Reviews (page 5 of 8)
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.
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.
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
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.
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-
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
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.
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
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.
Pretty meh for me at first glance, but I might come back to it.
Approved
Eu gosto, preciso ouvir mais
Fine
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.
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?
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
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.
Not quite as bad as I expected
Never got into them. Too noisy for my taste.
Good guitar playing but feels off at times
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
Si, aquí hay ruido y disonancia, pero a diferencia de otros discos de SY, al menos hay melodías.
Need to Kill Time so I gave this a listen. It was alright.
Good, but too 'noisy' for me
Too much sonic for me
punky American noise
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.
I enjoyed it but nothing more than that
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
i can already tell im going to be in the minority on this one. sonic youth, despite going out of their way to make (for their time) one of the most hostile, chaotic sounds in music, managed to avoid the pitfall of so many other noise rock and experimental post-punk bands. the male vocalist doesn't fucking scream. god i fucking hate screamo. anyway, lee is actually a pretty bad vocalist but he does spoken word so it doesn't matter too much. where it works really well is when they do the call and response sections similar to those in schizophrenia. kim is a brilliant vocalist and her soft, soothing tones are a good parallel with lee's more blunt spoken word sections, while kim also maintains a certain level of monotonality that results in the vocals never clashing too much with the chaotic instrumentals. speaking of instrumentalism, conventional rock enjoyers will HATE this one. aside from maybe washing machine, i'd say this is one of their more chaotic albums. it was before they started to make their albums a little poppier with releases like the aforementioned washing machine, so it definitely had more of a rock/punk vibe than the admittedly more unique sound they would eventually form. it's an undeniably loud, angry sound from a loud, angry time. ultimately this is an album composed by teenagers for teenagers. ask me when i was 15 or 16 and this was an easy five, but now i enjoy it more as a conceptual album. sonic youth was incredibly influential on noise and post/alt rock and punk to come and this was them at their punkiest and rockiest. my tastes have moved too far away from this kind of sound to really love this album anymore. schizophrenia is still a banger and kim's vocals in beauty lies in the eye are definitely standouts for me, but the punky, noisy chaos and clashing guitar parts on the rest of the album just aren't for me anymore. i absolutely loved listening to this album all the way through again, but i couldn't bring myself to put it on repeat.
Not as good as that other one!!!
Our third Sonic Youth album on the list; similar in ways to their other albums; good artsy noise-music.
3.5
Yep more of the same - don’t see the need for more than on Sonic Youth record. Same out of key, punkish, alternative indie stuff. I respect it but can’t say I really like it. Three solid stars.
I know its sort of good but not really my thing
Not bad, but didn’t stand out
I think I caught the Sonic Youth train a little too late in that I'd never heard the entirety of this album. And though it's from way back in the late '80s I'm assuming it sounded like shit back then too. Definitely not what I was expecting and really didn't quite get this one. But taken time into account, I suppose this was cutting edge garage-y noise rock / new wave punk or whatever when it was released. Though I really liked Sister, the opening track, it was a lot of downhill from there. Not super stoked on this one and need to rate it as so.
At one point my 8th grader asked, totally seriously, “is this music?” Sonic Youth’s talent and potential is often derailed by those sonic tangents of noise that, yes, are music. It’s just not music that is not consistent enough to make whole albums worth it. Sonic Youth was only able to put it together for a full album on “Daydream Nation.”
Second album ive listened from these guys. I’ve come to appreciate their pretty unique vocals and tracking, though I’m more of a fan of EVOL. 2.8
An okay album, not really my thing for casual listening. It has an interesting sound to it but I feel like this album is weak overall.
really enjoyed a couple of songs on this. but there was a good chunk i was just “okay” on. overall enjoyed the experimental/alt sound
Come back to album When I stop listening to Elvis Costello. Not a band I'm Biblicly familiar with. I understand they are minorly important in some capacity. I merely gave it a spin while multi-tasking. Let it be known, my review receives an asterisk since I did not do a deep analysis. I reserve the right to revise after a more measured listen. Which I may or may not do. I blame Robert Frost for this.
Sonic Youth is guitar guy music in a way that should be right up my alley but for some reason, they aren’t. Liked this one fine, but I don’t think it’ll stick with me.
The late 80s was a wild time. I enjoy observing the struggle of forward-looking bands to break away from norms of the previous decade. Sonic Youth definitely fits this mold. Although I can't say I love to listen to the music, it does at least hold my interest as something different and original.
i gave this a 2 a while ago. i didnt like how it sounded and if got annoying and boring at times. after a relisten, i can say that its a 3 now. i really wish the album had more songs like schizophrenia since that was the only song i really enjoyed put of the album. i didnt care much about the rest of the songs. side a was a rollercoaster of ups and downs with my enjoyment, but with the ups being a mild like. side b was consistently just ok to me. even seperating the art from the artists, its still just ok to me. 3 personal favs: schizophrenia
I compliment the experimental side of this but also think it’s ehh for this current timeframe. Which I’m sure at the time it was very new sounding
Decent
Okay, I guess, doesn't particularly excite or offend me.
stop yapping guys
I did enjoy this one!
This is a difficult one to rate. I more appreciate it than love it. The only Sonic Youth album I own is Dirty and although I liked it at the time it has never got repeated listenings in the meantime. I think Sister would be somewhat similar for me. I can appreciate the music but it just doesn’t cut through for me as an album that I will give repeat listening to. So a 3/5 for me, with the caveat that I do hear why many would rate it higher.
I've loved the name of this band since the first time I heard it, but I don't think I've ever actually listened to them. Read a bunch of 1001 reviews and surprised at all the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ratings. Someone, giving this a ⭐, complained about it being "sustain guitar depressed teenager music". But for a band named SONIC YOUTH, who formed in the middle of the post-punk no-wave period, what would you expect?!? "Sustain guitar depressed teenager music" is what they were supposed to do. I wonder if they were influenced by the PIXIES... On another day, I might give it ⭐⭐ - it's not my cup of tea, but I'll give it ⭐⭐⭐ because it's a pretty accurate picture of what was happening in 1987. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 57 🎧 LPs left to review: 944 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 12 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 16
56/100
3.5
Pretty decent, noisy and grumpy but enjoyable. Dissonant in a positive way.
Good but it's driving me a little crazy. I'll definitely get a headache if I listen to this 2 times in a row. But it's not a terrible album 3/5. 3 because I thought it was a good album but the further it goes the worse it starts to get.
Fantastic deep cut! I've listened to Daydream Nation and Goo a bunch but never Sister. Don't know if it really needs to be an album to hear before I die but I do enjoy it.
p579. 1987. 3 stars. Noisy bridge between punk and grunge. Well done of its kind but no redeeming features.
Thoughts before listening: Sonic Youth is one of the most polarizing bands for me. They wrote some amazing 90s underground anthems like "Teenage Riot" and "Kool Thing", but they also have some stuff that is way too out there for me. I don't know this album, but I fear it's going to fall in the latter category. Review: This is okay. There is definitely a cool aesthetic to pretty much everything Sonic Youth does, and that comes through here in spades. I have tried for years to like this band, but I still just don't enjoy listening to them all that much. Its too atonal and weird for its own good or something. I know this is a selling point for their fans, but I guess I'm just a pop music fan. Even with punk and alt-rock bands I need catchy melodies and cohesive musicianship to really enjoy it. Best songs are "Schizophrenia", "Tuff Gnarl", and "White Cross". 3-stars.
Influential band in the alternative rock scene for sure. But for me some songs are just the dull mix of simple noise. I liked the first track of the album tho
As Thurston Moore sings: “Flies are flaring through your brains.” That’s pretty much how I felt listening to this. The album started the bridge of the band moving into songs with more structure and actual hook. But not much of that here. There’s only so much art rock noise one can handle. Granted, the bonus track Master-Dik espousing “I’m the royal tuff titty and you gotta taste my love” while sampling KISS’ “Strutter” was pretty sweet.
I think I preferred Daydream Nation slightly over this. Still feels like a band I can’t get into for a full album
2.5 Some solid moments but I can’t get over the rock noise. Makes it tough to listen to at times.
I liked when they broke down and got heavy. Stand-out: White Cross
Nirvana with less going on and no nostalgia.
Nothing remarkable. Not much reason to come back to it.
Try as I do, I never really enjoy Sonic Youth. And I tried again. Don't get it. Loud indie guitar rock. Obligatory guitar squeal...
Good album. Vocals and lyrics a little dated but music great.
The 90s.
80's alternative. I knew of Sonic Youth but hadn't explored their catalog. You can clearly hear the punk rock roots but they experiment heavily with different chord structures and instrumentation. Very creative stuff but you have to be in a certain frame of mine to appreciate it.
https://youtu.be/bWQYwqHWiyQ?si=QsbYaZO-z236ViU5 I hate to contradict Juno, but Sonic Youth is pretty cool and this is a pretty good album. I don’t like noise rock but Sonic Youth has always kept their noise poppy enough for my tastes. I wouldn’t want to listen to this all the time but I’d take a kinda noisy rock and roll record over another bland snoozefest most of the time.
OK
the Sonic Youth album without any of the great Sonic Youth songs, this was a chore to get through at points. 2.5 stars but rounding up
Quite honestly, an 80s rock album that sounds like a 90s grunge album. A bit ahead of its time. If you enjoy that stuff, it’s recommended. Not really my cup of tea though. Low 3.
Some songs are good and fast. Some are just kind of messy.
I imagine this would have made an outstanding live experience, and the record definitely embodies a genre of experimental punk which is unique… I would hazard a guess that the band wanted to make an album which felt disjointed, chaotic, and challenging, and as artists they have definitely succeeded; as a listener, however, the challenge can be altogether too much to actually make it an enjoyable experience.
didn’t amaze me, schizophrenia is a good song, it was good overall
Pretty good!
This sounded exactly as I expected it to based on my 30 year old preconceptions. A lot of music can be calming. Some music provides a release. This music is intended to cause tension and anxiety. It edges. It does not resolve. Which makes it difficult. Influential? Perhaps. Not for me.
The usual off kilter detached cool mush, didn’t stand out for me
Was pretty decent. Had some dips, but the highs were much more frequent. 3.5/5
Probably the SY album that I enjoyed the most. Still got a headache at the half of it.
Revisit later. Hardest choice between 3 and 4 yet
"It's just noise" -Juno
my wife was glad when it was over. I thought it was okay. A little grating.
Some of the music and instrumentals were cool but some songs were a little too experimental for my taste.
3-
A bit cacophonic.
Ansi pönkað alt-rokk, hæfilegt fuck you attitjúd. Fíla þetta.
Only a little guitar distortion
I’ve heard of Sonic Youth but don’t think I’ve ever listened to any of their songs. Few places that were a bit like noise but overall very cohesive. I enjoyed, would listen again but may not seek it out.
Fine, but not for me.
Sister is the fourth album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. The band tempered their crazy-sounding no wave rock music from the first few albums to create a masterpiece of noise pop that still had enough rock 'n roll for the young people. The album has been critically acclaimed, but it was not successful until years after release, which means it also never charted well or was certified for high sale amounts. It is now regarded as one of the best albums of the 80's. This was an interesting, noisy pop rock album that held my attention throughout. It featured some beautiful melodies along with moments of rabid rock that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Awesome album! Fans of punk or any alternative rock will enjoy this album.
Not my thing
I’ve tried to get into Sonic Youth many times in the past, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the idea of Sonic Youth more than I actually like Sonic Youth. It’s very clear they were highly influential, wrote great music, and created a totally different sound. And while I find myself appreciating it, I don’t particularly enjoy it.
feels like tumblr in 2013
In many ways, Sonic Youth remain ahead of their time; at least, they never seemed interested in waiting around for fans or critics to catch up. They’re mavericks in the sense that they create their own zeitgeist and they’ve spun it across the ‘80s, the ‘90s and beyond like a noisy cyclone. “Sister” was made before Grunge was “born” and well after Punk was dead, so maybe that accounts for why it sounds so heavy, so off-kilter, so sloppy, so interesting. Take “Stereo Sanctity,” with its alternate tuning, twin guitar attack and pummeling drums that embraces a modernized Velvet Underground sensibility, except lurking in the background is a super catchy, twangy surf guitar riff. That’s Sonic Youth for you—walls of weirdness shot through with knowing winks and nods to what makes Rock n Roll such compelling music. It’s difficult to say whether this record hints at Sonic Youth’s more focused greatness to come, starting with “Daydream Nation,” released just a year later (though they also released a couple of noisy/artsy/indie/less-accessible records in between, including a jokey covers record as Ciccone Youth, but only super fans will care about those). “Sister” is a compass needle pointing in more than one direction, because in the Sonic Youth universe, there’s no true north, only an urge to keep moving and to explore possibilities. The standout track and album opener, “Schizophrenia,” says it all: “She said Jesus had a twin who knew nothing about sin/And she was laughing like crazy, at the trouble I’m in.” Defying convention isn’t exactly the same as getting into trouble, but even the casual listener can tell Sonic Youth are up to something. That “something” has turned out to be a unique musical career and an enduring, influential legacy.
Experiments in sound. Not exactly catchy, but damn it's got so many layers and textures. Like a well crafted sandwich with weird shit on it
not bad but not my favorite!
Some cool stuff, nothing really stood out. I’ve developed an appreciation for sonic youth via this challenge though
I did enjoy this mostly, but daydream nation is streets ahead imo Still pretty distinctive stylistically, but that sound isn't quite there yet I don't think. Still like the contrast of having both a female and male vocalist. Thought the first half was better than the second
5th Sonic Youth album? You can’t be serious. As for the album itself: a bit annoying, rather benign, uninspiring. You know, a Sonic Youth album. When they grow up they'd like to be a Nirvana.
Very influential but somehow seemed to pass me by. Listening now it's pretty good but having listened to a few of their albums now they can get pretty samey. Considering this is 1987 and comparing it to a lot of late 70's New Wave it's not really that innovative either. Going to go with a safe 3*
Nice shoe gazing albumerino
solid sonic youth
Interesting bits, and some less so, but overall a decent album
Kinda lost me in the end
I can't pick out any individual song, but enjoyed the album as a whole listening experience.
could i write poetry to this? y (and i have)
Solid. Solid. Sonic Youth
Like all Sonic Youth albums, this one starts out amazingly headstrong before descending into just a bit too much chaos to break through to four stars. I love this band's sound, instrumentation, and wryly dour yet witty lyricism, but not a single album has escaped the noodle zone. All for chaotic instrumentals, but even I have a limit for how much discordant guitar scratching I can take before the plot is lost.
im not sonic youths biggest fan but i enjoy some of their songs this album is pretty solid last song was fucked though lol
I was here for the vibes on sonic youth. But none of the songs really grabbed me. Love the albums after this though
Dug it but not my thing normally
I didn't recognize anybof the songs off the album, I've only previously head Sonic Youth songs from the early to mid 90s, this didn't sound much like them. This is sited by many grunge acts as being an influential album for them, I can hear it in the indistinguishable lyrics, the heavy distortion and dissonance in the guitars, it's all there, but not quite bit together. I didn't really enjoy it, but I like where it was going
It's got that experimental vibe, but it's kind of, tame? Not that that makes it bad, but if they were going for the wild and different, why wouldn't you really go for it? I guess this was one of "the first great American albums to come from the underground". So I'll cut it some slack, but it just doesn't do enough for me. The guitar work is top notch. The back half of the album is much better than the first half, in my opinion.
Cool album
Like
I don't think this was as good as Teenage Nation but it's still Sonic Youth which means it's at least decent. Sounds like this was kind of a precursor to that album and is somewhat transitional between sounds. I liked hotwire my heart and schizophrenia while the rest kinda blended together but not in the same way that most albums like this normally do. It has enough of a melodic sound on stuff like schizo to keep the more hardcore no wave stuff from becoming grating. It's the second best album with a naked baby on the cover that I've heard. Looking back at my old sonic youth reviews, i really was not that kind even though somewhere along the way I really started enjoying their music. Maybe I just listened to teenage riot too many times but their sound is anything but standard.
Nice songwriting
oki nice
Great guitar sounds. A worthwhile listen. 3.5 stars.
Noisy, explosive, dynamic and full of energy.
cool, I dont think I gave the lyrics the attention they deserved but vibid nonetheless
It was pretty good, short but gave nice vibes
There's some, but not many Sonic Youths left in the list, and I might need someone to explain what's the big deal they bring to the table, because I do really like what I've heard from them so far, but I know people who are *enthusiastic* about them in a way I can't access
I bet Kim Gordon sings in that way that she always does. It's breathy. Gets real breathy. Repeat the cadence. Same cadence. But go faster. Repeat it faster. Say it faster, say it over! Oh yeah, and let's maybe have like an extra 15 seconds of feedback at the end of our songs. That's a good idea and doesn't waste anyone's time.
Full disclosure: Sonic Youth's Goo album was on heavy rotation for me in my teens, so this was like visiting an old friend. The familiar guitar distortions, Kim's husky voice (although I wish there was more of that in this album) felt like a trip down memory lane. It's definitely not my favourite Sonic Youth album (duh), but it was fun to listen through.
Early indie! Cool to hear a part of history. They were definitely trying new things. +1 for that. Not something I'd ever put on though
Experimentation CAN mean good. It can even mean great! And I want this album to be that so bad. But it just never reaches that peak I need it to. SY teeters on valuing experimentation over writing good songs here, and again, it's tiring. I know I said that about EVOL as well. I like this band, and I want to like them a lot more. They were doing things in the 80s that no one else dared to; that's commendable. It's like, yes, if you slide your guitar pick down the strings through a fuzz pedal, it makes a fun sound. I completely understand. I like doing that too! That said, the influence this album leaves earns it higher stars from me. Also Kim Gordon.
Jangly, unusual, typical Sonic Youth.
Slaps
Some of this was decent, good grooves and band sounds tight, but a lot of it is just chaotic noise and I guess that's the point but it didn't work for me.
This came out during my high school years but I was not into it at the time. Sounds like Achtung Baby without the catchy hooks. The U2 boys must have listened to this as inspiration. Interesting sounds. Lyrics hard to follow. Probably better with more listens. It is good, but it is great? Hard to give it 4-stars. I'm going with 3.25
Pretty good noise rock. I know Daydream Nation is supposed to be their opus but am not familiar with much of their work. Good stuff but nothing reached out and grabbed me.
Not my favorite Sonic Youth album, a bit indistinct in its noisiness. But they were super influential and innovative for 1987, leading into the 90s grunge.
Som diferente, meio barulhento em alguns
Every time I listen to Sonic Youth I want to like it more than I end up doing, and this is no exception. It's definitely good for what it is but not my taste.
One of those bands whose critical acclaim exceeds my enjoyment of their work. I like the more mainstream sounding stuff much better than the "experimental, edgy" songs that critics seem to always love. Some good fuzzy guitars though and sharp lyrics.
A little better than the other 2, still dont get it. Also dont know why they are on here 3 times
Sure okay nice jams 3.5/5
More of the same from these guys. Music to BBQ by.
7/10
Started out very strong, but slowly turned into rough, ragged sounds that's not too appealing.
I liked Goo better, but this wasn’t bad
I prefer their stuff that came right after this but you can really hear the template for it here, and the transition from their earlier material. Definitely a solid album.
Another Sonic Youth album my 2nd so far, I enjoyed this more than Dirty, but similarly not vibing with them just yet. Maybe another listen of this would help but I'm just not sure. Though I can overall start to understand and see why they are revered and so influential in the industry.
Beauty within the noise.
I enjoyed “Goo” better.
This Sonic Youth album is less poo than Goo.
Goed niets speciaal tho
Not bad.
3.5 I’ve generally liked everything I’ve heard by Sonic Youth, and I maintain that opinion after listening to this album. It starts incredibly strong with Schizophrenia, a tune that I immediately had to turn my speaker’s volume up like two notches on because the riff is that good - I found myself bobbing around to it in the kitchen while I was making my lunch. Unfortunately, the rest of the album just kind of slowly devolves from there. While Catholic Block was another enjoyable track, it was a slight step down from the opener, with Beauty Lies in the Eye following suit, and so on and so on until you’re just kind of listening to a bunch of noise at the end. But you know what? That noise is my kind of noise, dammit. It probably kept this album out of the 4 territory for me, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. This is the exact kind of classic unadulterated alternative rock shit I like - the kind that unites outsiders, never feels compelled to be a masterpiece, and just like Pixies, is the blueprint for what would eventually become Nirvana.
Ok sound. Seemed samey
Highlights: "Schizophrenia," "Catholic Block," "Pacific Coast Highway," "White Cross" As the band's alleged breakthrough album, you can hear its sense of harmony past grunge and artists like Beck into 21st-century acts like Deerhoof, Battles, and Women. But it's still starved for satisfying melody, and I can't honestly say it's a clean break from New Wave tropes into something else -- more a development from Evol by way of exaggeration. As far as highly influential bands go, this might be one where "you had to be there," because looking back through its influences the flaws seem to stick out most. Sonic Youth may be exceptional as the most influential band without a truly great album -- or without even one truly great song.
Compared to the Sonic Youth I've heard, this was more straightforward songwriting from them so I liked this more as a result. What was most interesting about the album as a whole was the dissonance of the entire thing. There was a lot of noise rock elements still here, but it was really an album that also felt very full of despair, somewhat in the lyrics (and the tons of sexual themed lyrics which was unexpected), but very much so in just how each song sounded. I did enjoy some of the songs, like Schizophrenia and Beauty Lies In The Eye.
Sonic Youth remain to be a bit too experimental for me, I don't care for it, it doesn't add anything to their appeal
I have mixed feelings about Sonic Youth. I know they're an important indie experimental rock band that are in the same camp as a ton of my favorite 80s and 90s bands but I've never been super into their albums as a whole. There's just a little too much noise and not enough well written songs in my opinion. The songs of theirs that I love, I really love, but I could probably skip about 80% of their songs on any given record. I think I just value songwriting a bit more and don't get enough of that from them. Standout Tracks: Schizophrenia, Tuff Gnarl, Cotton Crown
I enjoyed the chaotic punk vibe here, but none of the songs ever evolved into anything cohesive or meaningful.
notwithstanding the fact sy are the most egregiously overrated band in an overrated genre, this album is less shitty than most of theirs
Sister uses what should be the ideal Thurston-Kim connection, per-song. And it's good. And the noise is heavy and varied. By the end of the record it all feels a bit one-note, though; Maybe the concept is buried for this brain.
Ok, I had this down as a 3 but on second listen, particularly side two, you can hear the tunes emerging from the noise. There'd be a bit of arsing around (ciccone youth etc) and next time out would be Daydream Nation and lift off. Still a 3 but a 3.5.
The 4th (and not final!) Sonic Youth album. Like others it's fine. I don't think they needed five albums on here.
It was ok. I don’t know why I thought they were a hip hop troop but there were are.
Blanket of comfortable noise, yes.
I’ve always wanted to like this band and every now and then I do. But their experimental tendencies always challenge that feeling. I don’t know what it is. I can listen to Fugazi go off on a musical tangent all day long. But here those tangents run too far from the main plot. But hey, Thurston Moore was in a black metal band so that’s something!
I respect them more than I enjoy them
Again, another obvious influence of the sound of a lot of later grunge bands: Soundgarden, Nirvana... The vocals are... okay. I dig the rawness of them, but wish for a bit more melody. When the songs go off a little bit more noise experimentation, it loses me a little. I remember having one of the Sonic Youth albums when I was a teen, I think it was "Goo." It was so beyond me, I didn't understand it. But after a few decades and music history I understand what they were going for now. I guess I wasn't ready for it at the time. Still, there's only so much of that "wall of sound" effet you can take before you are like "Okay, so... what else is there?" It gets old kinda quickly. Just like the album did for me. Next.
I loved the first two songs Schizophrenia and Catholic Block - unique beats and guitar effects, which don't get too over the top. What makes them so good is there is an underlying rhythm that even the most experimental segments of the song tie back to. I think what I'm saying is there's melody even when at times there's madness. But then by the time I get to Stereo Sanctity and Pipeline / Kill Time it's getting to be a bit too spastic, abrasive, or off-kilter. Those songs are alright, but the page is turning on the album. Tuff Gnarl starts off okay but is too self-indulgent in being noisy. Hot Wire My Heart was a cover that we didn't need. White Kross was decent; brought back some melody. It's clear how these guys are a clear link between bands like the Stooges before them and the Pixies and both shoegaze and grunge movement that came after them. So I want to give them a higher rating for their pioneering ways. But there a band I just want greatest hits of, not full albums - because their style gets a bit tired listening to a full album.
Sonic rock from Sonic Youth.
Not as weird as some of their other records but still not that good either
Vond het wel goede muziek, maar geen uitblinker
Craptastic.
This album deserves more time than I gave it.
Usually I'm a sucker for bands that have multiple vocalists, especially if they're different genders, but this is just too hit and miss for me. Pick a sound and stick to it. Best track: Schizophrenia
Good album just not as good as Daydream Nation.
A-puoli on oikein hyvä, erityisesti kaks ekaa biisiä käynnistää niin hyvin, että innostuin. Sitten menee kikkailuksi mutta samalla tasapaksuksi, mikä vähän lannisti. Vai vaatiiko vain uusia kuunteluja (ja kikkailun sietämistä), että pääsee sisään?
Starts off great then disappears up its own arse
Most of it isn’t really too bad at all but doesn’t bring much memorable to the table either. A few are a bit too noisy for me though as well. 5/10
Cool
Don't quite know how to classify the genre of this album, but having not heard it, or Sonic Youth, before, I can say that I enjoyed listening to it.
It was okay, some noisy rock. A bit crazy, a bit unhinged, and I've definitely used those adjectives for a few albums now. This was borderline unlistenable on my car stereo, though that's more of a complaint about my shitty speakers than the songs. To be honest nothing really stood out to me that much, but there were some good riffs. It certainly sounds newer than 1987 and I have to commend it for that. Favourite: Pacific Coast Highway
It was fine. In context of the time maybe it would have been more interesting.
I continue to be Sonic Youth neutral
What if Rock music were kind of fuzzy?
Interesting and very sonic youthy.
Typical 90s blend if instruments and voice. Didn't feel anything innovative or outstanding
Freaky, I like it
A bit hard to get into at the beginning but overall great riffs and a fantastic ending. Best tracks: schizophrenia, cotton crown, tuff gnarl.
2.75/5
3.5
These guys use the coolest dissonant jagged chords. Solid album, listened to a bunch of times. Not something I'd normally think to put on, but good.
Feels unnecessarily discordant and knotty in places, and never quite returns to the very high standard of the opening cut, "Schizophrenia." Relentlessly tough and dark art rock, this is far from their best (or biggest) work.
Rock guitarrero, sucio, con reminiscencias de grunge. Un tanto plano, a pesar del ritmo y el estilo
I feel like I'm not quite cool enough to "get" Sonic Youth. I appreciate that they produce some interesting sounds and their innovative use of the guitar, but at the same time it sounds a bit like noise to me. This album is maybe a bit more accessible than other stuff I've heard from them. At best, some of their songs sound like PJ Harvey. 3 stars.
This is art. It was a first listen for me, I’m a fan of a few of their later albums which I think are an easier listen. Sister is what I expected, it’s a group of confident in who they are and what they are trying to create,testing musical boundaries to see what works, and it does work. It’s cool, in the way that more conservative music tastes would not think it should ever make it onto a record. It broadens the mind. I prefer their later stuff but this was enlightening.
yep, it's sonic youth. so much influence on music made since
Good but felt really short. Seemed it like was over right after I started. Listened to it again though.
Our second from Sonic Youth I believe. I like this one more than the first, but not by too much. Started out very strong with two tracks that immediately caught my ear, but it loosened its grip on me and didn't regain it. The rest of the album drifted by me unfortunately. But what I heard was still decent, so I can't knock it as much as my own attention span. The strength of those openers is enough that I would give this another chance. Favorite tracks: Schizophrenia, Catholic Block. Album art: I like this one a lot. It's a mini collage, almost a mood board kind of thing. Pictures of cities, cows, Saturn, and a naked baby. Guess Nirvana weren't the original sickos. 3/5
6/10. Liked this way better than goo or whatever it was called.
Pretty cool but also pretty tough to get through. 6/10
Pretty good, though my 5th Sonic Youth Album so I'm getting a bit tired of them!
I really like a lot of Sonic Youth's over albums but for some reason this one just doesn't work for me
Okay. Not a favorite.
för många sonic youth-album
Rough around the edges (in a good way), an enjoyable listen, although no real standout tracks.
EARLY Sonic Youth, there were a couple tracks I liked
C'est toujours intéressant de réécouter du Sonic Youth après les avoir connus à l'âge adultes avec les Sonics.
Je ne m'exprimerai plus sur le groupe Sonic Youth par peur d'être censuré.
Группа, которая опередила свое время и заложила основу для будущих инди-рок групп. Для своего времени однозначно заслуживающий внимания альбом. Stereo Sanctity и сейчас замечательно звучит. В остальном, время все же нанесло отпечаток и многие последователи значительно углубили идеи Sonic Youth. Рекомендую как веху истории развития инди. Как обязательное к прослушиванию в своей жизни если вы не поклонник жанра - скорее не рекомендую. 6 из 10.
5/10 Best Song - Catholic Block
I should have always liked Sonic Youth, they are right in the middle of everything I really enjoy. I never really got it though. Listening to this I suddenly understood why people keep telling me I'll love them. Maybe it's the timing but something clicked on this listen and I loved some of the tracks. There were others that were just too distorted for me, but overall I'm happy I finally 'get' the Sonic Youth thing.
Not bad
The first song sounds a little mellow for these guys but by the second song things were much more Sonic Youth like. Par for the course for these lads.
As this is our 4th Sonic Youth Album, I'm noticing that each has (for me) one epic track, one that I'll want to listen too when I'm on my bicycle trainer, one "Kool Thing". On this album the song that stands out for me is "Catholic Block" even though it seems to be "Schizophrenia" for the rest of the world. I like that one too. After that 1-2 punch, it's a pretty decent album. I'm getting a bit tired of the one minute extended endings, but I guess it's their (his) signature move.
A real cacophony of Art-noise here. But there’s no Teenage Riot, Dirty Boots or Kool Thing on this album to hang onto. Some of the experimental noodles are very interesting but this album doesn’t spark as much joy in me as some of their other albums such as Goo and Daydream Nation which I gave both 4s so this is a 3.
Not my favorite SY album, a quasi-thematic album that goes from okay to pretty darn good by the end. 3.5/5.
Pretty sweet. I don't think I've ever actually listened to Sonic Youth before but I'd check this our again.
I liked the other sonic youth album more; just had it yesterday. Maybe I was just in a different mood then lol. This one had much more screechy noise, too much, but was still good at parts.
This was a pretty canonical Sonic Youth album to me. A few with great hooks and a few experimental noise songs that I won't revisit. Honestly they're a band I feel I should like more, but have to wade through a lot of stuff before I can pick out my favorite tracks.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Catholic block
Strong start; I liked this album less as it progressed. Musicality was sacrificed for distortion. 6/10.
Really like the instrumentation, not massive on the sort of spoken word bits. Fav tracks: Schizophrenia, pacific Coast highway
I like Sonic Youth's more tuneful stuff, so it's cool to hear this album where they start moving in that direction but still have one foot solidly in the world of noise and discordance.
Pretty good album. Didn't love it but nothing too bad. Seems like a band I'd like a lot more live than on their albums.
Mellow. Rainy day music
Not bad
Patchy. Some of it is excellent, whilst some of it is just noise, bordering on shoegaze. The good stuff I really like, the shoegazey stuff I really hate.
Not bad, worth a second listen at least
Not in the mood for this tonight but it's alright. I'm more a fan of later Sonic Youth.
Again, I think the author(s) has over-emphasized the importance of Sonic Youth since I'd never include this many of their albums. Ironically I have ended up liking Sonic Youth less as I've listened to more albums.
Comfortable loud noise
Sonic Youth is enigmatic for Mei should like them more than I do but something keeps me at arms length. I own this on only but this would be maybe only the 4th or 5th time I've listened to it. The first song Schizophrenia is a great start I like it a lot has a similar feel to Teenage Riot. But nowhere else do I get the same feeling. Could be it just requires more effort on my part... I'll keep you posted if things change. 3.5 🌟
Solid
Kuulosti Sonic Youthilta. Tätä kuunnellessa tuli mieleen, että tämähän kuulostaa vähän Slintin Spiderlandilta. Sitten tuli mieleen, että sanoinkohan samaa jostain muusta levystä. No sanoinhan minä; Sonic Youthin Goosta! Ehkä tästä eteenpäin voi sanoa, että jokin kuulostaa Sonic Youthilta. Mielestäni tämä levy ei ollut kuitenkaan yhtä hyvä kuin Goo, meni enemmän taustalla eikä saanut otteeseensa. Tälle siis vain perus kolmonen.
Enjoyable, when it's good it was great but the bad was awful
This album sounds almost experimental. Some of the music is compelling, but a fair amount of it is just noisy. I liked it well enough to listen to it again at some point, so it's not getting a 2-star poo-poo. However, it's a weak 3-star entry.
I went in expecting a 4 but 3 i guess? 3.5 in reality but I'm not feeling the bump up to 4.
I don't mind a bit of Sonic Youth, but they do put my nerves on edge.
my second sonic youth album! ooh this started out great. still don't like this dude's tone and vocal performance lol. tracks 3 and 4 were pretty great. at times this music is cool but never enjoyable lol as intended i guess. lyrics are cool too, especially the entirety of 'stereo sanctity' and 'pipeline/kill time' and "i'm wasted in time and you're never ready" in some other song. but i can't get into the vocals.
Didn't really do it for me
I don't really know what to say about this. It seems really progressive and special for its time.
enjoyed the first listening session, lyrics are the interesting part; melodies are mediocre
Better than I remember but still just kinda loud.
Not bad, but not that interesting to give it a 4.
Begon goed met nummers die ik beter bleek te kennen dan ik dacht, maar alles viel toch halverwege als een kaartenhuis in elkaar.
Niet de beste Sonic Youth plaat, maar nog altijd wel een aantal toffe nummers.
First few songs are really good. Devolves into noise a little by the end.
decent - same as the other sonic youth one i did. passes you by a bit but
Really enjoyed the album. Some good sounds
A pretty good Sonic Youth album, noisy as expected
Is it post punk or proto grunge?
Alright!
A haunting record with traces of noise rock, this has some great songs - and some I’d consider unlistenable, if not for the unique instrumentation. Definitely sticks with you though! STANDOUTS: -Schizophrenia -Stereo Sanctity -Pipeline / Kill Time -Hot Wire My Heart -Master-Dik
It may be bleak but this music is really getting to the crowd.
Now Sonic Youth's in my cooler!
I'm supposed to like this, but it didn't excite, didn't offend.
Old school grunge. Not bad
Me pasa como con Pixies, a ratos muy bien, a ratos no tanto. El sonido tan crudo quizá no es tan de mi agrado. Por otro lado tiene mucho punch, mucha energía y a ratos suena muy bien. 3.5 estrellas que baja.
Not my cup of tea but fun to listen to.
I like these beginning chord progressions. Although, the music is sort of drowning out the lyrics. This is another of those albums where I like some of the songs and find others a little annoying and/or a little too electric for my general taste.
Ok
decent alt noise - C
Made me kinda sad
Odd at times. Not bad
I actually didn't hate this album as much as I hated the other one. Sonic Youth is like Alice in Chains or like Nirvana. Just not as solid.
Has quite a bit of Joy Division, but not my favorite Sonic Youth record.
Ok.
its alright
first album...leskeddit 10/4/20
Ok.
Pretty solid album with some standouts but not enjoyable enough for 4.
Gritty - exactly what I imagine as indierock in the 90s. While i enjoyed it, there was no song that made me go "wow"
Not my cup of tea. Thought I could dig but never really got into it. Respect it so it’s probably a 2.5
I was excited to hear this one -- that excitement died really quickly. Just a lot of noise, really. Bummed about this one!
I missed being a Sonic Youth youth by a few years but I appreciate them as a band? and an idea? With lots of respect to who they are and what they did this is mostly not my style. I enjoyed listening to this one though!
Irritating this one. Softer parts listenable but consistently drifted into noise
Energy sapping