10 Best Self-Titled Rock Albums Of All Time
3. The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
This is the original art-rock album: It's riddled with themes of sexual depravity and drug use; it contains the sensual vocals of German model, Nico; and Andy Warhol is credited as the producer. There's a lot to like here.
For an album created by a group of artists who were doing more than a little experimenting with drugs; it's not surprising the story of this record is a mess of conflicting stories. What's clear is that the members of the Underground were under the wing of Warhol for some time.
Although the king of pop art, funded and is credited as the record's producer, Warhol had much more of a hands off approach than people might expect. In reality, Tom Wilson and John Cale, took the lead on the mixing desk. Warhol served more as an overseer and facilitator, rather than having an active hand in directing the sound.
It's impossible to get away from the druggy themes on this record. Each song feels like it was created under the influence of some substance or another. Sunday Morning, descends on you like a marijuana haze, enveloping one in mellow state of calm.
Venus in Furs, describes the world of sadomasochism, in a tone that conjures up images of drug binges and sexual experimentation. And, of course, there's Heroin - perhaps the band's most famous track - which sleepily explores the relationship between a user and their vice.