Sister

46 days in and I’m beginning to think the 1001 Album Generator is tracking my internet history. Less than 12 hours before this album was “randomly generated” for me, I was watching a 1996 Sonic Youth live performance from Germany on YouTube. This suggests two grim possibilities: Either the developers of this website have entered into a nefarious pact with Google and are tracking my browsing history (god help them if they are) and then recommending albums… OR …I am becoming one with the Generator: its decisions influence my choices and my choices influence its decisions; a bio-mechanical cerebral cortex, decaying in a feedback loop. If Sonic Youth are, in fact, a conduit for The Singularity, would anyone be surprised? Their guitar squall and reckless abandon would make a fitting soundtrack to the technological apocalypse. Rating: SEVEN! out of 5

This is a strange collection of dissonant sounds, strange chords, screams, and stress. Every time i think i may appreciate a song it devolves into some incomprehensible chaos. Hard to tell if this is some sort of genius or crazy people that recently got instruments. I'm glad i made the journey, but i don't ever plan to go back.

I’m sure the abrasiveness and noise will turn off more than a few listeners, but embracing those is part of the point. They were smart to ease listeners in with the melancholy pop of “Schizophrenia,” while the rest of the songs veer into noisy hardcore pretty quickly. I hate using words like “evocative” but that’s exact what’s happening here, it’s hard to listen to the air-raid siren guitars, doom-y basslines, and intricate punk drumming without picturing a dark, sinister mid-80s Americana, like the Children of the Corn grew up and hid in the city, playing nihilistic noise because it’s all the know. Like a lot of the records of this era I wish the production could be beefed up but apparently the master tapes were destroyed. Just adding to the foreboding mystique at this point I guess.

Why the fuck haven't I been listening to Sonic Youth

Nothing offensive but a bit droning and one note. I'm sure they have hits, just not on this album.

A few decent songs regularly broken up with pointless, atonal noise. It might be "art" but it's not art, if you know what I'm saying.

I had heard of Sonic Youth in the 90's, but remained unfamiliar with their work. I just listened to this whole album and even though it's more "thrashy" than my usual listening tastes, I so love it. Innovative, original, and they show some real advanced musicianship. I read up on them, and Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore's focus on alternate tunings, many they pioneered, really draws me in. Such an artistic approach to their craft, and so much expression in their music.

I don't know what's going on- we got Sonic Youth earlier this list, and I really didn't connect or enjoy the album at all, but this one sounds amazing to me? What the fuck am I doing with this list? I'm going to have to go revisit it... Discordant, noisy artsy punk. Fun shit.

The sound of Sonic Youth really coalesced on 1987’s Sister, the band’s first real masterpiece. SY had been experimenting with modified guitars on blunt and jagged songs for a handful of years, creating an interesting and groundbreaking sound, but inconsistent albums and EPs. Beginning with EVOL, in 1986, their songcraft became more consistent, and they perfected it on Sister on tracks like “Schizophrenia” and “Stereo Sanctity.” One of this album’s highlights, though, is a cover: a faithful executed take on San Francisco punk band Crime’s fairly obscure “Hotwire My Heart,” with its tight rhythmic core and daggers of lead guitar slashing through the distortion. The gentle, dissonance of “Kotton Krown” nods to the epic scope we’d hear the following year on the band’s second masterpiece, the double album Daydream Nation.

5.0 - Yes, finally! Here's a Sonic Youth album that lives up to their hype! This truly feels like a milestone record that lays the foundation for so much of the music I enjoyed in my teenage years. They've balanced grungy experimentation with structured rock songwriting beautifully.

Listen: Aside from a pretty decent cover of a Karen Carpenter song, Sonic Youth was a huge blind spot for me until this "project". I basically knew them as a band Kurt Cobain and Jason Bateman's character from "Juno" liked. I'm only two albums in so far, but it's safe to say I'm completely all in on Sonic Youth now. This is the album where they nudge right up to that finish line that indicates the sound they'd perfect and inspire future and wannabe musicians for years to come. That special sound is an album away. But this still comes dangerously close. It's like licking your finger and then holding it up in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. Gordon and Moore were headed in the right direction here. This is the foretaste of the feast to come.

Like a lot of the stuff I listen to from Sonic Youth, I’m left feeling like I just listened to one long song rather than an album. Noise as a genre isn’t bad, but, typically, it’s not my thing. They do noise pretty well here, though a few tracks I can’t stand. 3/5

My third Sonic Youth album from this list and I'm not even a year in. I liked this one more than EVOL, but not as much as Dirty. Although this doesn't effect my rating for this album, my biggest thought is that this album wasn't really needed on this list. The two I've already rated already show two fairly distinct sounds from the band, this is just in the middle. A transitory period.

This Sonic Youth album sounds like a Sonic Youth album.

Started strong and declined rather quickly.

I swear that there is a big joke that I’ve been left out on. A joke where everybody pretends that Sonic Youth are a good band just to confuse me. I’ve definitely said this before, but they’re so highly regarded and I still can’t wrap my head around why. This album was a boring blend of noise that brought me little joy. Each to their own, but this isn’t one I’d want.

Ah yes, more "sustain guitar depressed teenager music". Still not my case ^^

Tortura auditiva

"I went away to see an old friend of mine His sister came over, she was out of her mind..." "Schizophrenia", the track that opens this album, is the birth of Sonic Youth as a legendary, iconic New York act. Everything that happened before during the band's early "no wave" trajectory converges to that melancholic guitar riff supported by Steve Shelley's bouncy toms, along with Thurston Moore's dreamy voice humming that David Lynch-like yarn over them. And everything that occured after that minute or so, for the band themselves, but also for the indie scene at large--years and even decades into the future--is a consequence of that incredible introduction where the band merged its abrasive, dissonant, unapologetically arty vocabulary with the most blatantly poppish instincts out there. From that moment I heard that introduction then dissolve into a maelstrom of intense, gripping sounds, I knew I would love this band forever. They were pointing the way into the future, to the nineties and beyond. Sadly, not a lot of folks realized this in 1987. I wish I had been there to tell everyone to *listen*, to *really*, *really* listen. They would have dismissed me as a deluded fan, I imagine. How wrong they would have been. You just need to *properly* hear the first minutes of that album to know. *Sister* is filled to the brim with transcendent moments like that, from the sheer aggression of "Catholic Block" to the oneiric, foggy atmosphere of "Kotton Krown", from the jangling, twisted guitar lines of "Tuff Gnarl" to the relentless, obsessive compulsive pulse of "Pacific Coast Highway". Moore hums, croons or shrieks. Gordon singspeaks and snarls as if she was sneering at death itself. Ranaldo utters apocalyptic preaches to an invisible congregration, *us*. Guitars wail, wince, drill and tinkle. The lyrics immerse you into a Philip K. Dick's alternate universe where industries of the heart and factories of the flesh mingle as if they were driven by the same mechanical pistons. Teenage lust, romantic impulses and cerebral digressions conflate. The air itself is buzzing with electricity around the schizoid characters populating those songs. Even silence, or what's left of it, seems to buzz. *Daydream Nation*, the album that followed *Sister*, is said to be Sonic Youth's magnum opus, thanks to some of its iconic cuts, its length, and its topical ambition--not to mention its overall sound, one more streamlined than in here (read: "more flat"). But make no mistake, *Sister* is iconic in its own right, and it is as much a masterpiece as *Daydream Nation* is, maybe even more so. A lot of Sonic Youth fans know this already. And they can't keep this a secret. I certainly can't. Now go on, call me a deluded fan. I'll only reply with one word. *Listen*. Number of albums left to review: 755 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 123 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 59 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 64

I was surprised how "modern" this one sounded, probably an indication of what a big influence the band is on a lot of more recent alternative rock.

First time listening to this album, absolutely love it, the guitars sound so good throughout, maybe not as good as Daydream Nation but this is still a masterpiece. One of those albums I just had to replay after the first listen, and makes this project worthwhile finding these gems.

“What an album” was my involuntary remark when this appeared on my screen. This confused me when I first heard it, as I’d heard mostly live recordings of Sonic Youth, which I loved for their first race car-jet engine squeals and whooshes; this is slower, weirder, less direct, now all reasons why this is one of my favourites. “Daydream Nation” is probably an inch higher in my affections, but I could make an argument that this has a better set of songs. For anyone wanting to hear the jet plane, fast rock band versions of these songs, there’s a live recording called “Hold that Tiger” from this time, a set in Chicago introduced by you-know-who, and it’s an absolute blast, a band at their peak”. Available on Bandcamp, I see.

Their genius is on full display here. As always, I'm drawn like a moth to the powerful voice of Kim and the insane tapestry of beautiful uncompromising sound. The guitar on PCH is tops. This is completely authentic to me. Mad respect.

1. Jedan od meni najboljih bendova na svijetu 2. Jedan od najboljih njihovih albuma ikad, a ima ih pregršt 3. Jednostavno, masterpiece - nije čista petica, ali pošto svakakvim dajem šakom i kapom bolje rejtinge nego što trebaju dobit, hej.

This is one of my favorite albums. It's very noisy, but the noise is catchy. Favorite song: Catholic Block.

Sonic Youth is one of those "do you like it?" "of course I do" bands, but little do you really know! What a mistake! This album is magnificent, good music from the beginning to the end.

1. Schizophrenia: starting of strong with a mellow yet very captivating track. 8.5/10. 2. Catholic Block: huge riffs and very nice vocals. This one grows during the track. 8/10. 3. Beauty Lies in the Eye: love this talkative way of portraying songs, great instrumental support. 8.5/10 4. Stereo Sancity: this one feels a bit too repetitive. Instrumentally really nice. 7/10 5. Pipeline/Killtime: pretty nice track, feels a bit like track 4 in a way. 7.5/10 6. Tuff Gnarl: noisy track which was cool to listen to. 7/10 7. Pacific Coast Highway: reminds me of julie, banger. 8.5/10 8. Hot Wire My Heart: pretty good. 7/10 9. Cotton Crown: nice riff, good layering with bass, solid track all round. 8/10. 10. White Cross: crazy sound, great riff. 7.5/10 11. Master-Dik: decent track not my fav. 6.5/10

I did not get turned onto Sonic Youth until their later efforts, and honestly have not listened to this album much. But it's all here - the amazing guitar work, the odd song structures, the dissonant noises, the way it all somehow still holds together. Apparently it was a concept album based around Philip K. Dick's life? Seriously, can you get any cooler than that? I've now listened to it three times through and as is often the case with their albums, it sounds more melodic and less random with each new listen. Definitely one of my favorite bands of all time. Although this isn't my favorite album of theirs, it still deserves a 5/5.

Noise is great, noise is brilliant

i always knew that sonic youth was highly influential but i never really dived into their music until now; and this definitely surpassed my expectations. this album sounds forward-thinking even though it released over 30 years ago. this album feels like someone went to the future, listened to all of the bands inspired by sonic youth, and then came back and made this; you know that a band is unique when they sound like they're inspired by themselves.

I had a phase in college for where I listened to this band pretty extensively. I still do but not nearly as often. Anyway, I always really liked this album, particularly the first 2 tracks. I still think this is pretty great. I like a couple of their albums more and this is probably more of a 4 for me, but its getting a five. Try and stop me!

Brilliant, uncompromising, making music exactly how they want to, Sonic Youth consistently innovate and fascinate. The dissonance is part of the journey.

i love this album. have never been able to decide if i like this or daydream nation better. they're both excellent.

Might be the album that I have listened to the most times ever. This dry drum sound in the first song.. instantly recognizable. I suppose it is Day Dream Nation for most people, but Sister is my number 1 Sonic Youth above Day Dream Nation, Evol, Dirty and Goo.

Pretty brilliant. Deserves much more listening.

Hot damn I need to have more Sonic Youth in my life. This was a great listen

Brutal noise.

Absolute classic! One of my all time faves of sonic youth and beyond.

Album that got me into Sonic Youth

Such a great sounding record. Suffers a bit in comparison with its successor in hindsight, but that's really a sign of how good at songwriting they got so quickly. "Kotton Krown" (weirdly spelled using 'C's on my mp3 version, probably an iTunes mishap long ago) in particular is great. And, of course, "Gene Simmons is an ugly motherfucker"

Another album by Sonic Youth, another big surprise - how good is this band, man? And more importantly, how come I have never listened to any of their songs? I'm absolutely baffled. But there is something weird about it - since listening to their other album, "Daydream Nation", even though I really liked it, not even once I revisited it. I have a feeling its going to be the same story with "Sister". Both albums are really great, but ultimately I think it might be too far down the line for me to properly enjoy it. I'll give it 4 stars, but just to balance it out with previous album, so that both of them are 4,5 stars.

Really great album. 2nd best Sonic Youth album. Schizophrenia is among their best. 8-9/10

I'm endlessly fascinated with the way Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo use guitars to such varied effects. Their noisy experimentations are a testament to the possibilities of sound. This music clangs and chimes, it screeches and grinds. It’s trippy and whirling, occasionally pretty, and often pointedly noisy. The contrast between Kim Gordon’s insouciant vocal and Moore’s more atonal style add interesting contrast and depth to the songs. The pacing of some of these songs is brutal, with credit due to some hard driving drums by Steve Shelley. There's an urgency that can feel oppressive as it pulls/drags you along, the only relief coming from strategically placed moments of quiet. If you don't dig noise, this will be a hard listen. If you enjoy it, this is glorious. Fave Songs: Schizophrenia, Pacific Coast Highway, Beauty Lies in the Eye, White Cross, Cotton Crown, Pipeline/Kill Time

Dirty, gritty, raucous soundscape. Standout Tracks: Schizophrenia, (I Got a) Catholic Block, Pipeline / Kill Time, Pacific Coast Highway, Kotton Krown, Master-Dik

I love sonic youth and the tracks that hit on this album or any of their albums really smash. If they ever put out a greatest hits it would be an incredible album. But on any given album there is only so much feedback and other noises that one can take in 40 minutes and Sister goes over that limit

I appreciate the innovativeness of this, and for that it is a great musical statement. But I would much rather listen to something else... I might not be that depressed, after all.

I liked it better on the second listen. It’s a good album, but I think I get lost a little bit during the more experimental passages. This feels like a transition album, but it’s closer to E.V.O.L. than Daydream Nation.

I adore parts of sonic youth. Then it suddenly just gets a bit too noisy and kind of irritating! 3.2

Ominous.

I promise I am really trying here. I like the guitar across the album and the songs are, for the most part, tight and thoughtfully composed. The drums sound great. I was a little frustrated that some of the same feedback tricks they used on previous albums are also here with nothing new to contribute. This is my third Sonic Youth album the list has presented me and I'm still oscillating on how I feel about the vocals. They're an acquired taste apparently, and I've seen some people say that the unconventional vocals are part of what draws them to Sonic Youth. Call me a normie for not getting it, I guess. All of this to say, I think I understand what made the other Sonic Youth albums I've heard singular and required listening, but I'm not sure what is special about this particular LP. Maybe I just finally have to admit that Sonic Youth doesn't excite me.

Lots of ear rape, as well as it’s just not good

Needs more cowbell.

THIS MAY NOT BE FOR YOU IF YOU HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE TALK TO YOU OR TEXT YOU LIKE THIS. I lovE METal and haRD ROck and juST abOUT any genre I CAN THInk of. That's because there's a patterned rise and fall and unexpected PUNCHES that are simply ear candy. I think this is supposed to be punk or some hybrid of punk. I can't tell because I like a lot of punk music, and this wasn't grabbing me. At least not in a positive way. This is the first 1-star I've given because I don't like it when people pour acid and lemon juice in my ear. No, that has never really happened to me. Well, until today. And I think it scorched a piece of my brain. Ouch!

Bloody awful. Guitars and singing out of tune, kind of drones on.

Jättebra!

Really good album, I’m surprised I never heard much more of their stuff before. It’s got me interested in looking more into Sonic Youth, I’ll give it a five out of five.

Mother of Indie PoP-Rock.

## In-Depth Review of *Sister* by Sonic Youth Sonic Youth’s 1987 album *Sister* stands as a pivotal moment in the band’s evolution and in the broader landscape of alternative rock. Often described as a transitional work between their abrasive no wave roots and the more expansive, melodic territory of *Daydream Nation*, *Sister* fuses experimental guitar textures, cryptic lyricism, and a raw, unvarnished production style. This review examines the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and concludes with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** *Sister*’s lyrics are enigmatic, poetic, and frequently allusive, drawing from literature, personal experience, and cultural observation. The album opens with “Schizophrenia,” a song inspired by Philip K. Dick’s life and writings, specifically referencing his twin sister who died in infancy. The lyrics are sparse but evocative, painting a portrait of mental instability and familial bonds: > “She said Jesus had a twin who knew nothing about sin / She was laughing like crazy at the trouble I’m in”[2][3]. Throughout the album, the lyrics oscillate between surreal imagery and direct, sometimes confrontational statements. For instance, “(I Got A) Catholic Block” references religious repression and personal liberation: > “You got to earn yr freedom / Get it on my own / I just live 4ever / There just is no end”[2]. “Tuff Gnarl” is a stream-of-consciousness barrage, mixing sexual innuendo, urban decay, and existential angst: > “He’s running on a tuff gnarl in his head / he’s got a fatal erection home in bed / he’s really smart and he’s really fast / he’s got a hard tit killer f*ck in his past”[2]. Kim Gordon’s contributions, particularly on tracks like “Schizophrenia” and “Pipeline/Kill Time,” add a haunting, detached quality that heightens the sense of alienation and introspection. The lyrics rarely offer resolution, instead embracing ambiguity and open-endedness, reflecting the album’s overall mood of restless searching[5]. --- ## **Music** Musically, *Sister* is a masterclass in tension and release, blending dissonant guitar interplay with bursts of melody and driving rhythms. The band’s use of alternate tunings, pioneered by Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, is central to the album’s sound. The guitars often seem to battle each other, weaving between shimmering arpeggios and abrasive noise[1][6]. - “Schizophrenia” starts with a gentle, almost hypnotic riff before building into a maelstrom of feedback and distortion, mirroring the lyrical descent into madness[1][6]. - “(I Got A) Catholic Block” features one of the band’s catchiest riffs, its sneering melody underpinned by propulsive drumming and a sense of barely contained chaos[6]. - “Tuff Gnarl” and “White Cross” are frenetic, with jagged rhythms and aggressive playing that showcase the band’s punk influences. - “Pipeline/Kill Time” and “Pacific Coast Highway” slow the pace, introducing atmospheric textures and a sense of foreboding. Steve Shelley’s drumming anchors the chaos, providing both drive and subtlety, while Kim Gordon’s bass work is understated but essential, locking in with Shelley to create a solid foundation for the guitar experimentation[1][6]. The arrangements are concise compared to the sprawling jams of later albums, giving *Sister* a focused, urgent energy[4]. --- ## **Production** The production on *Sister* is raw and unpolished, capturing the band’s live energy and experimental edge. Recorded at Sear Sound in New York with engineer Walter Sear, the album eschews studio gloss in favor of immediacy and authenticity. The guitars are often drenched in feedback and reverb, but the mix allows each instrument to breathe, avoiding the murkiness that sometimes plagued earlier Sonic Youth records[6]. This approach gives the album a sense of intimacy and volatility, as if the listener is in the room with the band. The production highlights the interplay between melody and noise, with moments of clarity emerging from the sonic fog. While some critics have noted that the production lacks the polish of later works, many fans and reviewers see this as a strength, lending the album a sense of urgency and danger[6]. --- ## **Themes** *Sister* is thematically dense, exploring ideas of duality, mental illness, alienation, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. The influence of Philip K. Dick is particularly strong, with references to his novels *Radio Free Albemuth* and *VALIS* appearing in both lyrics and song titles[3]. The concept of the “sister” recurs throughout, symbolizing both loss and connection, sanity and madness. The album’s mood is often bleak, but not without moments of dark humor and irony. The band’s fascination with American culture, religion, and the underground is evident, as is their willingness to confront uncomfortable topics head-on. The sequencing of the album mirrors the emotional swings of depression and mania, moving from manic bursts of energy to introspective lulls[5]. *Sister* does not offer easy answers or resolutions. Instead, it invites the listener to inhabit its world of uncertainty and contradiction, finding solace in shared confusion and ecstatic release[5]. --- ## **Influence** *Sister* is widely regarded as a landmark in alternative rock, bridging the gap between the abrasive experimentation of Sonic Youth’s early work and the more accessible sound of their later albums. It paved the way for *Daydream Nation* and influenced a generation of indie and alternative bands. - The album’s use of alternate tunings and unconventional song structures inspired countless guitarists, from My Bloody Valentine to Nirvana. - Its raw production and willingness to embrace noise and dissonance helped define the sound of late-80s and early-90s indie rock. - Thematically, *Sister*’s exploration of mental illness, identity, and alienation resonated with listeners and set a template for the introspective, confessional songwriting that would become prevalent in alternative music[3][5]. While *Daydream Nation* is often cited as Sonic Youth’s masterpiece, many critics and fans argue that *Sister* is the band’s most cohesive and emotionally powerful album, its conciseness and focus making it more accessible without sacrificing the band’s avant-garde edge[4][5]. --- ## **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Innovative guitar work and use of alternate tunings create a unique sonic landscape[1][6] | Raw production may alienate listeners accustomed to cleaner, more polished sound[6] | | Lyrics are poetic, enigmatic, and thematically rich, rewarding close listening[2][3] | Some tracks may feel underdeveloped or abrupt, lacking traditional song structure[4] | | Emotional intensity and authenticity; the album feels immediate and vital[1][5] | The lack of resolution or catharsis in the lyrics and music can be unsettling[5] | | Seamless blend of melody and noise, balancing experimentation with accessibility[6] | The abstract nature of the lyrics and themes may be off-putting to some listeners[2][5] | | Influential in shaping the sound of alternative and indie rock in the late 80s and beyond[3][5] | Some filler tracks (“White Cross,” “Master-Dik”) are divisive among fans and critics[4] | --- ## **Conclusion** *Sister* remains a high-water mark in Sonic Youth’s discography and a cornerstone of alternative rock. Its blend of experimental guitar work, cryptic lyricism, and raw production captures the band at a moment of transition and creative peak. The album’s themes of duality, alienation, and existential searching are as resonant today as they were in 1987, and its influence can be heard in the work of countless artists who followed. While the album’s abrasive sound and abstract lyrics may not appeal to everyone, its emotional honesty and innovative spirit make it an essential listen for anyone interested in the evolution of modern rock music. *Sister* is not just a document of its time, but a timeless exploration of the human condition, rendered in feedback, poetry, and noise.

These early-mid period Sonic Youth records are classics in the guitar-noise art-rock milieu. Their previous albums EVOL is my personal favourite (stacked with remarkable noise pop like Tom Violence, Star Power, Madonna, Sean and Me) but many fans prefer Sister, which is tougher and noisier than EVOL. Highly recommended.

Of course!

Cool

vier bis fünf

really enjoyed that, thank you

I liked this a lot, probably better than Goo

They got the right energy

Sonic Youth have one of the more consistantly great discographies in all of music, and this album no exception. Other bands would have this as their magnum opus but it was just another album for Sonic Youth as they would release more and more total bangers that Sister gets a bit forgotten in my mind. Excellent guitar work and I love the busy drum fills

While not quite as earth shattering as mind shattering as Sonic Youth, Sister's awesome sounds continues to show the melting blending almost liquid distortion that makes the electric guitar a unique blanket of sound. Beautiful at times, and always nice.

Sandwiched as it is between two other great Sonic Youth albums I forget how good this is, how clearly it captures what a phenomenal band they were, quadruple threat.

5/5. Everyone talks about Daydream Nation but this one rides that balance of punk and noise pop perfectly. Each song stands out as unique and the guitar work is excellent, chaotic but stable. The noise sections are well done and normally, it would turn me away but they find that correct sound. It does get more distorted and feedback heavy as the album goes on, so it creates a theme of slowly falling into madness. It is supposedly a concept album about Philip K. Dick, the science fiction author, and how he was not well after his sister's death at birth. Hard to garner that through what I heard but hey, it does feel weird enough to be there. This is finally a post punk album I can get behind. Best Song: (I Got A) Catholic Block, Schizophrenia, Kotton Krown

Not only was this great, but all the songs Apple Music suggested after in the infinite playlist were great because of this. I know I’m a slight outlier, but I love Sonic Youth, and I really enjoy this album.

And this is the second Sonic Youth record I ever listened to, and it’s good. I should listen to it more. I don’t know what exactly it is that Sonic Youth loses on the records after this one, but I haven’t really been hooked by Goo or Daydream Nation. I don’t know, I just find this era of Sonic Youth really inspiring. Just like on EVOL, they have this way of throwing in these very melancholic, plaintive passages right alongside stuff that is gross and hateful. With both this record and EVOL, they have this clear influence from Stooges and Velvet Underground, but they take it in a very different direction. It’s like 1970s arena hard rock just didn’t happen and suddenly it’s 1987. Anyhow, I’m glad I got two Sonic Youth records back-to-back because I just got a guitar with a stable, useful vibrato system for the first time ever and this has given me some ideas on how to use it.

"Sister" is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. A good description of their music is continuing their move away, as in their previous album "EVOL," from the no wave movement towards alternative rock song structures, maintaining an experimental approach. It is a loose concept album inspired in part by the life of science fiction writer Philip K. Dick; the album was named after Dick's faternal twin sister who died at birth. The album was not a commercial success but did receive critical acclaim with some critics naming it one of the best albums of the 80's. "Schizophrenia" opens with a tom-tom drum beat and a melodic and somewhat melancholic guitar. Layered guitars and the bass come in. Thurston Moore on vocals. A piercing guitar break and Kim Gordon takes over on vocals. A song inspired by Philip K. Dick and his sister and Kim Gordon's brother who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. An achingly beautiful song. The band gets their fast-slow-fast dynamic going on "(I Got A) Catholic Block." Moore expressing his catholic guilt. The band fades the song out with distorted guitar and bass and an acoustic guitar. Another great song is "Pacific Coast Higway." Kim Gordon on lead vocals with an eerie and haunting delivery as she takes the place of a serial killer driving up Pacific Coast Highway looking for the next victim. A slow starting song which builds. Inspired, if it can be called that, by Ted Bundy. This is a haunting, almost dreamy, album. The band really establishes their hallmark sound with guitar distortion, drving drums, piercing guitars and layered melodic guitar keys. They use their chaotic, distorted guitar outro fades quite a bit. It would be hard for me to rank the Sonic Youth albums but this one would be near the top.

This album rips. It straddles that line perfectly between the no wave and experimental that Sonic Youth was transitioning out of into the alternative more recognizable song structure. I love the mx on this album so much, it just grinds.

I was in the mood for Sonic Youth. Great record.

5 Stars even though I didn't care for it. It's a well made album, and had I heard it when it first came out, I would have loved it. It's just not my style now.

I'm a big fan of noise and dissonance, and in this album the noiseless is kind of understated, it draws you in. I liked it.

Mais uma oportunidade para relembrar e aprender que é completamente certeiro escutar Sonic Youth

This is a great album. Starting with EVOL, Sonic Youth started with a solid, digestible queue of albums - not that the ones before were bad, but were hard to appreciate. Sister is a master piece

Lucas u might be onto something these guys r kinda good

Sonic youth has recently become one of my favorite bands. This is one of the few albums of theirs that I haven’t listened to. After listening I can say that it’s definitely less accessible and a bit more noisy than a lot of their other good stuff, but it still fucks

Album slaps, a lot of energy and a bit chaotic, not necessarily angry but very expressive. Great for journaling and art when you are not gloomy but feeling … a lot

Kinda thought this would be a 4 going in, I remembered it being good but maybe not their best. That's still probably true, but at the same time I think this was so freaking ahead of it's time and I absolutely adored most of the songs after the long break since I last listened to this. Sonic Youth are just too damn good. 4.5 rounded up

Sonic Youth are easily in my top ~5 artists of all time, their discography is untouchable. So of course i'm going to give a 5 to one of their best albums. Doesn't hit the heights of a Daydream Nation, Goo, or Murray St for me, but I could have it on repeat all day and never get tired. My preferred Sonic Youth is definitely post-Sister though when they started to build out longer songs and get into those extended noise sections. The energy in this one makes up for the lack of those though, they are just ripping through these songs.

This is my fourth Sonic Youth album from the project, and the earliest so far - only "EVOL" to go. I dunno whether this is actually better / more graspable than their other albums or whether I've just grown to appreciate their schtick more, but this really hits the spot. Definitely need to spend some time with their whole discography! Fave tracks - "(I Got A) Catholic Block" is stompin, "Pacific Coast Highway" is cinematic, and "White Cross" slaps...

As a Sonic Youth, I somehow never got around to listening to 'Sister'. I always knew of it but had dismissed their pre-Daydream Nation material as them still finding their sound. Having finally dived it, it feels crazy to me that I've been sleeping on 'Sister' for so long. This is a fantastic album and very worthy of their name. It's up there with Daydream Nation, which I'll still give a slight edge to. The song structures are poppy enough to balance out the noise rock sound to keep it just abrasive enough to keep listening. The nice thing about these kinds of discoveries that hide in plain light, is that I now have these amazing new songs to listen to, despite being released almost 4 decades ago. I will definitely be returning to this one.

I’m never beating the weird girl allegations, am I?

another favorite from my teenage years first record i bought on vinyl got it at poo-bah’s in pasadena in 1991!!!

On the negative side, the lyrics are usually dumb, and listening to a thousand bands try to do segments of this but not get there cheapens the experience a bit. Sonic Youth doesn't sound that great in the moments where they try to a more conventional punk thing. On the positive side, lyrics don't matter and it's obvious why a thousand bands would try to steal this sound because it rules. On this one they never stick to the worse segments long enough to ruin a song. There's a ton of satisfying dynamic shifts, in mostly short songs. It's like looking at the list of experiences you want in a pop/rock song & then trying to assemble the thing out of entirely different stuff. Love it. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Talvez um dos últimos grandes álbuns com um som puxado ao punk da era Reagan, Sister, 4º álbum do Sonic Youth, que surgiu naquela primorosa cena do No Wave novaiorquino na década de 80, já mostrava uma tendência de mudança no som que iria culminar no Magnum Opus deles, vindo a definir o indie rock para sempre, de 1 ano depois, o Daydream Nation. Com isso, nessa mistura entre os sons mais brutais e dissonantes possíveis e estruturas mais clássicas do rock cantadas com melancolia típicas do pós-punk, tem-se um álbum delicioso de ouvir e que, tirando o cover de Hot Wire My Heart, que é bem fraquinho, um projeto em que todas as músicas são, ao mesmo tempo, íntimas e cheias de energia, seja descontruindo baladas como no dueto de Cottom Cottom, criando letras baseadas na ficção científica de Phillip K. Dick ou, óbvio, com música incisivas e ensurdecedora como a maravilhosa Stereo Sanctity, minha favorita.

For me , this is the SY album that best hits that sweet spot between off-kilter dissonance, punk rock energy and killer rock anthems. The combinations of the guitars here is magical, and that 'dropdown' bit in Pacific Coast has to be among my top 3 all-time guitar parts in any song ever. It's so beautiful it almost makes me cry. The last time I saw them live was on this tour, and they - for me - were never the same again after this album.

Sister is delicious raw creativity packed in an album. It's not the easiest entryway to the bands' back catalog, but both EVOL and Sister show Sonic Youth at their best.

IMO, its their best. A properly edited album and as close to a rock album as they get

Sister is my favorite Sonic Youth album. The detuned and distorted guitar sounds are there, but also fantastic rock songs (Schizophrenia, (I Got A) Catholic Block). Daydream Nation is also a banger, but is missing the urgence of this one.

Vet album, begrijp nu waarom dit zo invloedrijk is. Hoop lawaai, sterk toegepast, gecombineerd met mooie momenten.

A other amazing album. In context there wer enot many bands with this sound at the time and simply really cool and well produced. An underrated band that still needs to be more recognized. Not one single bad song in this album

Great album!

On first Impression I'm thinking this was a step back from EVOL, but after a few listens it eventually snuck in like being lured into a strange and horrific film or book. I really enjoy the playful deconstruction of glam rock and new wave, which lacks a mocking tone. Rather, it's an adventurous exploration looking back to 'Bad Moon Rising', and forward thinking in the more accessible. I'm still very impressed this is coming out of the 80's, and I do wonder what Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley thought about 'Master-Dik'. Here is another album I want to hang out in for a little while.

Another great record by Sonic Youth. This is almost as good as Daydream Nation. And that is really something, since Daydream Nation is one of the best records ever produced!

Controlled chaos 1. "I went away to see an old friend of mine his sister came over she was out of her mind she said jesus had a twin who knew nothing about sin" 2. I GOT A CATHOLIC BLOCK DO YOU LIKE TO FUCK?? 3.this song makes me so anxious. Absloutly amazing. 6. This one is about sex. Or being horny , idk. I just love how unsexy it is. Like.. i cant describe it. It's so unsexy it's sexy??? Idk. Good stuff anyway 9. This song is about love between gordon (singer) , moore (singer) and heroin (the drug). I think it's pretty good 11. One two, one two, one two titty !! I know every nook and cranny of new yourk city!!

My favourite SY album. Not as ambitious as its famous followup, Daydream Nation, but just as strong musically speaking. Schizophrenia has to be one of their best songs.