Dirty

Sonic Youth are, and always will be, better than your band.

Hey, no one ever went to a Georgia O’ Keeffe exhibit to gaze at realistic reproductions of flowers and landscapes. Nor did anyone view a Terry Gilliam film with the understanding that actual events were being depicted. So don’t approach Sonic Youth with the expectation that you’re going to hear songs with sustained, consistent tempos or beautiful harmonies, or even instruments in tune! If so, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. If, however, you can listen beyond the norm, and adjust your tuning frequency to that of the band’s, then you’re in for a uniquely good experience. I have a friend who happens to be a priest in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The liturgy chanted in their worship is lengthy, to say the least. They are just warming up on Sunday morning while most Protestant and even Catholic congregations are closing shop. The sheer amount of words emanating from the priest(s), the reader(s), and the choir is overwhelming. It’s simply too much to consider in real time. I asked my priest friend about this once and his suggestion was to allow the liturgy to just wash over you, and release the need to reflect upon what’s being communicated. It’s not really a didactic exercise for the congregant anyway. It’s more of a spiritual communion between the Divine and human, a foretaste of heaven on earth. (This isn’t his exact quote, just my general memory.) While an aural experience of Sonic Youth is hardly religious, I think a similar practice may be helpful. It’s not really a didactic exercise either, although the lyrics are mostly decipherable: bassist and vocalist Kim Gordon comments on cultural issues from a feministic perspective on songs like ‘Swimsuit Issue’ and ‘Shoot.’ Same with guitarists and fellow vocalists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, weighing in with pretty harsh condemnation (emphasis on the 'Youth' part of Sonic) regarding still more cultural issues on ‘Youth Against Facism’ and ‘Sugar Kane.’ And then there’s a handful of surreal offerings like ‘Drunken Butterfly,’ for example, which contains nothing more than lyrics and titles of songs from the classic rock band, Heart. But lyrics aren’t really the heart of Sonic Youth. Music is, or more accurately, the mood created by the music. I don’t know of a lot of other bands that create a more potent ambience than Sonic Youth. And while Dirty is a good LP, it’s not their best, nor the best representation of the typical volume of glorious dissonance found on most of their other recordings. In fact, as I understand it, producer and engineer Butch Fig wanted to tighten the arrangements up a bit, and I think it’s to the detriment of what Sonic Youth does best. It’s like asking the Grateful Dead to not jam so much. Again, don’t get me wrong, 'Dirty' is still a fine recording. Just take the bridge on ‘On the Strip,’ starting at about the three minute mark and extending for about 70 seconds with it’s A piacere, dissonant feedback (like the end of many of the live Who or Hendrix concerts back in the day), and imagine that extending for several more minutes sometimes as an intro, other times as a middle, often as a conclusion- that’s Sonic Youth. These fellas (and lady) have the patience to give the song time to breath, like a uncorked bottle of wine before its poured. They also understand the value of ritardando in a song, which is a word most rock bands wouldn’t even be able to define. And, as would be expected, their utilization of dynamics emphasizes the emotional effect each song is aiming at. The interplay of guitar work between Moore and Ranaldo, the notes often rubbing up so close together they almost become one, is jarring while at the same time surprisingly agreeable. Then, when they do finally sync up or harmonize together It’s like the feeling of health you always get (but often take for granted) following a bout with the flu. You find yourself exhaling a breath of air out of your lungs before you even realized you had been holding it in. And Steve Shelly’s steady drumming remarkably manages to hold this whole thing together, while even delivering a flourish of his own. This guy loves a shuffle beat, and it’s to Sonic Youth’s betterment. Finally, no one’s ever going to invite Kim Gordon to sing the National Anthem at a ball game, but her fierce growling of the lyrics at the end of ‘Shoot’ are convincing enough to make the hair on any man’s neck rise. She’s perfect for Sonic Youth. The golden tones of Karen Carpenter would be quite out of place here. Sonic Youth has long been one of my favorite bands. And years ago, when I read that Neil Young loved ‘em too, it made my heart skip a beat. Turn this one up loud, and cinch your seat belt tight. And toss your habitually conditioned clean ears and expectations right out the window. It’s about to get 'Dirty.'

No. I can't understand why you would learn how to play an instrument to turn around and make shit like this. I want to sue them.

There's very little to dislike about this album. Sure, Kim Gordon's vocals wander around looking for the key like a drunk in the dark trying to unlock their front door. But, other than that, it's a pretty good post-punk, post-grunge, alt-rock album. The issue is that there's not really a whole lot that amazing about it either. The lyrics are culturally relevant but stop short of being pointed commentary. The musicality has an edge to it (that's often missing in a lot of grunge-adjacent rock) but it's stops short of kicking anyone in the nuts. The album is good but it's just not great. Guitar tones are on point though and it was fun background rock.

Noise rock perfected. Crazy, wailing guitar lines, pop-punk sensibilities, dirty drums, interesting vocals and lyrics. Favorite song: Wish Fufillment

I was a casual Sonic Youth fan before listening to this. Like, loved pretty much everything I've heard and always intended to dive in deeper, but hadn't gotten around to it yet. This album assignment was the push I needed to finally do that. Now. In my defense, I was very stoned before i hit the play button. But I immediately purchased a Dirty vinyl after one listen. Anyway, to sum up my thoughts, I'm an alt-rock girl at heart (maybe tied with pop at this point for my favorite genre), and listening to this was like letting my angsty soul have a nice long rest at home. Oh, also, as an avid crocheter, I will definitely be creating my own little orange alien to sit on the shelf next to the album.

LOUD NOISES!!!!!

There’s a damn fine case to be made for Sonic Youth as the greatest American rock band. At the least, they are the band that exemplifies what I consider to be “the American spirit” more than almost any other. Let’s review: Ambitious? Check. Adventurous? Check. Aggressive? Check. Rebellious? Check. Forward thinking? Check. Politically savvy? Check. Innovative? Check. Experimental? Check. Influential? Check. Unorthodox? Check. Unique? Check. Willing to carve out their own path? Check. Most importantly, they fucking rock. Dirty might be Sonic Youth at their most aggressive. It’s exceptionally loud, chaotic and noisy. If you want to scare the shit out of your neighbors at 3 am, pick up an original pressing of this record on vinyl (it’s mastered *so* hot) and crank it up. But it’s not without songs and melody. Sugar Kane is one of the greatest 90’s alt-rock songs - that it’s relatively unknown, outside of Sonic Youth fans, is a crime. The twists, turns and breakneck speed of “Purr”…the ethereal grandeur of “Theresa’s Sound World”…the blunt teardown of America’s sexual harassment problem on “Swimsuit Issue”…and the gorgeous, chiming, opening strains of “Chapel Hill”: These are the heights that hacks like William Corgan and the majority of your alt-rock heroes could only dream of attaining. Dirty isn’t the best Sonic Youth record and it’s not even my favorite - they made better records before and since - but it is the record that turned me into a Sonic Youth obsessive. For that, it will forever get high marks in book.

Yknow that scene in a recording studio where there’s some terrible band making noise and the friend/producer/lead is pronouncing that what they’re creating is art but it’s it’s actually just shit? That’s what this album sounds like.

Really surprised I haven't come across this sooner because it's totally up my street. I usually hear people talk about Daydream Nation or Goo when it comes to Sonic Youth, which I like a lot - but this feels more polished, more direct, and influenced by the grunge scene which was exploding at the time, while not losing sight of their own experimental edge. Superb

Pretty bad

My favourite Sonic Youth album after Sister: non-stop 5* rock songs, highly accessible without doing any concessions to their sound.

Probably the most accessible Sonic Youth album I've heard so far, but that doesn't make the Kim and Thurston duo any less tasty.

Is this Sonic Youth at their most accessible? Most mainstream? They're still doing their own crazy thing but maybe the rest of the world finally caught up with them? Maybe they were still streets ahead of the curve?

Sounds 5/5 at times and some cool riffs sprinkled throughout but I couldn’t tell you many actual tracks that stood out.. also feels very lacking vocally for extended stretches. Missed potential IMO! Incinerate >

I don't get it. This is apparently revered by some, and I really wish someone could explain why. It is muddy, flaccid and noisy. The vocals are flat and seemly deliberately off-key. The only track on here I can suggest I "like" (and I use the term in a very loose sense) is Sugar Kane, which goes on a minute too long. I guess if you grew up with Nirvana and were tired of grunge, this represents and a nice little change of direction, but jeebus it's a not a fun album to listen to.

This was always my favourite Sonic Youth album, and it still sounds great today.

your favorite band's favorite band. I can definitely see why. Intuitive guitar sounds, powerful vocals. Pretty hectic and fast paced throughout, but also has some more relaxed songs to break it up a bit. However, not an album I feel the need to listen to over and over again. Not that many memorable songs.

The scratchy guitar feedback noise at the start of the first track. HOW MANY TIMES? HUH? HOW MANY TIMES? I cracked at Wish Fulfilment, I just can't do this stinking cliched rubbish anymore. I try, really I do, to listen to everything otherwise what's the point? But what is Dimery's obsession with this fucking band? I went awol for a couple of years and I still think I've had six SY albums shoved in my ears. Enough!

The most underrated band ever. These people were geniuses and their experimental rock post punk introduced the grunge movement. Without these people no nirvana, no soundgarden no temple no alice nothing. They are one of the most important bands in history

As a teenager, I had a taped copy of Daydream Nation that I played a lot. I bought Goo when it came out and totally loved it. I bought Dirty on the week of release (Australian vinyl first release with a screen-printed cloth sleeve). I liked it (especially '100%', which is a banger), and especially dug how Sonic Youth were playing short powerful songs with hooks and riffs, with a lot less of the stretched out noise-scapes of some of their previous records, without compromising their sound. I mean, Butch Vig and Andy Wallace did a great job of making this sound like a million bucks, but there is no mistaking it for anything other than a Sonic Youth record. But their attempt at cracking the mainstream in a big way did fall a bit flat. Sonic Youth were integral in the "alternative music goes mainstream" push. Husker Du's signing to Warners cracked the door open, and Sonic Youth signing to Geffen flung the door wide open. It paved the way for Nirvana and a thousand other punk rock and weirdo bands to get major label contracts and break it big. And this was Sonic Youth's attempt; it was the year after Nevermind, and they had the same label and producers, and they stripped their format back to radio-friendly length songs that were identifiable as pop songs with more direct lyrics and less aloof distance, and this was supposed to be huge. But it wasn't, and SY retreated to a more useful niche at the edge of the music scene. Don't get me wrong -- I think they made a pretty comfortable living for a band that was as noisy as they were, but they didn't become Nirvana-level famous. This was their swing at the big time, and I can appreciate it, but I can also see why it didn't quite get there. A good record, but I still prefer 'Goo'.

This is the album where I became aware of Sonic Youth (after the Nirvana explosion) so these songs are burned a little deeper into my memory. Liked listening to the rehearsal tapes on the deluxe edition.

(3/5) Man, this is what the 90s sounded like. I distinctly recall hearing Sonic Youth but I never really got into them. I think it was just question of my tastes being a bit out of alignment with their style. They leaned heavily into noise and as I've discovered on this project, that's something I have a limited amount of patience and a palette for. I don't begrudge them this because underneath that noise is some decent grunge rock. This album landed at a 3.5 for me, but I'm rounding down because of the more artsy/noise stuff that is just no longer my jam. If you had caught me 30 years ago with this, I know I would have liked it more. But, WHY does Sonic Youth have **5** albums on the list? Really?? Sure, one or two, but FIVE? Are they really that essential, or is this just another Dimery special?

As a grunge kid at heart, I've tried a few times to get into the Sonic Youth and just can't quite get over the hump. It's like if Nirvana and Hole (and Screaming Tres and Dinosaur Jr. and the list goes on and on) had a predecessor with an almost intentionally unpolished sound that those artists later emulated and made listenable. The elements are there, and I have no doubt that behind the layers of distortion and noise in each of these tracks lies a banger of a song just struggling to get out. And the craziest part is that this 1992 album actually sounds MORE polished than their other stuff that I've listened to, and has even had the benefit of being influenced by several of the bands that it influenced. All that to say that this one lands at a 3.5/5 that I really want to like more than I do, and am rounding down because I don't.

Piss

Misery music.

I get it, should have listened earlier Will I listen to again: 100%

An argument could be made this is their best album, or certainly their most accessible. I love when the drums kick in on "Drunken Butterfly", now that's punk rock!

Soooooo goooood! I had no expectations coming into this album based off my lack of knowledge of the band but I was blown away by how entertaining and just interesting this was. From what I’ve heard, sonic youth were very experimental in their albums before this, with this focussing more on grunge but there was definitely some experimentation going on here aswell and I think all the ideas are used so well. Most songs on here were amazing with some, in my opinion, slightly less amazing but what I liked so much about this album is how there was always at least parts of a song I really liked even if I wasn’t a massive fan of the whole run time for example “shoot” which I didn’t like the pace of especially how it’s a longer song with not much change throughout but I really like the distorted guitars coming in through the breaks in vocals. Overall though there weren’t many songs I didn’t like anyway which means it’s hard to give my favourites because it’s genuinely hard to pick but my favourite track for sure is chapel hill, I loved the guitar riffs, the drums were perfect, vocals perfect and the part about mid way through where the tempo speeds up was really cool. This reviews getting too long though so I’ll give my verdict: 9/10.

A perfect blend of noise rock and grunge. Sonic Youth show why they are among the best rock bands out there.

Weirdly, while this isn’t my favorite SY album, it might be the one I know the best. I listened to it a ton in high school, and it’s full of great songs. As a whole, it might not be as good as Murray Street or Washing Machine, but it’s a classic all the same.

I will admit that this band has never been one that I listened to. This gap in my consumption is a bit shameful/surprising considering my fondness of this type of music from this era. Anyway, thanks generator for having me listen. I loved it. Time to rabbit hole.

So good!

Sonic youth innit

Incredible album. I love how dynamic it is. I love how they alternate from a male to female vocalist throughout the songs. I didn't immediately love Sonic Youth when I first heard them a few years ago, but this one was definitely an A+ album from them.

Dirty by Sonic Youth is nearly flawless almost a 5/5 in my books. This album is a proper masterclass in blending noise with melody, and while there are a few minor niggles, it’s a record that just clicks on every level. The instrumentation on this album is next level. The guitars are absolutely brilliant – layered, edgy, and at times, downright mesmerizing. Every riff and feedback burst is crafted with precision, creating a soundscape that’s both chaotic and artful. The drums are tight as anything, laying down a punchy, relentless beat that drives the tracks forward, while the bass provides a deep, grounding groove that ties the whole thing together. The vocals, though a bit raw and unconventional, work brilliantly within the mix, adding an authentic edge that perfectly captures Sonic Youth’s vibe. The production and mixing are nothing short of phenomenal. Every instrument is given its own space yet blends seamlessly into a lush, cohesive whole. The balance between the dissonant guitar textures and the more subtle melodic lines is spot on, making the album feel both experimental and accessible. Each track has its own character, yet they all contribute to an overall sound that feels meticulously crafted and bursting with energy. That said, there are a couple of minor quibbles. At times, the album’s experimental edge can veer a little too far into chaos, making certain sections feel a bit overbearing. While I love the daring approach, there are moments when the noise slightly overshadows the melody. But honestly, these are just tiny niggles in an otherwise cracking record. Dirty is nearly a 5/5 album – a near-perfect slice of alternative rock that redefines what’s possible in merging avant-garde experimentation with accessible songwriting. It’s an album that resonates with me on every level, with its stunning guitar work, tight rhythm section, and lush production making it a standout record. Sonic Youth really nailed it here, and while there’s a smidge of excess at times, it hardly detracts from the overall brilliance. A solid 4.8/5 stars – pure, unadulterated sonic genius.

One of the best albums I've ever heard.

sometimes, sonic youth albums have a tendency to exhaust me. i go in and i love the energy, but after a while the one-line-at-a-time style kinda gets to me. this album however, cuts out the fat and keeps the noise fresh. the balance between up and downtempo is perfect, as is the balance between singers (more kim appreciated lol). this is sonic youth at their best

Goddamn I love this band so much. That signature thing where they start with a spacious slow groove and detached flat affect vocals, then build up layers and layers of guitar lines, dissonance distortion and feedback, filling in the space until it's super saturated as the vocals get more and more angst and it eventually bursts and a clean guitar arpeggio comes in like the cool feeling after a quick dew point drop and a downpour have taken all the oppressive humidity out of the air. Masters of tension and relief, of the hard-earned explosive climax, of time and texture. The two-three guitars going back and forth, interweaving lines, bouncing ideas off each other, extending each others openings, or just layering give this such an dense exciting feel - like Television re-invented for the grunge era. This album is packed with so many riffs, melodies, turns of phrase, powerful sounds, and they come across so forcefully and precisely and with such control even as they're pushing every meter deep red.

Wonderful rock album. Powerful, loud, noisy and interesting.

This is a really good album. I didn’t listen to much Sonic Youth growing up, which is a shame because they are definitely one of the best alternative grunge bands of all time, and this album showcases that perfectly. While it dips a little for me in the middle, there really isn’t a bad song on here. “100%,” “Youth Against Fascism,” and “Purr” are probably my favorite songs, but I was captivated from beginning to end.

Surprisingly I have never listened to Sonic Youth, but I am glad to rectify that now. Very solid outing and I look forward to more.

Another SY album that might be my favorite of theirs! Listen to this one regularly, it's got like 5 songs that could be my favorite SY song. Anyway, easy 5. I believe Anita Hill.

Every time I listen to Sonic Youth I think I should really listen to more Sonic Youth

This was my Sonic Youth. This weaned me (but not completely) off hardcore punk with its crunchy guitar and throwaway lyrics. I might be rating this higher out of nostalgia, but at the very least I believe it to be one of the best Sonic Youth albums.

Love it! Now we're talking!

Really influential album and sound. All of the instrumentals are dope and have a lot of cool dynamic changes. I also like the very straight forward lyrics in some of these songs. A lot of the noise/shoegaze bands usually have very cryptic lyrics but songs like swimsuit issue are almost like punk lyrics. I didn’t love Kim Gordon’s vocals at first but they grew on me and the music is just so good. JC has a haunting kinda sound that I really like and stuck with me. A lot of the songs have great riffs and/or melodies under the layers of noise and distortion which I feel like takes the songs to another level and conveys the energy of the writing really well. Whether it’s adding to a fast song to take it another level or destroying the more soft songs like JC. So many cool dynamic and tempo changes in this one too that draw you in and makes the album fly by. Sick album and I’m looking forward to listening to this and more sonic youth in general. 👍: JC, chapel hill, purr, sugar kane

“I’ve been around the world a million times and all you men are slime.” Love love love this album. I have listened to plenty of Sonic Youth over the years but never sat to listen to an entire album. Nothing but love for this one.

The albums on this site have brought me to love Sonic Youth. This album is not exception.

Masterpiece

205. Dirty - Sonic Youth (1992) 9.15.26 Variety: 5 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 3 = 4.2 rounded down to a 4 "I stick a knife in my head/ A-thinking 'bout your eyes/ But now that you been shot dead/ I got a new surprise" I wish the generator was a little bit less random so that we would get albums from multi-entry artists in chronological release order as they came up. I think it would really shine a light on the evolution of these acts and make the milestone developments easier to track. This goes double for a band like Sonic Youth, who I think a lot of people, if they've heard them at all, have only heard selected tracks, and then only the more polished, radio-friendly ( as much as they get) stuff. And because these tracs are pretty spread out amongst their albums, it can make for some expectations that clash pretty hard with the reality, which is that these guys, as innovative and experimental as they were, have a very slow musical evolution. In my opinion at least. Like listen to any two albums that came out in a row and you can barely hear much change in the sound and vibe, but even between their first ( EVOL) and last that I've heard ( Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star) there is so much carryover, and they were already so far ahead of the curve, that it would be challenging, for casual fans, to place any given track in time. That said I can track the ealier, echoey post-punky, goth-adjacent EVOL sound to the grungy, tighter, and more cleanly produced Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star. I definitely first heard the band (liek a lot of people my age I suspect) via a clip from Beavis and Butthead of "Bull in the Heather", which is one of their best, and which features Kathleen Hanna ( I was gobsmacked to see that Bikini Kill is not on the list, but at least she shows up in the Le Tigre entry...) jumping around in the music video, annoying the band members. If you heard this, "Teen Age Riot" or "Kool Thing" you might expect something from the band they just can't really deliver in longform. It's been LONG time since I listened to any of their albums, but I don't expect my opinion to have moved to much. THE TRACKS "100%" - A very cool, distilled and radio-friendly version of the band's sound, and one that still manages to work in plenty of the dischordant glavor as accents. It's almost TOO basic an approach for them, and a more cynical person might even think this was a piss-take. But I think it works well to level set expectatons for anyone familiar. And if you're new to the band, then it doesn't sound too far outside of the type of thing that would be blowing up your radios at the time, if maybe a bit looser and jagged around the edges. Also, considereing the far future and end of the group, the line "But I've been around the world a million times / And all you men are slime" as delivered by Thurston Moore is pretty rich. "Swimsuit Issue" - Steve Shelley delivers an awesome propulsive surf rock drum beat to start us off, then the first of many back and forth vocal tradeoffs happen with Kim Gordon taking over with her iconic, breathy, cooly detached, and almost sarcastic speak-singing delivery. As influential as the band itself was, I think Gordon's vocals are ALL OVER 90s Grunge and Riot Grrrl singers' styles. This one is all about atmosphere, and feels like a "wait a minute - did you think we've gone soft?" correction after that first more approachable number. The scummy, slimy feel of the outro of this is entirely effective. "Theresa's Sound-World" - This one opens with a lighter touch, and a nod towards the more ambiently pretty noise with Gordon's bubbly New order-ish bass, and Shelley's sizzling cymbal work almost providing a psychedelic bit of undergrowth for Moore's icy vocals to trudge through. There's a very palpable build up and release of tension when verse rises and layers are added and added until the instrumental bridge can explode with into a spinning tilt-a-whirl finale, and end up exactly where we started. This is the ideal mode of the band for me. I love that they change it up, but when they get to these quieter, cooler, and more cohesive songs it feels like a treat. Also dig those guitars - Moore and Ranaldo in my mind are like one two-headed player, and intertwine and mix and match between lead and rhythm lines between songs so much that I can't tell where one begins and the other ends. "Drunken Butterfly" - What a fucking bop, right? On the surface this might not seem like a band that makes danceable music, but here we are. I mean, the dancing might just involve a bunch of jumping and headshaking, but it's got me wanting to throw myself into the pit. Once again Gordon MORE than makes up in attitude and effect whatever she might lack in traditional singing ability. Just try not nodding your head to that chorus. And the scratchy guitars on here are all gravy. I can totally see someone listening to this and being like "what the fuck is this noise?" and it would be a not unreasonable reaction, but there's such a tight structure underneath all the abrasiveness, and the melodic lines are definitely there, they're just stretched out and deformed and camouflaged a bit by the noisey decorations. This is not the kind of music that works well when you space out to it, as all the best little touches can get overwhelmed by the presentation. There's also a great music video for this where all the band are janky sock puppets, with Gordon looking like some deranged, thrift shop version of Janice from the Muppets' Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band. "Shoot" - Some nice distortion as the appetizer here, with Gordon's menacing bass line being the main course. Which fits the dark as fuck lyrics. Courtney Love feels like a little kid playing dress up in comparison to this performance. Gordon is snide and sneering and full of a seething rage here, without ever having to go full on scream mode. The boom-bap hip-hop beat Shelley provides this is the lifeline here, and gives the song an extra snap that something more basic and rock-based would have done. "Wish Fulfillment" - The Ringo track! Ranaldo gets his lone shot on lead vocals, and a combination of this reverb heavy touch, and the bigger focus on the guitars give this one a much different feel than anything else. I'm reminded of both Guided by Voices and Nada Surf in the more emotional vocal delivery and the pounding, dirty, yet melodic guitar lines. "Sugar Kane" - Willing to bet some money that Billy Corgan must have played this one repeat more than a few times. Pretty sure Butch Vig also worked on the first couple of Smashing Pumpkins albums and Sonic Youth DNA can be found all over those. Go check out "1979" for example, and then come back. I can even hear a lot of Moore's vocal delivery in Corgan's stuff. This is as guitar-heroey as the band gets I think, with relatively clean lines, and a driving bass pushing things along. "Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit" - Just in case you forgot about the band's formative years, this one is meant to remind you. There's still a driving, forward momentum that gels with everything else, and the pre-chorus bit and especially the instrumental break are much more user-friendly, but Gordon's vocals on here are ragged and messy and very thorny. Much as I like me some Hole, this is yet another comparison where you can see how diluted the copy is to the original. At least in terms of raw power. It's just ever so slightly off-model for me that it gets knocked a bit. "Youth Against Fascism" - Love the messaging on this one, not so much the whole package. Moore's much warmer performance on here comes across as more snotty than genuine to me. That combined with the total lack of anything resembling any ear-pleasing cohesion on this drops it into dud territory. Straight ahead punk rock is not their best look imo. "Nic Fit" (Untouchables cover) - More punk vibes, with an Untouchables cover. This one at least feels more like a more honest stab at a being faithful to a specific hardcore punk sound, as filtered through their own, more accomplished playing, where the last one was just to plain and generic. While fine enough itself, it doesn't belong anywhere near the better stuff on here. "On the Strip" - After a brief detour, we're back on familiar ground. I hate to call t a formula, but as much as I like this one, it does sound like a synthesis, if not an improvement on other stuff we've found on here. I kept waiting for the explosive chorus, which never came, and instead had to settle for a middling bridge that was a poor substitute. An ideal bathroom break song ( it's also too long) should you ever find yourself at an unlikely reunion show. "Chapel Hill" - What's this? Did Dinosaur Jr. make their way into the studio? The start of this is as friendly and bright as we get on here, but then things turn dark once again when the tone drops down and we get a tale of assassination and terror, and local music scenes. Possibly my favorite instrumental break on the album. That blistering, surf-adjacent guitar lone and the tempo is killer. "JC" - relatively subdued, and even pretty I'd say, this track is a somber one. Lots of impressionistic, almost nostalgic lyrics delivered in a breathless staccato, almost spoken word poetry style on top of an unconventionally structured song made up one long verse and one very short verse. The song dissolves into a hissing chaotic fuzz at the end, and remains no less pretty for it. This is up there with my favorites on the album. We're heading for a strong back half here if the momentum keeps up. "Purr" - After the last track, this one hits like an adrenalin shot right to the heart. Exciting and energetic and about nothing in particular it seems except maybe fascination with the unattainable? Moore's in his best mode here, with the cool and almost nonchalant delivery. One of the more radio-friendly tracks on the album, especially with the more or less conventional instrumental break. "Crème Brûlée" - And as one last parting shot, the band just had to remind you they haven't entirely given into the pop world. After a finger in the eye to open with we at least settle into an almost Beat Happening-style, understated and simple bit of repetitiveness. Fun but hardly essential, and feels like a bit of a lark compared to how purposeful and arranged the rest of the album was. HIGHLIGHTS - "100%" - "Swimsuit Issue" - "Theresa's Sound-World" - "Drunken Butterfly" - "Shoot" - "Wish Fulfillment" - "Sugar Kane" - "Chapel Hill" - "JC" - "Purr" MIDLIGHTS - "Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit" - "Nic Fit" - "On the Strip" - "Crème Brûlée" LOWLIGHTS - "Youth Against Fascism" FINAL THOUGHTS I'm not exactly sure on the timeline here, but I think the band got some flack for seeming to take a calculated stab at the grunge and alt market that had aped so much of their style already. They had already been with a major label for a few years prior, so I'm sure the same criticism had already hit them, but on this one in particular I think the production is cleaner, and they are putting out tighter songs. Not all the rough edges have been filed down, and they never would be, but I think some of the reaction to it did make them take a step backwards on the next one and try to level set when they realized maybe they'd seemed a bit too try hard on this. That said, I think it's a damn successful entry, and not giving two shits myself about "authenticity" or the concept of "selling out" I think this was the right move for them. They already had the look, the sound, and the reputation, so why not reap some of the rewards that all those younger ( Kurt Cobain, to use him as a measuring stick of the period, was almost a decade younger than Moore, and almost a decade and a half younger than Gordon) kids already had. I think it's just after this that Daydream Nation started to be evaluated retrospectively as some sort of John the Baptist-like prefiguration of the 90s, and the band from here on enjoyed a kind of respected elder place in the alt and grunge world, often touring with supporting these acts they had influenced so heavily. This album is not my favorite from the band, but of the stuff I've heard, it's maybe the plateau of their more mainstream sound and a quite good jumping on point for anyone who doesn't want to invest too much time in their noisier past. This one was pretty danged solid overall, despite the saggy middle, and a few off topic excursions. The good stuff was so good, it more than made up for any slips along the way. They have another 8 or so albums after Experimental Jet Set... which I have not heard, so who knows. I strongly doubt that they ever settled into a mainstream acoustic folkie act though. Looking forward to whenever they pop up again. Possible turn-Offs might include: - dissonant, noisey, and often aggressively un-melodic segments - disaffected and sometimes purposely amateurish vocals - a disregard for whatever passed for basic grunge and alt song structures - abrasive and hot production sound - a feeling that the band's vibe has been watered down ( if you are a fan of their earlier stuff) You Might enjoy this if you: - like a bit of experimental noise rock - enjoy textures and atmosphere over a good solid melody - don't mind some artsy indulgences in your vocals - like their older stuff, but wish it could be more focused and user-friendly PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - I'd settle for the highlights FURTHER LISTENING - Teenage Jesus and the Jerks EP by Teenage Jesus and the Jerks - The Ascension by Glenn Branca - Zen Arcade by Husker Du - Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain - Loveless by My Bloody Valentine - You're Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr. - Pretty on the Inside by Hole - Hungry for Stink by L7 - Blonder Tongue Audio Baton by Swirlies - Spanking Machine by Babes in Toyland - Pussy Whipped by Bikini Kill - The Future of What by Unwound - Blonde Redhead by Blonde Redhead - The Great Annihilator by Swans - F♯ A♯ ∞ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Sonic Youth is one of those names that I’ve heard more than I’ve heard their music. They’re the band that all your favorite bands tended to like. Which makes you want to sit ip and take notice. I’m not familiar with their 80s stuff (but it looks like I will be by the time I finish this list). Here they seemed to have found comfort in being a standard 90s alternative rock band. This album was a buffet of crunchy guitar sounds. Pair that with Kim Gordon’s stilted deliver and Thurston Moore’s experimental riffs and you’ve got something that rocks. This was a sound that takes me back to nights of just falling asleep to 120 Minutes on MTV. 4/5

This music is doing battle with the Christmas music playing in the grocery store. Listening to Sugar Cane as I look over the brown sugar selections wondering why anyone would buy light brown sugar.

I kept seeing stuff about how experimental and weird this album is, what are you talking about??? This is a relatively generic alt rock album, not the residents. Let down on my expectations, but still good

A fan of SY’s ‘80’s stuff, I mildly shunned this album, a common error. There’s a recording of them in Brixton from this time that absolutely slays; the few years when they were playing at being a warped, jet engined version of a big rock band were exhilarating and I miss this version of the band as keenly as the scruffy freaks of “Bad Moon Rising” and “Sister”. Second half wanes just a tad, but I think the record is strong all the way through to and including “Sugar Kane”, and rest blazes often.

This passed me by when it came out, too busy chasing local talent (one way or the other). But it's pretty good! I'll keep playing it over the next week or two but it's at least on par with "Goo" so far. I just realized I did indeed see them live around this period at a festival (yes! Phoenix Festival 1993) and enjoyed it, although probably not as much as catching a newly-signed David Gray strumming an acoustic guitar on an adjacent hay bale to an audience of 3 people and a dog (literally!), or Matthew Sweet (who was excellent).

i wrote a very good paragraph about noise rock in general but i think its more suitable for "Daydream Nation". and that album is better. 4/5

Day448 - it’s probably the gen-x in me but it’s hard not to think sonic youth is cool as hell

Sonic youth incapable of making a bad album. Kim gordon coolest person alive i wish i can be like her when im 70.

This is a harsh 4. More of a 4.5 really, and with about 3 tracks trimmed it would be a 5. Noisy and melodic, varied but coherent, raw but slick. it's a real experience. Particular shout out to the superb drumming.

I've still yet to really appreciate these guys (and gal) but I get their authenticity.

It's impressive how it can be both pure noise and melodic at the same time. I have owned this album since it first came out but I rarely come back to it. But when I do, I enjoy it.

Well, shame on me for never listening to Sonic Youth before. This was awesome. Noisy and agressive instrumentals, but not grating. The music perfectly matched the vocals, too. It was cool to have alternating singers, each adding a different flavor to the music. Kim Gordon was the definite highlight but I also enjoyed how Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo complemented the abrasive sound. Putting these guys on regular rotation from now on, that's for sure. Standout tracks are Purr, Chapel Hill, Sugar Kane, Wish Fulfillment, Shoot, and 100%.

Sonic Youth's second record on a major label. When Nirvana's Nevermind burst onto the scene in 1991, grunge was suddenly everywhere. It would be downright dishonest not to admit that they were the biggest influence on '90s rock. In the wake of this storm of grunge, Sonic Youth released Dirty in 1992. Some people have claimed that this is their grunge record, but I think the influence is only slight. Concretely, Sonic Youth has still made alternative and noise rock bangers on Dirty. We get the most from Kim Gordon on this record and she's a fantastic vocalist. Compared to Goo, I'd say Dirty is the better record. Perhaps Sonic Youth had to adjust to major label expectations but this album shows that they could still turn out great songs like they did on the indie labels. Sonic Youth is one of the best sounds of the 20th century, and I'd consider us lucky that we got to hear so much of their stuff.

god sonic youth are cool

Yeah, this is really cementing for me that I shoulda got into Sonic Youth decades ago. It's well badass. I could see more listens pushing this to a 5 easily enough. Fave track - "Youth Against Fascism" is delightfully catchy and off-kilter. Also really liked the vibe of "JC"...

Ne vous faites pas avoir par cette note de 4/5, il s'agit en réalité d'un 3,6/5.

I enjoyed this album. Coming from not knowing too much of their work, I think this opened me up to their style of music. Their music has uses heavy distortion but it's controlled and fits with the singing(like in "drunken butterfly" and "orange rolls, angel spit"). The sound is heavy and sometimes melodic which is what I like to listen to and I enjoyed some of the 'softer songs like "chapel hill". Their a great mix of hard rock, 'grunge' and punk.

I’m glad I got past the first few songs, because I think the album improved after a rough start. But maybe I just became desensitized to the vibe. Overall, it had some cool moments, but it was way too long and very unfocused. Sugar Cane and JC created interesting grooves. Everything else just kind of blended together in a kind of sonic stew that resulted in everything tasting and feeling pretty much the same.

It's rare to find an album that's great from start to finish, but Sonic Youth struggled to write a song that's great from start to finish. I like parts of most of these songs, but there was always something that took me out of the moment and killed it. Felt like they wanted to incorporate a bit of a grunge sound into their music but missed the mark and ended up ruining what could have been great songs. And the common mistake of too much, you dont need 15 songs on an album. Overall this missed the mark, but not by much. Still mostly enjoyable.

Have been aware of Sonic Youth and people gushing over them for decades and I just don’t get it. It’s ok, that’s it. There’s not a lot that engages me here

A fun ride, that at times feels a bit disjointed. I don't know if it's the two voices, but I feel like they are two different album, some classic rock that is well made but not that inventive and some experimental that is rougher and a bit noise adjacent. I found it interesting mostly, it gives scope, but they are not that many band like that one. I also think it is a tad long, but man they had a lot to say about the world.

Loud music, minor chords, angsty lyrics, monotone singing, heavy hammering drums, and fuzzy recording quality. Yep, it's early alternative rock. I've never really gotten into Sonic Youth. I know the Gen X crowd tends to love them, but I never got it. I think I was a couple years too young, and by the time I started finding my own music bands like Green Day, Offspring, and Sound Garden were cooler (and better sounding).

Much, MUCH better than Goo which is surprising for the straight follow up. I think it helps that they drop the 2cool4u attitude and just go back to their usual demeanor that is more disinterested but works in making the music not feel, well, of its era Even more its how they add back in some of the sounds they played with before even Daydream Nation, but with a little more focus. The biggest cons in my opinion is that it is too long and some songs can be a bit grating but otherwise, pretty good.

No. 203/1001 100% 3/5 Swimsuit Issue 2/5 Theresa's Sound World 3/5 Drunken Butterfly 2/5 Shoot 2/5 Wish Fulfillment 3/5 Sugar Kane 4/5 Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit 2/5 Youth Against Facism 2/5 Nic Fit 2/5 On the Strip 3/5 Chapel Hill 3/5 JC 3/5 Purr 3/5 Creme Brulee 2/5 Average: 2,6 The experimental parts didn't click with me.

I love noisy guitar bands, Mary Chain, Pixies, Ride etc but somehow I never really got into Sonic Youth. Cool guitar sounds but where are the tunes? 'Sugar Kane' is fantastic, if the whole album was that good it would be 5 🌟 but sadly it is not.

this album went all over the place for me. i didnt really see much consistency and there were a lot more duds than hits. i am also not a fan of kims vocal delivery in this album. i like the mixing for the album though; drums sound nice. towards the second half, it got a little tiring and boring to listen to. the highs are good at least. 3 personal favs: sugar kane, chapel hill

I always get Sonic Youth mixed with Smashing Pumpkins because of that Simpsons episode, and this album has not helped Cool sound though, would listen again.

Nice try list but you’re not going to make a Sonic Youth fan out of me

# 384 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. It's just sloppy noise-rock. This is my second Sonic Youth album in two weeks. I don't get what all the fuss is about. Sometimes this list feels like things are included just because they were really popular at the time, but does anyone actually still listen to this album.

headache in form of music

What the hell am I missing about Sonic Youth? Dirty as an album is yet another noisy, lazy mess from the likes of Sonic Youth. The instrument work is lackluster, the beats and backing tracks are washed out and covered with obnoxious noise and the vocals almost seem intentionally phoned-in. I'm trying my best not to be hyperbolic about this album but I'm actually surprised how much this album bothered me. Outside of Sugar Kane and maybe one other track I wanted to just keep my head down, get through this and turn Sonic Youth off forever. Three albums in I can confidently confirm that I am not a Sonic Youth fan. There is almost nothing endearing I have taken from the nearly 3 hours I have spent with them thus far. I can't imagine myself identifying with any of this even at my most rebellious hipster phase of my life. Really hoping they don't show up on this list or in my rotation ever again. 1.16 stars

I like some of their earlier avant-garde stuff, but that’s more curiosity. It's like looking at an abstract painting and thinking, “That’s neat, but I’m not gonna look at it for an hour!” When they moved into the grunge-pop era with this, I was out.

It was just pure noise. Like there was literally 30 seconds of static noise at the end of a song. If that's your thing, more power to you, but it was not my cup of tea and probably won't ever be. Honestly the most surprising detail to me about this album was that sometimes there were rhythms and beats that they followed.

There is a lot of horny sounds going into my ears, and it's very uncomfortable. I've never been a fan of noise rock, and I don't think this album will change my mind on it. Also, why are all the albums on this list over fifty minutes? Nobody wants an unnecessary double lp.

Every twelve months or so, I get this powerful urge to listen to Sonic Youth. I have about three hours to satisfy this craving or my brain will explode. Almost any album will do, but Dirty is what I reach for more often than not. The one-two punch of 100% to Swimsuit Issue is one of the best album openings ever made. It sets this sinister, yet slinky presence that permeates through the rest of the record, elevating the likes of Shoot, Sugar Cane and even Youth Against Fascism. It’s an unquestionable five-star experience for me.

Sonic Youth is good

Noise rock, Kim Gordon, best band, yada yada yada this is great. 5/5

kinda hard to make an early 90s noisy alt rock album i wouldn't like honestly lol just one of those albums where the overall sound of the album is great enough that it doesn't matter if the song structures can be a bit shaky at times (probably just adds to the vibe if anything in this case i'd say) favourite songs: shoot, drunken butterfly, jc (god i love kim gordon's voice) least favourite song: none really, just enjoyed the ride

Okay, ich mag das alles. Ich finde alles gut. Meine Ohren sind geschädigt, ich finde alles gut. Meine Nerven flattern, aber ich finde alles gut. So geht es mir bei Sonic Youth immer. Hier heißt das Spiel: kann man Sonic Youth ins Alternative Model pressen? Klingt zumindest stark nach Butch Vig bzw. Garbage, die er ja ganz stark mitgeprägt hat, und die Stimme ist nah und roh wie bei Nevermind, weil, oh, Butch Vig. Und die spacig-aggressiven kennen wir von den Smashing Pumpkins, oh ja, weil Butch Vig. Und trotzdem ist das einfach ein Sonic Youth Album, hier vor allem wegen Kim Gordons Lyrics und der Weigerung, anders als schlecht zu singen.

Polished noise perfection. I absolutely love this album.

Sum punkish, skaterish teens, antifa EDIT: i love the album and the singer

Fand ich richtig gut

Yeah

Cooler than Nirvana? Certainly less radio friendly.

Five star album, it’s weird, vibes, but I love it. Solid songs, not too experimental to be inaccessible

Sonic Youth strahlen einfach eine krasse Coolness aus, insbesondere auf diesem Album. Klar ist hier nicht jeder Song eine 10/10, aber die Platte strotzt voller toller Einfälle und Vibes. Ohne je groß in deren Diskographie eingetaucht zu sein mein bisheriger Liebling von ihnen.

Great rock album loved it

Goated

This is still so great 34 years on. Alongside Nirvana, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers at the time, this was eye opening in all the right ways. It has their most straight ahead pop tunes (100%, Youth Against Fascism, Purr), some beautiful stretches of instrumental guitar rock (Theresa's Sound World, Sugar Kane), an Ian MacKaye guest spot (Nic Fit) and NSFW furries underneath the CD tray (lost now to the CD era). It's a weird kind of paradox too - they were firmly embedded as a major label band by this point, and the presence of Butch Vig would make you think they'd be prone to the ever present in 1992 accusations of "selling out". And sure, from a production point of view they never sounded clearer and more built for radio - but you'll never hear some of the guitar noise breakdowns or the sheer feminist rage of "Swimsuit Issue" on any radio station I know of. Crazy good. I think they dipped significantly for a decade after this, but it caps off a fairly flawless 5 or 6 album run for the band.