Remembering the Velvet Underground through the movie mirror | News Today

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In its day, the Velvet Underground bordered on the impenetrable, a group that tempered pop curiosity with avant-garde abrasion. Run for a while by Andy Warhol, it was not particularly successful by trade metrics, but the group – which included Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Moe Tucker – provided a first counter-narrative to the cons. -centrist culture of peace and love of the 1960s, and has proven to be deeply influential.

The group is remembered in “The Velvet Underground”, a new documentary directed by Todd Haynes, who has made unconventional musical films for the past two decades. This film is a deep dive into the New York demi-monde that gave birth to the group, and also a reflection on cinema and the art of the day.

On this week’s Popcast, a conversation about how the Velvet Underground was experienced in its time, how the band’s musical aesthetic matches the visual aesthetic of film, and the state of contemporary music documentaries.

Guests:

• Jon Pareles, New York Times Chief Pop Music Critic

• AO Scott, New York Times Co-Chief Reviewer

Connect with Popcast. Become a part of the Popcast community: Join the show’s Facebook group and Discord channel. We want to hear from you! Log on and let us know what you think at popcast@nytimes.com. Follow our host, Jon Caramanica, on Twitter: @joncaramanica.