Some of these tracks are as good as any song released on their original albums. In fact, VU is itself a great album even though it's not intended to be the definitive "Lost Album" of songs recorded for MGM in 1969. Note: some of these songs have received greatly improved mixes on the PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE box set.

"I Can't Stand It" - a driving, slightly off-kilter rocker. (...) *****

"Stephanie Says" - a delicate little beauty, truly one of their best. Features exquisite viola from John Cale, pristine vibes and a sweetly plaintive guitar. *****

"She's My Best Friend" - highly agreeable rocker with several chord changes. Contains some pretty raunchy lyrics in the middle if you're paying attention. ****1/2

"Lisa Says" - Pure Velvet genius - heartbreaking, devestatingly fragile and so incredibly good. Some great, moving piano lines *****

"Ocean" - one of their most sophisticated songs and a testament to their majestic powers. They would go on to record the definitive master that ended up on PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE, but this is a pretty good version. Mo Tucker's straight-up drumming style, normally a powerful asset, becomes as detriment at the climax of this song, but this version is probably just a demo and in all likelihood she hadn't had time to work out the part properly. ****

"Foggy Notion" - an all-time favorite that really JAMS. This is the band at their peak. *****

"Temptation Inside YOur Heart" - an unremarkable, repetitive song with bongos and goofy voice-overs from the band that supposedly ended up on the master inadvertently when they were recording background vocals. Upon careful inspection, I'm convinced that they intentionally messed with the track in the same spirit of the experimental WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT sessions to compensate for a genuinely weak song. **

Back on track with the country-fried "One Of These Days," this one has faux Southern sensibilities from Reed and twangy guitar. Shifts into overdrive towards the end which is way cool. ****

"Andy's Chest" - Much bouncier than Lou Reed's TRANSFORMER version, thanks in large part to Doug Yule's lively bass. Featuring some of Lou's most Dylanesque lyrics, this one's a hoot. ****1/2

"I'm Sticking With You" - A quaint (as in old-fashioned) little number that demonstrates yet another side of this groundbreaking band. Mo Tucker's modest vocal delivery has an irresistable charm. Lou duets with her briefly at one point and it's a golden moment. ****

The Velvet Underground's "lost" album "VU" is a bit of a forgotten child, overshadowed by better-known albums like "Velvet Underground and Nico" and "White Light White Heat." But that doesn't mean it isn't as good -- it's a mixture of the enchanting and the gritty and raunchy, and who knows why it wasn't released along with the others.

It opens with the slow-burning rock rhythms of "Can't Stand It," but switches tempo with the delicate, ethereal "Stephanie Says," one of the prettiest little songs the Velvet Underground ever produced, especially with that haunting viola in the background. Nothing else on "VU" is like it, which makes it all the more striking.

Elsewhere, the Velvet Underground stretches its wings a bit with Southern-fried rock'n'roll, complete with an exaggerated drawl. Then there's the intentionally silly "Temptation Inside Your Heart," where Lou Reed breaks off and starts chatting with someone else in mid-song. And finally, a sweeping soundscape in "Ocean" that rises and swells like the waves.

The Velvet Underground was the grandfather of modern indie rock, dipping into darkness and grandeur when other bands were just singing about the same ol' same ol'. Even now, bands get influenced by them -- the Dandy Warhols, most obviously. But it's almost impossible to capture the spirit of the Velvets, especially their mix of naughty fun and musical genius.

Your solid guitar riffs are backed up by some equally solid percussion, especially when Reed decides to tinker with his style (like the Southern twang). John Cale only appears briefly, but he provides an exquisite viola melody for the second song, and a subtle, driving piano moves forward through songs like "I'm Sticking With You."

Lou Reed has that type of flawed voice that will somehow grow on you, despite its thinness. And Reed's studio banter is especially funny ("Electricity comes from other planets." "Woo!"). He also quietly spins out some of the strangest, creepiest, funniest songs in classic rock ("If I could be anything in the world that flew/I would be a bat and come swooping after you/And if the last time you were here things were a bit askew...")

Excellent songwriting and solid musicianship make "VU" a must-have for anyone who loves the Velvet Underground. Don't let the "lost child" be left out.

Yes, this album lacks the sophistication and artistry of the other four studio albums, but all the tracks are outstanding pop rock gems. You just can't stop listening to it. I can't tell you which track is the best, because every one of them is. The infectious rock number, "Foggy Notion" to the swaying, emotive "Lisa Says", this album is just too gorgeous to be ignored. It is the album to have, along with the other 4 VU albums.

When the four official VU albums were reissued in the 80's, this album was released as well. At the time it was billed as the famous "lost" 4th Velvet Underground album, which was apparently supposed to come out between the 'The Velvet Undergound' and 'Loaded'. I was just discovering VU at the time, so to me it was just another great album from them to immerse myself in. I know at least two of the songs here("Ocean", "Lisa Says")turned up on Lou's solo records(his solo versions are on the Lou Reed box set), but the VU versions are infinitely better. In fact, the whole album works so well that it's inconceivable that it wasn't released at the time. It has everything: great, chugging rock & roll like "I Can't Stand It" and "Foggy Notion"(rhymed with "calamine lotion", natch), beautiful chamber-pop("Stephanie Says"), and even something approaching an R&B workout("Temptation Inside Your Heart"). To top it all off, the closing track is a duet between Lou and drummer Maureen Tucker called "I'm Sticking With You" that is the most innocent, beautiful old-fashioned little song you've ever heard("I'm sticking with you, 'cause I'm made out of glue..."). When the box set was released, the tracks from this album were spread out over 2 or 3 of the discs rather than included as a whole. If you don't have the box set already, but have 1 or 2 of the other "official" VU records and like them, you should definitely get this one, as it fits right into the catalog. Heck, if you have nothing by them and come across this record, buy it anyway. It makes a nice intro to the Velvet Underground and shows why everyone should set aside a little time each day to worship Lou Reed.

This collection captures the Velvet Underground halfway between their amazing third album (self-titled) and their more commercial-sounding final album (Loaded). Actually, there are two songs here--"Stephanie Says" and "Temptation Inside Your Heart"--that were recorded in February 1968, when John Cale was still in the band, though the others all date from May through October 1969. It is freely admitted in the liner notes that this is not the "Great Lost Velvet Underground Album." However, the songs do flow together nicely, and most of them are very good.

At least three tracks are instant classics: "I Can't Stand It," "Foggy Notion," and "Stephanie Says." A couple others--"Lisa Says" and "Ocean"--are almost as good. Only one song here, "One of These Days," sounds like it would've been a good fit for "Loaded," as it has that country-blues feel that the band was getting into at the time. There are two songs in this collection that were not included in the "Peel Slowly and See" box set, and I have to admit that they picked the best two to omit: "Andy's Chest" works much better on Reed's campy "Transformer" album, and "She's My Best Friend" is sort of a throwaway.

Still, this is a fairly solid release. At one time I owned the second album of Velvet Underground outtakes, "Another View," and I was so unimpressed that I sold it back. But this one definitely belongs in your collection if you already own the four official studio albums that were released during the band's lifetime.