The Velvet Forum

I voted for The Modern Lovers - they have exactly the same sense of music (on the 1st record) which I can listen to for ever. I know that's not so inventive though.

i loved the Mary Chain, but their snare sound got mangled in the horrors of 1980s bad production sounds.

The thread has been viewed just under thousand times, yet only 70 votes have been cast ...
All this talk of IP logging makes me wonder if there's a way to ensure that *only* those who vote get the final cut ...?

There's a lot of 'arguing' going on. My feelings are, that the anniversary of Sterling Morrisons death was Monday. Our thoughts should be heading in that direction.

I WISH there was a way to ensure that only those that voted got access to the song...

...however, with all the p2p's and file sharing out there, nothing can be ensured. alas alack.

i believe that i can view this subject twice as a guest and have it count, but votes can only come once from a registered user. pretty sure, anyways.

this is bollocks!

Well I just voted. I hadn't checked in here for a while and now I'm glad I did!

My vote went to the Modern Lovers because that first album is just so damn Velvety! Even Jonathan's later compositions seem to be inspired by "Ferryboat Bill" and "I'm Sticking With You". Jesus & Mary Chain sound like Herman's Hermits to me.

Now I'll just wait quietly for another 277 votes....

Patti Smith. Not following trends is the VU legacy.

This is an interesting question. If I were to vote for the band I personally enjoyed most, it would be The Modern Lovers without a doubt. But that's not the question, and I don't think the Modern Lovers, much as the VU were a huge source of inspiration to young Richman, neccessarily represent the legacy of the band's music. The abrasive guitar sound and the loud, elemental, early rock-inspired approach are obviously common to both bands, but I think the 'Lovers - and Jonathan Richman in particular - were too idiosyncratic to be said to represent the legacy of any other band. What's central to the band are the songs, and these are solidly based around Jonathan's very individual worldview, his obsessions and neuroses - and these have an adolescent vulnerability that's the exact opposite of Lou's unflinching street-suss. There are common threads - Richman has a VU-ish anger and one-against-the-world ethos, and Reed has an underlying vulnerability that shows through in some of the songs, but really they're coming from very different angles.

The music's also different - yep, both bands did some great basic 2/3 chord rock songs, but only the Modern Lovers were dependant on that minimalism. Despite their reputation, the Velvets could stretch out when the mood took them and do grand, sweeping stuff like Venus or Ocean, whereas I don't think it would be unfair on the 'Lovers to say that they would have collapsed if they'd attempted anything like that! Instead, they made a virtue of their rawness. Look at the 'Live At The Longbranch' CD - there are moments when it's a real mess, but it doesn't matter because that certain something shines through.

So, returning the the question, I've voted for Sonic Youth. I have to admit I'm not hugely familiar with a lot of their work. However, I do know that they represent musical eclecticism, dark, adult lyrical themes, an outsider stance and a disregard for commercial appeal. Sounds about right!

Can anyone suggest an SY album that's a good place for a beginner to start?

Just signed up! Always loved the Mary Chain.

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