Best Sonic Youth Studio Album

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Not sure if this has been done before as a poll. Thought this would get interesting.

Such a massive catalog. If i missed any studio albums im sorry. i think I got them all.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Sister (1987) 36
Daydream Nation (1988) 35
EVOL (1986) 15
Bad Moon Rising (1985) 9
Murray Street (2002) 9
Goo (1990) 7
Washing Machine (1995) 7
Sonic Nurse (2004) 6
A Thousand Leaves (1998) 6
Rather Ripped (2006)4
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994) 4
Dirty (1992) 4
Confusion Is Sex (1983) 3
Sonic Youth (1982) 2
SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century (1999) 0
NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2000) 0
SYR 5 (2000) 0
Made in USA (1986) 0


gman, Saturday, 23 June 2007 08:23 (eighteen years ago)

Sister

Maybe only because it was my first Sonic Youth album. I was eleven-years-old. It was completely mind blowing. By the end of side a, I'd really learned that there are no rules.

andi, Saturday, 23 June 2007 09:27 (eighteen years ago)

EVOL, people, the answer is EVOL. From the first split second that "Tom Violence" commences, you're on an unstoppable train to change.

Sister was rather f*cking excellent too though, mind you.

FmGT, Saturday, 23 June 2007 09:54 (eighteen years ago)

I'll be conservative and go with Daydream Nation.

the Dirt, Saturday, 23 June 2007 10:33 (eighteen years ago)

"We wanted to give the listener something personal... so we gave 'em our sister"

StanM, Saturday, 23 June 2007 10:59 (eighteen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whitey_Album ?

StanM, Saturday, 23 June 2007 11:09 (eighteen years ago)

i think nobody did this poll before,cause the answer is quite obv.

Zeno, Saturday, 23 June 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

my answer would have been sister until about two years ago when i rediscovered EVOL. the perfect blend of noise and pretty. Star power baby!

yussel, Saturday, 23 June 2007 12:00 (eighteen years ago)

Lately all I want to listen to by them is Rather Ripped, so that's it.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 23 June 2007 12:39 (eighteen years ago)

I'll be radical and vote for Daydream Nation.

Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 23 June 2007 13:45 (eighteen years ago)

I'll probably be the only one voting for Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star and I feel fine.

JN$OT, Saturday, 23 June 2007 13:50 (eighteen years ago)

Daydream Nation. I hope this will win!

sonderangerbot, Saturday, 23 June 2007 13:52 (eighteen years ago)

I'll vote for the self-titled one, as it's kind of the only one I can stand these days. Me from fifteen years ago insists that it's a death match between Evol and Sister. Contrarian me says it's actually Bad Moon Rising, 'cause that one is formally the most out there and I do miss the between-song stuff...wish they'd continued to mess w/that.

dlp9001, Saturday, 23 June 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

1. Sister
2. Confusion Is Sex
3. Bad Moon Rising
4. Evol
5. Sonic Youth
6. Daydream Nation

(The 2nd through 6th positions are all pretty close, and on a different day I might list them completely differently. 1st Place was very easy, though.)

But what is "Made In USA" again?

xhuxk, Saturday, 23 June 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

noodley marijuana-fueled film soundtrack

thought I was the only fan of albums #1 and 2, cool.

m coleman, Saturday, 23 June 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

xhuck: it's that soundtrack thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_USA_%28album%29

StanM, Saturday, 23 June 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

xhuxk (sorry)

StanM, Saturday, 23 June 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

my top five would probably be: Daydream, EVOL, Murray Street, Sister, Jet Set. but I voted for Murray Street just to kind of stump for the tentpole best album of their later years.

wtf @ this poll including SYR5 (which only one member of Sonic Youth even played on!) and not any of the first three SYR's. honestly I probably wouldn't have included any of them, although a best SYR poll might be interesting.

Alex in Baltimore, Saturday, 23 June 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

I'd vote for The Whitey Album just (if it were a choice) because Watt's on it, but I'm going for EVOL, with Daydream Nation a close second.

MacDara, Saturday, 23 June 2007 15:21 (eighteen years ago)

I love Watt, too, but that's such an arbitrary reason to vote for an SY album. he's on EVOL too anyway!

Alex in Baltimore, Saturday, 23 June 2007 15:40 (eighteen years ago)

Made In USA is basically just snippets of Secret Girl off EVOL and random noise, it's not really that interesting.

I went for Sister, but EVOL and Bad Moon Rising are close. I never really rated Daydream Nation as highly as any of those.

Colonel Poo, Saturday, 23 June 2007 15:52 (eighteen years ago)

I love Watt, too, but that's such an arbitrary reason to vote for an SY album.

Yeah, that's true, but when it comes to picking the best out of an excellent bunch, the reasons to differentiate between them become arbitrary, no? Besides, I like Watt.

he's on EVOL too anyway!

Only slightly, only slightly.

MacDara, Saturday, 23 June 2007 16:20 (eighteen years ago)

BAD MOON RISING, hands down. Confusion is Sex is my runner-up.

Rather Ripped totally sucks and is (along with Dirty) the worst thing they've ever done.

Reatards Unite, Saturday, 23 June 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

Bad Moon Rising. It's not better than the three albums that followed it craftwise, but it has a fresher spirit.

Tim Ellison, Saturday, 23 June 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

Murray Street, because it's the only *album* of theirs I find myself wanting to listen to these days. O/w good playlists will do.

Euler, Saturday, 23 June 2007 18:53 (eighteen years ago)

My favorite is Sister, but Washing Machine and Daydream Nation come close.

Mr. Perpetua, Saturday, 23 June 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder if I'll be the only Goo voter.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 23 June 2007 19:19 (eighteen years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc400/c481/c48151ibcc8.jpg

Schizophrenia, Tuff Gnarl, Pacific Coast Highway, and Kotton Krown are among my all-time SY favorites, but I love the whole album. I am surprised at what an easy call this was for me. I think EVOL might be my second pick.

nicky lo-fi, Saturday, 23 June 2007 19:21 (eighteen years ago)

I suspect there'll be more Goo votes to come. xpost.

My best guess is that the Goo fans are all busy reading REM threads right now, but will discover this one in a year or two.

dlp9001, Saturday, 23 June 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

Which ever one has the fewest Kim Gordon songs.

Jeff, Saturday, 23 June 2007 20:54 (eighteen years ago)

completely OTM Jeff

gman, Saturday, 23 June 2007 21:22 (eighteen years ago)

1. Bad Moon Rising
2. EVOL
3. Sister

Haven't listened to any of the others more than once in the last decade.

EZ Snappin, Saturday, 23 June 2007 21:28 (eighteen years ago)

I'd just like to post the lyrics to My Friend Goo. Always cracks me up.

my friend Goo has a real tattoo
she always knows just what to do
she looks through her hair like she doesn't care (?)
what she does best is stand and stare

she can play the drums set too
and the boys say: "hey Goo what's new?"' hey Goo what's new?
my friend Goo just says: "Hey you"
my friend Goo just says: "Hey you"

I know a secret or two about Goo
she won't mind if I tell you
she likes to wear green underwear
and lays down almost anywhere

she doesn't have nothing to do
and the boys say: "hey Goo what's new?"' hey Goo what's new?
my friend Goo just says: "Hey you"
my friend Goo just says: "Hey you"

I know a secret or two about Goo
she won't mind if i tell you
I know a secret or two about Goo
I know a secret about Goo and you

and she sticks just like glue
and the boys say: "hey Goo what's new?"' hey Goo what's new?
my friend Goo just goes: "Hey you"
my friend Goo just goes: "Hey you"

Goo Goo Goo

Goo Goo Goo

Goo Goo Goo
my friend Goo
Goo Goo Goo
talkin' 'bout Goo
Goo Goo Goo
my friend Goo
Goo Goo Goo
you would too
Goo

Jeff, Saturday, 23 June 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

'Baboons Writhing' pwns.

Mike McGooney-gal, Saturday, 23 June 2007 21:43 (eighteen years ago)

Sister. Schizophrenia is the best song they ever wrote.

theboyqueen, Saturday, 23 June 2007 22:46 (eighteen years ago)

I am almost certain Daydream Nation is my least favorite, though I haven't really heard any of the 2000's ones except Rather Ripped, which is quite good.

theboyqueen, Saturday, 23 June 2007 22:48 (eighteen years ago)

murray street is pretty awesome

gman, Saturday, 23 June 2007 23:23 (eighteen years ago)

Another vote for Sister here

stephen, Sunday, 24 June 2007 00:03 (eighteen years ago)

Funny how almost everyone who voted for Sister calls EVOL their #2 and vice versa

yussel, Sunday, 24 June 2007 02:01 (eighteen years ago)

Goody goody goody! Sonic Youth comes to ILX Poll-Land! :) :)

Dirty Dirty Dirty Dirty. Although I haven't heard Sister in a real long time...in fact, I think I still have it on tape...*goes into other room*

Bimble, Sunday, 24 June 2007 02:03 (eighteen years ago)

Sister and Evol made for the very best two sides of a tape.

dan selzer, Sunday, 24 June 2007 02:19 (eighteen years ago)

Unfortunately I let Evol go...or rather never had it. Bought it for a friend in England, sent it to him...never owned it myself. A tragedy, I know. So much music, so little time.

Bimble, Sunday, 24 June 2007 02:36 (eighteen years ago)

Okay I just went to the store and bought Sister (my old tape didn't have very good sound quality to be honest), Evol & the Deluxe edition of Dirty. I hope you're happy now. I almost bought the Deluxe edition of Goo, but one would like to save some money now and then for other things.

Bimble, Sunday, 24 June 2007 03:21 (eighteen years ago)

Bad Moon Rising. All these years I thought I was the only one. "Brave Men Run" might be the greatest opener ever.

wanko ergo sum, Sunday, 24 June 2007 03:52 (eighteen years ago)

I've been listening to "Unmade Bed" for the past half hour...I don't think it's their best album, but Sonic Nurse has some amazing tracks.

Tape Store, Sunday, 24 June 2007 03:55 (eighteen years ago)

bad moon rising

am0n, Sunday, 24 June 2007 04:21 (eighteen years ago)

Unmade Bed is the best song they have ever written. Alot of tracks they have written are just insanley brilliant;Schizophrenia, tuff gnarl, skip tracer, I'm insane, free city Rhymes, Karen Koltrane, etc...the not so obvious ones are usually better than lets say teenage riot or 100%.

oh yeah, by the way...Sister pwns.

I vote Sissy.

Forensicscene1338, Sunday, 24 June 2007 04:42 (eighteen years ago)

I just want to thank ILM, really. I honestly needed someone to kick me in the pants and say "buy Evol and Sister now" even though it never would have occured to me to do that by myself for some reason. I gotta say, Evol sounds really, really fascinating to me. I really wouldn't have bothered with this stuff when it came out, though I liked the video for "Shadow Of A Doubt". Yeah I just didn't trust them at all back then.

Bimble, Sunday, 24 June 2007 07:23 (eighteen years ago)

Also, if Daydream Nation wins this poll, I'm really going to be upset.

Bimble, Sunday, 24 June 2007 07:33 (eighteen years ago)

Another vote for Sister. The first of them I heard back then. "Schizophrenia" still gives me the chills. That intro is unbelievable - so simple, so effective.

willem, Sunday, 24 June 2007 11:35 (eighteen years ago)

Sister. I was tempted to vote Evol though as that's the old album I listen to most.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 24 June 2007 18:33 (eighteen years ago)

80s - Sister, 90s - Washing Machine. Maybe it's because it's summer but I'm feeling fond of WM's glassy sunshine, but overall 80s SY>90s SY by a country mile.

ogmor, Sunday, 24 June 2007 20:32 (eighteen years ago)

and '00's SY >>>>>>>> '90s SY

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 24 June 2007 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.sistersister.8m.com/title.gif

funny farm, Sunday, 24 June 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

I'm pissed because SYR1 and Silver Session For Jason Knuth isn't on this.

Elvis Telecom, Sunday, 24 June 2007 22:11 (eighteen years ago)

"80s - Sister, 90s - Washing Machine. Maybe it's because it's summer but I'm feeling fond of WM's glassy sunshine, but overall 80s SY>90s SY by a country mile."

Good point, I am sure Washing Machine deserves a lot more credit than it will get in this poll.

sonderangerbot, Sunday, 24 June 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

I Still Play Dirty and Washing machine from time to time.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Sunday, 24 June 2007 22:43 (eighteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Sunday, 24 June 2007 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

I still play Goo and WM but I might not EVER play Dirty again. Part of that is b/c I did play it way too much as a 15 yr old.

wanko ergo sum, Sunday, 24 June 2007 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

Another vote for Murray Street. And I don't think it even gets going till "Rain On Tin" (track 3 out of a paltry 7). I'd vote for Daydream Nation if this poll regarded most overrated albums, and Dirty if it regarded underrated albums, which probably just means I never remotely understood this band.

Cosmo Vitelli, Monday, 25 June 2007 01:48 (eighteen years ago)

I haven't been able to relisten to Murray Street since I realized that it was a rehearsal for Sonic Nurse and Rather Ripped. Still a fine album -- from what I remember.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 25 June 2007 01:51 (eighteen years ago)

I'm voting Sonic Nurse just so it gets a vote, but it's one of my top 3 for sure.

Matos W.K., Monday, 25 June 2007 02:08 (eighteen years ago)

I'm voting Sonic Nurse just so it gets a vote, but it's one of my top 3 for sure.

-- Matos W.K., Monday, June 25, 2007 2:08 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

That wasn't necessary. :)

Tape Store, Monday, 25 June 2007 02:09 (eighteen years ago)

haha oh it was!

Matos W.K., Monday, 25 June 2007 02:13 (eighteen years ago)

Sonic Nurse has two votes then...

Tape Store, Monday, 25 June 2007 02:22 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going to check out Bad Moon Rising, too. I seem to remember that song "Halloween" off the radio. This is way too much fun.

I'm surprised at the love for Washing Machine here. I bought it when it came out and was rather bored by it. Rather Ripped sounded really good but for some reason every time I tried to play it all the way through I always wanted to put on something else. I figure one day I'll go back to it, though.

I have some love for Thousand Leaves. Even if I never felt the urge to play it I kept it for years.

I'm really enjoying watching the "1991:The Year Punk Broke" clips on You Tube. The in-between bits are just so funny that I don't even care if Nirvana are in it. I'd really like the see the whole thing again, I'll have to rent it soon.

Bimble, Monday, 25 June 2007 05:39 (eighteen years ago)

I'm toying with Bad Moon Rising over EVOL or Sister, but those 3 are really a trio of awesome for me. Sparse and spooky, cinematic almost. "Pacific Coast Highway" is a real favourite of mine.

Trayce, Monday, 25 June 2007 05:53 (eighteen years ago)

I'll probably be the only one voting for Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star and I feel fine.

-- JN$OT, Saturday, June 23, 2007 1:50 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Link

at least 2 votes, w/ mine

6335, Monday, 25 June 2007 06:17 (eighteen years ago)

Thurston Moore almost ruins The Year Punk Broke for me.

circa1916, Monday, 25 June 2007 06:59 (eighteen years ago)

Well it means something to me because I was in Belgium at the time and the footage you see in the daytime in that film was something I witnessed myself firsthand. They were incredible and all of a sudden I realized how many of their songs I knew and how much I liked them. I didn't really know how much I liked them until they played that Belgian festival in 1991. Add to this that I had been away from my own country for 4 months by the time this happened and I was actually quite homesick at the time I saw them and they were from my home country. They made some funny comment about one of the big banners around the festival grounds, asking what the word meant, and I'd been thinking the same thing.

Bimble, Monday, 25 June 2007 07:17 (eighteen years ago)

Now I've torn up my entire cassette collection in a fruitless search for the Whitey album, Ciccone Youth, you know? I was so SURE I had that damn cassette. It's not fair.

Bimble, Monday, 25 June 2007 07:51 (eighteen years ago)

Also I do not understand people who would choose Sister over EVOL.

Bimble, Monday, 25 June 2007 07:55 (eighteen years ago)

Is "Bad Moon Rising" the Goth choice? It kindof is, isn't it? It's the Goth choice. This doesn't bother me at all.

Bimble, Monday, 25 June 2007 08:08 (eighteen years ago)

This is my last post on this thread tonight:

Bad Moon Rising is the BE ALL END ALL. Can I change my vote please?

Bimble, Monday, 25 June 2007 08:31 (eighteen years ago)

WHAT???

The band stated that the album was recorded over the master tape of Sister to save on tape costs. At the time, the statement was widely believed to be a joke, but many fans claim that when the record is turned up to a loud volume, you can hear Sister playing in its entirety underneath the album. It's hard to hear, but very noticeable during the in-between track silence.

is this true, people who have "Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star" somewhere near them?

StanM, Monday, 25 June 2007 09:23 (eighteen years ago)

(And does this mean that votes for Experimental Jet etc are subliminal votes for Sister?)

StanM, Monday, 25 June 2007 09:24 (eighteen years ago)

I ended up voting for EVOL but would like to go on record as saying it ties with Bad Moon Rising.

Stanm: thats a weird claim, and it has no citations. Someone's probably pulling shit. I dont have EJS, T&NS so I couldn't say.

Trayce, Monday, 25 June 2007 09:50 (eighteen years ago)

The band supposedly joked that they'd recorded over the masters for "Sister" to save tape costs -- which sounds silly at first, until you really, really crank "Jet Set" up... you can actually hear "Sister" played in its entirety underneath the album! Listen closely between songs if you have any doubts...

http://www.sonicyouth.com/history/og-set.html

(could still be a joke, of course)

StanM, Monday, 25 June 2007 10:01 (eighteen years ago)

duh. frame. this is the link: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/lp/lp10.html

StanM, Monday, 25 June 2007 10:02 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah I've heard that story for a long time and I'm pretty sure it's true.

Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 25 June 2007 13:16 (eighteen years ago)

I've been listening to a lot of Sonic Youth's early albums lately, so this poll is quite timely. For me, it sure as hell will NOT be Daydream Nation. I always locate this album as the beginning of the decline, rather than their absolute peak as is usually claimed. I think it has a lot more in common with the mediocre Goo and Dirty than with the outstanding albums that preceded it. It runs too long, too -- I hardly ever make it past "Hey Joni" or "Providence" (which is about 45 minutes of music!) It's a damn good album, to be sure, but I don't think it's as interesting as SY get.

But between the top choices it gets really difficult -- Bad Moon Rising, EVOL, or Sister, of course. But I actually love the Whitey Album, too, and Confusion is Sex is awesome. There's so much space in these albums, so many interesting textures. I'll probably end up voting BMR. The times when I'm listening to these 80s albums I start to think that SY could really be "the best band ever", but then I listen to all 90s stuff and I change my mind.

Also, what are people's opinions of Moore's solo stuff? Has anyone heard the Original Silence album?

Mark Clemente, Monday, 25 June 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

For me, Thurston has the spottiest/least interesting solo and side projects of all the members of SY. I like Psychic Hearts well enough, and I love the 2 albums he did with Nels Cline, and the acoustic guitar piece on Hurricane Floyd that became the genesis of "Rain On Tin" and several other songs on recent SY albums. But most of the collaborative/improv stuff does nothing for me (compared to, say, Lee's improv albums with folks like William Hooker). Haven't heard Original Silence, though.

Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 25 June 2007 14:48 (eighteen years ago)

Washing Machine's the first really mellow SY record, the band working out how to age whilst still sounding like SY. Even though there's a fair bit of crap on it overall it feels fresh and has some great tracks. On A Thousand Leaves they've lost almost all their intensity and it was still pretty but so drained it works best for taking naps to.

ogmor, Monday, 25 June 2007 15:04 (eighteen years ago)

<i>A Thousand Leaves</i> is an album I really liked at the time but has since become one of my least favorites. Part of that's because because the performances feel really weak, compared to some of the live or instrumental versions of the songs on SYR2, their episode of "Sessions at West 54th," and on the tour in support of the album. And part of it's because the stuff I liked, mainly the long stretched out jams like "Wildflower Soul" and "Karen Koltrane," were done better on Murray Street and Sonic Nurse.

Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 25 June 2007 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

ATL is the tripper, textured sound that SY aimed for on Washing Machine. The guitars are real purty, and I dig all nine minutes of "Hits Of Sunshiine." "Hoarfrost" is probably my favorite Lee Ranaldo song ever, and "Sunday" is one of their better piledrivers. Major flaws: "Ineffable Me" is the only worthwhile Kim song.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 25 June 2007 15:28 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, "Hoarfrost" is fantastic. I liked "Sunday" on the SubUrbia soundtrack way more, though, so that's another song where I think the album version is inferior. "French Tickler" would be my Kim pick, though.

Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 25 June 2007 15:30 (eighteen years ago)

i just watched The Devil and Daniel Johnston last night for the first time and cracked up when sonic youth is running around new york looking for Daniel.

thought id mention it.

gman, Monday, 25 June 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

I have the vhs of the year punk broke. I need to watch it again sometime.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Monday, 25 June 2007 21:50 (eighteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Monday, 25 June 2007 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

If you swap Dirty with A Thousand Leaves then that would've been pretty much the ideal result.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Monday, 25 June 2007 23:10 (eighteen years ago)

one vote eh......holy hell

gman, Monday, 25 June 2007 23:13 (eighteen years ago)

I can't believe EVOL got so few votes compared to the other two.

Alex in SF, Monday, 25 June 2007 23:18 (eighteen years ago)

It deserved more, but maybe others were like me and voted Sister so it beat Daydream Nation.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Monday, 25 June 2007 23:28 (eighteen years ago)

In other words you admit the fix was in.

mitya, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:47 (eighteen years ago)

Sister and Evol have always been my faves but i wanted sister to beat daydream nation(still love that album too but y'know)

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:55 (eighteen years ago)

yeah I was torn between EVOL and Sister and went Sister. Didn't really consider voting Daydream.

and haha poor NYC Ghosts & Flowers, I still haven't even heard that one.

marmotwolof, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:59 (eighteen years ago)

1st track of that one is actually good. Not sure I'd go so far as "essential" but it's good.

dlp9001, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 03:28 (eighteen years ago)

Im suprised DDN came in second considering everyone said they weren't going to vote for it!

The lurkers support it in email etc etc.

Trayce, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 03:40 (eighteen years ago)

Maybe the daydream nation voters didn't want to say so for fear of being mocked for picking the canon album.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 03:46 (eighteen years ago)

or maybe they just couldn't be arsed posting.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 03:46 (eighteen years ago)

I stand by my EVOL vote tho, in fact I think I shall get out my vinyl tonight and listen to it.

Trayce, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 03:46 (eighteen years ago)

Evol was my favourite album ever once but now it doesn't hold up as well for me as Sister does. "Green Light"/"Death to Our Friends"/"Secret Girl" are really great and creepy-pretty like they should be but parts of it feel a bit enervated. Sister moves more. The sound (lo-fi approximation of 80s production values?) seems a bit off. Even "Expressway" drags a bit. I don't know if it's just that I've heard more ambient guitar music or if it's that I just played the album to death from 16-23.

I think "Schizophrenia" is the best thing they've done. Is it the catchiest song that has no recurring sections at all? I think Sister maximizes their strengths within the form of creatively structured songs that have memorable tunes and beats. Sonic Nurse might be my 2nd choice!

Sundar, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 04:12 (eighteen years ago)

I have to admit too my choices were biased by not having heard most of their catalogue post-Goo. Which I didnt like that much. I only have Murray St apart from the early work and I like it a lot.

Trayce, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 04:39 (eighteen years ago)

On some days this could be my list except for Goo and Rather Ripped (wtf?).

sonderangerbot, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 11:50 (eighteen years ago)

i always loved made in usa. it's a fine soundtrack.

alex in mainhattan, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:06 (eighteen years ago)

I just relistened to Sister tonite and it is pretty awesome.

Trayce, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:20 (eighteen years ago)

ILM in not wrong shocka!

StanM, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:21 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah I think this poll came out pretty right on.

Trayce, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:24 (eighteen years ago)

Awesome!

willem, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:29 (eighteen years ago)

i'm glad murray got 9 votes

album is great

gman, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 04:25 (eighteen years ago)

'NYC Ghosts and Flowers is still thought of too poorly. It and 'Murray St.' go well together. 'Rather Ripped' is dreadful.

J Kaw, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 04:40 (eighteen years ago)

Sonic Nurse was robbed.....

MikeyH, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 04:46 (eighteen years ago)

I'm still not really understanding how Sister is better than EVOL. EVOL just keeps me more entertained throughout, whereas I always recall getting bored with Sister about halfway through. But I'm going to continue to scrutinize it and see if I come to a different conclusion eventually.

Bimble, Thursday, 28 June 2007 02:57 (eighteen years ago)

Sonic Nurse is absolutely fantastic, gorgeous, complex, mind-blowing and the overall best release they've done since Daydream Nation in my book and probably many others

stephen, Thursday, 28 June 2007 07:48 (eighteen years ago)

Well I just can't thank gman enough for starting this thread, for my eyes have been opened. I listened to Bad Moon Rising again and decided it still absolutely floored me, so I figured I should go ahead and check out whatever they did before that. I've avoided early Sonic Youth for years and years because I always assumed it would be way too noisy for me. But Bad Moon Rising poked some major holes in my expectations. So I got the self-titled CD and put it on my CD walkman and walked around the city and felt like I was in another world. I just couldn't believe they ever sounded like that, so spine-chillingly eerie and dark. It seemed to dovetail nicely with my favourite type of sound from that era, but I just didn't expect it from *them*. So what did I do? I walked right back to the CD store and bought Confusion Is Sex and put THAT on. Well I didn't like it quite as much, but the atmosphere of it was dead on, and I began to see the connection between them and Swans in those days which I'd never given any thought to before. Holy christ, Michael Gira even wrote the lyrics to one song? Wow.

I am dismayed, though, that so many seem to see Sister/Daydream Nation as their highest point. For me those two albums are the low point between Goo & Dirty on one side (both of which I love) and this exciting early stuff on the other side.

It is a joy to try taking a look at their entire career like this. I feel like they've just snuck up on me again like they did in '91. Ever present, and I always come back to them, but somehow I never give them the thought I now believe they really deserve.

I shall have to try catching up with their more recent records again. Sonic Nurse will be first on the agenda since that's the one I haven't heard yet at all.

Is it healthy to just listen to one band all day and night? Maybe not, but I'm always happiest when I finally find something to be obsessed with. I've found my thrill.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 06:17 (eighteen years ago)

Maybe Evol/Sister/Daydream Nation will sneak up on you someday, just like their early stuff did.

Z S, Saturday, 30 June 2007 07:41 (eighteen years ago)

Although it's hard to imagine DN sneaking around.

Z S, Saturday, 30 June 2007 07:42 (eighteen years ago)

Oh no, you misunderstand: I'm all on board with EVOL, don't get me wrong. I include that with their "early stuff" see. Not sure if I like it as much as the early early stuff, but that's only because I haven't played it in a week and I plan to revisit soon. No, it's like Sister and Daydream N. are the enemies for me. Which is a shame because the first two songs on Sister are certainly some of the best the band has to offer, and the first oh...6-8 songs on Daydream are pretty fantastic too. But there's a thing called petering out and at least on Goo they waited til like the last three songs on the album to do so.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 07:53 (eighteen years ago)

Also I didn't mean to inadvertently insult "Beauty Lies In The Eye" (I forgot about that one for a moment) but I do believe "Shadow Of A Doubt" is the same kind of thing done much better.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 07:56 (eighteen years ago)

Is it just me or is "Satan Is Boring" rather prescient considering a certain dumbya? Oh well, good stoner music, anyway.

Did you know there's a full moon in Capricorn right now? I saw it in the sky and thought "Bad Moon Rising" hahahah it was really huge in the sky and seemed really close to the horizon, it was weird. Never seen anything like it. I mean, I'd never seen the moon be that huge before.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 08:07 (eighteen years ago)

Bimb: I love "Beauty Lies in the Eye" and "Shadow of a Doubt"! They are some of the few Kim songs I like. Along with "Tunic". I'm usually a Lee fan to be honest.

Trayce, Saturday, 30 June 2007 08:33 (eighteen years ago)

I think also there has been a bad moon over this entire year but thats a story for some other time

Trayce, Saturday, 30 June 2007 08:34 (eighteen years ago)

one of the reasons I love <I>Sonic Nurse</I> so much is that Kim has never sounded better.

Matos W.K., Saturday, 30 June 2007 08:39 (eighteen years ago)

Will take note, Matos! Thanks.

I just found my old VHS cassette of a Snub episode circa '87 of Sonic Youth live with Iggy Pop on stage doing "I Wanna Be Your Dog"...I'd forgotten that this clip had Iggy in it, too. It was the first time I'd heard the song, and though I wasn't a big fan of SY, I knew it was quite good even then. I hope this clip is on You Tube, but right now I can't be arsed to search for it.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:17 (eighteen years ago)

I remember "I wanna be your dog", must still have it on tape somewhere, slowly disintegrating. Never saw the footage, though.

Funny, this morning I'm listening to Sister and Evol, the latters nearly finished. Wanted to check this thread and it's right there at the top of the new answers page! Anyway, just reading Bimble's comments above and I have to say, when Sister was playing earlier, I too felt that the adrenaline rush that was definately going on during the first half was slowly fading by the time "Tuff Gnarl" came on. 17 year old me loved "Hot Wire My Heart" but apart from the terrific intro it doesn't seem to do much for me this time round. But then "Cotton Crown" and "White Cross" came and everything was ok again... Now, on Evol the suspense/adrenaline levels never drop. I feel like I should now decide that it's the better album but I somehow have a hard time doing so! Parting is such...

willem, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:34 (eighteen years ago)

17? 15 year old me it was. Though I still loved the song at 17.

willem, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:35 (eighteen years ago)

Also, listening obsessively to one band exclusively is surely not an unhealthy thing to do? I have those phases from time to time, listening to nothing other than Bowie, Sonic, Feelies, Galaxie 500 etc... Reliving/stuck in the past? Maybe. But it always feels really good :)

willem, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:42 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah seriously, unless I've found a certain band, (or perhaps song I guess) to be obsessed with, I'm not happy. I've managed to settle on Sonic Youth and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation. I'm happy. I think the last band I was obsessed with was Bow Wow Wow, but that was like 2 years ago.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:47 (eighteen years ago)

Also yes, Trayce, the Karen Carpenter song ("Tunic") is a killer, you are right about that. I played that tonight before you posted about it and it just stuns me every time, that song.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:50 (eighteen years ago)

I shall play "White Cross" one more time for you, willem.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 09:59 (eighteen years ago)

The Ciccone Youth version of "Addicted To Love" is absolutely hilarious.

Bimble, Saturday, 30 June 2007 21:24 (eighteen years ago)

It is terrible. I'm not at all a fan of most of Kim's singing.

Trayce, Sunday, 1 July 2007 04:24 (eighteen years ago)

Well, okay...so she can't exactly keep on key if she had to in a live setting. Neither could Madonna.

I've had this thing in my head for days...this guitar instrumental bit that I thought was at the end of Schizophrenia, but I've figured out now that it actually comes from Dirty Boots. I have not been able to get this thing out of my head for days. It's just this little guitar part. Argh.

All of this pales in comparison to their first EP, though.

I rented some old Sonic Youth videos from the shop along with the 1991:The Year Punk Broke Thing. The guy behind the counter stared at me for the longest time, it was scary. Like he thought I was going to steal the whole lot. Finally he spoke and asked me if I was okay with the deposits on them. "Sure" I said, happily. But for a moment there, I thought might be arrested for renting some old Sonic Youth videos.

Bimble, Sunday, 1 July 2007 05:05 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, it's whatever happens just at the end of Dirty Boots when they've gone on a solo freakout. Whatever that is, I can't get it out of my head.

Bimble, Sunday, 1 July 2007 05:12 (eighteen years ago)

Okay Sonic Nurse is next I swear, but after long deliberations, I have concluded the first Sonic Youth EP + bonus early live stuff on the CD is just about as good as it gets with them. I want to change my vote (again). That stuff is just unassailable. "The Burning Spear", "The Good & The Bad"...lord it's enough to make a fan of early PIL happy at times.

Bimble, Sunday, 1 July 2007 21:50 (eighteen years ago)

after playing each of them. i really feel ILM was dead on putting sister over evol

gman, Sunday, 1 July 2007 23:21 (eighteen years ago)

im really loving 'pacific coast highway'

i think its the only song sung by kim that i really like besides 'Sympathy For The Strawb' . any suggestions for sonic youth songs with her on vocals?

gman, Sunday, 1 July 2007 23:36 (eighteen years ago)

Nurse has the only Kim songs I've ever really liked without reservations or qualifiers--
"Pattern Recognition" & "I Love You Golden Blue"... "Turquoise Boy" off Rather Ripped I'd add as well. I think I prefer Kim the Balladeer to Kim the Street Beat Ranter.

Sparkle Motion, Sunday, 1 July 2007 23:55 (eighteen years ago)

I love the Kim songs on Washing Machine, but they're really Kim the grunty angst muffin or Kim the Street Beat Ranter or Kim the Shangri-Las wannabe rather than Kim the Balladeer, so if it's the latter that floats your boat gman go with Sparkle Motion's recommendations.

Tim F, Monday, 2 July 2007 00:05 (eighteen years ago)

Ok, I forgot Washing Machine--Becuz is teriffic, but I reject categorically Kim the Shangri-Las Wannabe.
I would add that based on your definition, the Kim of Pattern Recognition is of Grunty Angst Muffin vintage.

Sparkle Motion, Monday, 2 July 2007 00:11 (eighteen years ago)

Ive just realised that further upthread I big upped "Pacific Coast Highway" but I did what I always do, and confused it with "In the Kingdom #19". POssibly because its about a car crash. But its an awesome cinematic storysong.

Aaaah
he did what he had to do
he asked no questions
he had few conversations
the tar glistens in the noon heat
he tread across the grass, up onto, and down off of, the concrete abutments

mirage on the highway
ghosts in the tunnel
the dark cave

out into the blinding light of day at breakneck speed
every bolt rumbling

glistening highway mirage groans
the slick surface
careening into first the small mammal, and then screeching along the guard
rail, scraping paint and throwing sparks like sheets of pure terror for
400 yards
over and over

with one final back and forth rocking motion coming to rest
wheeehah

the beautiful paintjob hopelessly marred

Fucking awesome.

Trayce, Monday, 2 July 2007 00:22 (eighteen years ago)

Come on get in the car
Lets go for a ride somewhere
I won't hurt you
As much as you hurt me
Let me take you there
Before the sun goes down
Come on give me your love
Comon baby all you have
I wanna take your breathe away
Comon baby
Just like that, you say
You make me feel so crazy
Comon get in the car
Lets go for a ride somewhere
I won't hurt you
You make me feel so crazy

Come on get in the car
Lets go for a ride somewhere
I won't hurt you
As much as you hurt me
Let me take you there
Before the sun goes down
Come on give me your love
Comon baby all you have
I wanna take your breathe away
Comon baby
Just like that, you say
You make me feel so crazy
Comon get in the car
Lets go for a ride somewhere
You make me feel so good
You make me feel so crazy

has to be one of the best she has ever done if not the best

gman, Monday, 2 July 2007 06:26 (eighteen years ago)

1. Goo. I'm surprised to realize I actually think this, but there it is. I was HUGELY into it when it came out and I still really enjoy most of it.
2. Sonic Nurse, because I'm not sick of it yet, and "New Hampshire"
3.-4. Sister/EVOL (tie)
5. Everything else (tie), except for
6. Dirty
7. Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star. I just can't get into it at all.

xero, Saturday, 7 July 2007 21:29 (eighteen years ago)

six months pass...

Actually, for all the bad press Dirty got, prolley my favourite Kim song (besides Cross the Breeze) is JC. Absolutely spifferiffical! (tho def. spacy beatnik-rapping

Drugs A. Money, Saturday, 19 January 2008 01:29 (eighteen years ago)

)

Drugs A. Money, Saturday, 19 January 2008 01:30 (eighteen years ago)

A Thousand Leaves (1998) 6

6 voters (including myself) otm ^^

stephen, Sunday, 20 January 2008 17:55 (eighteen years ago)

I'd rank it fourth, I think.

Hmm, why not. More or less in order of preference:

Sister (1987) 36
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994) 4
Daydream Nation (1988) 35
A Thousand Leaves (1998) 6
NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2000) 0
Rather Ripped (2006) 4
Goo (1990) 7
Sonic Nurse (2004) 6
Dirty (1992) 4
Washing Machine (1995) 7
EVOL (1986) 15
Confusion Is Sex (1983) 3
Murray Street (2002) 9
Sonic Youth (1982) 2
Bad Moon Rising (1985) 9

Ioannis, Sunday, 20 January 2008 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

I never get tired of talking about Sonic Youth.

Bimble, Sunday, 20 January 2008 22:11 (eighteen years ago)

Why would anyone have bad moon rising last?

Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 20 January 2008 22:16 (eighteen years ago)


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