Published in 1967, The Velvet Underground & Nico is the historic debut of the band led by Lou Reed and John Cale, produced and sponsored by Andy Warhol and known for its famous banana cover, one of the most iconic images of pop art and music history. More than just a cover, its design turned the album into a cult object and a direct bridge between gallery art and the most unsettling rock of its time.
With Nico's hypnotic voice on several songs, the record marked a before and after in alternative rock due to its blend of urban poetry, sound experimentation, and themes uncomfortable for the era: from the melancholy of Sunday Morning to the darkness of Venus In Furs or the harshness of Heroin. Its rough, minimalist sound full of textures turned the marginal into canon and influenced entire generations of independent bands.
This vinyl reissue recovers the album as it was conceived, with all the original tracks and careful sound quality, and includes a free digital download to also listen in digital format. A fundamental piece for any collection that wants to understand where modern rock begins and how contemporary art forever slipped into pop culture.
