*45th Anniversary Edition,180 Gram, Gatefold* Over Half a century later, this record still slays; if any album is deserving of the "classic" tag, it's The Velvet Underground & Nico. Lou Reed's affected vocals, Nico's female Lugosi-style recitations, John Cale's droning strings, Moe Tucker's minimal kit - this landmark work laid down paths that musicians today are still trying to follow. Just pick any track: "I'm Waiting For The Man," "Sunday Morning," "Venus In Furs," "All Tomorrow's Parties," "There She Goes Again," "Femme Fatale." There's not a bad song on here, and I can't give the release high enough praise.

Although Warhol, who was listed as producer on the album, allegedly gave the Velvets free reign over their sound, it was on his insistence that Nico performed on this album. However, this does not detract from the fact that when this album was made the Red Sea parted, and the Velvet Underground crossed into the Promised Land.