On the release of a new compilation of Lou Reed’s 1960s compositions at Pickwick Records, Wayne Gooderham surveys the sprawling solo career that was to come later, and picks out ten key tracks that serve as guides to an intimidating post-Velvets discography
Half a century after the release of one of the all-time great live albums, John Doran argues that the Velvet Underground only really hit their true peak after they lost Nico, Warhol and Cale. This feature was first published on 2 April 2020
It seems odd to argue that a member of one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time, the Velvet Underground, is under-appreciated, says Daniel Dylan Wray in this subscriber only essay, until you consider just how absent he is from conversations about popular music
Low Culture is a new series where tQ writers use lockdown time to pull some of their favourite music, films, games and books off the shelves in order to tackle an idea that's been bugging them for a long time. In the first instalment John Doran argues that the Velvet Underground only really hit their true peak after they lost Nico, Warhol and Cale
Sod the first few EPs, we say a band's real hidden gems are buried at the end, among the ill-advised career moves and last grasps at fading relevance. Here, tQ writers fight the corner for their favourite unloved and underrated records from the tail-end of their favourite artists' discography.
The Metal Machine Trio tour of the UK and Europe starts this Sunday. Their leader Lou Reed has always trod the fine line between 'rock & roll star' and 'serious artist', and never more so than on his 1975 album, _Metal Machine Music_. John Doran asks him about this period . . . and waits a painfully long time for the answers
"Grand" Mof Gimmers gives it to us straight - whitey is just too damn afraid of Lady Gaga... and would rather take refuge in fucked old codgers Reed, Osterberg Jr and Jones... but isn't that missing the fucking point?!
In a year that sees him finish his 'magical memoir', a new album with The Red Elastic Band and a career-spanning homecoming show in Liverpool, former Shack, Strands and Pale Fountains frontman Michael Head takes Patrick Clarke through the 13 records that shaped him
Lead singer of Fat White Family, Lias Saoudi, self-pens a Baker’s Dozen of thirteen musical choices that map his early life to the present day, from Ireland to Scotland, Cambodia to Algeria, via dark country and the howling void. With thanks to Adelle Stripe
As Nitzer Ebb gear up to play Helsinki's Flow Festival, Douglas McCarthy talks Luke Turner through his favourite music, from listening to classical while eating offal on Canvey Island through David Bowie, Killing Joke, Brian Eno, JJ Cale, Thelonious Monk and more
As well as being the lynchpin of suited rock howlers Gallon Drunk, James Johnston has played with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey - but we're not going to hold the fact that he's picked both of them for his Baker's Dozen against him. Portrait by Steve Gullick.