Sister

I don't particularly like Sonic Youth, and I worry that this makes me not cool. This is embarrassing at my age.

Pretty good noise rock. I don't get why Sonic Youth gets spoken about in such reverential tones.

Woof. I want to like Sonic Youth but it's too disjointed. No melody. Just feels like I am hearing someone fiddle around on the guitar for an hour in a cave. 1.5 out of 5.

I can only hope that the other four Sonic Youth albums on this list are better than this one. Not a fan so far

Another example of Sonic Youth's ability to conjure unique emotional reactions. Five entries on this list is quite excessive. Then again, so is nine Bowie albums.

Nope, not my style at all.

I liked this genre before everyone else tried way too hard to match this energy and saturated the market.

Oh brother…

The best Sonic Youth album on this list. That said, there are 5 Sonic Youth albums on this list. That’s absolutely insane, there wouldn’t be 5 Sonic Youth albums on a list called “the top 5 Sonic Youth Albums”

Schizophrenia

This one was polarizing for me. There were some songs I liked a good bit... sonically and some that I really didn't enjoy. The guitar especially I found the timbre unpleasant at times (I guess the discord is international) and there was an element of jam band noodling to the parts that annoyed me. But despite those complaints there were definitely a few songs I would revisit and I get the sound they were going for.

Underwhelming compared to the other sonic youth albums I have reviewed

Gab mir so Indie Vibes. Aber gute. 3,5

Not terrible brash loud rock, but the vocal mixing is so bad, it genuinely pulls me out of every track and it’s distracting and hard to listen to

I did mostly like this noisy, brash rock album. Just liked, didn’t love. Somewhat experimental, but clings lightly to a typical song structure. Might be worth another listen someday, but for now I’m ambivalent.

Falta um poquito de sal

Too much scratchy guitar for me

eh, alright

Eh. About as expected for a Sonic Youth album, which is to say it was noise rock that I'll never listen to again. I continue to be baffled by how many albums they have on this list.

I relate to this more than other Sonic Youth albums. Very cool.

No me termina de cerrar este grupo

Too much art for me. Sounds like a band that would be my favorite band’s favorite band.

How did this album quickly get progressively worse with every new song? Plus the album cover turbo sucks.

I thought that the band was possibly Scottish because of the Highland Cows on the top right of the album cover, but they're just American. Anyway, the album was very annoying to listen to, so I don't think I listened to any of the songs until the end, but I guess it's okay if your taste in music is just a bunch of noise and not really a nice melody.

Now that's the good stuff Or bad stuff idk ppl round here tryna convince me noise music is bad Only real bad track here is pacific coast highway, but the rest put one hell of a show by mixing dissonance with melody

Sister is the first Sonic Youth album (cassette) I owned. I had heard EVOL, but still a little confused on whether I liked them or not. I liked the idea of the artistic expression of noise, but it was still new to me and I was still trying to wrap my head around around it conceptually. I had already discovered, and really loved, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. I had listened to Metal Machine Music, but it seemed more like an endurance test than anything that would could put in heavy rotation. I did, however, like elements of in song that still had a foundation in a more traditional song structure. songs like Sister Ray and European Son, or TV Eye was the music that fueled my interest in bands that incorporated elements of noise, distortion, drone and dissonance. Sister was the first noise rock record that I really liked and Sonic Youth became a favorite band. Sister opened the door and Daydream Nation sealed the deal. 4.4

I liked it.

Similarly blah and noisy.

I really struggle to get into Sonic Youth’s music. On paper it’s everything I’d like, but it just usually doesn’t work to my ears. This record gave me two strains of their work that I did enjoy: the cinematic “Pacific Coast Highway” and the good ol’ beat music of “Hot Wire My Heart.” But really, I’d rather just be listening to YLT.

I’ve listened to this a few times now and can’t think of anything meaningful to say.

"Oh and you know what? I bought another Sonic Youth album and it sucks. Its just noise." Elliot Page, 2007 film Juno Schizophrenia pulled me in but the rest did everything it could to push me away. As previously stated, its a progressive punk that my ears are not quiet tuned for. The gaze and aggressive elements come through as sloppy, chaotic and unimaginative. The lack of melody and dissonance drives a wedge between me and the music. I wish I had kinder words but, its still such a hard band for me to release. 2 stars because of the legacy, I guess.

ok, one of the least interesting or innovative sonic youth albums?

Oddly, Sonic Youth is sometimes at their best when they let themselves groove a bit. The post punk produced by Sonic Youth fits right at home with predecessors like Bahaus, Joy Division, and the like, but definitely is something new and different. You can hear the antecedents of grunge in this record, but it stays true to it's noise rock roots.

Some interesting things bogged down by some boring things (idk how many times I can write this exact same review) 2.5/5

Not for me. Weirdly I did love other bands with the same sound, but Sonic Youth completely bounces off me.

Tämä ei kolahtanut niin hyvin kuin aikaisemmat kuuntelemani Sonic Youthit. Ei niin tunnelmallinen ja mukaansatempaava kuin Evol tai niin rokkaava kuin Dirty.

I hope there is no more sonic youth

I’ve liked some of their previous work that’s been on here - not huge on this one

I do not like this kind of music

This is my first exposure to Sonic Youth. Schizophrenia carries this project. That is a cool song with cool riffs. 1987. What an interesting time to be a human. I am assuming because I did not live through that. You can see how this song led to what would come in the 90s (Radioheadish?). Rest of the album seems disconnected and angry. Less my speed. 3/10

My favorite SY album!

blah

A very pre-grunge grunge album. No doubt influential, and pretty decent in what it is, just not something that beats everything else in the genre, imo.

Homer Simpson wrecks my pig, Cypress Hill steals my orchestra, and Sonic Youth’s in my cooler! Get out of there, you kids! 3.5⭐️

Probably a 3.5 but it gets a little too fuzzy/noisy at points so I'm gonna round down.

Sonic Youth have some moments of beauty, even great beauty, but also an emotional deadness that leaves me feeling blunted and a little depressed. This album tends more to the latter/less the former than some, imo. Or maybe there’s a whole palette of greys here that I’m just not cool enough to see, I dunno.

Hard pass.

Raw and loud. Love it.

not a fan

Just didn’t get it.

I didn't really connect with this album and overall I don't really connect with this band much at all, aside from a few of their hits. They feel like a group that I should enjoy more, but I just don't.

This album begins with a 42 minute slog of a track that - oh wait, I just checked. It's only four minutes, it just feels 10 times longer than that. Now repeat that same experience for all 11 songs. Points for at least being distinctive, but my main complaints are the basslines (literally the same note played over and over for every song) and the complete lack of vocal melody, which is an issue when there is so much apathy in the performance.

more or less the same album as the other sonic youth albums on the list; nothing really sets this apart. we didnt need a 3rd sonic youth album much less a 5th

Not my thing

Eh, reckon I'd enjoy this more live

Wieder ein schönes Album von einer nicht-schön spielenden und singenden Band, diesmal klarer in den 80ern verortet, sphärischer, dudeliger, aber auch spielfreudig und wirr genug für Stress beim Hören.Hach

Ugh I kept trying to listen but gave up before I could finish.

This could have come out last week, a definite sense that current Grunge and Shoegaze lean heavily on this. It didn't do it that much for me but a good listen.

This album is experimental, post punk fucking rock. Enjoyed a lot. Not necessarily easy listening, with all the feedback and off kilter guitar tunings. But very cool.

Sonic shite. Marginally better once I imagined it to be an alternative soundtrack to Stranger Things.

A particular grungy style I don't really vibe with.

First few tracks have that raw energy of older American bands, The Ramones, New York Dolls or The Dead Kennedys but in a toned down way. Later tracks are more experimental, like we'll do whatever we like. Overall not a bad album but I won be rushing put to buy it.

This is a Sonic Youth album, and it sounds like all the other Sonic Youth albums on the list.

*Lucille Bluth voice* I don't care for Sonic Youth.

Doesn't quite reach the highs of Daydream Nation, but it's still noisy and melodic and cool as hell

Maybe I wouldn't have been into this album a year ago, but with this being the first time I listen to Sonic Youth, Sister reminds me of some new bands that I've really enjoyed recently, like Gurriers and NewDad. I was actually listening to Gurriers right before putting this album on, and I can hear Sonic Youth's influence on Gurriers' music. I liked this more than I would have expected, so Sonic Youth will be on my radar from now on.

Not my cup of tea. Thought I could dig but never really got into it. Respect it so it’s probably a 2.5

This is my 4th Sonic Youth album overall, and 3rd from this list. My most recent one before this was from maybe a week ago. I liked this, especially the drums, but I worry I'm getting a bit weary.

I was excited to hear this one -- that excitement died really quickly. Just a lot of noise, really. Bummed about this one!

Leuk, meer mijn smaak. Soms een iets te roestige sound: elektrische gitaar dacht ik, kan teveel zijn om album in 1x te luisteren.

rym 3.90 Noise Rock/Alternative Rock 久仰大名的音速青年，没有让我失望，但应该还可以更好才对。不断上紧的弦，混乱粗糙，一股巨大的混沌能量。 pock: Catholic Block, Tuff Gnarl

A really solid album from a really solid band Best Song: Schizophrenia Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4

just noise

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!

Some cool stuff, some annoying stuff. Not a 4 or 5 but was at least mostly listenable.

Irritating this one. Softer parts listenable but consistently drifted into noise

Schizophrenia

Hell yeah this was a great listen

Dit is echt totaal niet mijn smaak, voelt weer als een hele bak herrie met flink distorted gitaren en op de een of andere manier krijgen ze het toch voor elkaar dat het, ondanks dat het grotendeels echt als herrie voelt, het ook voelt als iets wat ik al ontzettend vaak gehoord heb... Muzikaal/productioneel zit het soms best wel goed in elkaar, ik bedoel de gitaar break in Pacific Coast Highway zou ik zelfs mooi durven noemen. Maar daardoor is het des te meer jammer dat daarvoor een stuk zit wat echt niet goed klinkt. Gejammer met distorted gitaren, als ik iets kan aanwijzen als mn minst favo genre, dan is dat het. Hoe langer dit album ook duurt, hoe erger het word. Alsof ze zichzelf telkens erger moeten bewijzen qua herrie. Ik wil dit echt geen 1 geven, maar eerlijk? Dit verdient een 1. Hier valt niets uit te halen, het begint nog wel prima, maar hoe langer het album duurt hoe erger het word. Ugh, drie kwartier... De distorted gitaar is het allerergste wat er is uitgevonden in de muziek in de afgelopen 50 jaar. Daardoor denkt iedere idioot dat hij een nieuw genre heeft uitgevonden of dat hij een genie is door een gitaar te verkrachten met wat sadboi lyrics over zn verneukte gitaarspel. FAVO: De momenten van rust en stilte tussen de nummers door.

Weiss nicht recht was ich sagen soll. Melodiöses wechselt mit eintönigem ab. Eher weniger.

This might be the best post punk album ever. From the start schizophrenia opens with a nice drum kick and riff, and from there it just keeps going. Sonic Youth had a hard time creating a mainstream sound, actually they likely didn’t even want to, and when they made this its perfect. It feels like laying back and taking a nap in the summer, it feels like a roadtrip. This album is just incredible.

Smashing opening track. The rest is all a bit Sonic Youth-y. Their disinterest in hooks or good melody just make them a boring listen for me

Noisy and yet full of melody. As clever as you can imagine. This is a Sonic Youth album. Favorite Songs: Schizophrenia, Catholic Block ; Kotton Krown ; White Kross

Sonic Youth – Sister (1987) On Day 255, this was a thoroughly decent, rewarding listen. I really appreciated how they structured noisy, abrasive guitars in a way that felt melodic and accessible rather than insufferable to sit through. While not every single track hit the mark, the vast majority of the record delivered. "Schizophrenia" and "Pipeline/Kill Time" were clear standouts for their hypnotic drive and inventive textures. A few cuts lost their sense of direction, and throwaways like "Master-Dik" were an absolute miss, but the overall execution was impressive enough to carry the project. A well-earned 4/5.

A little reserved for a Sonic Youth album, which is actually good because most of their experimental stuff doesn't hit

Didn't care for this one as much as the other Sonic Youth albums.

Ok, not as good as the last one but Sonic Youth growing on me.

Energy sapping

QUESTO E' UN HOTEL 4 STELLE CHE HA IL POTENZIALE PER DIVENTARE UN 5 IN FUTURO. LA SCHIZOFRENIA METROPOLITANA SI SENTE BENISSIMO. ALBUM SUPER CREATIVO, NOISE CON PERO' UNA STRUTTURA DEFINITA. OTTIMO. SUPERIOR. 4+/5.

Skip

Yep, this sounds like Sonic Youth. Don't hate it, don't love it. Happy (more or less) to listen to it this once; not likely to want/need to return to it. 3 stars. See previous SY reviews for more (this is at least 3 of their albums we've had already, right, and we're only a bit over 200 albums in?). Critics' darlings, they were. I do own and (mostly) like their (double) album Daydream Nation, so if I get the SY itch, that's likely where I'd turn. Favorite track on this one "White Cross" -- that's some excellent guitar work there; might have to remember that track, at least. Makes me feel more sure about giving this 3 stars.

I don't feel any differently about this than I did about the other SY albums so far. And we still have two more. . . . I really don't understand why there needs to be 5 on the list It's edgy, noisy, and sardonic. Uuuuuh ok. They're clearly not trying to make anything pretty, but whatever they were attempting is kinda lost on me, listening forty years later. I was much happier turning it off than when it was playing so I'ma gonna give it a 1!

Loved it

No, it’s not great music as far as I’m concerned, but it’s not all that bad either. Two stars…

why does sonic youth has so many placements in this list? Their best work will probably still for me be considered to have a spot...

Kuuntelin tätä sängyssä ennen nukkumaan menoa, kun Valto-kissa tuli ja tiputti matkakaiuttimen ja asettu sen päälle. En tiiä oltiinko me Valton kanssa eri mieltä musiikin laadusta, mut mä pidin tästä! Oon varmaan sanonut tän ennenkin, mut tykkään siitä ko musiikki kuulostaa siltä että mun pää on täynnä vanua. Kun se on niin täynnä kaikkea kovaa ääntä, ettei päähän mahdukaan mitään muuta. Tää olis varmasti ollu vielä parempaa kuulokkeilla. Ei kuitenkaan mikään levy, josta erityisesti tarvis kirjottaa kotiin, joten jää kolmeen tähteen.

Meni maalatessa aivan toisesta korvasta ulos ja ei sisälle ollenkaan mistään. Harmitonta räminää. Ei jäänyt käteen mi tään.

Hyvää sekoilua ja aivan hyviä biisejäkin. Sonic Youth on pitäny pitkään ottaa kuunteluun ja varmaan vielä pitää vähän syventyä että tietää mitä oikeesti tykkää. Tästä kyllä tykkäsin jo eka kuuntelulla, mut eipä oo hirveesti yksittäisiä kitarahetkiä enempää mielessä enää parin tunnin jälkeen.

Jahas! Post-punk kiertoajelu jatkuu. Ihan toimivaa paahtamista ja pörinää + viipyilyä ja fiilistelyä. Kuvauksesta opin myös uuden post-punkin alagenren "no wave" (josta tämä siis ilmeisesti jo irtiotto kohti perinteisempiä biisirakenteita) 🤓 Pohdin että miks tää uppoon niin kivuttomasti kun vois hyvin olla myös aikamoista raastinrautaa, mutta taitaapi olla että Juno elokuvan soundtrack, josta pidin valtavasti on mut vähän pehmentänyt ja valmistellut Sonic Youthille ☺️

Ei lähteny yhtään. Tuntui työläältä ja meteliltä. Jossain mielentilassa tällä saattaisi olla hetkensä, siksi en uskalla antaa ykköstä. Mut tällä kertaa tää kyllä aktiivisesti ankeutti mun päivää.