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Board game writer. Words on IGN, GamesRadar, Senet and many others. There will be puns.

Matt Thrower

He didn't consult Nico, and she hated the result. When she heard the finished album for the first time, she cried. So I don't know what was going on in his head. There doesn't seem to be any record of why he made the changes. But I'm just left wondering what we might have had without them 9/9

It was added by Tom Wilson, who produced the record. Now here's the really weird thing. This doesn't seem to have been an act of deliberate commercialisation as I'd initially assumed. Wilson produced The Velvet Underground & Nico, and some Dylan records. He knew the vibe. 8/x

At this point, intrigued by the weird sound and the terrible reviews, I went off and read a bit about the album's production. I mean, it must be on "1001 records to hear before you die" for a good reason, right? Well it turns out that members of the VU did most of the instrumental work 4/x

One other track on the album, Eulogy to Lenny Bruce, has been left alone. It's a different beast, sadder and quieter, and you can hear early echoes of the third, self-titled VU album. So how did the rest of the tracks on the record come to be ruined post-production? 7/x

But here, she's accompanied mostly by orchestral string sections and, at times, an annoyingly overpowering flute. The contrast between the rich, reliable harmonising of the orchestra and her own wobbly baroque style does not show her vocals up to any kind of advantage. She sounds bad. 3/x

Absolutely love this depiction of a Balrog, which I think is by @manuelcg.bsky.social - absolutely nails the way I'd always imagined them, aside from the size. Nice to see something based on Tolkein's actual description rather than demonic stereotypes.

At this point you're probably wondering what the hell Reed, Cale, et al are doing playing orchestral pieces and a flute. And the simple answer is: they weren't. If you listen carefully, you can still hear fragile snatches of guitar and viola beneath the orchestration. It's been overdubbed. 5/x

This comes to a head during the track It Was A Pleasure Then which lacks the orchestration. Instead, cranking guitars, reverb, & odd tapping noises creak & groan beneath Nico's vocals. The difference is astounding: this is weird, haunting, fascinating music. youtu.be/h3alF3gBPvA?... 6/x

19h

20h

So first up I'm no expert here: this was the first time I've ever heard this album and I did not care for it at first. If you've heard Nico's voice before you'll know it's an acquired taste: it's powerful and distinctive but also flat and sometimes tuneless. That works on the VU album .... 2/x

20h

My 1001 albums record today is Chelsea Girls by Nico (of The Velvet Underground & Nico fame). It's among the lowest-rated albums on the site, reviews suggest it's "garbage" and "the fucking worst". But the history behind this is fascinating & tragic 1/x 1001albumsgenerator.com/albums/4jcbc...