Daydream Nation

Haven't heard a bad album from this band. this seems crazy 1988, this would've been my shit if i was alive back then. its my shit now I loved listening to this.

why didn’t i listen to this sooner!!!

Alright alright I LOVE the first two tracks on here they are so phenomenal so well written the melodies slap the guitar parts are inspired. The rest of the album is great too, it’s just SO long. Like every song is about 2-3 minutes longer than it probably needs to be. The mixing is a bit confusing too, there’s really not much low end and everything is super sparse but I grew to accept it. I really did love the album though, I’ll definitely be coming back to the whole thing often, but maybe some needle drops instead of full listens. This is a very high 4 verging on 5.

Listening now. Bro, Cross the Breeze is an unreal song. Anyways, this album is very good. It's definitely at least 20 minutes too long. I don't think that the songs should've been cut shorter, but I think some songs could've been removed. The first half of the album was stronger than the second. Really liked the guitar work and tone. This is another band that I haven't pursued, but very glad I got this listen. Healthy 4

Great

Nice, older, punkish-rock.

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🕯️🧱📷 Production (Remastered Original Album): 💩😘🤌 Music: 🌀💥🚬 Rating: ✊✊✊✊/5

Daydream Nation feels very much like haphazard punches from Sonic Youth -- but they work

Lots of noise. I liked it.

This album is very solid. I'm usually not the biggest fan of noise rock but almost every song on this album does something interesting. Teen Age Riot is a huge intro, Silver Rocket has a great riff that sticks with you, the vibe of The Sprawl pulls you in. Not going to walk through every song on the album it's strong enough that I could. Good listen and good to be on the list. Don't know everything about Sonic Youth but I think this is my favourite album of theirs that I've heard.

A good album. There is too much Sonic Youth on the list, but this is a great one. I like the parts with Kim Gordon's vocals the most. Silver Rocket really does it for me also.

Their influence is apparent in much of the music scene today, especially post-punk and psych rock. I unfortunately haven't spent much time with Sonic Youth, I will now.

This is their best work, don't @ me.

😎

Yes!! The Sonic Youth album accessible to non AP high schoolers

not always the most enjoyable listen from head to toe but at the end of the day, put on any misc moment from this record and it’ll wash over you like a tidal wave.

Noisy and a little experimental for its time, I think. I like it.

could i write poetry to this? y

I think I finally figured out how to enjoy Sonic Youth and the answer rhymes with my username.

said by plenty of fans as sonic youth's magnum opus, this album has that noisy, buzzy experimental grunge rock sound that the band is known for. sonic youth is absolutely the group you listen to if you were a teen or young adult in the 80s, you hated life and your parents, and you spent your free time critiquing society, smoking cigs and occasionally having revelations. imagine channel-surfing a schizophrenic's brain. this album is anxious, blunt and reflective of counter-culture at the time. disillusionment with politics and traditional definitions of what's popular, and the eternal, chaotic mind of youth. they don't care if you like or hate their music. they're just going to puke out whatever they feel, regardless if you like it or not.

So good. Not sure if this is Post Punk or the start of Alt

Album good, sonic youth good. Monkey brain like guitars, good music. Rah!Rah! OO OOOO BANANA

Were they Nirvana before Nirvana? Some say so but i disagree, they are their own entity and are truly better than Nirvana.

I don't know why I have always avoided this album. Moore and to a lesser degree Gordon's singing is excellent and my trepidation re this being "noise rock" was very misplaced. I will never listen to a single song on this album again but I will definitely listen to this in its entirety again. 4.25/5

This was a cool album. It was a touch longer than it needed to be, but it good. I could hear threads of it which had influenced more modern bands, Placebo in particular.

This album was badly needed in 1988, and it's badly needed now. Especially on this list.

I'm a Sonic Youth fan. I own many albums. However, I think this was the first time I've listened to the entirety of Daydream Nation in one go. Trilogy was especially good.

Enjoying greatly. Easy 4* likely. Alternative rock.

They deserved more love back in the day.

Not exactly an easy listen, but a very influential album and I like it a little more every time I hear it

Loved cross the breeze Candle is a banger Love the drums on this album, lots of delicate guitar parts and layers for something so noisy My first introduction to sonic youth: guitar hero 3 again

The 80s have always been my biggest musical blind spot but I do think if I was born 10 years earlier I'd have to have found my musical happy place somehow or another. I've always been instantly put off by jangly New Wave and never that into disco or soul music. So I'm guessing I'd have found my comfort food in the scuzzy embrace of post-punk and US indie when indie still meant 'indie'. This is where I think Sonic Youth just arrived and peaked too early for me. It's a shame for my younger self but I'm happy to make up for lost time now with this discovery. I got on OK with E.V.O.L when that came up last year but this feels a lot more what I'd hoped Sonic Youth would offer me. It's messy and noisy in all the good ways but it has its melodic waves, the drums and bass work are great and I can trace a line from here to a lot of the post-rock and post-punk of the late 90s-early-00s that really shaped my musical taste. Blur-era Blur owes a lot to this; Coxon was clearly a fan. Some of my more recent art rock finds like Guerilla Toss, Traams and Bodega also owe a lot to this. I'll definitely be spinning this one more in the coming months and while I expected it to be something that would need a bit of time to unravel and reveal itself, I'm already enjoying peeling back the layers as there are sonic treats throughout.

Every generation has their version of Blonde on Blonde: a very indulgent, very long (typically double-album length) work that sees the artist at their creative peak and their most self-realized. Often, this is the album where some of the artist’s best material comes from, and for any general fan of the artist, it is essential listening. When you start to dig into the album as a whole, though, you’ll find that the artist is feeding into their own vices; yes, here, that results in a fully “realized” project that is the artist gone maximal, but it’s also the start of all future problems and critiques– a tipping point of sorts. Yet here, despite the nature of this project of excess, it is by and large consistent; when asked what you’d cut to improve the quality, there isn’t really a clear answer. Actually, for as self-absorbed as this sort of album may be, it’s never a negative experience, never boring, and never too much to handle. Unless you’re straight up not a fan of the artist in question making this type of album, you can’t really hate it, and if you’re the generation who is being spoken to by this generational artist, well, you kind of love it, by default. The thing with the Blonde on Blonde Album™ is that it also is never the best project by an artist. Sure, it’s the most “themselves” they may ever sound, but front-to-back, there’s a better experience somewhere in their discography. Whether it’s because that other project is more condensed and edited, or is a bit more pop-radio minded, or a bit less pop-radio minded, or even just because the song-for-song hit ratio is ever so slightly higher elsewhere, there’s something better. That’s not to say there isn’t a debate, and many diehard fans will argue that the Blonde on Blonde Album™ is The Masterpiece™, and like….maybe? But beyond the diehards, even if this type of album comes close, there’s always something slightly better. Daydream Nation is Sonic Youth’s Gen X-era Blonde on Blonde Album™. It has some of their best material yet, and it is a consistent fucking album, despite its runtimes. But it also leans into the noise rock, the untangling, the breaking apart, the no wave past. All of that is inherently self-indulgent. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but it can get to be a bit much as a casual fan. (And, if I was being contrarian, I would argue that the way they structure that deconstruction throughout Daydream Nation starts to feel formulaic in and of itself; I know when the song is “over” at 3 minutes and there’s still 5 minutes to go on the progress bar that we’re about to enter “noodling time,” and if I was listening to this casually/not for this project, I’d probably just skip ahead to the next track.) Despite itself, though, I don’t have anything negative to say. Sure, “Providence” is an interlude, but it’s quaint and pleasant. I’m maybe not the biggest fan of the Ranaldo tracks, but I’m not against them. I don’t love the runtime, but I appreciate it for what it is, and it doesn’t feel as daunting as I initially feared. I do think I’d prefer a Side A/Side D version myself, but that’s just me. Nothing here is bad, and everything belongs. Daydream Nation is a great record. Still, even if I haven’t heard every other Sonic Youth record, I know there’s a project that is slightly tighter, slightly less self-indulgent, with a better song-for-song hit ratio. Does that mean Daydream Nation isn’t essential listening? Not at all! (It’s way more essential than Blonde on Blonde, even.) But is it the best album I’ve ever heard? Not at all. It’s a great showcase of a generational artist feeding into maximalism to the point of gluttony, and it’s a miracle that it never eats its own tail in the end, but indulgence is a double-edged sword. Sonic Youth somehow never cut themselves when they’re swinging it, but the weight makes their arms sore, and you can see the muscle spasms.

4.4

Bij album nummer zoveel van dezelfde artiest, ben ik wel een beetje uitgepraat. Ik heb de wiki doorgespit, ik heb mijn mening gegeven. Ik zie dat ik toch vnl een 4 heb gegeven voor de andere albums, met veelal hetzelfde commentaar. Ik vind dit denk ik wel het fijnste album van Sonic Youth. Niet per se met heel veel hitjes, al begint het wel met een van de bekendere nummers. Ik ben vooral fan van het gitaarwerk, het zijn fijne riffjes, weinig gekkigheden. Je moet er natuurlijk wel van houden, de zure broeders gaan hier echt niet overtuigd van raken. Ik vind het alleen niet goed genoeg om hier dan wel een 5 voor te geven. Want zoals ik al eerder zei bij een ander album, ik ga dit gewoon niet zo vaak uit mezelf opzetten. Het is soms net wat te moeilijk of te ongemakkelijk. En dan zet ik toch liever of makkelijker andere albums op. Dus wederom een 4 voor Sonic Youth

Sure!

Nice jam

so exhausting to listen to. sounds like a mental health crisis.

Started slow, got a bit better through the middle. Not a massive fan but pretty good.

This album misses admission to my Tidal library by a whisker, which is quite a compliment given that I detested Sonic Youth's earlier album Sister. This album is infinitely more listenable, and I can understand why critics have said it is the group's best work.

I’m not fawning over this album, but it was right up my alley. Easy to put on in the background and passively rock to, however I can understand lower ratings that think of this as noise. I dig the distortions and feedbacks. Probably worth digging into this in a deeper way, but for now 3.5/5

83% Best: Silver Rocket; The Sprawl; Eric's Trip; Candle; Rain King; Trilogy Must-Hear? Sure

what a crazy dreamy trippy walk through a gray wasteland. wonderfully calm but relentless with inspirational riffs and vocials piercing through the void.

Hm, I just had a Sonic Youth album. Pretty sure I rated it a 4. So I bet this one will be good too. This one is also getting 4 stars.

Better than expected. Too much distortion on the production but otherwise very listenable, riff-based rock

Trying to remember if I ever saw Sonic Youth back in the day. I honestly don't know. I miss those smoky, crowded, noisy clubs. Or maybe I just miss being young.

Solid record. No bad tracks

A noisy guitar-driven sprawl of an album, ahead of its time and very influential on modern post-punk/indie rock.

tough one. I don't really like Sonic Youth, but I think this album fit my day and mood pretty well.

Frenetic and so ahead of it’s time.

probably my fav sonic youth so good

My first exposure to Sonic Youth - it was so much fun I had to give it two spins. The distortion and discordant notes really work in the framework of this music. I love the experimental feel of this album and will seek out more of their work.

A good album, I liked teen Age Riot and 'Cross The Breeze the most.

Easy 4 stars, excellent album. I personally prefer Goo, but they have the right balance with noise punctuating the songs here. What an opening track

loved this one- helps that I listened to it a few weeks ago for the first time though. the sprawl is great, silver rocket, total trash, will be in rotation

teenage riot is a perfect tune on a very good album

A fantastic and creative art-punk opera

I’ll confess upfront: I’ve tried getting into Sonic Youth and their much-lauded album Daydream Nation on several occasions, but it’s never fully clicked for me. Perhaps my age is a factor; when this album was released, I was just starting school. Six-year-old me wouldn’t have had any exposure to this kind of sound. Later, as I began forging my own musical identity, my parents occasionally indulged my noisier tastes, but their staples were greatest hits compilations from Queen, Elvis, Elton John, and The Beach Boys. No slight on them—it just meant that discovering alternative and experimental music required blazing my own trail. That said, Daydream Nation is undeniably a landmark album in alternative rock. Its influence on the alt-rock explosion of the early '90s cannot be overstated. Famously, Kurt Cobain sought advice from Thurston Moore before signing Nirvana to a major label. Reassured by Sonic Youth’s experience of maintaining their artistic integrity, Cobain made the leap, leading to the release of Nevermind in 1991 and the subsequent transformation of the musical landscape. Sonic Youth even took Nirvana on their 1991 European tour, acting as both mentors and gatekeepers between the underground and the mainstream. Musically, Daydream Nation is defined by its ambitious scope, unconventional guitar tunings, and sprawling song structures. “Teen Age Riot” opens the album with a dreamy, melodic intro before erupting into a raucous anthem of youthful rebellion, while “Silver Rocket” channels frantic energy and noisy chaos. Tracks like “The Sprawl” critique urban monotony and consumerism through fragmented, impressionistic lyrics, and “Candle” balances abrasive guitar tones with a surprising sweetness, offering a meditation on longing and loss. Despite its adventurous spirit for the time and the undeniable artistry on display, I’ve always found it difficult to connect with Daydream Nation. The extended song lengths, abrasive guitar work, and experimental edge can feel challenging, even overwhelming. The album’s sheer scope—many tracks stretch beyond the seven-minute mark—makes it a marathon listen, and the repetition within some songs contributes to its impenetrability. And yet, its influence is unmistakable. Daydream Nation paved the way for many artists I do love. Bands like Veruca Salt and Elastica, whose female-fronted alternative rock I adore, clearly owe something to Sonic Youth’s ethos of balancing noise with melody. Nirvana carried Sonic Youth’s experimental legacy into a more accessible framework, while even R.E.M., a long-time favourite of mine, embraced similar ideas of stretching traditional song structures within a melodic approach. For all its challenges, Daydream Nation remains a pivotal artistic statement. While I admire its ambition and innovation, it doesn’t fully resonate with me, but that doesn’t diminish its towering legacy. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? It helped define the DNA of alternative rock and inspired an entire generation of artists. Would this release make my personal list? No Will I be listening to it again? This is another album I want to eventually get to know better.

I loved it. I had never really listened to Sonic Youth before. I knew that I should, and that so many bands I liked referenced them, but I never listened. This album was great start to finish. I was shocked though, at how incredibly long the album was. 14 songs and many hovering around the 7 minute mark. 4 stars.

Teen Age Riot kinda sucked, was way too samey throughout the song which was really long. Silver Rocket had a nice ear piercing noise rock section in the middle of the song which i respected. The Sprawl continued on with the noise flair. Decent background noise.

Враховуючи попередні альбоми Соніків, на яких було безліч карколомних експериментів, розумієш, що на Daydream Nation вони, нарешті, устаткувались із своїм звучанням. І якщо на попереднику Sister (1987), матеріал вже був не настільки складним та експериментальним, то на Daydream Nation, баланс нойзових, атональних елементів та більш зрозумілого пост-панку вже став ідеальним. Слухати це неймовірно цікаво і приємно. Кожен риф звучить унікально, та навіть зараз виглядає як щось новаторське. Чітко відчувається, що цей альбом вже не просто експресивне висловлювання, а навпаки, чітко вивірена та продумана до дрібниць робота. Щодо впливу: цей альбом вивів подібний нойзовий звук у мейнстрім і став одним із тих альбомів, що сформував звук альтернативного року 90-х

One of the most influential Alt-rock albums ever. Might go on a little long but you can't argue with it. 8/10

4.5

This 1001 list is really taking me on a roller coaster with Sonic Youth. We've done the "I finally get Sonic Youth" steady incline. Then the "this music doesn't make me feel anything" plummet. Now we've reached the fucking loop-the-loop. This album is great. I love the robust, brooding, adventurous guitar tones. The pent-up, coiled energy of the rhythm section. The main sections of song which are all alt-rock anthems. Then the sprawling instrumental follow-ups. Great stuff all around. 4.5*

New one for me but it’s great

Usually “experimental” has me running for the hills, but this was a surprise. It is a sonic experiment, but it had nice resonance, far better than most stuff in 88.

Overall, this keeps growing on me. The wall of noise, amorphous schtick works for the most part, as it's backed up with catchy hooks and melodies, which admittedly take repeated listens to find. I really like several of the tunes, particularly the first track, and this is better than Dirty. Just clears the hurdle for a four.

This was pleasing to my earbells

Enjoyed this one a lot more than the last sonic youth on the list, very cool surprise

The finest noodling I heard all day.

I always found Sonic Youth extremely pretentious, but this is my 4th Sonic Youth album and I’ve liked, not loved, all of them, so I guess I’m becoming a fan? This one is noisy in an inoffensive way and Teen Age Riot is a great opener. That said, I don’t usually enjoy double albums as they tend to overstay their welcome which brings this one down a bit for me. Great album overall.

4/5

I enjoyed Daydream Nation more than I had enjoyed the other Sonic Youth albums I have heard. Saying that, I still see no reason why there are approximately 198 Sonic Youth albums in this book. They aren't even an English band! This was a long album. It is so hard to make a double album that doesn't suck or experience some lethargy at the end. Enjoyed this more than other Sonic Youth albums but it was still too long and not my thing.

While I've never really been a fan of Sonic Youth, this one finally clicked for me. Guess I'll need to delve a bit deeper into their discog sometime.

I've said it about their other albums, wish I listened to them back in the day. 4 Stars

4.5

Great mix of noise and more melodic parts. A bit strange I haven't listened to this before, because they have clearly influenced a lot of my favourite muaic from the 90s and 00s. Parts of it is a bit abrasive for my taste, but most of it is great. 4.5 stars

Sonic Youth's most complete work -- it's noisy and abrasive, but also really catchy and accessible in it's own way. The guitar work throughout is really cool and inventive. My favorites are "Teen Age Riot", "The Sprawl", and "Total Trash". 4.5 Stars

7/10 Ovdje cu baciti par usporedbi sa pretprošlim albumom od Pixiesa jer ih slusam u istoj veceri, nisu toliko daleko po nekim elementima, a i ista publika ih sluša. Prva i osnovna razlika je da su mi Pixiesi bili repetativni i smorili su me veliku vecinu vremena (barem s onim albumom). SY mi je ovdje puno zanimljiviji s istrazivanjem novih ideja, riffovi su bolji, gitara opcenito melodicnija, ritmicno smisleniji i oboje vokala mi vise pasu. Ovo ne polazi od niskih kriterija jer najvaznije, zadrzava mi paznju cijelo vrijeme. Da ne ostane sve samo na usporedbama, The Sprawl mi je bila dobra bas vožnja, 'Cross The Breeze ima super dijelove, pogotovo u drugoj polovici, a Hey Joni mi je mozda najdraza. Ima tu jos stvari koje mi imaju super dijelove, a za ostatak mislim da se samo trebam malo naviknuti. Ovaj album mislim da ce mi biti sve bolji sa svakim slusanjem tako da cu si ga definitivno ponovno pustiti. Ima puno potencijala, a i ne cudi me da su mnogim glazbenicima uzor. Na kraju, nije mi ovdje sve sjelo na prvu ali volim ovakva ugodna iznenadjenja pa ce biti sedmica.

This is Gen X condensed into an album. 4

Good.

4.0

So I started listening to it and was irritated by it. About four tracks in, I remembered there was a Trash Theory video about Sonic Youth and Daydream Nation from a few months back that I hadn’t watched. So I watched it. I liked the album much more the second time around. Is that a reflection on me, a reflection on Daydream Nation, a reflection on Sonic Youth, a reflection on Trash Theory, a sign that music (like all expression) needs context in order to be meaningful or proof that I’m a poseur? Fuck if I know. But I like the album now and a win’s a win.

Cool stuff!!

Nice tunes from Sonic Youth. Dirty will always be my favourite SY album

The more I listen, the more I like Sonic Youth. Still have some kind of weird mental block though, I can't really remember any of their tracks but I remember enough to know that I like this.

Our fourth Sonic Youth album on the 1001. I probably like this one the most, but still find it difficult to differentiate between all their other albums.

Sonic youth is growing on me.

As much as I like Daydream Nation, it's never hit that upper echelon for me. Every time I put it on I think it'll be the day that it fully clicks for me, but I'm always left feeling like I'm missing something. I feel like I want it to be more noisy and more abrasive or something. All that said, this is still an excellent album. The guitars are fuzzy, and Moore and Gordon's vocals float across the noise beautifully. I always for get that this album is 70 minutes. Some days it feels too long, some days not long enough. *Hear before

I love the hard, youthful style with which Sonic Youth plays. I love other singles more, but the album was good overall with few standouts - negative or positive.

This album was released 36 years ago. It took me that long to finally listen. I never had any reason to listen until now. It’s a good album. Obviously it’s the guitar(s) but I can’t help but think most of the songs eventually sound like someone trying hard and then just banging away on the guitars.

Best I've heard of Sonic Youth. Treads between experimental and enjoyable very well.

Sigh. I would really like to love Sonic Youth - and I should - but I feel like a lot of bands of similar stylings have had a much better answer to "What do we want to SOUND like?". Let me mess with their pedal boards, switch the pick-ups and turn some screws on the snare. Something. Sure, mushy noise is part of the whole deal but how this often revels in its abrasive dryness has never been quite my thing. That said, "Daydream Nation" is absolutely an album to be in here and some tracks are keepers. 4 for now, I will revisit this one.

Thoughts before listening: I should really be a fan of Sonic Youth, but I just can't get into them. That being said, this is their most well regarded album and also has some of their better songs. Review: "Teenage Riot" kicks this album off and is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. The general sound of this song with an upbeat driving tempo, monotone speak singing, and psychedelic guitar freakouts is carried out throughout the record to great effect. Despite some sections that get a little too out there for their own good, this really is a great album that deserves its reputation as Sonic Youth's best. 4-stars

Some really cool sounds, but too long.

It’s always interesting how the music may be the same but you can be so different. The thing about this project that I am loving the most (aside from whom I’m doing it with) is being able to trace the branches of music- in a way it’s almost like seeing the limbs spur off, cross over, leaf out, create a new node and another branch sprouts. Having never listened to the MC5 or Public Image, Talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, Dylan or The Sex Pistols much when I was in high school I couldn’t recognize them in Sonic Youth. I couldn’t hear New York City. I couldn’t hear the love between Thurston and Kim. I couldn’t hear the panic of the Reagan 80’s, The East Village or the aggravation of living in a tiny apartment with your girlfriend/boyfriend. All I heard was a relatively melody less noise- and I chalked it up to a lack of talent or dedication. Now I hear the direct descendant of Lu Reed and Nico, David Byrne, spoken word beat poets from NYC like William S Burroughs and Johnny Rotten. And I hear the New York City of my 20’s when I used to hang out there with friends. I may have found my new favorite band. That said- I can also hear what followed….. from the jam bands they influenced like .moe to the Smashing Pumpkins in the Midwest, Rage Against The Machine in California, Modest Mouse or even the Strokes. This band is not a twig, it’s a load bearing, thick, primary arterial branch in the Oak Tree of Rock. It’s a 9/10 or a 4 1/2 out of 5. I’m gonna round down for now….. but I’m a year this one may have a place in my heart that would give it a 5.

arada açıp dinliyom

4/5 zeer nice

So many Sonic Youth albums in this list. I never realized their impact, but have always enjoyed their music.

Pretty good. Second half is probably not quite as strong as the first, but this is still my favourite of the Sonic Youth records the generator has spat out so far.

Really like this album. Sonic Youth fan here.

Incredibly influential, and just good to listen to in general.

Classic album. I was transported back to my high school year.

Another Sonic Youth banger.

Teen Age Riot I LOVED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! had some really good instrumentals and worked nicely as an album I think. idk I am going slightly. insane

Warm and fuzzy

Its ok

Best of the 5 Sonic Youth albums on this list for me. I would rather it have been 30 minutes shorter but I enjoyed the listen. Teen Age Riot stands tall as the best track for me. Kissability maybe among the worst on the album. I felt like the wall-of-noise I was hearing on previous albums was clarified here with a bit more melody and variety. There was a spot on the album where the wall of noise parted and a heavy bass section came through. That was my favourite moment, although I don't know what song that was so I couldn't find it again.

It's been a long time since I listened to Sonic Youth. It was nice to hear them again. Some of the music isn't very catchy, but I still enjoy it. 4/5

This album hasn't convinced me into loving this genre, but I was on board for the duration.

An album I don't know, though I know the lead single by a band I was never completely aware of, though I know John Peel played them. I think now there's lots of albums and bands I love that have a debt to Sonic Youth, I probably should have given them more time and this was certainly worth listening to.

Sonic Youth to me always seems five years ahead of what everyone else is doing at the time. Still sounds new and fresh. Or maybe I'm jaded. I dunno. I liked it. Leave me alone.

Seems very ahead of its time for 1988. Enjoyed it and will listen again

3.5/5

Great bit of noisy alternative rock. Lots of great songs like the opening track. However, it does get a bit same-y at times.

One of those bands I've heard of but can't think of a song I've heard from them. This was a pleasant surprise and I'm interested to find more from them.

This was cool I liked the noise and instrumental sections more than I liked the actual songs I think. Overall pretty cool vibe but lost interest a little by the end. 3.5-4

Daydream Nation is the monolith from 2001 for American Indie Rock, and is undoubtedly an important and influential work of art. It’s also a fairly divisive album, which I very much understand. I’ve owned a copy of this album since I was about 16 or 17, and today is the first time I’ve managed to sit through it all the way through. I never managed to get past the first side. Listening this time, I really got into it in the second half. I’m still not a huge fan, but I can appreciate it’s influence and how it’s affected a ton of bands I really love. However, I do also think that it’s the sort of album that takes multiple listens to truly appreciate. I’d like to get to know it better, and that’s a take that I didn’t necessarily have 8 years ago.

really good rock album. 4 stars

3.5

Great album Standout songs: 'Cross the breeze Erics Trip A/B/Z

Doesn't sound like the 80s

Noisy, tight, precise, punk-y alternative rock/early shoegaze from the late 1980s. It was quite an experience to listen to. I needed a bit time to get into it, it took a couple of songs but I loved it overall. I felt the songs were a bit directionless, and the album is a bit long but at my first listen, this is why it gets a 4 from me.

Classic stuff - my favorite album of theirs. Chaotic, murky and compelling.

wanky shoegaze for pixies fans but i do enjoy, just a bit long. cross the breeze is a certified banger

Finally a consistent Sonic Youth album :) Great stuff

Had never listened to sonic youth, but I really liked this album.

I wish 17 year old me had found this album because I would have loved it! Overall I really enjoyed this music, the right amount of rock with some anger. Sometimes a little too much dissonance for 40 year old me. Also now I don't need multiple 7 minute songs in one album. But overall I would gladly listen and enjoy again.

I’m enjoying this. A name I only know from The Simpsons lollapalooza that I guess I just wrote off as being smashing pumpkins lite. The distortion adds to it instead of just seeming like a gimmick.

It was good.

Hard to believe this came out in '88. They were definitely ahead of their time. Vocals leave a bit to be desired but that may just be me not liking punk in general. The more I listen the more I like it. 3.5/5 but I'll give it 4 stars because I feel with time I will like this album even more

this album grew on me as it went on. it was some interesting musical elements but i think the songs tend overstay their welcome. i think they could really benefit from cutting the length of some of the songs

If 1990’s Goo anticipated grunge, then 1988’s Daydream Nation harks back to the spiky sounds of post punk and new wave from 10 years previously. This really reminded me of Joy Division in places and I think that Kim Gordon’s bass playing compares well to Peter Hook’s. The only complaint I have about this is that stretching 12 songs over a double album is a bit much - I’d rather they’d cut them down to 3 minute bangers and kept it as a single album.

Almost gave this 5. I don’t know how I’ve slept on this band!

Overall I might enjoy Evol and Sister more, but this is obviously a classic. It's less about the individual tracks. You just have to let the whole thing sprawl out in front of you.

I've heard some songs from this album before (well, Teenage Riot is on it, so it kinda goes without saying) but had never listened to the entire album before. I enjoyed it a lot, I'm a huge fan of the harsh experimental angsty guitars. although I must say the album kinda lost me a little in the end

I somehow don’t think I was aware of this back in the day. It was an enjoyable listen, some killer drumming. I can see where this fits in along the progression of alt/grunge. 3.5/5 rounding up

Such an influential album on much of the music I grew up listening to and my own song writing at one point. Love how they can write such awesome hooks and surround it with noise and chaos. I've never loved the vocals from Sonic Youth, but musically this is 5.

I really like it. It reminds me of the smashing pumpkins songs that get all swirly and out of control. I can definitely see the influence that this album had on a lot of 90s bands that I love

Lots of yelling, and the instrumental equivalent of yelling. I'm for it.

I love this album and also never listen to this album, because that's the story of Sonic Youth - you're rewarded for your patience with some utterly creative and weird music, but not in a way that makes them constant jams.

Really good album! Can’t believe I’ve never really listened to them before. Will add to my albums I listen to on the regular.

‘twas the perfect vibe to be in the zone, writing a geometry test on circle relationships

Teen Age Riot is enough of a reason to enjoy this listen but the rest of the record was fun also. A bit screechy/noisey but overall still very interesting and overall enjoyable.

I loved this album. The discordant guitars really speak to my soul somehow, I love how noisy yet beautiful it is. Fave tracks: the sprawl, Eric’s trip, & candle. These guys rule. Only reason why four stars is because I think it’s a bit long for my taste.

Some really high highs in here. The guitarwork and sheer musicianship on display is outstanding. Conversely, some moments i dont love. But the highs are high enough to make up for it. Really interesting listen

Spirit desire, we will fall. An album that starts off with a groundbreaking song followed by pretty good and decent songs. Besides the first track, individually the songs don't feel as strong unless you listen to the entire record in one sitting.

Thoroughly enjoyed this- maybe not as much as some of the indie rock/alt rock albums that would come after, but it's easy to see the influence this had on them.

Was really into the third song, second song lost me a little. Third song is dope. These guys just shred. I’m really into this album. Think this would have been better as 2 albums. It great through Hey Joni, then it shifts it’s tone a bit.

Actually bangin album, grungy and like nirvana and quite speedy at times, dissonant and noisy, I can imagine a few bands that might be influenced by this sound

Same vibes as Nirvana. My favorite so far.

I really dug it. I actually am not sure I've listened to a sonic youth album all the way through before. I loved the grindy noises and shouting.

Very teenage Music. 4.

A time capsule from the late 80's. It is an enjoyable listen, but not something I would put on regular rotation. This album and REM's Eponymous really capture the vibe of 1988 for me.

I really like it. Gives me The Cure vibes. Ended up listening to the whole thing twice. I really liked Providence

Kinda liked this one, grungy and kinda psychedelic. Kinda like punk meets smashing pumpkins

I always thought that I didn't like Sonic Youth, so I'd avoided them. Turns out, I do like them, up to a point. Unfortunately though, I have an issue with indie bands from New York; there's usually something about them that irritates me. As in this case, it's often the vocals. I blame Lou Reed for starting the drawly/talky thing, but he did it quite well. David Byrne can get away with it, because of Talking Heads' amazing rhythm section. This fella also gets away with it at times, because the guitar sound and song structure is so interesting. But more often than not, the vocals grated on me and there are only two or three songs that I'd go back to. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy the ones fronted by Kim Gordon at all. So why the high score? Because I think it deserves its status for being genuinely very interesting and creative, and my personal "ick" with New Yorkers drawling into the mic doesn't really make it bad.

This was a good listen. Have always wanted to check out some Sonic Youth. This didn't disappoint.

Good

Really enjoy the sounds here - the freedom they're given to flesh out pays dividends and you really can hear the influence this has on future acts. Not a fan of the vocals though - they sound far too feeble at times and very monotonous/unengaging (but more than made up for by the instrumentals)

great trip back to the 80's. Not bad music just not my genre

Welp, it appears I’ve discovered yet another album that I’ve slept on for too long! Room to grow for this one. 4.5/5

Like listening to one long stream of consciousness I imagine this is what the inside of Thurston Moore’s head sounds like. Although I was more a fan of their 1990 album Goo, this album had regular rotation for me in the 90s. The experimental, moody, hazy and moments of discord clearly give a nod to SY’s influences like the Velvet Underground. And it’s hard to mention bands like Nirvana without giving a proper nod to this band and album as it clearly became the model which multiple bands in the 90s drew from. While not an album that would get repeat listens from me today, it definitely deserves the higher score simply based on its influence. Avant garde art rock at its best.

Solid somgs throughout. Hey Joni and Teen Age riot and Kissability were stand outs

Ushered in the 90s alt rock era. A lot of bands owe success to Sonic Youth and this album. Definitely iconic and captures the feeling of being an adolescent pretty well. Listening to this album gave me flashbacks to highschool, but in a good way.

listened 2x. excellent album 4.3/5

Building on their Velvet Underground and punk rock influences, they managed to create and define the age of Alternative Rock of the late 80's to early 90's. The list of bands influenced by them is still growing strong today. My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Pavement and Wilco, all the way through today's Wednesday, Feeble Little Horse and Death Grips, all owe their sound to the pioneering work of Sonic Youth. My only rubs on this album (and Sonic Youth in general) is the extended length of their albums and the ear fatigue that set in about 40 minutes in. There simply isn't enough sound variety to warrant this to be a perfect album, but it is definitely a genre defining classic.

Cool sound

There's almost some shredding going on here, I dig it. Still don't know how they get away with almost sounding like two distinct bands on the same album, but it works for them.

Enjoyed it just as much as the last SY album. Possibly even more.

Perhaps a bit too long, but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a compelling listen for me. Definitely one I will want to revisit.

Killer indie type album, was way more into this than I figured I’d be. Good time

Fun retro punk listen, just enough dynamism to keep things moving, but otherwise falls into patterns that are easy to work too (and obviously upbeat passages in there). A little frantic here and there but tis the nature of the genre

I understand the importance of this album and its place in the history of alt/grunge rock and I like a lot of the song on it, but I don’t think I’m ever going to get hooked on any of the songs enough to came back to it over time.

I liked many songs on this album and loved many

Parts of this feel like if the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were a post-rock band. Other parts felt like really fresh and original indie-rock. Not what I expected from a 35yo album???

fun!

Not an album I would go back and listen too. Others have built on it since then. Can definitely hear the influence - particularly in Nirvana. Makes sense why KC loved them

every time i recognise an album here i feel cool af

It's sonic, it's youthy, it's all a little loopy. It's the fourth damn SY record on this list so far. Were these guys really THAT important in the collective scene to warrant four+ albums on a list? Anyway, this is probably my favorite overall effort from Moore and co. It's unstructured, but in a good way to the point where you're kind of always hanging on to hear what's coming next. In a way, I felt like the entire album was building up for some big reveal, and while I may not have gotten exactly that, I did enjoy the ride. I enjoy the more mainstream rock tunes here more than the soundscapes. Each individual track goes a bit too long, but the whole things blends well enough together to where I'm not completely bothered by it.

Not heard much Sonic Youth before, and this has really impressed me. I really can't believe that it's 35 years old this year, it could have dropped yesterday. A cohesive soundscape from beginning to end, although it does feel a bit repetitive at times.

To really understand this album's impact and its impassioned fandom, you have to understand the music landscape at the time: most of us were held hostage by our local radio stations and forced to listen to the overproduced easylistening pablum of 80s pop. Daydream Nation takes a hammer to all that.

Veel goede nummers, vet geheel, en mega invloedrijk. Toch niet helemaal mijn favoriet.

Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation," released in 1988, is a landmark in alternative rock and noise experimentation. This double album showcases Sonic Youth at their most expansive and adventurous. From the dissonant beauty of "Teen Age Riot" to the sprawling landscapes of "Trilogy," the album is a sonic journey that transcends traditional rock structures. The blending of avant-garde noise elements with melodic hooks sets "Daydream Nation" apart. Its influence on the '90s alternative scene is immeasurable. While its challenging nature might not be for everyone, for those attuned to its dissonant brilliance, "Daydream Nation" is a masterpiece, deserving a strong 4/5 for its innovation and enduring impact.

Teen Age Riot is a great track to kick the album off and it never drops off. Great record! Love the guitar work

I like But felt it was missing something

- Alternative rock vibe - Sort of punk sound - Favorite tracks: Teen Age Riot, ‘Cross the Breeze

Het tweede album dat ik mag gaan luisteren Sonic & the Youths. Ik weet nog waar ik was toen ik de eerste luisterde en ik weet ook nog dat ik het idee had dat het me zou kunnen pakken, maar het dat nog niet deed. Ook dit album heeft dat een beetje. De openingstracks grijpen me wel, maar het is maar een klein klittenbandje. Het hangt een beetje in tussen post-punk en experimentele pre-grunge, waarbij het experimentele me interesseert maar de post-punk me wat stoort. Met name op het gebied van zang is het me nog net iets teveel van dat laatste. Als je qua instrumenten zo los gaat, vind ik het niet helemaal rijmen dat de zang zo braaf blijft. Ik heb dat bij zowel de man als de vrouw. Vanaf track 9 tot het einde is het genieten geblazen, met energieke, experimentele tracks die me doen denken aan IDLES. Mannen die eruit zien alsof ze elk moment dood neer kunnen vallen omdat ze liever muziek maken dan fatsoenlijk voor zichzelf zorgen, die met hun kletsnatte hoofd bijna in de monitor geduwd hun gitaar straf staan te geven. Goed album en een leuke toevoeging aan deze lijst vind ik. Dat andere album rondde ik naar beneden af, in dit geval lijk het me terecht als ik deze naar boven afrond: 4 sterren. Het laatste half uur zou zelfs 5 sterren zijn.

Probs like a 3.7 for me

More like a 3.6

Good stuff

Perfectly encapsulates how I feel when we finally flip the closed sign at the shop after a long stressful day at work, and I let out a piercing scream of release Pretty solid experimental rock here; I have no complaints but the album also didn't really move me enough to want to save any tracks either.

I appreciate Sonic Youth but have never been a super fan. Listening and focusing on it again after so many years, I am maybe more impressed than previously.

One of those albums that I wished I'd stumbled across when it first came out. I probably would have loved it. As is, I appreciate a lot, and some feels like a time capsule from that period.

Sleater Kinney's lyric should have been, "I wanna be your Kim Gordon." But maybe it doesn't rhyme as well.

I weirdly loved this one: it felt just immediately familiar even tho I've never listen to it before. The strong powerful guitar and sounds which I would almost liken to Shoegaze, the whole album was to be enjoyed. Ofc there are some standout tracks but I would have to say I get the hype around this album. I'll let it cook but in my mind it's very solid.

melhor que goo, enquanto na minha memória era o inverso?

Pretty cool. jammier than I thought it would be. Not sure it's in the permanent rotation.

The way they are able to shape noise into movement means there’s moments where it all comes together and makes sense.

The better of the two sonic youth albums I’ve gotten, I enjoyed Goo but this one was much better

Some really strong songs. Can clearly hear how music later was influenced by this album. Does have a tendency to sound the same :/

I feel like this was still noisy all while being a fairly coherent album, unlike their following album that had a bit to much edge for my taste. idk. i like it.

Really like the soundscape in this album. Longish songs allow for them to develop a little more, though on first listen a bit samey sometimes.

rlly liked it, bardzo moje klimaty, nie chce mi się więcej pisać srry

I only knew Teen Age Riot coming in, and there was a lot more post-punk type stuff than I expected. Neither singer did much for me, and some parts definitely lost me with a noisier sound. But the highlights were great, really 90s sounding layered guitars and fun drum beats. Wish they stuck with that just a little more.

Yllättävän fresh ollakseen 35-vuotta vanha levy. Sopi oikein hyvin lenkkimusiikiksi.

Really grew on me. Got a distinct, fun sound throughout.

pretty awesome. love their sound

A tad much for me sometimes (the "noise") but fucking awesome. Love it.

1988. Pretty solid alt/punk

Fun sonic landscape and you can see how it inspires albums like the seer by swans and other concept albums using discordant guitar and loose vocals

SY were always on the periphery of my music world back in the day, but I never dug too deep into them. Although I will say "The Diamond Sea" is one of my favorite tracks of theirs (not on this album though) I liked this one quite a bit and probably will be revisiting again in the near future

7/10. This sounds nicer than I remember the the other Sonic Youth albums I've had on this list being, not sure if that's just me getting used to them, though. And it felt liked it lacked some of the gritty energy that I was expecting. I dunno, I liked it.

This is my favorite out of all the Sonic Youth albums we've had. It felt like I could digest everything much better, and was quite a rewarding listen despite being 70 minutes long. 8/10

Good alternative rock band with hints of Steve Miller band and Pink Floyd with the instrumental breaks

One of these days I swear I'll get Sonic Youth. I'm so close to getting them, I swear. 7/10 Fave track: Silver Rocket

I didn’t and don’t listen to them enough. Bad ass.

A little bit of traditional song structure, with a dash of noise.

very nu-wave synthy punk vibes!

heavy guitars with ample amounts of distortion. some songs had a male vocalist, some had a female vocalist. all in all, a solid album.

I've never listened to Sonic Youth before. I really dug this. It's between a 3 and 4 for me. I'm going to give it a 4 so I don't forget to add it in later.

This is the first time I have listened to Sonic Youth. I like the edgier, experimental songs on this album.

I knew a few Sonic Youth songs but definitely hadn’t listened to a full album from them until now. I really loved this. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s grunge and weird and amazing. My favorite songs were “Teenage Riot” and “Hey Joni” but there wasn’t a song on this album I didn’t enjoy at least somewhat.

classy alternative/noise rock, but no distinctive bangers (beside teenage riot)

I am a fan of this record. It is interesting to see some of the early aural building block for what would become favorites of mine.

Iconic indie album! Good guitar and drum work plastered everywhere on this thing. Very influential and has no tracks I’d consider BAD. It’s pretty good, but not very good.

A Sonic Trip from Sonic Youth

5 except for the needless profanity in some songs

Not the worst Sonic Youth album. I actually enjoyed this one. The noise was loud but not as chaotic as it was in past albums.

Not the hottest take but Teen Age Riot is an incredible opener - in fact the whole of Side 1 is pretty spectacular. The rest of the record doesn’t quite reach those heights, though songs like Kissability and the closing trilogy certainly have their moments, but the ebb and flow of energy over the 70 minutes really benefits the pacing, and the overall atmosphere is enveloping and enchanting, not really feeling it’s length at all. Is it perfect? Probably not - but it is incendiary and a joy to listen to

I love the formula, its a great album and almost every track made my head move. But the problem is that it gets repetitive, this one would have benefitted a lot of being a 30 minutes album A solid 4+ for me

I've been fairly aware of this band for years and saw them live at a club in Santa Cruz CA (the Catalyst) back in 1993 or 1994. Wild show, crazy crowd, to the point where the band threatened to end the show early if people didn't calm down -- too much stagediving apparently. Anyhow, I have never really dug into their back catalog... and apparently need to make plans to do so.

Good album vibe, good headphone listen while working.

Easily the best Sonic Youth album...really like this one as a full album listen. The title track is also a top 2 SY song. 4.5/5

3.5/5

really dope like chaotic and upbeat

Quite interesting. 3,5/5

Often baffling, sometimes sparkling, an elusive, firey, compelling record.

I can see how this album influenced the alternative and punk rock I listened to in the late 90s and early 2000s. I like Kim Gordon's lyrics in the song, "The Sprawl" (which I'm sure refers to being a teenager lost in the cultural dystopia of the suburbs): "I wanted to know the exact dimension of hell, Does this sound simple?, F*** you, are you for sale?, Does f*** you sound simple enough?" Tell 'em, Kim! The opening track Teenage Riot is six minutes long and amazing. I really enjoyed this album. Pay homage to the alt rock pioneers!

Crazy that this album was made in 1988. It sounds so mid-90s. I early like it.

Really good stuff that set the stage for even more good stuff later on. I enjoyed listening to this.

enjoying hearing more sonic youth for sure, didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would but I'm pretty sure this'll grow massively on me

Confirma o talento da banda em produzir um som único ao misturar com inteligência elementos do punk ao indie.

I've always liked this album and appreciated it. When I put it on, I always think "Yeah, this is good!" But by the end I'm ready for something else. There's a lot to like here, yet there's something about it that keeps me from really loving it. I think it's just a little too "noisy" at times. I like the songs, but sometimes they stray too far into cacophony. But I still like it and appreciate it. So much so, that I will give it 4 1/2 stars. (But I'm rounding down.)

fun

Pretty long but also is pretty fun. They really are the sonic youth, this is a loud and crazy album. I like the mix of male and female vocals. A lot of the songs seem to follow the same motif but it doesn't really get old. I liked this one a lot. Score: 80 Art: 70

Ooh, the album with the candle on it I've never heard before. It's authentic, noisy music with plenty of layers. I really loved Teen Age Riot.

Just ok

bangin'

Good rock

Good. Need to listen again :)

Shoegazy goodness, going to listen to this again when I’ve finished my damn backlog

great sonic youth album

That first track is awesome. It comes in and you're just surfing that groove SY wave right away. Nice and clean, like welcome my friend we were waiting for you (but we aren't gonna tell you what's comin even though we know...). Second song is like, let's keep going, but we're gonna grind a little and we're gonna break up the pace a bit and throw in a couple gnarly pieces of distortion sound wall. Oh ok, yup, this is SY. Oh and then Kim is gonna come in and make it a little bit sexy with her 'more more more more'. A couple more tracks with her singing is a treat. She's just singing at me and hitting my emotions in waves. Later in the album, we get their classic breakdown and knuckledrag heavy rock guitar like on Total Trash. I kind of get this kind of sound from them, but if I'm being honest, sometimes it seems a little much like they are just making a sound demonstration and this if anything is my criticism of SY. Joni is just straight rock. And then we get art noise with Providence. And then we get sweet relief with Providence because every SY album has to have a reprieve. It's gonna be edgy, but it's organized and transcendental. Lovely hard edge flowers. And then they just beat it up for the rest of the album.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of listening to Teen Age Riot, but this album isn't my favorite SY. I know, I know .. "super influential ... masterfully crafted, respected by your heroes, blah, blah, blah" but there are some tracks on this that kill the vibe and it's hard to listen all the way thru without skipping a couple tracks.

Best Sonic Youth album on this list.

There is some quite amazing guitar work on this album, like the last 90 seconds of ‘Cross The Breeze. Every time the album feels like it’s lost direction due some noise or another, the guitar brings it back to ear pleasureland. Teen Age Riot is a great song. Candle too. I’m going to keep coming back for the guitars.

HLs: "Teen Age Riot", "Candle", "The Sprawl", the trilogy Here's the 5th and last Sonic Youth album on this list, and while they haven't ever been one of my favourite acts, I have at least an appreciation of the "sonics", aka the sounds they could produce with mere guitars. Between this & Sister, they definitely tapped into a sound that I quite enjoy. The songs do sprawl, but the atonal, seemingly unstructured breakdowns carried a weight & energy I thought was absent in some of their other albums- "Rain King" sounds like they're trying to summon a monsoon. "Providence" is a moment of unexpected beauty, I don't really understand the context of the voicemail but it's ok May 11, 2023

Suits a mood, doesn't it? Mostly discordant, knotty and tough, but then grittily beautiful and nascently sweet. There are passages, once heard, that one struggles to get out of one's ahead, this being art rock at the highest level. "Teen Age Riot" and "Candle" are particular faves, but it's the sustained spikey attitude and mood that is most memorable. One much prefers Moore and Gordon as vocalists to Shelley. Not sure what's so different about the trilogy suite at the end, though "Hyperstation" is one of the record's highlights.

I quite liked this album, had a good vibe to it, plenty to keep you listening with good punchy beats.

Teen age riot is the highlight of this album and just a great song. the rest is pretty rad too.

This album has some extraordinary guitar playing scattered throughout and the band sounds great overall. However, in contrast to some of their other albums none of the songs really appeal to me, sometimes because the vocals are slightly annoying, sometimes because the rhythms are too simple and monotonous. A double album then feels very long indeed.

Ok, let me settle on a four star, in the low end. It's very intriguing, rich and diverse; the thick noise can be hard to digest though. I think we've now had most of the Sonic Youth albums and I conclude Dirty is my favourite.

I just had a Sonic Youth album 10 days ago and I said I wished I liked them more. This album helped. This was SO good! I was shocked that it came out in 1988 because it sounds newer. I realized that a lot of the musicians I liked in the 90s and 2000s must have taken inspiration from this album, because it reminded me so much of other, newer bands. This album absolutely should be on this list.

Crazy, but strong songwriting makes it work no matter how experimental. A bit longer than necessary to get the albums statement work, even if it is intriguing all the way through. A great record.

I like sonic youth and I appreciate what they did but lots of their stuff doesn’t so much leave me cold as much as I don’t really feel the need to listen to it all that often This album is the exception. Could listen to it on a loop. Sprawling magnificent masterpiece.

Not as good as Sister. 4 / 5 stars.

More punk than I thought - enjoyed this one.

I quite enjoyed the whole thing. Very experimental in parts, just straight up enjoyable in others Saved tracks: Silver Rocket, The Sprawl, Rain King

Unique with replay value. Enjoyed this

Interesting listen. A punky, American counterpoint to the Cure.

Had to listen to this one twice and I'm still not sure how I feel about it

I listened to this album for the first time last year. Enjoyed it more this time. Quite progressive and slow to get going in parts but I love the punk sound. Having both male and female vocalists make it really interesting. It sounds before it's time. Can see it likely inspired a lot of bands I grew up liking. Highlights are teenage riot, silver rocket, hey Joni and eliminator jr

Nigh on impossible to rate after a single listen, just so much to digest. Can certainly see why it is held in such high regard and will grow on me after a few listens but a lot of the album just meshed into a single sound. Have to say, unbelievable that this is came out in 1988. Still sounds so far ahead of its time.

Well, whadya know? This is a terrific listen. All over the shop, as usual. When I now listen to the great opening track, Teen Age Riot, it sounds like they’re trying to channel The Go-Betweens. They follow it with Silver Rocket, which feels a lot like Kool Thing Part2. I love Kim Gordon & it’s hard to believe her vocals on tracks like this didn’t influence PJ Harvey. I love Gordon’s Kissability, which precedes The Trilogy - three tracks that end the album with what’s been described as “convulsive beauty”. About right. Hadn’t heard the album for a very long time, but it still stands up.

Weird. Yesterday's record was EVOL, and I finished my review with "Wake me up when it's time to review Daydream Nation", and very next day here it is. This was the first Sonic Youth album I listened to a lot. I'm pretty sure that Peter Prichard recommended this record to Tim, who bought it and let me make a tape copy. I have since bought my own copy. This is the album where they really started to write songs, without sacrificing the noise. The noise is now in service to the song, rather than just for its own sake, which is the weakness of most of their prior albums, none of which have ever grabbed me. I love noisy song approach, and it still influences what I like in a record (ie, I like some noise). Some great songs on here: Teen Age Riot, Eric's Trip, Kissability, Hey Joni. Steve Shelley is the secret ingredient who keeps everything grounded and rocking. Bless him. And Kim Gordon is too cool for words. I really dig this record. I really enjoyed hearing it again for the first time in a long time, and, despite my well known distaste for long albums, I didn't feel like the double album is too long.

I kind of discovered Sonic Youth following the 1001 list, and I still don't know if they deserve 3 spots on the list (until now), but I must assume that I'm learning to like them. Even listening to the albums in the "wrong" order, this one is the best until now, and I really learned to discover the music behind the noise. I'm enjoying the noise and the attitude somehow. I'll probably become a fan if they have 2 or 3 more albums here.

Very nice. Very chaotic and with a lot of energy. I’m not a big fan of those sections where it’s just noise though.

Art rock at the highest and most smoldering level.

4.5 One of my favorite bands. Not my favorite album of theirs. Also, it goes on too long.

Awesome tracks

lowk overhyped

i listened to this but recall nothing

Seminal album, it's influence is everywhere. Blueprint for the alternative rock scene. Anger, angst and sheer guitar brilliance - not in a showoff Yngie J style but in here's what else you can do with 6 strings and a distortion pedal. Some might find that it rambles but I love the way the guitars move in and out of a theme. Opens with Teenage Riot, as close to as an anthem as they will get - and the best song they ever did. Album does taper off at the end.

while i have the unpopular opinion of liking sister more than daydream nation, this album is still very great and the moments that are good are incredible. compared to sister, the songs are way longer, more pop-leaning (well, as pop-leaning as you can get for sonic youth), and more energetic. and though i like more of the experimentation on sister, the bangers on here make me question that a little bit. i want to give special mentions to "kissability" for the amazing guitar tone and "rain king" for the questionable lyric "your sister is a beauty when she's naked, like my kid" (insert druski quote here.) overall, great album.

What a great record. Raw, energetic, powerful. A truly unique blend of rock flavors resulting in a sound many would try to emulate. There are a few meandering songs and ideas but the diversity of songs makes up for it. Favorites were "Candles" and "B) Hyperstation."

I like this a lot, but it's probably not for everyone. The singing is not that great. The production is noisy. Guitars are out of tune. But it wouldn't be as intense if it was all tight and tidy. Favorite song: Eric's trip.

Surprisingly stronger punk flavor than I was expecting. Solid showing from SY

Cool, grungy sound. I enjoyed this more than I thought he would.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Total Trash (6) 2 - 'Cross the Breeze (4) 3 - Teen Age Riot (1)

This was fun. Some of the songs felt too long, but I’m not huge on long instrumentals so that’s probably a me problem.

This album chugs away. It sounds like the perfect driving music - if I could drive. It's an ambitious record that never strays far from its key message. I'm not really sure what that key message is, but that doesn't matter. It makes you feel as though you are part of something - whatever that something is. I love the mixing up of the vocals between Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon. Sharing these between male and female responsibilities might sound confusing with other other artists. But not for Sonic Youth. They blend in and out without you ever realising that the interplay is taking place. Decent.

Ah, good. Always been a fringe can of Sonic Youth but only really ventured into two albums, this one and EVOL. Both great. Glad to see I'll be visiting a few more on this project. Teenage Riot is fabulous, obviously. First half of this is packed full of 7 minutes long masterful tracks none of which feel overlong. I won't lie though I start to tire on the second half, however good it is. The end though, is an absolute beast.

Great album

Sonic Youth kallar einhvern veginn alltaf á fílinginn sem myndaðist í menntaskólakjöllurum í gamla daga (og gerir kannski enn?), allt frekar subbulegt, sófar með risastórum pullum, fólk tvist og bast að chilla. Fíla þetta.

This is perhaps my favourite Sonic Youth album. I loved the avant-garde stuff of their beginnings, but I like that this had more songcraft while still embracing the outside.

Angsty rock with some cracking tracks.

Love this band, their second best album imo.

Great stuff

Their best shambolic, fuzzy, cacophonous album. Still has the power to disturb.