Reviews (page 5 of 10)
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.
Man -- that was great! And unexpected. Great bridge between punk and grunge and doesn't feel dated in a way that a lot of the 90's albums I've listened to so far do.
Got my favourite SY song on - Teenage Riot. It is a fantastic album - I loved it!
Incredible testament to noise and dissonance featuring the most playful duo of guitarists in the same band ever (example 1: 'Hey Joni'). The album is creative as hell, blending genres and creating a highly chaotic cosmos of its own. I have to mention Gordon's bass and Shelley's drums as well. They really are extraordinary and drive each and every song (almost metal-like on ''Cross the Breeze'). Also a shoutout to 'Eric's Trip' - what a tune! I do have a few issues with the record - the runtime IS exessive, and stuff like 'Providence' feels like filler - but by the time the last trilogy of tracks roll in all is forgiven and forgotten. What a way to close an album.
Classic and influential album. Set the stage for 90s alternative rock, and alternative rock in general.
i love them
None of the records I love would have existed without Sonic Youth. While “Daydream Nation” is not my personal SY fav, it’s obviously more than worthy on this list. Someone clone Kim Gordon. She invented cool.
This one clicked with me more, the influence is undeniable too:
Great album. I had listened through parts of it before, but never the whole thing. I did feel at times like it's hard to differentiate one song from another, but the overall sound is unique and enjoyable. 4/5
It's very long but kept me engaged throughout. An enveloping noise rock experience that goes from catchy to downright trippy and heavy on stuff like 'Cross The Breeze and Rain King. Awesome stuff. Highlights: The Sprawl, 'Cross The Breeze, Rain King.
Una de les fites més importants del rock alternatiu als '80. Aquí va ser on els novaiorquesos van ser capaços d'aglutinar l'experimentació, el feedback de guitarres i la seva actitud nihilista dels discos anteriors amb unes cançons més accesibles i punyents. La seva proposta va agafar la seva forma més perfecta. El gran cim de la seva carrera
Definitely some substance there. To fully appreciate this one, I'll need to hear it more though. Might be a five in the future.
Really quite good. No filler; even the lesser-known tracks are solid. And the production is perfect.
On kyllä SY:n parhaimmistoa. Grungehtavaa ja indiehtävää mutta jotenkin hyvällä tavalla niin että soundi on tiukasti oma! 4/5
Indien peruspilareita ja mageeta kitarointia. SY on about sitä musaa, mikä vois omassa kodissa soida hiljaisella koko ajan. Hieno tunnelma.
Loved it!
Folks in Seattle were looking up to Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, & Co. right about this time …
Lots of guitar. Felt tame
As I noted in my review for Goo (weird that I got two Sonic Youth albums in the same week), I've loved seeing Sonic Youth live, but never really gotten into their albums. I think this album actually captures them pretty well compared to a lot of the other SY albums that I've heard. It makes sense why this album is so highly regarded within their catalogue. It feels a lot more like the energy that they bring to live shows than most of their albums, which feel a bit flat to me.
I liked it. Had some things that started to run a little long, but I we all enjoyed.
9 : )
Everytime I hear an album of Sonic Youth I absolutely adore it and wonder why I'm listening to it more often. Everytime I tell myself to dive deeper into the whole discography and listen to the rest over and over as well till all the creaks and squeeks of every album are ingrained in my head. Until the next time I'm hearing a Sonic Youth album and I tell myself the same again.
If I was to be critical of this masterpiece I would say it is 15 minutes too long.
Clear influence on lots of bands I love, but doesn't resonate the same way, probably because I didn't hear it when I was younger. Really enjoyed it, hope to hear more from them 4 🌟
Solid SY. Not my fav tho, too long :)
Listened to it on shuffle and got real impressed by the form. Not great but listenable, which is a feat for double albums for me.
First time listen for me and pleasantly surprised by the melodic and tuneful nature of this album. Love the tracks that Kim Gordon Sings on. some great obviously influential tracks here, taking on the Mantle of the Talking Heads of intelligent indie post punk. You can hear their influence on Grunge and Math Rock on this album. I love "The Sprawl" "Cross The Breeze" "Total Trash" "Hey Joni" "Candle" & "Kissability" Yep can see why this is on the list just for it's influence on music to come.
Love this album! Live, many of the songs on it are even better.
Liked this quite a bit more than Dirty. Maybe it was my mood, but I liked the fuzzy electrical energy throughout this album. I would add this to my rotation, especially tracks like "Silver Rocket" "Eric's Trip" and "Providence"
Varied album. Enjoyed most of it though
Considering my past experiences with alt-rock, I was not expecting to like this album as much as I did. I may have to attribute it to the more noisy elements that embed each song. Everything feels so raw and noisy. My only flaw with the album is that it can get a little repetitive in nature due in part to the long run time of 1hr 10min. If it were a little shorter, I think I’d like it more. Highlights: Teen Age Riot, Silver Rocket, ‘Cross the Breeze
I’m definitely a fan of Sonic Youth. Teenage Riot kind of tricks you into thinking it’s going to be departure into more radio friendly indie rock, which it partly is. But there is still plenty of dissonant noise art punk to be had.
I know how important this band was. I know how important this record was. I've just never been a big Sonic Youth fan. That being said I liked this record more on this listen then I did 10 years ago. I'm torn on how to rate it.
My earlier conception of Sonic Youth remains accurate: Worth listening to, stronger with Kim at the front, noisy, accessible. While the female vocals are more spaced out here, the band feels generally more present. The songs seem to get lazy and stretch out, and it suits Sonic Youth's sound. Not quite the rock blueprint I was promised, but it's got a nice suite.
Not quite singalong, but the first album of theirs where noise and melody is in balance.
Noise rock is a tough sound. It's loud, it's heavy, it's wooshy. It's easy to get bored or annoyed by it. But when used right, it can evoke powerful emotions and create a mind-blowing journey. Sonic Youth nailed it here, in "Daydream Nation". Their brand of indie rock driven by grotesquely distorted guitars and heavy noises, it's quite a ride. It might be very loud, confusing, and wooshy. It's also interesting, fun, and uplifting. For me, this mess is what good music is. Takes you somewhere you've never been before.
I had a t-shirt back in the day, must've been lucky enough to catch them live at some stage. Dirty is still my favourite album, Teen Age Riot is a killer of a tune, Eric's Trip is great and I'm sure I could grow to enjoy this more with a few more listens.
I'd love to run a marathon with this on repeat. I''d finally break 3:30. But. I probably won't be able to walk for a week.
I’ve herd goo before but not this one… The album starts with teen age riot, the first minute is completely different as it’s just an intro song. Then forms into a great rock song that guitars wise is a bit of a teen age riot. Silver rocket starts with this creepy guitar riff then explodes into a punk bash only to shatter down half way through. Yeah it’s cool. The lyrics aren’t great on the sprawl but it’s cool instrumentally and 7 mins works well for some songs but not this. Cross the breeze has a killer intro but with this and the last song I’am not sure about the female singers singing though. Eric’s trip is alright it has a cool sound to it but no where near my favourite. Total trash is no where near total trash it’s actually (probably) a favourite and I’am happy we’re back with Thurston moore on vocals as I think he’s the strongest vocalist! I love the fade in at the start of hey Joni only for the punky sonic youth sound to crash in making for a really good song. It’s just cool to be fair. Then is providence it’s one of the better interludes I’ve ever herd but still the worst on the album. Candle is good, like all of them are great intro, the song is probably the one I would want to revisit the most and I do really like it! The drumming on rain king is class honestly. The song is amazing too. Kissability is technically the penultimate track it’s cool I guess but the female vocalist is so much worse in this band. The album ends on a trilogy the first part the wonder is alright just a really typical sonic youth song but there’s nothing bad about that. Then is hyperstation technically the album’s title track. It’s the perfect mix of everything good about sonic youth from the guitars to the drums. Still not my favourite on the album though. Eliminator jr is really bad in comparison not a satisfying ending one bit still like the album though. It’s really good overall, the album does drag but it’s so likeable it doesn’t matter.
I’m definitely going to want to spend more time with this one but it’s made a strong first impression. I like the mix of melodic guitar and harder blasts of feedback. A lot of these songs are shapeshifters, moving from one mode into the other and sometimes back again. Beautiful album cover too. Highlights: “Teen Age Riot,” “Silver Rocket,” “‘Cross the Breeze,” “Total Trash,” “Candle,” “Kissability,” “Eliminator Jr.”
It's a daydream worthy album!
Not a majoy Sonic Youth fan but this was a great album
Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth (1988) For a first-time listen 34 years after its release, here’s a double LP that merits serious consideration of its creativity and craft. In retrospect, this early Sonic Youth recording sounds like a cross between Neil Young and Nirvana. And, as in the oeuvre of U2’s the Edge, the guitar work here demonstrates that you don’t have to be a rock guitar virtuoso (Hendrix, Allman, Page, Clapton, or Santana) to produce stunningly innovative sound. Now the engineering and mixing on Daydream Nation leave a lot to be desired. Vocals and percussion are hiding behind a curtain of sound. The recording needs more separation and dynamism. Maybe the technology had not yet caught up with the band’s unique electronic palette. Much better in this regard is Sonic Youth’s Washing Machine (1995). Key guitar features here include alternate tunings, sustain, and distortion, all combined with admirable symphonic complexity and disciplined performance. Discord is elevated to the level of expressive artistry. It is not random; it is well constructed tone poetry. And guitarist/songwriter Thurston Moore’s compositional technique very helpfully extends or repeats each experimental phrase long enough so that the listener can grasp it before it moves on to the next quasi-harmonic mystery. It’s very mesmerizing—less like Mozart and more like Anton Bruckner. If you’re looking for lyrical profundity/passion/politics, vocal beauty, memorable melodies, and soul, you won’t find it here. But what you will find is lavishly devised music for the mind. 4/5
Mjög góð plata út í gegn, hef náttúrulega hlustað á hana oft í gegnum tíðina. Sumt er kannski acquired taste en hún heldur sér mjög vel.
Yndisleg plata sem er í miklu uppáhaldi og búin að vera í aldarfjórðung eða meira. Annar hár fjarki.
A little slow for my taste
Really enjoyed this one actually
3/25/22
Probably a 3.5 really, but I'll round up because I like the band and listening to it made me feel 19.
Great
This is my kind of music. More like this, Robert
Stenar hårt...
Origins of indie but sooo dissonant, I needed a Motown palette cleanser
The diversity of sound of Sonic Youth just blows me away. One moment, they are Sex Pistols, the next, Joy Division. Really good album.
Not listened before, but really enjoyed this. Possibly my new favourite Sonic Youth album
Sonic Youth's most famous album and quite possibly their best. Teenage Riot is probably their best song but this album is full of classic SY songs. It's not quite a 5 star album for me as SY has some dissonant characteristics thatvI personally find difficult. 4 5 🌟
this would be a 4 if i was 19 still
Very good!
Just recently read the like Gordon book. More of a 3.5 but will definitely listen to more.
Strangely, this felt a lot like Nirvana to me. Which is good because I am a big fan of Nirvana. I had heard good things and how influential they were so I listened to one of their albums (I think it was "Goo"? Now I'm not sure.) and I just didn't get it. At the time it seemed like a lot of noise. Listening to this album, I "get" their sound a lot more. It was more enjoyable than I remember. I liked the layering of guitars and how it worked within the songs. Will I go out and seek more of their work? I don't know, but I do respect them a bit more and my stance on them has changed a bit.
One of the better Sonic Youth albums. Pretty much a classic.
The influence this album has had on music in the decades that followed is clear when you listen. You can hear the the early sounds of 90s grunge, noise rock, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and multiple others. It's also full of unique chord progressions and sound combinations like dissonance and percussive playing. Very cool album!
Sonic man
Niet het meest toegankelijke album van Sonic Youth maar dat rusteloze gejaagde geluid van ze staat me wel aan.
Cool album. Not perfect from start to finish, but this is the level of post-punk I look for.
Apart from some of the excessive feedback and a couple of tracks, this album was great to listen to. The trilogy was great, Teen Age Riot is a classic and enjoyed Eric's Song and Cross The Breeze. Enjoyed this more than Goo.
The sound has attained an expressive maturity unparalleled in the annals of the decade: there are still traces of the experimentalism of the early days, but appropriately camouflaged in balanced harmonies and cleverly referenced to the genres of the rock tradition. The motto is: diversity of style in the unity of the arrangement. The ingredients are basically the same as always: cold and distant vocals, strings stretched to the limit of noise, chaotic interweaving of counterpoints, obsessive chord repetitions, insistent percussiveness, alienation effects and tense atmosphere. (8/10) FT: Total Trash, The Sprawl, Teen Age Rio
Clear influence on lots of bands I love, but doesn't resonate the same way, probably because I didn't hear it when I was younger. Really enjoyed it, hope to hear more from them
a cracker
One of the better ones of this age and genre that i've listened to
Interesting, quite a bit of variety. Some really punky discordant stuff, some mellow. Could see as an influence to grunge and alternative bands like smashing pumpkins
Classic
cool
Is this the nest Sonic Youth album ever? Well I haven't heard them all but I think, front to back I prefer both Sister and Goo, but neither of those albums have Teenage Riot nor Total Trash. 4.5 stars
Good music to really groove to. Perhaps a little edgy, but I like it.
It was as interesting to read about this album's background as it was to listen to it. I had heard of the group before, probably heard a song or two in passing, but never spent any time listening to them. I expected more chaos and screaming, and there is some of that, but not as random-sounding as I thought it would be. Yet another reminder that I have a lot of work to do on removing biases, prejudices, and expectations. Let the music play, as it were. I found the tracks full of well-crafted melody and harmony, they all play fantastically well, and in most songs, I was drawn in quite nicely. Definitely has some punk elements and influences, but there are layers and textures beyond those normally heard in that area. The Wikipedia article says they were known for their improvisations in live performances, and Henry Rollins encouraged them to reflect that in their studio work. Good suggestion. They've got the chops to pull it off really well. Love some of the extended jams they include in some of the tracks. I need to spend more time on this one. I want to get into the lyrics more. Lots of sci-fi and other references, and they even have a song that pays homage both to the tune "Hey Joe" and Joni Mitchell. Hecks, YES. Great album, and I love that it's outside what I normally listen to. It's more...maybe "intense" is the right word? Something like that. Good healthy process here in this project. Love it.
Great New York punk, I can hear Blondie, Talking heads , Television and Richard Hell in this album but the best of them.
Rock guitarrero, con ritmo, en ocasiones más intenso, canciones no muy aplaudidas, pero muy asociado al género. Podría destacar algo más, pero es de un estilo que me gusta, con lo cual lo veo positivo
An album of great bits, spread a bit too thinly. No doubt important in indie rock but just short of being great for me.
revisit this album. too early to form an opinion but I am intrigued
Great 5th Sonic Youth's album. 1988. Alternative rock with noisy sound and a lot of improvisation experiments. I'm a bit tired of listening 70 min of jams (although I like to listen long and conceptual records). So 4/5 stars this time. But I enjoyed it and will listen again.
Unique vocals, distorted shoegaze tones and artistically liberated cover art. Surprising it was released 1988, as it sounds strikingly similar to something that would be recently dropped from the genre. Sonic Youth was ahead of the game.
This is a pretty good album, but seems a little overlong at 70 minutes. There's probably a pretty mind-blowing 45 minute album in here that gets a little bogged down with some filler.
Prog post-punk, heavy shoegaze. I’ve had Teenage riot on heavy rotation for years because I just cant get enough of Thurston Moore’s scintillating guitar shredding. The rest of the album is very solid as well if you’re in the mood for some NOIZE!
Rebellion!
Unexpected grower. The first 3 or 4 tracks are pretty uninspiring but I just seemed to tune into it over time and by the end was enamoured. Interesting to hear bits that clearly inspired other bands. A like rather than a love but a definite moment in time.
Yes i like it
No sé si vaya a salir el album Goo, por un lado es el que se me hace mejor disco de Sonic Youth, por otro en mi opinión 3 discos en la lista serían demasiado (a pesar de que personalmente me gusten mucho). A diferencia del disco anterior aquí ya se sienten con más forma, a pesar de todavía tener mucho noise rock ya hay canciones mucho más formadas y melódicas y se sienten como una banda aun más afianzada. Lo que quizá me llama más la atención es la cantidad de influencia que se nota en este disco y se verá reflejada en estilos más adelante dentro del indie rock, screamo y bastantes más. Quizá aquí es donde entra el pero que sí siento que se le puede poner al disco y que creo es similar al anterior que nos tocó de ellos. Es un disco que todavía tiene bastante ruido; un ruido meticulosamente creado, variado y con sentido pero que resulta en un album que no puedes realmente solo poner de fondo y disfrutar poniendo atención a medias. Es un disco que te demanda atención, que si le das chance y te encuentras ese tiempo para ponerlo y dejarte embeber y llevar a la "zona" simplemente hace clic y te lleva a un viaje muy interesante. Quizá es un conjunto de sinapsis que cada quién tiene relacionadas con ciertos estilos musicales, pero en mi caso este disco hace ese clic mencionado y simplemente funciona; estoy seguro que habrá muchos que no importa cuanto lo escucharan incluso intentando centrar su atención les seguiría sonando a un sonido indistinto como si estuvieran en un centro comercial atiborrado. A lo que va esto es que aunque me gusta tanto el disco tampoco puedo dar una recomendación completa en carta blanca a cualquiera; es un disco melindroso y bastante largo, pero que a quien le compagine le va a encantar.
De lo muy poco que conozco de Sonic Youth, este de me ha hecho el mejor disco. Pese a que sigue siendo música un poco difícil para mí y además es un disco particularmente largo, se pueden notar mucho más las habilidades de composición, uso de voces y arreglos que en los discos más cargados al noise.
If I’m being completely honest I don’t think I’ve ever been cool enough to entirely get this band. But I’ve always admired them and I can live with that. Really liked that “candle” song!
I've not really listened to much Sonic Youth, and always felt vaguely guilty about that hole in my listening. This was great! A noisier, harsher Pavement (or rather, Pavement are a quieter, gentler Sonic Youth). I can definitely see myself bumping this up to 5 stars with more familiarity... Fave track - "Trilogy", for sprawling grandeur. "Teen Age Riot" is a tune, too....
copado
45. NGJIRBGHERJBGDHJG VFEWHJVKBEHFJVB HKHVJ K FHB GHWS WE RIOT MotA: The Sprawl "You're it"
Love it. It has a jam like feel to it. A diverse range of guitar tones, and dissonant chords, creating a sense of urgency and tension, interspersed with small sections of release. A genuine sense of frustration in the vocals, perfectly carried by the band
Classic.
Discordant, unnerving, and awesome.
Not my usual flavor, but I really enjoyed this.
Very excellent!! Love this band and this album goes offff
Musicalmente è un disco che mi piace moltissimo, non connetto completamente con il cantato maschile ma è l’unico problema.
Bend u kojeg sam dosta vremena uložio da mi kliknu. Ovaj klasik od albuma, ma koliki bio ipak nije najbolji njihov IMHO, ali naravno veoma je kvalitetan, glasan, prljav i sirov. Dosta dobar album.
UFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Najbliže moguće petardi.
Another band I’d meant to listen to for years but never did. I wish I had! Though maybe it wasn’t the right time? Anyway, I dug this a lot.
loved it. really enjoyable, definitely a continuation of what REM started with jangle guitar college radio music.
Fantastic album! Been a favorite for a long time.
good stuff :)
Bom disco, dá pra ver a influência q causou em vários outros de rock dos anos 2000.
The perfect album when what you’re seeking is a bit of a jangly, hectic mix of fuzz and discordant melody.
I can definitely see why this album is on those list even if I didn’t love every song on it. There’s a lot of interesting stuff that I will definitely come back to. Total Trash descends into madness and I love it. There’s a lot of muddy noisy stuff but there are also some nice riffs like the riff on Candle and I enjoy most of it. I did find some of the album forgettable and some of the vocals to be a bit annoying at times (like on Z) Eliminator, Jr.). Overall an enjoyable listen. Favorite songs: Teen Age Riot, Total Trash, Candle, Rain King, Kissability, B) Hyperstation Least favorite songs: The Sprawl, Z) Eliminator, Jr. Decent 8/10
Been meaning to check this band out for a while. This album was decent.
Teenage Riot and Silver Rocket are such good songs and the only 2 I know on this album, but wasn't expecting the rest to be so compelling. It is noisy as expected, but also melodic. Like it. Love those surprise little outros on songs - such an adventure
A glorious racket!
It was good but repetitive
4/5
Can see the influences behind a lot of music I like I this. Definitely an album to return to, was quite long though. Loved the album closer.
Cool vibe
The noise!
Love the female/male vocal interplay. minimalist fuzz. Birth of shoegaze. saw them play this album all the way through in Oakland. Twas excellent! Punk of Silver Rocket makes me want to jump! Libertines got a lot of influence from this.
Great album, love the guitar and drum work.
Wasn’t struck by the start of this album, but the back half really stood out! I think this suffers from a bit of ‘I’ve heard so many bands try to imitate this sound that hearing this now feels watered down’? Trying to combat that, I really like the shifting vibes and and vocalists and definitely want to give this album more time and more rotations!
It's been a while since I've listened to this and I found I liked it better than Goo this time around.
Sad I missed this band growing up. This was my first time listening to this album. It's beautiful but I think it's a little too '90s for me to really get into now
Loved it
Great album. This is a special one.
NIce
Good tunes good album classic punk rock stuff. Nothing too memorable though
Really enjoyable. Clear influence on all alternative music since.
This is my 3rd time listening to this album and it's finally clicked for me. Really good stuff here.
Noisy
Loved this shit esp teenage riot. Good shit
1/8 I was judging them as another generic rock band for the first few tracks, then they went crazy for the rest of the album. Really talented group. Standout Tracks: The Sprawl, Eric's Trip, Rain King, Kissability, A) the Wonder, B) Hyperstation, Z) Eliminator Jr.
Sonic jams.. sonic youth; the sounds of the disenfranchised youth.. with guitar pedals
noise rock kinda sucks does anyone else agree
Obvious nostalgia for Rock Band from Teen Age Riot but a good listen overall. I’m between 3 and 4 but it’s an inspiration to listen to more from this band if nothing else.
ok I already loveeee the instrumentals that guitar is BANGINNNNNNN track 1 'teen age riot' - loving this already, feels like a song I would've loved in my freshman year of high school lolllll, 'teenage riot in a public station, gonna fight and tear it up in a hypernatkion for youuuuu' I do rly love this tho 'cause its getting kind of quiet in my city ahead, it takes a teenage riot to get me out of bed right nowwww' in fact I just checked and its in one of my fall playlists from early high school 'so who's to blame for the stormy weather, you're never gonna stop all the teenage leather and cooze' wtf is booze idk but banger, this will def be revisited this fall during the school year track 2 'silver rocket' - ok intense guitar, very angsty, again giving my high school days, some screaming going on midway interesting, 'the sending the bending the ampisphere re-entry, you gotta have the time got a letter in your hand, gotta heart injection that u got yourself a line, you got it u ride the silver rocket, cant stop it burnin a hole in ur pocket' I like it not my fav song but its good and Im rly into the guitar track 3 'the sprawl' - I love the woman's voice speaking in the beggining not sure if she was the one in previous tracks but she's cool as hell 'to the extend that I wear skirts and cheap nylon slips. ive gone native I wanted to know the exact dimension of hell does that sound simple? fuck you are you for sale? does fuck you sound simple enough? this was the only part that turned me on' I loveeee this woman who is sheeeeeeee??!!!!! her voice is so satisfying, long long instrumental after lyrics have come to a close but super beautiful guitar, messy, eerie, and super cool track 4 'cross the breeze' - guitar does feel intentionally off key in some places which throws you off until you heard the lyrics and feel it all come together, long intro in here already feels like they're telling a story or at least half of it before anyone even speaks, its passionate and loud, 'lets go walking in water now you think im satans daughter, I wanna know, please let me go! just too quick, now I think im gonna be sick' love the guitar in the last minute, feels angsty and almost pleading idk, fades out nice and slow track 5 'Erics trip' - 'sometimes I speak, tonight there's nothing to say, sometimes we freak and laugh all day' this ones intense 'my cup is full and I feel okay, the world is dull but not today, she thinks she's a goddess, she says she talks to the spirits, I wonder If she can talk to herself if she can bear to hear it' 'we tore down the world we put up four walls I breathe in the myth, im over the city, fucking the future, im high inside your kiss' track 6 'total trash' - oooo I love this music, guitar is groovyyyy, 'it start at the top now its spiralling down, works best when its lost' ITS TOTALLLLL TRASHHHH im not no cow LOLLL I like this one 'cant take it away cant kill all the shame' might be one of my favs on the album so far track 7 'hey joni' - 'hey Joni put it all behind you, hey Joni ive put it all behind me too, these times cant add up, your life is such a mess, forget the past and just say yes!!!!' well done song, probably not my fav if im being honest track 8 'providence' - feels rainy and melancholic intro, radio-ish staticy audio, I wonder what the context is or the story behind the world, what was he looking for?? track 9 'candle' - love that guitar in the intro, 'I see a falling snowgirl walking Broadway, Turns the corner at 14th and I know there's no way, It's alright, it's alight candle, And I know she'll be okay by Sunday' its messy but everything feels intentional, like there's a method to the madness track 10 'rain king' - angsty, not much to say not my fav, very interesting lyrically just not my cup of tea sound wise track 11 'kissability' - ok love the title of this one!!!!! high hopes! okkk starts off with some cool ass guitar 'look into my eyes don't you trust me, you're so good you could go far, ill put you in a movie don't you wanna you could be a star' the vocalist reminds me of hole is that crazy, I like this it feels very female rage angst-esque YOUVE GOT KISSABILITY U COULD BE A STAR IT AINT HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love the lyrics love the messy guitar feels very cool track 12 'A) the wonder' - instrumentals are so messy and layered I rly like it, the lyrics don't rly speak to me here though track 13 'B) hyperstation' - smooth transition between the last track and this one, 'falling out of sleep I hit the floor, put on some rock tee and im out with the door' 'day dreaming days in a daydream nation, smashed up against a car at 3am' love that they hit the album title in the last few tracks, feels full circle track 14 'Z) eliminator jr.' - ooo this track is sending the album out with a banggggggg, strong guitar, driving rhythms, 'a poor boy, a rich boy, a poor rich boy coming right thru me!!!!' loveeeee this guitar and the vocals are strong and squeaky and raw OVERALL: layered messy guitar super cool, the instrumentals rly tell the story here, this feels like something I wouldve listened to and LOVED in high school and middle school, doesn't resonate as much now but I definitely enjoyed the listen and will be revisiting a few tracks, I do think I'd resonate more with a different sonic youth album, ive heard bits and peices of other records and feel this one just might note been MY one
Ok, so I got E.V.O.L less than 5 days ago. I liked this album better. A little more fleshed out than my previous Sonic Youth album. It was interesting listening to these 2 albums basically in a row.
Enjoyed it more as it went on oddly. I remember saying something along the lines of I'll enjoy it on later listens for the other sonic youth album I've had
Welp. This was one I was sure would come up in the rotation eventually. It left me cold. So much unfocused noise. And I love me some Kim Gordon. But alas...
vaca come back
This was decent to have on in the background. I found myself liking the first half(ish) better than the second - there were times where the second half sounded a little too raw or disorganized. I would truly like to give this a 3.5, but I don't feel good giving it a 4.
Some are very nice
2.8
Five Sonic Youth albums in this list is crazy. I should be the prime audience for this band, but I just can't with them. They're like the GenX Elvis Costello. I know they were influential and important, but I just can't get into them.
Wasn’t for me but I can understand why it had the impact it did. It was hard to latch on to melodically for me. I heard a lot of Lou Reed in it.
This has been a theme of late and maybe I’m developing a later in life distaste for mid 90s music but overall uninspiring. Listened on flight to conference in park city. Normally ripe territory for new music discovery. Not today. 3/5
Pre Listen: Another band I swear I've heard the name of somewhere before, but I just can't put my finger on when, where, or for what. No expectations. Notable Tracks: Silver Rocket - I really, really hope this album isn't full of scratchy unfocused wild noise segments, like the one that plays here shortly past the halfway point. The first song was pretty decent, this one isn't. 'Cross The Breeze - Favorite contender. Really nice instrumental work here, but the vocals/lyrics are entirely unecessary Total Trash - Skipped this song halfway through. Least favorite track on here. At least the title is accurate! Post Listen: Sounds like a blend of emo and punk rock when someone is singing. Also sounds a lot more modern than 1988, I would've guessed something like late 90's or 2000's. A lot of the instrumental work was actually pretty well done. Interesting melodies, each instrument is given time to shine, with solid playing overall and a good variety of sounds. The vocals were a little more mixed, sounds decent sometimes and very, very annoying at other points. The lyrics however were consistently bad or bland, just complaining about nonsense the entire time. The album was also quite lengthy, I think it's the 2nd longest one I've gotten on here so far. If not, it felt that way. Feeling a 3 to 2 range. I'll round up to a 3 cause sometimes that guitar was really rockin. 3/5
I had high hopes after the intro but I felt like I was just waiting for something more during the rest of the album
It’s a really excellent art pop and improvisational rock album. It creates gorgeous soundscapes and amazing music, but it’s just not my type of music. It all extends just a little too long, and is a little to rambling and discord and for me. Still amazing but not my preference.
As far as noise rock goes, it wasn't bad, but the genre as a whole is uninteresting overall.
Wasn’t sold at the start, but this really grew on me as it went on. Not sure if I’ll be a returning customer, but a decent album. Favourite track: Eric’s Trip
I've realised two things with sonic youth. One they have a lot more albums than I realised and two the albums all seem to sound very similar.
Good Sonic Youth album, but I put it on while I was doing chores and it kind of blended into the background. There weren't a lot of moments that made me pause and listen more closely.
Got through this without too much harm. Not actually enjoyable for me but I suppose it's an album that warrants a three.
I quite enjoyed this. Some great post-punk/alt-rock tracks. Where this album lost me a little though was in its length and the vocals which were pretty underwhelming to say the least.
Actually liked it. Maybe i shouldn't have been so hard on EWOL (and bump it to 3). That being said I can't really remember any of that album.
Eric’s Trip!!
Not bad. I would go with a 4 but I don’t think I’ll listen again
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - Teen Age Riot is a great opener. Silver Rocket continues the vibe before The Sprawl becomes a bit more sinister and exploratory. 'Cross The Breeze is where the album really kicks into gear. Total Trash and Hey Joni is a good little combo. Rain King rocks. Trilogy is very good, especially Hyperstation.
On Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth continues their pioneering of Noise Rock that they displayed on their 1987 release “Sister” which I enjoyed. I still enjoy much of the distortion and unconventional melodies here, but there are less standout moments and the length of the album is a detractor in this instance. I’m not sure how often or soon I will return to this, to be honest. They’re definitely a cool, influential band, though. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Candle, Teen Age Riot, ‘Cross the Breeze
Nice to see a bit of grunge on here. I have always wanted to check out more sonic youth. This was pretty meh for me. I assume they have later stuff that is probably much better?
Not really my thing but it's okay.
Better than EVOL a few months back, started really strongly but the appeal faded for me as it went on, with a few exceptions here and there. Quite distortion heavy and that's not always my preference.
Blah, blah, Sonic Youth, whatever. Most shoegaze can fuck off. I'll give a star for influence, and another for their best album, but this is pretty monotonous.
Sonic Youth are a big weird gap in my music knowledge. I hadn't heard an album of theirs before. All I know is that Kim Gordon is in the band and Thurston Moore is really tall. This album is way too long and not hugely up my street in terms of song structure, but it's got mood in spades and a cool fuzzy rock sound that feels way ahead of its time. Teen Age Riot is lovely and strikes the best balance of sprawl and catchiness for me.
liked it but kinda meh
Sounds like all the other sonic youth albums I have heard. Some catchy alternative songs mixed with some noise guitar.
suburban angst, bridges rock genres, feels a bit bloated… songs: ‘cross the breeze
Oh come on, another Sonic Youth album?! Alright, fine...Daydream Nation is their best of all the ones so far and I hope we are done. I get it...they had something new and raw for the late 80s and were very influential to the indy-rock scene but you don't need to hear this much before you die. Some good guitar work again and slowed-down psychedelia to sow a more polished band. But then you got Kim Gordon ruining everything. She may have been a badass or something young, hardcore chicks could look up to at the time but she sucks on vocals. I can say that I have given Sonic Youth a chance and can argue with a fan all day. This album is the only one you need to hear from them...2.55 stars.
The songs are good but as a hole it could feel same same at points
fav songs: teen age riot kissability trilogy: z) eliminator jr. influential, noise, raw 60/100
It was alright. But overall not my cup of tea. I can see why it was influential thoguh
It was OK. Not my favorite, but not terrible to listen to.
Ein Album für mich ohne Highlights. Gut hörbar, aber nichts, was ich nochmal brauche. 3/5
Didn’t mind it
Ehhhh
14/06/2026 This was very hit and miss with me... I can't say I am the biggest fan. Spotify listeners: 1.5 million
I was expecting more so I was disappointed
I used to like Sonic Youth. I also used to like to drink warm cheap bad beer out of plastic cups and see shows at venues with sticky floors and bathrooms that should be condemned. This album reminds of that. Teen Age Riot is still a great song though....
If I was 19 and throwing a dorm party... sure. This doesn't have the same overall appeal as many of the other albums here though, and out of the historical context, I'm lukewarm on this.
Not horrible, but not great either...
185. nice
Garage punk standard Fave track: Teen Age Riot
Decent alt rock. 3/5
Moody grungy goodness
Is a classic. Lee ronaldo was always an influence on me guitar playing when i was a young lad. I do prefer other sonic youth records. First 7 songs are great however but i do think this one is a bit long like
Just ok innit. Was expecting to be blown away. Sonic Youth have always been a band I think i should like but dont do a lot for me. Appreciate theyve inspired a lot of bands I like, but I wouldnt choose to put this on. If you want Clangy, distorty then fair play. But other than Teenage Riot I couldnt be arsed with it Generous 3
I think I said this earlier on another Sonic Youth record but I feel I'm maybe 4 or 5 years too young to appreciate this as much as the people of that age will. The roots of grunge and 90's punk are all in here, and the raw production is really just a sign of things to come. The issue is that I like what came after more than I like this. Still a great listen, but I'd rather here the inheritors of this sound than the original. Pros are that the dual vocals are great and really change the tone of each song depending on who's singing, the playing is an excellent wall of noise but somehow in time and put together, etc. The issue for me is that the tone of the whole album never changes; it's the same sound throughout. For a long album like this, it does get boring. I'd love to see it live but to sit through it is a different story. Cool, but it left me wanting something a bit more polished.
Yeahhh. Tried to get into this in highschool, above me then. Ended up obsessed with incinerate off rather ripped but never came back. Really enjoy the opening track, find myself tuning out at moments even though it's noisy!! I am unclear what environment this is for, i don't dislike it, but it's not catching for me. Again, first song rocks
Noisy, feedback guitar makes brain go BRRRRRRRRRRRR
3-/5 et je suis gentil
honestly? i dont really vibe with them
This is the fifth, and final I believe, album on this list. I have found that I am not a fan of this band, but didn’t mind this one as much as most of the others. I won’t listen to this one again, but I will give it three stars.
This is a rebellious, fast, and young-sounding album that still feels incredibly meaningful. While listening I felt energized and immersed — it’s an interesting experience from beginning to end. The album is full of that raw, noisy energy Sonic Youth does so well. Fast heavy riffs crash into dreamy, chaotic textures, creating something that feels both aggressive and thoughtful at the same time. It perfectly captures that late-80s underground spirit — restless, intelligent, and full of attitude. There’s a real sense of freedom and youth running through the whole record. It’s noisy without being pointless, experimental but still strangely catchy in its own way. The whole thing just flows with confidence and purpose. Daydream Nation is easily one of their strongest albums. It’s a great listen that rewards you whether you’re paying close attention or just letting it wash over you. A true underground classic.
Pretty good. Unique voice from the lead singer, catchy punkish songs. Would listen again.
eh
6/10 Me gusto pero es muy largo, medio que me canso al final, no es malo pero algunos temas bastantes pj
Nice
This is the fifth album by Sonic Youth I've had on this list. The band is ok. But five!?!? Why five!?! I really hope there isn't another one. It's a nice band but you certainly do not need to hear five albums by Sonic Youth before you die.
Started off pretty strong but then started to lose me towards the middle. Then it brought me back and then lost me again. I find the guitar tones and instrumental sections interesting and then I find the vocalist kinda boring.
Great bones but lots of filler. Could have benefited from a trim down. Still, a classic for a reason.
this overstimulated me
Not a huge Sonic Youth fan but this is one of their better albums for sure. More songs here that have melodies and choruses and less skronking and shrieking guitars. The songs that lean hard into the noise area do nothing for me after a few seconds. Unfortunately there is still a good deal of that here. 3/5
Eh pretty good. Opens with a banger, pretty much all I recall. Listened at work so wasn’t really present/focused listening. Should re-listen to this in the future more intentionally at home.
I liked this a lot better than the other Sonic Youth album we had.
Hmmm, this really grew on me
Not really my thing however the guitars are strong throughout. Songs unremarkable and vocals terrible.
Easy listening, very NY but coming much later it doesn’t hold that same fresh lo-fi sound. 3 for teenage riot
por lo general el punk no me gusta y este álbum apunta a eso, está bien a partir de la mitad del álbum pero, en lo personal no me gusta
Another Sonic Yourh. My 3rd now in 3 months. Little indifference about this one compared to Dirty. The first 6 songs are all amazing and a great first half of the record. The following 8 just don’t hit me the same way unfortunately.
Post-Grunge boring
Pas trop ma came normalement mais plutôt sympa
Quite alot of noise on their records, Sonic Youth needs to be seen live for best effect.
Whiny vocals, frantic energy, and some lovely pop rock music that clearly influenced better bands.
Nice. Some great tunes. 3.5/5.
meh
I should like Sonic Youth and this album more than I do, but...I just don't. The heavy distorted guitar and driving drums are pretty great but I'm not compelled to seek this out.
Pretty cool, didnt need to be a double album
Not my kind of music but today I found it enjoyable. Definitely good music
some good overall rock.
Kinda cool, kinda grating. Lowest 3 possible
Is this the first time hearing this album. Definitely a 3, probably a 4. It’s hard to give an album you listened to once a 4.
Bit of a background album again today. Can see the influential nature of it, and can appreciate it, but just didn't do much for me overall
Similar to the other sonic youth I had. Noisy and messy, with occasional moments of clarity. Definitely an influential band for sure.
3-4 готино звучене, ама не ме чак грабнаха
Album wasn’t too bad. Again, for the 200th time it was just ok to me and I’m not sure if the point of this is for the albums to be other worldly or just ok music.
Like it 3/5
Really liked it. Nothing new about this album but it was pleasent to hear
Vaikutti melkoiselta pioneerimusiikilta. Pitää kuunnella lisää ajan kanssa. 3,25/5.
I don't listen to a lot of rock, but this album was really good. I enjoyed pretty much most of it, although I will say some of these songs were a bit too long for my liking, but overall, some songs off of this record are going into my giant playlist of songs that I really enjoy rating: 3.5/5
I'm on the fence about a 2 or 3 here. Every few years I think "Maybe now I'm ready to appreciate Sonic Youth" and I try listening to this album and it does nothing for me. They overlap with so many other things that I like. Grunge, punk, 90s indie rock, etc. I don't hate it, but I just don't enjoy it.
Meh
Sonic Youth will never be a band I truly like, but I acknowledge this as their best and most complete album. They are talented, just too edgy and vague for me. Best song: Teen Age Riot
It was alright. I enjoy the genre but I thought this would be heavier than it ended up being.
Had high hopes for about a minute
What an addicting listen. Something about the amazing instrumentals, the admittedly bad but still endearing vocals, it’s just so enticing. I guess if I had to pick one main issue it’s that I’m not crazy about most of the writing here, as it just completely failed in keeping me interested.
Sonic youth is very boring but not bad music
I should like Sonic Youth - I like lo-fi garage-y pseudo punk noise rock, and I was in my teens when they were big, but they just passed me by, and continue to do so. It’s ok, but I didn’t really enjoy it, as such.
Started out decent...then it all just ran together and started sounding the same.
Another band I’ve been meaning to get into and an album I wish I had given a closer listen to. Nevertheless, I can certainly see why Sonic Youth is painted as progenitors of the noise rock movement, which is a sub-genre of rock I’ve been getting more into. It’s certainly an album whose total is greater than the sum of its parts, but it’s damn good. Favorite track: Total Trash
Nice driving sound, but maybe just because of the vocals, nothing to really hook me. Continuously I'm swinging between two annoying stars and four star ("Candle", Kissability", "Trilogy"). 2,5
Not a huge fan of this band. Lots of my favorite bands drew inspiration from them and I can see why but their songwriting itself doesn't interest me. Radiohead and other bands of this genre do it way better
This album was a little too “noisy” for my personal taste, though I did like the song Teen Age Riot. I am glad I listened to it and can appreciate Sonic Youth’s contribution to the genre!
Surprised at how good this was after enduring EVOL. 7/10
I like it - over to you Tomek 😉
Wasn't sure about the start of the album, but The Sprawl hooked me in. During Eric's Trip I felt it took a dip down again and by Hey Joni the album had lost the charm I thought it might have had. The last A) and B) songs had some really fun playing of the instruments and I am torn on what to give the album overall. I think it sits right in between a high 3 and low 4, but I think the last song cemented this album into the 3's.
This was the best Sonic Youth experience I've had. You can really see the bones of the 90's built on these sounds. It's still very rough but progressive and talented.
Noise rock is never noisy enough for people who like actual noises. I like actual noise, and think most double albums are too long, so 2.5 stars here is quite generous.
Probably could have been a single album.