2. Nico, Innocent and Vain (2002)

Though not necessarily ‘by’ Nico, as it was compiled posthumously by Polydor in 2002, Innocent and Vain spans the dark, disturbed career of what some might call the ‘other’ factory girl. Haunting and affected, one imagines Nico – with her deep, interesting voice – full of hurt, intrigue and mystery. I’m not sure whether it’s her music or her reputation – as documented by Lou Reed, Warhol, Dylan, and other people that were close to her – but for me, her music expresses a very raw yet somehow guarded intensity of feeling, like a deep sadness we can never understand. On this page is one of Nico’s most recognizable tracks, as it was featured on Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tannenbaums: “These Days.”