#315Albums is a list of 315 albums that appear on both the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, as well as the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book, edited by Robert Dimery. At its best, it is a representation of some of the greatest music ever released; at its worst, it is a journey through the history of music that the majority see as important, influential, and/or relevant. If nothing else, these albums are worth experiencing at least once to get a better understanding of music, which is why we are working to complete all #315Albums.
No. 053
“The album that turned folk music inside out. The Velvet Underground began as a black-booted antidote to flower power, so the quiet disillusion, exhaustion and ache here is as explosive as their first album’s forbidding howl.”
Artist: The Velvet Underground
Album: The Velvet Underground
Released: 1969
Label: MGM
Rolling Stones Ranking: 316
Since I happened to select the other two Velvet Underground albums earlier this week, I decided to just knock out their last album on the list as well, and it’s definitely the best of the bunch. I mentioned during my thoughts on The Velvet Underground and Nico that I listened to VU previously, and remember the music being very chill. It took three albums, but I finally found the sound I was nostalgic for with this self-titled release. This one feels more like a genuine studio album as opposed to experimentation, and for me, that’s a good thing. I really enjoyed this album from start to finish, and it’s the best of the Velvet Underground bunch.
Cinefessions’ #315Albums Rating: 69%
Image and quote courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine.
Branden has been a film fan since he was young, roaming the halls of Blockbuster Video, trying to find the grossest, scariest looking VHS covers to rent and watch alone in the basement. It wasn’t until recently, though, that Branden started seeking out the classics of cinema, and began to develop his true passion for the art form. Branden approaches each film with the unique perspective of having studied the art from the inside, having both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in acting. He has been a film critic since 2010, and has previously written for Inside Pulse Movies, We Love Cult, and Diehard Gamefan. His biggest achievement as a film critic, to date, has been founding Cinefessions and turning it from a personal blog to a true film website, housing hundreds of film and television reviews, and dozens of podcasts.
