1969: Velvet Underground Live, Vol. 2

The second volume of this historic live document captures the Velvet Underground performing with a relaxed yet exploratory approach that shifts the emphasis from the screeching viola dynamics the band used with original member John Cale to the smooth vocal tradings between his replacement Doug Yule and band leader Lou Reed, and the impressive guitar intertwining between Reed and lead guitarist Sterling Morrison. The eleven-minute “Ocean,” of which the original studio recording remained unreleased until the mid-80s, is a spot-on dissection of the band’s haunting, floating tone, with the organ riding up against the ebb and flow of the rhythm. The reflective “Pale Blue Eyes” and thoroughly dynamic “Heroin” exemplify the band’s intuitive sense, riding drummer Maureen Tucker’s tribal rhythms from the calm of the storm to the brink of collapse. The addition of “I Can’t Stand It,” another track from the band’s “lost” album, and “White Light / White Heat” are pure adrenalized rock n’ roll, rushing with a punk-like urgency, a lesson that was not lost on the next generation of punks who were soon to absorb the Velvets’ lessons and create a chaos obviously inspired by these New York City outlaws.