The Velvet Underground - The Best of The Velvet Underground Words and Music of Lou Reed 320cbr (Big Papi) 1989

Reading over previous reviews, all the complaints are valid, however I myself being a casual VU fan picked this compilation up, and found it to be an excellent buy. VU is a truly incredible band, and I was very interested to read in the biography how basically everyone who purchased their debut album started their own band or began producing music. Well, now it's time to review some of this great music.

The disc opens with nice rock energizer called I'm Waiting For The Man. A great opener to this disc, with a strong rocking melody. Femme Fatale is a beautiful song, with Nico providing some sensational lyrics. Run, Run, Run offers strong riffs, and also features a blistering guitar solo to finish off. Heroin is considered by many to be VUs best song, and I would agree in a lyrical sense, with incredible songwriting. Also a sensational guitar strum, and a fiercely ugly guitar solo compliment the song greatly. All Tomorrow's Parties has fantastic dynamic aspects to it, and is very underrated. I love the chorus and building piano introduction. White Light/White Heat is a solid rocker, and Stephanie Says is a popular song that many casual fans are familiar with. I'm a huge fan of Beginning To See The Light featuring an awesome chorus. Pale Blue Eyes is a touching ballad, expressing effectively VU's soft(and sometimes dark) side. Sweet Jane is another popular number, a great track to say the least, and the compilation closely on a high note with Rock & Roll.

Overall, I would definitely without question recommend this compilation to any casual fan of the band(like myself), who just wants one album to capture the essence of what this band is about. Although it does strongly favour VUs debut album, it still contains outstanding music, and no casual fan of VU wants to fork over 25-30 extra dollars to buy all their albums seperately.