Sister

Enjoying delving into this band I only knew a little about. This is pretty great for 1987, and the opening track is incredible. Current ranking is Daydream Nation > Goo > Sister > Dirty

Mother of Indie PoP-Rock.

It's not bad I guess, but not incredible either.

Sounds like rock revival, except 15 years early! Very fun, very experimental. Not sure if I love the album yet, but it's very much something that should be on this list. For now, a very strong 4 or a weak 5.

Некоторые песни ещё ничего, но в основном звуки мелодий раздражают и вызывают головную только головную боль. 5,5 из 10

## 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.

lamentablemente no me enganché para nada con sy una pena

Great album. Not my fave sonic youth but has White Cross which is a 10/10 song

80s alternative rock. Punk. Melodic but edgy. Noisy at times.

6.5/10 Favorite Tracks: *Schizophrenia*, Catholic Block, Tuff Gnarl, White Cross Least Favorite Tracks: Beauty Lies In the Eye, Stereo Sanctity, Pipeline/Kill Time

A too atonal and difficult album to get into. The songs start off then they end in some hardly understandable chaos. So it is just not for me. I still appreciate that it sounds good for a late 80s album; it is pretty timeless - if it had been released a few years ago I wouldn't have doubts about it.

four albums here? are you kidding?

they're overrated, imho

I always think Sonic Youth will sound cooler than they do, but they leaveme disappointed. Its definitely alt rock to its bones, unconventional and fast paced, it has its place but not with me!

Sonic Youth is just not my thang. But they’re talented and obviously mean a lot to a lot of people so I can’t hate on them!

Punchy and vibrant

stooges die spelen nadat een heftig nachtje uit... het rammelt wat, het valt net niet uit elkaar... maar 't is beregoed

More atonal noise than I generally prefer in a punk record. Like I'll take SOME atonal noise but this is just excessive.

rubbish just noise

Muy experimental el approach al noise y las guitarras. Algo que me encanta es lo raro y jugado, pero en este caso no logro que no me aburra. Estas bandas parecen difícil de entender a primera escucha. Ningún tema para las listas. Nota: 2.8 pero pongo 3.

Of course!

Too shaggy for me. Not my favorite of their records.

Noisy and ancient goodness.

Yeah it’s good Nothing new to say I’m sorry

Not for me 1/5

unfortunately the timing of this album is wrong. now im tired of listening to previous albums and getting sleepy. Yes they have talent and they can play and and and. but they gave me headache.

i know that i like a few sonic youth songs, just don't think i've heard most of this album before. i like the guitar tone, the riffs, and some of the melodies but what irks me is the vocal delivery sometimes meh. also the tracks where kim gordon is the vocalist are annoying here. fav tracks: catholic block stereo sanctity

appreciate this and its very up my alley but honestly every track kinda sounds the same lol

This was a fun change of pace for me. Maybe not an everyday thing but I like it.

I did not like this one. At all.

Cool

A solid 75% is quite good. Best album of theirs I've heard.

vier bis fünf

i was unsure at first, but “catholic block” had me thinking that maybe this wasn’t so bad of an album. however, this album did kinda feel as if “rock lobster” (a good song btw) were translated into a punk rock album. i really appreciated the guitar work, and overall the instrumentals were strong! however, the album was really not cohesive enough for my liking. was gonna rate this a 3/5, then i got to the last track. 2/5.

frekar gott, eru að sigla inn í blómatíma. aðra, 3,5.

Another great Sonic Youth album. I think it's kind of weird that I got these back-to-back. I may have been a bit burnt out on their music since I listened to the previous one twice, but I definitely liked "Dirty" more. This one was less of a masterpiece, but still a great album.

One big takeaway from the first quarter of this list is that I like Sonic Youth way more than I expected. Probably need to be in the mood for this one, but another solid entry. 3.5 stars

I enjoyed this a ton. Loved how messy it was, but with enough structure to keep moving forward from track to track. Kim Gordon is a legend.

Альтернатива, много экспериментального звучания возможно попробовать послушать позже, распробовать

Fantastic noise pop about a great Sci FI writer named Phillip K. Dick AKA 'Master-Dik' hints of the greatness they would unleash on their next album (Daydream Nation) are all the place on 'Sister' an annoying cover of Crime's 'Hot Wire My Heart' keeps it from being 5/5.

Might be sacrilegious but not feeling this one

Sonic Youth, eh? I want to like them and I'm playing the album for second time, but I may have to face the fact that I'm just too much of a picky sound-snob for this to ever properly click with me. Laconic noise, cool. But those mushy DIY, dry, buzzing wasp-y, two-stroke leaf blower engine guitars? I dunno. Favourite track: "Beauty Lies In The Eye". Indeed it does.

really enjoyed that, thank you

I've had 3 sonic youth albums now and I'm convinced theyre trying to sound cool. Only song that grabbed me schizophrenia .

Certainly innovative and inspiring to a lot of later musicians. Not to my personal taste, but it was interesting to listen to.

I liked this a lot, probably better than Goo

Not really my type. The guitars are supposed to be distorted, but the sound quality is still really bad.

Nobody does Noise Rock better than Sonic Youth. They really mastered the balance of chaos and progression.

I have no idea what people’s problem with the “noise” is here. This doesn’t feel remotely challenging to me - it’s not exactly I Hate Nerys Hughes is it? Not necessarily my thing, but it was OK.

I can’t wrap my head around why Sonic Youth is so highly regarded. For me, this album was a boring blend of noise and stress. Like a collection of dissonant sounds, strange chords, and screams.

They got the right energy

Already plenty familiar with this album and yeah it’s Sonic youth

⭐️ Sonic youth is not good… I’m sorry. It’s like a bunch of people got together and just strummed chords and made a bunch of shitty sounds and someone read poetry and had 0 concern for how it sounded.

sonic youth

I liked this abrasive record and I was really appreciating Sonic Youth’s warm, fuzzy sound.

Kinda got worse as it went on, started ok.

landmark indie album schizophrenic is crazy and sonic youth are goated🔥🗣️

Feels (and sounds) like an inside joke that I didn't get - sounds like an electric guitar wired to a garbage disposal. As I said, I don't get it...

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

Always interesting, sometimes not my cup of tea, on balance v. good

Didn't like it. Way too much distortion. 3/10

It's been a while since my last Sonic Youth album, hasn't it? I got Daydream Nation as my third album of theirs back in August and really loved it, with the two albums that came before being varying degrees of good. Now, I've finally gotten my fourth album of theirs, Sister. I forgot how much I liked this band! Sister's great. It's not Daydream Nation levels of great, but I'd say it's pretty close to Goo, maybe slighter lower though. The things that I've liked about their albums up to this point all apply here. The sound is at that perfect level of noise where it's not painful to listen to, but is still just harsh enough to fit the emotions of the album. I really like the vibes of this album. The writing is interesting. The songs are nice, with the album's opener "Schizophrenia" being a particularly strong highlight. What can I say? This is another solid album from a pretty good band. 4/5.

I guess to like Sonic Youth you must be one of the cool kids. I have never really been one of those. I feel like it started well enough and maybe my cool level had increased with my age but by the end of the album I knew I was still uncool.

To my surprise I found myself enjoying this, to the extent that I felt the need to swap from the Bluetooth headphones I was using to some decent wired cans on a good amp. I am getting distinct Velvet Underground and Doors vibes a lot of the time, but its not a pastiche. 3/5. I could easily see this becoming a 4/5 with further listening.

Sister has a more ethereal and atmospheric sound than Goo, but there is still plenty of noise here. There were a few songs on Goo that I kept. No such songs here. Not my thing.

I can think about 6 other sonic youth albums I would have preferred. This was ok

Good

I’ve tried to appreciate Sonic Youth before and it never works out.

Found this kind of grating.

Pretty neat.

Really enjoyed all of this. Master-Dik was my least favorite, but everything else was solid-I’d be tempted to give it a 5. Listened to it a few times today.

So kinda sad emoish rock. Wasn’t really feeling anything on here and not memorable.

More Sonic Youth, so more of the same - decent 30 second stretches in almost every song, surrounded by discordant and borderline incomprehensible musical garbage. This was better than EVOL, but not by much. Definition of quarter-baked album

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.

Я не совсем полностью чувствую четыре звезды, но ладно, мне тоже нужно удовлетворять своего внутреннего претенциозного мальчика, котоырй любит КРУТУЮ музыку, окэй? Лучшая песня - Schizophrenia.

Sonic Youth is one of a number of well-regarded indie rock bands I just don't understand the appeal of. This album is such a nothing burger. It has a couple of great parts, but it’s mostly just pretty boring. I really like their vocalists, which is impressive considering that I'm usually indifferent to vocals, but they were underutilized here. It's not "atmospheric" or "fun," like I've seen it being described—just kind of underwhelming. 5/10

I need more melody, less distortion. On first listen it’s a 1.5 for me.

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.

I appreciate that this was an inspiration for many bands to come, but some of the noise that was produced made me grimace involuntarily. It's shite.

Nope, still don't like 'em.

Much preferred this one to our previous SY offering. Lots to like and the sound is great.

I love the guitar distortion sound, but do feel they could do with more melody in their tracks. This album has a lot going for it and I think will be a grower.

Once again Sonic Youth have won me over. Just great experimentation and unique style. I guess the added joy about realising that I now like them is there is a shit load of back catalogue to catch up on…..

Rating: 7/10 Some very good songs and catchy moments, some songs would benefit from less noise but that's their sound so it is what it is.

Sister is the fourth studio album from Sonic Youth, which met with mixed reviews, and limited commercial success at the time of its release. The band's fifth, Daydream Nation, was their break-through work, and the band's subsequent success has made for a favorable re-assessment of Sister. Sonic Youth made a version of art rock or noise rock. Guitars are heavily distorted and sustained, giving the songs a heavy, full sound. Punk rhythms and attitude make their music a version of post-punk, which was clearly influential on much of the alt-rock of the late 80s and 90s.

This is decent, a nice discovery. 3/5

Shame I always want to fall in love with sonic youth but I just can’t fully 3/5

Not my favorite SY album that's for sure. Too much noise. A couple songs they cut through to put some actual melodies together but those moments don't come along often enough according to my liking. 3.5 stars

Mid

Sister, EVOL, and Daydream Nation are my favorite Sonic Youth albums. I never got deep into their stuff, but these three really slap.

# 418 : Not bad, a few decent songs mixed in with a bit of pointless noise that gels into like one long song. Started strong and declined rather quickly. Sometimes this list feels like things are included just because they were really popular at the time, but does anyone actually still listen to this album?

I mean, cool sounds. Maybe good for an angsty fall mid-late afternoon drive through Washington State

Glemte å følga med som vanlig, men sikkert streit nok

This was too "post-punk" lo-fi garage for my taste. A couple of ok moments in the latter half of a few songs, but really can't give it more than that. 1.7/5 -> 2/5

Probably not my favorite Sonic Youth album, but still great. Innovative, original, interesting, and always super cool. 4.5 rounded up

Loved this album, need to listen to more sonic youth!

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.

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.

I remember trying to be a Sonic Youth fan many times growing up in the 90s. For some reason, they were the alternative band's alternative band. They were; too cool for hits, they had a super cool style, they had Kim Gordon on bass, and let's be real- Sonic Youth is one of the best band names of all time. But I just could never click with them- the guitar work is just so... unpleasing to the ear.

I think I'm a traitor to my generation as I have never cared for sonic youth. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Overall: 7/10 Three things I want to highlight with this album. One: The guitar work is insane. Whether it's hard rockers or dissonant soundscapes from hell, there's always interesting guitars to keep your attention. Two: The drumming keeps everything from falling apart. I would go so far as to say the drums are my favourite part. Three: The vocals. Neither vocalist is what you would call an amazing singer but their voices fit the music they make perfectly, and I especially find some weird comfort in their Lou Reed-esque delivery. I wouldn't be able to recommend this to just anyone. If you're familiar with Sonic Youth's later, more mainstream music then check this out. I wouldn't approach it as your first Sonic Youth album though, it's closer to their noise rock era than anything. Fav Song: Schizophrenia Least Fav Song: Beauty Lies in the Eye

Hated Fast Car when I was 16. At 53 I’m upset with my younger self for not realizing how beautiful this album is.

I feel like they are a band that your “supposed to “like but it didn’t do anything for me.

I feel that I'm always on the edge of becoming a fan of Sonic Youth, but after all their albums here on the list (I guess this is the last one I'll receive from them), they never REALLY hit the spot on me. I'm unsure of what I missing or maybe what they are missing. It's enjoyable, but always missing something to get my extra star on the rating.

I guess I’m not as grunge as I thought. Not terrible, but didn’t have any song resonate with me whatsoever.

Good album.

Big in Australia! Great album from iconic band.

Such an important band at least for my generation. Piercing experimental guitar sounds and ambivalent, frustrated, anxiety ridden lyrics make them very cathartic to listen to.

Too experimental sounding. Like they started writing songs but never finished and then it’s not even jam sessions.

Bom

you don't have to be cool or retro or whatever you're thinking. daydream nation is clearly the quintessential SY album

Solid effort for a debut, but nothing really memorable here. 3

I've never been a big Sonic youth fan but this is okay. I know they're appeal is that they're like a dirtier sound but for me it doesn't translate well

Nah.

This album was a chore to listen to, to be honest. Not good at all.

The better end of college rock. I didnt mind this but again, didn't find much to that excited me. They seemed to have some light and shade but i still dont really get ot

I was a bit disappointed by this one, to be honest. I haven't listened to a whole Sonic Youth album before this, and I was expecting to really like it given how much I like similar bands and their hits, but none of these tracks stood out much for me.

When you think Alt-rock you would be hard pressed to find a better representation than Sonic Youth. This is one of those great “no-hit-wonder” kind of albums somewhere between psychedelic space rock and hipster pop. Honestly, I like some of their other albums better but I appreciate the rawness of this one. Catholic Block is blasphemous fun, and PCH feels like an acid trip that last longer than 4 minutes. For me, Cotton Crown was the best track. This is a listen to again and a solid entry.

Random thoughts: * Sometimes this exercise brings clarity. By listening to "Sister" by Sonic Youth twice, I realized something that probably should have been obvious: I don't like Sonic Youth. I know they are revered indie pioneers but listening to them is not enjoyable. * It's like someone said let's make Velvet Underground more punk and less melodic. Gross, no thanks. * Are Sonic Youth classified as indie-punk? * I don't think I've ever liked a Sonic Youth song. I looked at their top 10 on Spotify and my favorite song involving Sonic Youth is the collaboration with Cypress Hill called "I Love You Mary Jane." lol * I didn't hate "Hot Wire My Heart" from this album. * I'm so sadistic that I even listened to the top 4 songs on Spotify. I didn't hate "Incinerate", It's official, I don't like Sonic Youth.

Complicated album that merited a second listen. There's a lot to like, especially the in-song tempo changes and the multiple guitars. And I'm a fan of Kim Gordon's vocals. (Interesting transitions this week from Johnny Cash to Sister Sledge to Emmylou Harris to this.)

Atypical song structures, dissonant song fade-outs, but kept my attention

Pretty good album bit of it were just screechy reverb between songs but didn't ruin it too much.

Highlights: Schizophrenia, Stereo Sanctity, White Cross. In a nutshell: chaotic good Sonic Youth are less avant garde and more noise with album number four. We get a spit-shine, not a polish. Definitely better than EVOL, not quite as good as Daydream Nation. Overall: 6/10

Nobody does Noise Rock better than Sonic Youth. They really mastered the balance of chaos and progression.

Liked it. It's what I was expecting even though I had not heard this album. 3.5

At times Noisy (respectful) but also at others Noisy (derogatory)

I definitely listened to this and already forgot my impressions of it, which lead me to think I didn't really like it. I have the odd situation of being more familiar with Kim Gordon's solo work than Sonic Youth's group work, so I do enjoy hearing her and it's fun to see some recurring themes across many years but that's about it.

Fuckin horrible

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.

Favourites: Schizophrenia, Catholic Block, Pipeline/Kill Time, Tuff Gnarl, Cotton Crown

Rock, on the harsh/punky side but not too much

Jeg prøver, men jeg brydes mig altså ikke om det

Not for me

Glad to expand my horizons but definitely not for me.

I am a Sonic Youth fan, this is not my favorite Sonic Youth album. I would not turn it off if it popped up in my feed.

Sonic Youth's "Sister" started off okay, but quickly became a repetitive and annoying listen. The guitar riffs were particularly grating, and the album failed to hold my attention. As an alternative rock fan, I was hoping for something more engaging. 1/5

"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.

3.5 stars. Weird noise/art rock with dark lyrics. Liked it, didn't love it. Standout is "Hot Wire My Heart". "Schizophrenia" also good, more reminiscent of a traditional song and less experimental.

No catchy pop tunes in this album, just raw noise and emotion coupled with dreamy lyrics and fuzz guitar

I've always maintained in my mind that Sister was among my least favorite albums by Sonic Youth, especially during their 80s period, I especially struggled simply because I'm not a fan of Schizophrenia and the rest of the album seemed like a blur, especially when before it is Evol, my favorite SY and Daydream Nation, their most beloved if you are some kind of indie nerd (like me, I really like it). Sister is stuck in this weird spot where it's almost that college rock thing they became known for but also not really, so it never really stood out when I felt like I would want to listen to whatever else they've made. It turns out this one is also pretty good! I think my major gripes with it during this listen felt less like real gripes and just my thoughts in relation to their other albums, on it's own it's a really great indie album that isn't afraid to go weird (as SY did) whenever they wanted to, I think songs like Stereo Sanctity or Pacific Coast Highway should be talked about more with how weird but still deeply enjoyable they are. I'm glad that I finally got to connect with this one (and that I can keep the vinyl copy I got a while back)

Not really my thing. I like instrumental noise better, because the voices here weren't hitting where I like it.

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.

Good stuff

Noisy yet controlled, consistently heavy and often dark, Sister is a compendium of alternative rock well ahead of its time. Each song can stand on its own, yet when listened through they can morph into one crazily noisy landscape of guitar-driven rock. I doubt it’s something that will blow you away on first listen, but it’s certainly something that will grow in the ears of the listener over repeat plays; an untested theory, but I’m sure it’s true. It’s held in high enough regard and I enjoyed it enough to probably relisten in future. Nothing absolutely exceptional, but why would it need to be? It’s bloody brilliant rock.

Indie slacker rock anthems for days.

нормалек. типо пост-панк/шугейз.

2.13

Starts strong with the opener, one of their best songs. The rest is a jangling sprawling vortex of sound, hard to call out or remember a favorite distinctly, but it’s all good. I’d probably need weeks and months to truly decipher this album, but in the short span of listening to it, I know it’s great.

Sonic Youth’s Sister sees the no-wave band take the careful steps towards a more traditional song structure, and the result was possible a ending to the original post-punk era. Alas, I just never got Sonic Youth, and this album just leaves me cold.

Apparently part of the noise rock scene of New York. If I didn’t know the year of release I probably would have assumed it was an indie album from the 90s. Kind of cool but no songs stood out. I’d give it another shot.

No private session used. I don't know if this is the 3rd or 4th Sonic Youth album this site has had me listen to. I like it, but again it won't go into steady rotation.

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.

Why, oh why, is Sonic Youth so effing overrepresented on this list?! “Schizophrenia” is probably a 4/5. The rest of this album can go fuck right off. Terrible way to start the new year. It can only go up, I guess.

Admittedly not really my kind of music but I don't mind it. This is the third Sonic Youth album I've gotten and can't help but feel like maybe that's more than enough representation for this group.

This album reminded me of my sister.. hard to listen to!

I anticipated straight up noise but there were some tunes underneath the layers of grunge. Not bad

Sister is an album i wanted to like more than i do but i just don't see that happening. When i first saw this album, i thought that it was gonna be your standard typical rock-out album but this album actually turned out to be an art rock album. And with most art rock albums, they have almost no accessibility to them and are only for people who really like that kind of music. I still think the riffs here are cool and i definitely do see the direction but the songs just tend to meander longer than i would have wanted. This album is not a bad one but i do think that it is pretty hard to get into. Best Song: White Cross Worst Song: Beauty Lies in the Eye

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.

Interesting and nice but nothing stood out to me personally.

I will not include the CD bonus track "Master-Dik" for this review. I know I’ve listened to Sonic Youth before as an influential experimental noise rock band. Though I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard anything from this album until now. After listening through, Sister left me feeling that it was more of a transitional album. While I’ll admit that noise rock is not my forte and the blaring fuzzy sound can get homogenous in places, I can recognize where the group were working in more traditional song structures and implementing other instruments like acoustic guitars and Moog synthesizers. Songs like “Catholic Block”, “Beauty Lies in the Eye” and “Pipeline/Killing Time” pop off well in their droning yet melodic sensibilities that aren’t overwhelming. There are moments where I can hear the stylings of what Sonic Youth would become from Daydream Nation onward, and it’s cool to hear the formation of that sound. The songwriting potential may not be fully realized yet on Sister, but it’s still a nice listen through for those curious.

I would agree with wikipedia in that this is a lot more digestible than some of their earlier stuff that I have heard. Still very much in the experimental/noise sphere though. Or maybe they just use those sounds and textures as window dressing on this one. What the fuck ever, man.

Se las han tomado conmigo, hoy no ha Sido un buen día musicalmente hablando. Creo que estoy en un agujero negro

Really doesn't seem to hold up as classic after all these years.

Not my bag

This was a alright album. Its lyrics were good, but it music just didnt connect to me.

Do you like upbeat rock? If so, then this is the album for you! I really like this album because I am a big fan of rock, and I think their voices are really good, but they're a little too soft for the background. I also love the background music, all in all I think that you should listen to this album.

1st song- I rate like 2/10 its ok but I don't like it tho 2nd song- I rate like 3/10 I don't like it at all so yeah 3rd song-

I wouldn't say I like this album. I wouldn't say I like the singers' voices, nor do I like the background music. I just highly recommend that you don't listen to this album.

the instrumentals are really good. You cant really hear the lyrics but its still really good. i would recommend to most people 6/10

Pretty good, but didn’t catch me enough for future listens

There is some stuff I really liked and some stuff I kind of liked. 3.75

2.8 fine

I think it's absolutely

I had to return to my Spotify wrapped '24 with the remaining three songs on the album. I couldn't continue to listen to them. They were starting to hurt my ears. The first few songs in the beginning were okay and I enjoyed but as it neared the end, I couldn't.

discordant!

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

So, Sonic Youth again. I think the point I’ve been trying to make throughout my two previous reviews is that I think Sonic Youth are overrated, possibly? Their legacy will be inevitably tied up with Daydream Nation, which is a great album, and their image, which is impeccably cool. Sister balances it’s instrumental freak-outs with some great riffs and calmer sections, and the tracks feel less like songs and more like tone poems throughout, which is both it’s strong suit and it’s weakness. Unlike with Daydream Nation, where the songwriting is at the band’s peak, there doesn’t seem to be any recognisable song structure, but the schizophrenic nature of the songs does work with the similarly schizophrenic instrumentals. On the other hand, and this is something that I’ve come to realise with the other Sonic Youth albums I’ve listened to, I don’t think any of the songwriters are particularly great at lyrics. They’re fine, serviceable, but for a group that’s so often linked with the Velvet Underground in terms of similar influence and experimentation, the lyrical deficit becomes quite apparent. All in all, I did like Sister, although the production was a bit thin compared to their later albums, but the problems I’ve had with Sonic Youth were more at the forefront here than in either Daydream Nation or Dirty. Maybe there will be that one album that finally make them magically click for me, and I do still appreciate the influence they had on a lot of artists I love, but I’ve not come across it yet. The fact I appreciate them will have to do for them in the meantime

"Worst. band. EVER." -Comic Book Guy.

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

Liked Stereo Sanctity. Hard but grunge, this would have been perfect for high school me but I'm not quite so angry now so I'll go with a three.

I like this band but I don't like everything they do. This is one of their worst albums.

My hearing is starting to decline a tad as I age, and this felt like it amplified that muffled feeling I get sometimes. And that was very distracting and made this music hard to get into. Also just didn’t like it that much.

4 booms BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪

Pretty meh for me at first glance, but I might come back to it.

Approved

Eu gosto, preciso ouvir mais

Sonic Youth is very experimental, but I like it!

Sonic Youth is not my favorite, but still a very interesting (but sometimes challenging listen). I prefer Daydream Nation and Goo as far as albums, but this one is welcome as well.

Fine

Aika häröä rockia, vähän liian häröä. Taas näitä levyjä missä käytetään tosi epämiellyttäviä melodioita ja käytetään vaan paljon kaikenlaisia häiriöääniä. Ei pahimmasta päästä ja Sonic Youthilla on hyviäkin kappaleita, mutta ei tällä. Parhaat: Schizophrenia

In Ansätzen gut, aber mir doch etwas zu "alternativ" 2/5

01) Schizophrenia - 6,5 02) (I Got A) Catholic Block - 5,5 03) Beauty Lies in the Eye - 5,5 04) Stereo Sanctity - 5,0 05) Pipeline/Kill Time - 5,0 06) Tuff Gnarl - 5,0 07) Pacific Coast Highway - 5,5 08) Hot Wire My Heart - 5,5 09) Kotton Krown - 5,5 10) White Kross - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,45 (55/100) Current ranking: 322/373 Here's another band I've heard of, but I don't know any of their songs. I probably won't know a single song even after listening to this album. And as for the songs themselves, just when you hear a melody the song turns into some dissonant sounds with strange and irritating effects. Not for me, thank you, next!

I love my grunge and this album is a good one... great drumming, a simple but effective bass and guitars to dominate the soundscape. However it gets a bit tiring after a while and I don't really enjoy this album in one sitting. I miss diversity, I miss a nice groove in many songs. Interesting more than enjoyable.

Mir ist die Musik zu laut. Das hat mein Kopf nicht überlebt

The start was not that bad but after Pipeline/Kill Time I was not enjoying the songs enough. The vocals were not my favorite. High 2.

Lucas u might be onto something these guys r kinda good

3/10 - It was screaming all over the place and just bad. Also some very interesting lyrics.

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

Didn't grab me this one. 2.5*

The just-right amount of guitar distortion I didn’t know I needed today.

This album did not agree with me.

The sound clicked for me, not sure it would everyday. 3.5 rounded up.

Not a fan. I think it's probably "noise-rock" in general that I don't enjoy. I found this mildly irritating, as a whole, so 2.5*. But I guess I'll round up to 3 due to their influence on subsequent bands?

Hurts more than I can enjoy

This one comes quite a bit earlier in Sonic Youth's discography than the other two thus far. Had this one mostly in the background, but as with the other two I enjoyed most of the ride. I'd say relative to the other two this scores the lowest in personal appeal, but I do find something endearing about the crustiness of it all. Standouts for me were Catholic Block, Tuff Gnarl, Pacific Coast Highway, White Cross, and Master-Dik. Soft 4 / 5 for me.

Writing my review about a week late so it's not very detailed. Feels like this alternates between noise rock songs and decent psychedelic/grunge. Some songs I thought were pretty good, but not enough to balance the bad.

Third time was NOT the charm for Sonic Youth. This one started off and I thought it was going to be ok cause the first song was pretty good. But went back to dumb Sonic Youth sounds the rest of the way. This really better be the last album by them, there is no need for 4

There's something I really enjoy about Sonic Youth. Unfortunately there's also something I despise about them, the vocals usually. Some of the instrumentals are extremely interesting. Would like an album with just that.

I never really connected with Sonic Youth in the 90s, but I gave their other album 3 stars, so let's see how this goes. I wouldn't say i'm excited for this, but I am feeling significant relief that it's not another goddamn 70s album. Final verdict: It's fine. Whatever. Sounds like Sonic Youth.

This was a musical album by the band Sonic Youth

Nice blend of experimental guitar noise and melody, have listened to some Sonic Youth in the past but never this record, will definitely be replaying it

Lazy, sloppy punk rock music

It was ok enough

Good noisy stuff this

Neat that it's based on Philip Dick. Interesting about all the copyright issues with their cover. I don't know much by Sonic Youth - enjoyed this album. I'd say a 3.5. I'll call it a 3.

Was not super into this but it wasn't all bad

Some interesting sounds on this record but I don't particularly love the type of music.

Not quite as bad as I expected

A few good songs, but not enough for me to want to return. Just not my music

Never got into them. Too noisy for my taste.

Sonic Youth is always a good time.

7.5/10 Sonic Youth is good

Готина пънкарийка

Very good album I really liked the psychedelic aspects of this album’s sound. It's great to hear something like this outside of the 60s. 4 Stars!

The Sonic Youth album I have neglected the most and only latterly knew of as a classic. There are some solid tunes here alright. Obviously its even better when it descends into chaos feedback and swirling noise. Tuff Gnarl and Schizophrenia the most melodic (to start with). Pacific Coast Highway and Kotton Krown are two of the highlights of the swirling guitar stretches. White Cross is brilliant. I would need longer with this record to love it, but this is a good start.

Good guitar playing but feels off at times

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

Original but repetitive and not very good. I imagine this was influential on alt-rock and grunge but the successors thankfully did better 2.8

Listened Before? N Pretty good and I'm sure very influential to modern artists. I couldn't pay attention much because, for better or for worse, they're just kind of boring to me. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Schizophrenia

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 am NOT checking the reviews for this one before reviewing.

toooo noisy

Si, aquí hay ruido y disonancia, pero a diferencia de otros discos de SY, al menos hay melodías.

Albumi #94, 30.10.2024 Sonic Youthin neljäs studioalbumi ilmestyi vuonna 1987.

Need to Kill Time so I gave this a listen. It was alright.

Not a fan - a bit noisy and confusing

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.

Not my vibe ig

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

Good, but too 'noisy' for me

This album goes hard.

Too much sonic for me

A total waste of time.

punky American noise

For me this is a kinda redundant exercise, because I can’t unhear Daydream Nation. (Incidentally: retrospective reviews in music mags are the worst form of weasel words imaginable. The worst thing about it is that it doesn’t even have to be so. As practised, it tends to be an exercise in goalpost shifting, to match one’s (in)ability to give informed and consistent cultural commentary. Anyway. This is all edge and attitude and not that much in the form of, you know, good songs. (On the whole. A couple of tunes are enigmatic enough to capture attention/imagination. Just a couple.)

Drivel start to finish

the guitars sound GREAT, the bass sounds pretty good, the vocals are "interesting from a sonic perspective" and the drums sound like they were recorded over the phone before the guitarists mixed it. it's fine, as it goes, but for this sonic space, Glenn Branca's LP THE ASCENSION breaks ground in a way that this never does. 2 stars for being late to the parade

Meh

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.

Nothing special going on in this one. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. The dissonances were pretty unjustified though

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🪐🐮👶 Mix: 🧏‍♂️📏💩 Musik: 🧷📢🗿 Wertung: 🪐(🪐)/5

Amazing this was released in 1987.

To me it sounds like they just learnt to play instruments. Enough to make 'music' but not enough to play for other people to hear.

Hmm

A lot of reverb. I get how it was influential but it genuinely overstimulated me.

I really like Sonic Youth, but apart from a few highlights, this album was boring to me.

pretty mellow.

Altough I like some later songs by Sonic Youth, none of them are on this album. I don't understand the purpose of this kind of "music" and really wonder, what it evokes in people, who can enjoy it. Unfortunately this seems impossible to me....

Clearly influential - lots in here that sounds like stuff I love, but also stuff I don't. It's just not enjoyable

I enjoyed it but nothing more than that

Grondant, murmurant, parfois presque menaçant ou agressant, sait aussi se faire léger et reste avant tout du rock bien assumé

Fun tunes, bit similar across but still fun

Not their best or even 2nd best. It's decent. Interesting to look at the number of plays on Spotify -- almost every song has fewer plays than the previous. It's a decent album, but not good enough to stop people from starting it and then slowly dropping out while listening.

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.

Not good, not bad.

I feel like this is a band I should love. I don't know why they haven't clicked with me. Its fine. It's better than their other albums on the list. But 4 albums from this band is overkill. 2 would be overkill. 1 is kinda overkill.

Music for teenage white boys to cream themselves over with squalls of guitar historonics and cooler-than-thou vocals. I once was a teenaged white boy and am now a middle aged white man. Still great. Sonic Youth doing what they do. Best Tracks: Schizophrenia; (I Got A) Catholic Block; Tuff Gnarl

No one single song stood out but it was all great.

“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.

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"

An awesome step in the evolution of the band clearly bridging the noise art of the early band and the pop sensibilities that would immediately follow.

Hmm, not sure I'm in the write frame of mind for this today, nothing really grabbed me and I've defintely digged some of their stuff in the past. It's probably an album that needs a little time to settle but I have so many of those already do I just add this to the pile or move on? Fave: not sure, maybe Catholic Block.

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...

I can see the appeal if you're into noise rock, which I am every now and then. But I don't think you gotta hear this one.

This and Dirty might be the two most consistent Sonic Youth albums. It's a classic.

Like it‘s predecessor, this SY album eludes me. Too much noise rock, I can’t see a connection between music and lyrics most of the time.

Shit like this is what makes Gen Z the absolute worst.

Finally a band for Sonic the hedgehog fans like me!

There were very brief moments where I thought I was getting it, but mostly I didn't get it.

This doesn’t rock. I understand how this kind of dissonant, naturalistic noise rock could have felt fresh and exciting as a reaction to overly manufactured, artificial 80s pop - but that only works for me on an intellectual level. When I actually listen to these songs, I just feel bored and faintly irritated. I need the songs to work as pieces unto themselves, not as a reaction to external influences, which are forgotten over time.

Well, this must be my 3rd or 4th time trying to understand sonic youth. And again, I dont get them. Some of the sounds are alright. Hot Wire My Heart was my favorite. With that, I never find myself actually enjoying this album or finding it unique enough to stick around for it. As I read, they are quite influential, so ill give them a second star alone on that quality

Feels like there’s a bit too much to “get” here and not enough to enjoy. A bit of a frustrating listen, as SY has always been on my list of bands I should probably dive deeper into. I like a lot of their contemporaries and bands they’ve influenced, but gave this a few listens and can’t really break through, beyond a few songs - Schizophrenia, Catholic Block, Tuff Gnarl. Overall like the guitar layering and pushing of dissonance, but doesn’t really hang together as an album.

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.

After multiple albums from this list, Sonic Youth continues to elude me. There’s just nothing that I can appreciate, which apparently says more about me, but it’s just never clicked. 2/5.

Sonic Youth has a good sound and put out some interesting stuff. I didn't get to listen to this enough but will try to give it another shot.

I enjoyed this. I get lost in noise rock like this which makes it hard for me to pin point any specifics. I would understand this not being for everyone. This does belong on this list. I hope to re visit this.

This one is pretty good

Really not my style. I don't like it if the rock is to "dirty" and unclear.

Very good, but they’re still one album away from true greatness. 3.5/5

Tykkäsin enemmän kun monista sy levyistä. Oikein oikein hyvä! 4/5

Onpa tätä Sonic Youthia paljon tällä listalla, tää joku neljäs? albumi tähän mennessä. Meni ehkä vähän kikkailuksia loppua kohden, joten kolmoseen jää.

Sonic Youth has a way of seeming really cool, as if I should like them, but this album continues the trend of me *almost* liking them. It's the closest I've come to liking an entire album of theirs. Maybe one day it will click...

不愧是indie music，两极分化严重，国内国外一个样

A lot of these songs seem really poorly mastered, Schizophrenia sounds nothing like the rest of the album, I can barely hear the lyrics over the instrumentals. There's a few quality songs on here I enjoy, namely Catholic Block, Stereo Sanctity; But there's also a few songs on here I /don't/ enjoy, like: Cotton Crown, Master Dik (WE'RE CICCONE WE'RE CICCONE WE'RE CICCONE WE'RE CICCONE WE'RE CICCONE WE'RE CICCONE WE'RE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE CICCONE ) Pipeline/Kill Time (two and a half minutes of fucking guitar reverb? wtf is that shit?) I definitely didn't hate this album, it was on the enjoyable side. I honestly feel like where this album falls over is the vocalists - neither of them can sing and they detract from the awesome guitarwork. Listen to White Cross and tell me that their male vocalist can sing. He can't. If there was an instrumental version of this album, it would be an easy 4, but alas.

Beauty Lies in the Eye had me waiting for the opening to end, when I looked down at my phone to see the progress bar and seeing that there was only 20 seconds left of the song Stereo Sanctity concludes with multiple shrill shredding riffs to signify the end of the song, when this persisted for another 10 to 15 seconds I was thinking to myself 'okay I get it'. I feel so naive in hindight, not knowing this would be my gripe with pretty much the rest of the album. There are times when the music in this is going really well, and as a whole I feel I should vibe with this kind of experimental rock, but then it will be interrupted by a 30 second outro of the guitarist frotting against either the chords or the whammy bar on his guitar and it just hurts the experience even more.

Really didn't like the guitar work in Schizophrenia, sounded really amateurish. Catholic Black - maybe the least dreary song in the track. Had a better energy and pace compared most of the other tracks. Pretty cool but in the middle. Pipeline/Killtime - enjoyed the drowned out psych guitar part at the end Hotwire my heart had some cool guitar parts. There was nothing else to write home about on this one. Some tracks have glimmers of interest, but usually fall flat. Don't think I'd listen to any of this again, not checkout the group's other music.