Stephen Taylor - 7/22/2009

Reviewing this album is like reviewing the Bible, just as the bible remains the ultimate text for Christiais, White Light/White Heat remains the ultimate collection of songs for alternative musicians. One cannot begin to describe the influence this album has had on the alternative music scene, Henry Rollins, Kurt Cobain even John Lennon have all cited this album as a favourite.

Suffice it to say this is the Velvet Undergorund at their most experimental, take for instance the eight minute epic 'The Gift' which features John Cale reciting a story of love, jealousy and unintentional murder, whilst the rest of the band play a feedback ridden jam. What is interesting about this album is how great the contrast between John Cale's melodic welsh vocal charm and Lou Reed's snarling New York tinged vocals, this comes to a peak on the wonderful 'Lady Godiva's Operation' which could be the strangest duet in the history of music.

Lou Reed's guitar techniques remain both unusual and exuberating especially on 'I Heard Her Call My Name' which could stand as the album's best track if it wasn't for the seventeen minute opus that is 'Sister Ray' which features the finest use of three chords along with Reed singing of drugs, violence and transvestism.

To say this is the velvet underground's best album would be an understatement, this may well be one of the finest albums ever made. Forget Led Zeppelin, forget The Beatles, forget Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground are the greatest band of all time.