Peel Quickly and Listen

'Peel Slowly And See' is the best box set I have listened to in both design and content. The box contains five discs. The first represents the bands work in 1965 before any album had fully developed. The second contains 'The Velvet Underground and Nico' plus a single, a live track and a section of Nico's contemporary album.

The third disc begins with a five song demo recorded at John Cale's house in 1967. It continues with two live tracks followed by 'White Light/White Heat' and then ends with three tracks taken from 'VU' and 'Another View', the groups mid-eighties rare tracks releases. Disc number four contains their work from 1968-9 beginning with a live version of 'What Goes On' followed by the groups self-titled third album. It ends with five more tracks taken from 'VU', an unreleased live and an unreleased demo.

The final disc begins with 'Loaded', their most successful album with seven previously unreleased out-takes from the session and two tracks from their August 23, 1970 concert in Max's Kansas City, New York. In addition to this masterful design of tracks the included book is more complete and has a better design than any other box set I have seen.

The first disc contains only six tracks with with a total time well over seventy minutes. This first track contains a fifteen minute demo of 'Venus in Furs'. This demo as with most of the six is actually several takes done in succession. The track does not have the power of the album track (disc 2) but is surprisingly good.

Lou Reed's voice takes is at his talk/sing best. The next track is also one of my favorites. 'Prominent Men' (not featured elsewhere in the box) is possible my favorite of Lou Reed's VU tracks lyrically. It is not quite as toned down as the previous track but is still quite calm compared to what will come later. The next two tracks, demos of 'Heroin' and 'I'm Waiting For The Man' are not as good as the disc two tracks but are still interesting.

'Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams' is the third classic demo from the disc. It ends with a demo of 'All Tomorrow's Parties' which is again not as good as the album track.

The second disc begins with a single version of 'All Tomorrow's Parties'. You just cannot have too many versions of the song. The album is the Velvet Underground at their best. Only 'Run Run Run' is close to being non-essential. 'Femme Fatal', 'Venus In Furs', 'Heroin' and 'All Tomorrow's Parties' are legendary. 'I'm Waiting For The Man' and 'Sunday Morning' are just as good.

'I'll Be Your Mirror' is Nico at her best. 'The Black Angel's Death Song' earned Warhol's respect. 'Melody Laughter' is a little out there. I love it but I can understand those who would not like ten minutes of noise. It is Sonic Youth 20 years early. 'Chelsea Girls' is not technically a Velvet's track. I like it. But its inclusion from a Nico album, is somewhat questionable.

The third disc contains the Velvet's album that seems to get the most mixed reviews from its fans. 'White Light/White Heat' is the least represented album on their "Best of" album. The album has many strengths in my opinion. It may only have two immortal songs, 'Here She Comes Now' and 'Sister Ray' but all six are stronger than 'Run Run Run'.

The disc also contains the best collection of non-album tracks outside of disc one. 'Stephanie Says' is wonderful. Reed's rhyme of "Alaska" and "ask her" in his NYC accent is great. 'Hey Mr. Rain' and 'Sheltered Life' are also among boxes out-take best.

Their self titled third album makes up the majority of the fourth disc. It has a calmer VU than either of the first two. 'What Goes On' is a classic. Both the live version and the album track are great. 'Pale Blue Eyes' is my mom's favorite Velvet's track. 'Jesus' and 'Beginning To See The Light' make the middle of the album a highlight.

'The Murder Mystery' is spoken but is a great experiment with surround sound. 'After Hours' is the only album track sung by Moe Tucker. Her voice perfectly fits the attitude of the song. Of the bonus tracks the light 'I'm Sticking With You' (also sung by Tucker) is my favorite.

The final disc has the VU with a more pop like sound. 'Sweet Jane' and 'Rock and Roll' were their biggest singles and staples of Lou Reed's early solo concert career. The early version of 'Satellite of Love' is not the classic it becomes on Reed's 'Transformer. Other tracks like 'Lonesome Cowboy Bill' and 'Oh! Sweet Nuthin'' are classics. One of the disc's highlights to me is to hear Reed sing 'I'll Be Your Mirror'.

This design is exactly as I envision a box set would be. It contains all of the groups studio releases and chronologically integrates demo, live and out-take tracks. The material is superb. The albums are at least as good as the legacy makes them to be. The bonus tracks are stronger than any other that I have heard. 'Stephanie Says' (disc 3), 'Venus In Furs [demo]' (disc 1), and 'Prominent Men [demo]' (disc 10) are among my favorite VU cuts. This box set is a must have for any fan of rock.