Album of the Day

If the Velvet Underground was notorious for walking on the musical wild side, co-founder Lou Reed had solid commercial instincts honed as a staff songwriter for budget label Pickwick Records, and they came to the fore on 1970's LOADED. The VU's final studio album with Lou, the set is loaded with radio-ready rock, including the upbeat single “Who Loves The Sun,” the beautifully harmonized “I Found A Reason,” and the closing epic “Oh! Sweet Nuthin'” - not to mention a pair of bona fide classics in “Sweet Jane” and “Rock & Roll.” With top-notch production and Doug Yule's pop-friendly vocals on several songs, it's arguably the band's most accessible work, and LOADED remains essential listening for anyone whose life was saved by rock and roll.