
• Label: Warner
• Year of Release: 1970
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2005-03-18

I do have to admit that I was a late Velvet Underground fan. While I was cutting my teeth on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the small town that I grew up in, I failed to even know about Lou Reed and the bunch. In fact, I though "Sweet Jane" was a Cowboy Junkies song. Seeing that I was born in 1971 (just dated myself) I'm not really to blame. My older brother is. See, he was the one that turned me onto the likes of Alice Cooper and Moody Blues. He didn't get me into the cool stuff like other older brothers of the time. Anyway, I digress. After checking out the four Velvet Underground albums I have come to a conclusion that Loaded is indeed my favorite of the four. It is a hard decision and one that I don't really have to make but I have indeed. You may have noticed a review of the self-titled album here on the same page with the coveted "Classic" title. That was one of the other reviewer's choice. But really, how can you even touch the variety and listenability of Loaded? Lou Reed was at his finest, vocally on here. The album contains such seminal classics as "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll". The band has even admitted that Loaded was their most commercial album so any unassuming potential fan can slide into Loaded without the premonitions of the "noisy" Velvet Underground. This might be due to the absence of John Cale, who left previous to the recording of Loaded. The reissue contains alternate takes, bonus tracks, demos and fantastic liner notes making the value of the remaster even that much greater, so get the Fully Loaded Edition. This album is an essential in any rock purist's collection and provides the curious a place to step into Velvet Underground territory.

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