Various Artists / I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico
Album: I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico   Collection:General
Artist:Various Artists   Added:Mar 2022
Label:Verve Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2022-04-13 Pull Date: 2022-06-15
Week Ending: Jun 12 Jun 5 May 29 May 22 May 15 May 8 May 1 Apr 24
Airplays: 3 2 1 2 3 1 3 5

Recent Airplay
1. Jul 27, 2023: down in the basement
Run Run Run
4. Aug 26, 2022: Traditions
I'll Be Your Mirror
2. Feb 18, 2023: Advanced Dungeons and Peppers
Venus In Furs
5. Aug 16, 2022: Cool Jerk
Run Run Run
3. Feb 02, 2023: Traditions
I'll Be Your Mirror
6. Aug 11, 2022: Hanging In The Boneyard
I'll Be Your Mirror

Album Review
Trish McBee
Reviewed 2022-04-03
I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico

Trish McBee
Reviewed 4/3/2022

IYL: Iggy Pop, Bowie, Kurt Vile, R.E.M. Courtney Barnett, Andrew Bird

A tribute album by various artists, to the eponymous 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico by American rock band the Velvet Underground and German singer Nico. Fairly predictable cover album features recordings of the original album's 11 songs by artists including St. Vincent, Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten, Iggy Pop. The collection is mostly a fascinating look into how hordes of different artists interpret some of the most legendary songs of all time. What really keeps your attention throughout the collection is hearing what each musician decides to keep, strip away, or add to the original alternative rock LP.

My favorite tracks: 1, 5, 9, 6

1.(3:50) ***Stipe, Michael, “Sunday Morning” It’s a pleasure to hear Michael Stipe’s voice alongside Bill Frissell on guitar, as synths and clarinets lend the song a patient and regal air.

2.(3:44) Berninger, Matt “I’m waiting for the Man” Stripped-down, mediocre arrangement lacks the jittery pulse of the original.

3.(4:43) Van Etten, Sharon “Femme Fatale" Slowed down, sultry version that is string-heavy and titanic in its drama

4.(6:55)Bird, Andrew & Lucius “Venus in Furs” Orchestral pop. The original ode to sadomasochism no longer sounds especially sexy or dangerous, but the eerie harmonies combined with Bird’s frenetic violin make’s the song sound pretty. But ‘Venus In Furs’ shouldn’t really sound pretty.

5.(6:59)***Vile, Kurt and the Violators “Run Run Run” Pure driving rock and roll. Vile stretches out the track with some spacey guitar improv, but those rollicking drums never let up for even a second.

6.(4:52)**St. Vincent & Thomas Bartles “All Tomorrow’s Parties” mixes spooky spoken word with some experimental jazz piano

7.(7:24)Moore, Thurston (feat. Bobby Gillespie) “Heroin” A thrilling prospect on paper, but after chasing the dragon for seven minutes, it never really connects.

8. (3:29) King Princess “There She Goes Again” A queer spin on the toxic jealousy of the song.

9. (2:27)***Barnett, Courtney “I’ll Be Your Mirror” There’s nothing to hide behind here, just Barnett, her acoustic guitar, and some background percussion. Barnett finds the beauty in simplicity with her cover.

10.(3:12) Fontaines D.C., The Black Angel’s Death Song Dublin post-punk band injects a yammering snarl to the original

11.(7:45)***Pop, Iggy & Matt Sweeney “European Son” a feedback-laced freakout that sounds just as unhinged as the original.

Track Listing
 ArtistTrack Name
1. Stipe, Michael Sunday Morning
2. Berninger, Matt I'm Waiting For The Man
3. Van Etten, Sharon Femme Fatale
4. Bird, Andrew & Lucius Venus In Furs
5. Vile, Kurt and the Violators Run Run Run
6. St. Vincent & Thomas Bartlett All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Moore, Thurston (Feat. Bobby Gillespie) Heroin
8. King Princess There She Goes Again
9. Barnett, Courtney I'll Be Your Mirror
10. Fontaines D.C. The Black Angel's Death Song
11. Pop, Iggy & Matt Sweeney European Son