After the three previous studio albums "The Velvet Underground and Nico", "White Light/White Heat" and "The Velvet Underground", the 1971 album "Loaded" marked the end of the "Velvets", although there was a (rightly) unnoticed follow-up entitled "Squeeze".

In an attempt to achieve greater commercial success, the Velvets switched to the Atlantic sub-label "Cotillion" and played perfect rock pop a' la Stones, hardly reminiscent of the evil original of their early days. The classics "Sweet Jane" and "Rock and Roll" are included as well as melodious songs a`la "Who Loves The Sun", "New Age" or "I Found A Reason"

Some fans think that "Loaded" can't hold a candle to the previous albums, but many fans see it differently. It shows the band's potential, that they could and wanted to play the finest pop alongside great garage and experimental sounds. This is impressively demonstrated by "Sweat Jane" and "Rock & Roll", for example, both songs were later often part of the live repertoire of the commercially much more successful solo artist Lou Reed

Nothing more needs to be said about the influence of the band without carrying the famous "owls to Athens".......

Following up to their critically-praised debut Ways Not to Lose, The Wood Brothers (vocalist / guitarist Oliver and bassist Chris) are back with their rootsy blend of Americana, blues, and folk on Loaded. Again enlisting longtime friend and artistic collaborator John Medeski as producer (who gets behind the keys on a few tracks as well), The Wood Brothers create an expansive exploration of their music, eschewing the more spare, acoustic, in-studio setting of their debut album for a more collaborative approach with other musicians and friends, resulting in a fleshed-out, multi-layered band effort.

Highlights include Oliver swapping verses with labelmate Amos Lee on a cover of Hendrix's "Angel," and Chris taking a vocal lead in tandem with Frazey Ford of the Be Good Tanya's on "Don't Look Back." The album is rounded out with a wide array of artists including folk singer-songwriter Pieta Brown, steel guitarist Darick Campbell, violinists David Mansfield and Jennifer Choi, cellist David Eggar, drummers Billy Martin and Kenny Wolleson, and percussionist Donnie McCormick.