Dirty

It's a vibe for sure - musicality its impressive with drums that just DRIVE..but the album also DRAGS

OK

I like wish fulfilment but not the biggest fan. 3 stars for me

Preferred this far more than the other Sonic Youth album. Maybe they are growing on me.

Much better than the last Sonic Youth album

That was a mixed bag. I didn't care for most, but some were annoying (due to screaming or noise.) I really liked Theresa's Sound-World, Wish Fulfillment, Sugar Cane, Chapel Hill and Purr. Chapel Hill is the best song on the album.

didn't click for me. Sounded dirty I guess. Found it a bit of a slog to get through. Think I heard the Smashing Pumpkins somewhere in there. Not for me. 3/10

i have of course heard of sonic youth, but had never listened. Turns out I like sonic youth! I can definitely see their influence on grunge and experimental rock

Hat mir gut gefallen. Sollte mich wohl mal mehr mit denen beschäftigen.

Fand ich richtig gut

Tolles Album, eines ihrer zugänglicheren. Nicht mein Favorit von ihnen, aber höre ich gern.

Smells like the cheapest weed and Sean's bedroom. Instant teleportation to another time.

Very good

This is album 739 for me and it’s the closest I’ve come to quitting the project. 66 days since the last hip-hop album. This is the fourth Sonic Youth album I’ve been delivered. That’s…I mean…come on. This is obviously an important album but Jesus Christ. Always…this album is great.

Raw and cohesive. Mix of singers is nice. Not really my sound, but I appreciate what's going on here. 3 rats.

Don did ya dirty

Music theory is made up anyway. 3.4

Great

Yeah

Cooler than Nirvana? Certainly less radio friendly.

Didn't like this. Most of the time was just noisy, like a group of kids got together with their parents instruments and were banging around

Loud and hectic, but that's pretty much the point. The album sets up a load of interesting things, but I will never enjoy the vocal style of Sonic Youth. Quite interesting to have two lead singers, and neither of them really being a strong point.

Thurston and Kim go grunge with good results. More Butch Vig excellence to keep this show running tight.

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

Hér er svakalega margt töff, eins og þeirra er von og vísa.

Heerlijke grooves op deze plaat

Bloated and less poignant than Daydream Nation and Goo, but it's still Sonic Youth at the end of the day. My rating more reflects how full this album's runtime feels with songs that leave less of an impression and more space for Kim or Thurston to yell random shit. Justice for Lee (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)

Great alternative record

Enjoyed

I too believe Anita hill

really liking the amount of sonic youth lately. i get it

This is a sonically adventurous album that definitely went against the grain for its time. But, with this band, I always feel as though they're trying so hard to be ultra cool that they keep the listener at arm's length. There's kind of a remove with them and it never feels emotionally true or honest. That said, this is a better album than "Goo" and there are some really good songs on it like "Sugar Kane," "Youth Against Facism," and "Chapel Hill." There are also some real duds and this could have been single album length. A mixed bag overall.

I liked this a lot more than Goo. Its adventurous in every sense of the word; they throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, and a lot does. Damn near every song has some kind of instrumental twist I didn't see coming. The three song run of Sugar Kane - Orange Rolls - Youth Against Fascism is peak

Ofc some bangers, and very repeatable songs (with or without you). But the rest of the album slugs on got bored

Can't see myself being in the mood for this sound and putting on this album instead of the pixies

Boy - that was awful.

Some really neat sounds on here. Generally enjoyable.

Better than the first Sonic Youth album (E.V.O.L) but still just not to my taste. 3/10

Honestly, pretty cool punk record.

Just noise. Didn't do it for me.

Did not enjoy, nothing really caught my attention. Either not my sound or just a tad mediocre…I guess we’ll never know.

Correcto

3.5; rounding up. I always wanted to be a Sonic Youth fan more than I actually was. Dirty finally clicked. “100%” and “Sugar Kane” are absolute standouts—I’d happily add both to a playlist. The album feels like it’s flirting with ‘90s grunge and even the occasional sitcom-theme-song hook, making it far more approachable than I expected. Then Kim Gordon shows up every few tracks like she’s demanding we all remember that Siouxsie and the Banshees is a personality trait.

Dit grate teen my ore ek love dit. Ek moet na meer van hulle goed gaan luister

Weird switching between styles, Guitar noises on the backgrounds of songs are off-putting,

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.

Das hat mir echt gut gefallen, wäre tendenziell auch eine coole Band für Rock am Ring, wenn sie sich nicht bereits aufgelöst hätten.

Ich weiß auch nicht so recht, was ich davon halten soll. Der Name war mir ein Begriff (grob), die Musik bisher noch nicht. Das bisschen schnellere Spiel gefällt mir ordentlich gut. Die grundsätzlichen Liedstrukturen auch. Aber es catcht mich nicht genug, un wirklich geil zu sein. Ich denke, wohlgemeinte 4 Sterne sind eine absolut faire Wertung, auch wenn ich Sonic Youth vermutlich nicht nochmal hören werde.

Wow, der Sound bläst mich komplett weg. Wie etwas gleichzeitig so laut, dissonant und trotzdem genau richtig klingen kann ist mir ein Rätsel.

Has a rather VU feel to it overall with some extra hard kicks at times. May improve with further listenings. 3.5

Great rock album loved it

I liked it better than other sonic youth examples but still harsh and painful vocals. Decent instrumentation and a cool use of Gaze as an accent mark. Ultimately I think what i liked in this album was anything that sounded like the pixies. And if that doesn't really tell you all about my bias against Sonic Youth then I don't know what will. Lmao.

I guess I just really don’t like Sonic Youth. I don’t dislike them, though. They exist, I guess is what I’m saying.

100% Swimsuit Issue Sugar Kane Youth Against Fascism

I'm not a fan of Kim Gordon's dry heave singing. Better than other Sonic Youth albums, I did enjoy a few of these songs when I was in high school, and I recognize it's significance in music so I'll rate it higher than their other noisy bullshit and give it a 3.

Okayy

Noisy for sure. I didn't get hooked unfortunately

The movie Juno got it right when they said the sonic youth album sucked it was just noise. Could be talking about a different album, but I’m applying it to this one.

This a really cool album. Not sure I will listen again, but it’s really cool, messy, cocky, and sometimes really harmonious.

Tho a lot still delves into noise rock, way more listenable then I had anticipated from a SY album...some favorites: Sugar Kane (Clay Pigeon played it on Wake n/ Bake this morning) and Youth Against Facism.

i wish i liked sonic youth more than i did. kind of into creme brulee

7/10

This is really good. I love the guitar tones here. Grunge, but fun! Sometimes the vocal tone gets a tad repetitive, but I like it. Solid 3 album. The instrumental writing is great Liked Songs: "100%" , "Swimsuit Issue" , "Wish Fulfillment" , "Sugar Kane" , "On The Strip" , "Chappel Hill" , "Purr"

Pretty boring

Okay….

Didn’t grab me but I did like it - very high 3

Atmospherically 5, lyrically 3, musical ability 4.

Fun rock album, really good instrumentals and very good for background music. I think it will reward multiple listens

Nice

great album by a great band. I think I'd have replaced this with Washing Machine or Experimental Jet Set as more essential listening. hell of a run though. I thought there was at least one album to skip in between Sister and Washing Machine but there isn't.

Pretty much every other time a band has had five albums on the list, it’s pissed me off. Here it’s fine. Not because I believe Sonic Youth has five essential albums, but because it took me five Sonic Youth albums to feel like I’ve really embraced them. I will never admit that out loud though. It’s a secret that I like Sonic Youth. Incidentally, maybe a half year back I started reading Our Band Could Be Your Life, and I stopped reading it halfway through the sonic youth chapter because the author was so insufferable about them. They have that effect on people.

Malardo no me dio para escucharlo entero

No es malo, pero no es de mi gusto. Algunas canciones me parecieron sexys.

Nice sound. Nothing stands out. I'm in the middle on this. Enjoy the band but this seemed like a mediocre effort.

Que grupo de mierda, nada de ritmo y tocan cualquier huevada!

Another album I’m having difficulty understanding why I needed to listen to it.

My first time listening to Sonic Youth. Not my vibe with this one though I do appreciate the instrumentals

Non il mio genere, spiaze

Gosto muito de Sonic Youth, mas não gosto tanto da Kim Gordon… Baita posição difícil de ocupar. A banda é ótima, mas poucas das canções com vocais principais dela me agradam. E realmente, Dirty possui várias canções de Gordon. Mas é claro que isso é só um detalhe. A banda ainda é brilhante, com seu estilo Noise. Guitarras cheias de atitude e garra, é cada passagem linda e cada solo eletrizante. Dirty é um disco bem equilibrado, pois possui passagens bem barulhentas, mas também há alguns momentos mais calmos. É uma escuta agradável. Quase uma hora de Sonic Youth é sempre difícil de digerir. O outro álbum duplo da banda, Daydream Nation, possui composições bem mais engajantes e com isso, sua duração parece ser mais palatável. De fato, quando você chega nas últimas canções desse disco aqui, o feitiço já acabou. Mas enquanto o feitiço dura, ele é fabuloso. Ótimo álbum. Menos Kim Gordon por favor. 4/5

I like aspects of this. But I don't think it comes together for me. Though I can certainly appreciate Youth Against Fascism.

Grungy. Middle school me would've loved this, but without the nostalgia it's just okay

Oh, hehe... I'm sure there can't be that many Sonic Youth albums left. I mean, I've already had four. *checks notes* THERE'S ONE MORE?! WITH A 2.9 RATING?! WTF?!?!?

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.

Aujourd'hui, on plonge dans l'un des albums qui a défini l'essence même de ma culture musicale. 1992 fut une année de séisme planétaire, une époque charnière où le rock alternatif a brusquement cessé de geindre dans des caves humides et confidentielles pour enfoncer la porte des grands médias à coups de Doc Martens et de larsens survoltés. Et au centre exact de ce cyclone culturel, il y avait un album majeur mais pas n'importe lequel. Le colossal Dirty de Sonic Youth. Quand on me demande mon avis sur cet opus, je ne passe pas par quatre chemins détournés : c'est un 5 sur 5 incontestable et gravé dans le marbre. C'est indiscutablement l'un des disques les plus pop de toute la carrière du groupe, un projet habile qui lui a permis de flirter ouvertement avec les charts internationaux sans jamais, au grand jamais, vendre son âme au diable ou renier ses précieuses racines expérimentales. C'est, tout simplement, un immense et grand album. À l'époque de sa sortie, voir ces parrains absolus de la scène no-wave new-yorkaise débarquer sur une major et aligner des hymnes calibrés pour les fins de soirée de MTV tout en gardant leurs guitares totalement désaccordées, c'était un choc esthétique. Aujourd'hui, avec le recul, ce disque résonne toujours avec la même urgence électrique et la même pertinence. Pour bien appréhender l'impact de Dirty, il est nécessaire de comprendre la trajectoire du groupe. Sonic Youth avait déjà tâté le terrain des majors avec le très bon Goo en 1990. Mais en 1992, le paysage musical mondial a radicalement changé. Un certain trio de Seattle venait de tout balayer sur son passage avec un raz-de-marée nommé Nevermind. Qui était l'artisan sonore aux manettes de ce miracle commercial ? Le producteur Butch Vig. C'est donc de manière tout à fait logique que la bande de New York est allée chercher ce sorcier du son pour s'enfermer dans le studio Magic Shop de Manhattan. Le plan de Butch Vig était aussi simple que risqué : prendre ces catalyseurs historiques du noise-rock et les forcer à accoucher d'un son qui respecte scrupuleusement leur histoire complexe faite d'art conceptuel, de punk hardcore et d'expérimentations leftfield, tout en servant le tout d'une manière parfaitement cohérente et articulée. Le résultat de cette collaboration est une pure merveille d'ingénierie sonore. Les structures des chansons sont plus serrées, les refrains s'accrochent immédiatement à votre cortex, mais sous la surface polie, le venin, la distorsion et les accordages bizarres s'en donnent à cœur joie. C'est l'équilibre parfait entre l'agressivité brute et l'efficacité de la pop. Je refuse catégoriquement de disséquer cet album morceau par morceau, ce serait une insulte à votre intelligence et cela gâcherait le plaisir de la découverte sauvage. Alors allons droit au but car la véritable force de Dirty réside dans son interprétation chorale et dans la tension créative constante qui s'exprime entre ses différents membres. D'un côté, nous avons les jumeaux terribles de la guitare asymétrique, Thurston Moore et Lee Ranaldo. Ensemble, ils élaborent des paysages sonores d'une richesse inouïe, naviguant sans transition entre des moments de pure rêverie hypnotique (comme sur l'immense et rampant "Theresa's Sound-World") et des riffs d'une agressivité proprement pétrifiante, à l'image du frontal "Youth Against Fascism". Leurs interventions ne cherchent jamais la démonstration technique stérile ou le solo de démonstration ; ils travaillent sur la texture, le larsen contrôlé et l'impact physique du son. De l'autre côté du spectre, il y a Kim Gordon et sur cet album, elle est tout simplement impériale, terrifiante et sublime. Elle y déploie une palette vocale extraordinaire, oscillant avec une aisance déconcertante entre une colère féministe incandescente et viscérale sur des titres brûlants comme "Swimsuit Issue", et la douceur brute, presque gélatineuse et étrangement sucrée de la scène finale portée par "Créme Brûlée". Sans oublier, bien sûr, la frappe chirurgicale, lourde et hautement imaginative de Steve Shelley derrière ses fûts, qui maintient ce train fantôme sur les rails sans jamais faiblir d'un iota. Ce qui fait de Dirty un jalon incontournable de l'histoire du rock moderne, c'est sa capacité unique à imposer des classiques instantanés sans diluer son propos. Les singles issus de cet album sont devenus les hymnes d'une génération de kids. Des morceaux comme "100%" ou "Sugar Kane" ont prouvé au monde entier qu'on pouvait squatter les ondes hertziennes et les rotations lourdes de MTV sans pour autant lisser ses angles ou abandonner son intégrité artistique la plus stricte. L'album transpire cette dualité permanente : celle d'un groupe qui reste farouchement fidèle à sa propre personnalité multiforme tout en capturant à la perfection l'essence et les tensions des événements de son époque. C'est un disque qui mélange habilement le personnel et le social dans des couches hautement stimulantes de son et de fureur noire. L'artwork lui-même, avec cette esthétique signée Raymond Pettibon pour les visuels environnants et le travail de Kevin Reagan, venait parfaire l'identité visuelle d'une bande de rebelles qui refusaient de rentrer sagement dans le rang. Si de nombreux critiques aiment se tourner vers le passé et glorifier uniquement Daydream Nation, je pense qu'ils passent à côté de la maturité acquise sur Dirty. Certes, les albums des années quatre-vingt comme Evol ou Sister possédaient un charme lo-fi et une noirceur underground indéniables, mais Dirty représente l'aboutissement technique de leur formule. C'est le témoignage d'un groupe au sommet absolu de ses forces créatives, qui s'offre le luxe insolent de s'adresser au plus grand nombre tout en lui balançant des décharges de larsen en plein visage. Je ne me lasserai jamais de la fraîcheur insolente de ce disque et à chaque fois que je relance sa lecture, je suis instantanément emporté par cette électricité ondulante, cette coolitude naturelle et cette vision du monde acérée qui caractérisent chaque seconde de l'enregistrement. Ne cherchez pas plus loin : c'est du grand art rock, livré brut, sans fioritures commerciales superflues, et diablement efficace. C'est un chef-d'œuvre total.

It's okay and fairly representative/genre-defining for what it is, but I never got into them back then and am having a hard time getting into them a few decades after the fact.

God I bet these mfers were so tight as a live act. The coolest parts of this album are the tones that they place upon their instruments. Having three guitars on this record might be the best decision the band ever made, the songs feel so textured because of it with guitars dancing between clear echoing melodies and screeching wails. PERFECT example is on Drunken Butterfly, they make them strings sound like a mfing siren for approximately 5 seconds and it's the tightest shit ever. 4/5

I've liked the few Sonic Youth singles I've listened to recently (over the last year just by chance), and this is my first exposure to a whole album. This music is mostly a match for my interests: '90s, grunge-y, and instrumentally inclined. The music is good, but I don't like Kim Gordon's voice, it's quite abrasive (luckily she's not featured on every song).

Not as good as Goo. But still good. For me, some of it is a little too angst-y and lacks melody. But some of it is great. Love Chapel Hill. Lyrics are awesome on that one… but I’m bias as a CH resident. Tend to like the Kim Gordan songs better. Again, good, but not their best work.

I love this sound, and when I’m in the mood for them, they’re pretty much my favorite band. This is a phenomenal record, truly the peak of their creativity i think. To have a double lp that’s this solid, and having to cut down on material they recorded, is crazy to me. I generally don’t like how the best of their music is mixed/recorded, but this one sounded good too. Thanks to the big guy producer.

Sonic youth and this album specifically has a natural musical quality that allows them to make abrasive and challenging music that still sounds good. The pixies are the same way, I was very impressed with this album.

Aggressive and loud, unfiltered and sometimes unnecessarily unproduced. I wanted to like this more than I did but that isn’t to say I disliked it. I think I get the appeal of Sonic Youth now, and I understand why they’re such a big influence on people born maybe a decade before I was in the 80s. This is music to mad with and music to let out your feelings with. It’s pure youth rage and it’s absolutely great for that. I wish it was just a tiny bit more structured, but that would be for bands to come. Still great as a real founding point for the bands that would really grab me just a few years later.

Not quite as good as Goo or Daydream nation, but solid. Standout songs: Sugar Kane On the Strip Chapel Hill

It’s ok but a bit too long of an album

I just don’t know. They are always up and down and left and right so I don’t know what to think

Pretty good, and I don’t really like Sonic Youth. Little less organized than Nirvana which hurts them. Also a lot of it just sounds too discordant for me.

So this is the 3rd album by SY so far on list & it sounds like the other 2. While I overall enjoy their sound, confused as to why this is on list. If there was an album w just Kim doing vocals-that would be worth putting on here. And she’s the reason it gets a 4 & not 3

I feel like these songs would be in the Mixtape videogame

En vrai oui Mais c'est pas un favorite

Mmmhh yeees Creme Brulee mon dessert préféré Playlist pick : 100%

Between a low 5 and high 4. Enjoyed the drums and it felt like each instrument had a voice.

I love this in places but not everything works. High 3

Some great moments but not everything lands for me

Having only heard 1986’s EVOL I was struck by how different Sonic Youth sound here. In fact, how different they even sound from track to track. Instrumentally they had previously been more of an experimental Goth group but here things are a lot grungier and much more 90s. I think it's fair to say that some of the experiments work better for me than others but I’m a big fan of them retaining the rotating vocalists which continues to give different flavours across the LP. I like it when they get noisier and lean into something that more resembles post-punk.

A low 5 for Sonic Youth from me. This is one of my favourite functions of the list, making me listen to artists i’ve never listened to but always meant to. I always had a feeling i’d love Sonic Youth whenever I finally gave them a listen and yep, I love this record.

Not for me overall but definitely had moments, some very cool guitar bits mixed in there

I'm a fan of Sonic Youth, but I'm not sure why we needed another album from them - from the same time period. To anyone unfamiliar with the band, this one would sound no different than the other -4- albums on the list. Seriously? 5 albums. All put out within 6 years. Even as a fan I think that's unnecessary. I do love this album, and am scoring it accordingly, but I'm seriously doubting the choices of the book's author.

I feel after three Sonic Youth albums on this list ... I am a half-Sonic Youth fan. As I like the Kim Gordon songs much more than the other guy. Are their any albums with isolated Kim Gordon tracks? Also for a post punk alternative album .. this seems to run a little long.

This is not for me. Felt one note throughout.

Vibey

I expected to like this one more, but all the fuzz and somewhat disappointing vocals were kind of a letdown.

escelente 4.7 a primera escucha, a reserva de subir a 5 en un futuro

NicFitNicFitNicFitNicFit Might be better lb for lb than Daydream Nation, without quite reaching the same highs

Hell yeah, more Sonic Youth is never a bad thing. Honestly, the 10 years where they released EVOL through Washing Machine is legendary and one of the best 10 year streaks any band has ever had. This album is definitely on the more noisy side compared to some of their other albums during this time, but it's all great either way. Songs like 100%, Drunken Butterfly, JC, Purr, etc. are just great and stack up in their catalogue. Slightly prefer the Kim Gordon songs on this album over the Thurston Moore songs, but not by much. Only real dud is the one minute long nothing song Nic Fit with it's aggravating singing, but that's not enough to affect my rating at all. Overall, fantastic album. Not quite the statement or as good as Daydream Nation, but damn close.

3.5. Which way to go?

Nojoo aluksi en oikein tykännyt ja oli ehkä liian noisea, mutta on tää ihan kivan mielenkiintoista. Oli hyviä tunnelmallisia hetkiä. Mielenkiintoista sellaista vähän erilaista rokkia joka ei yritä okla liian miellyttävää. Parhaat: JC, Chapel Hill, On The Strip, Shoot

Dirty grungy sock puppet

Some of the music on this album is fantastic. The melodies are catchy and the rhythms are infectious. Thurston Moore’s vocals fit the tone perfectly. My only complaints are track 10, a nonsensical comedy song, and Kim Gordon’s vocals. She tries too hard to sound angry and it’s just too performative for my liking. It doesn’t feel real and for me it ruins the songs, making me impatient for Thurston to take the reins again. Overall though, it’s a solid effort. I had always thought that “Dirty Boots” from Goo was their best individual song, but "Theresa's Sound World" will have something to say about that. It reaches a crescendo of an epic wall of noise, which remains simultaneously loud, yet coherent. Overall, I really enjoyed Dirty and I can comfortably say this is Sonic Youth’s best album.

fun

Good rock but a bit too experimental for me

A little too noisy for me. Likes: Theresa’s Sound-World; Sugar Kane

++: Swimsuit Issue, Theresa's Sound-World, Shoot, Sugar Kane, Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit, On the Strip, JC, Purr, Crème Brûlée +: 100%, Drunken Butterfly, Youth Against Fascism +-: Wish Fulfillment, Nic Fit, Chapel Hill 8,2/10

Very loud, lots of angst and just not that good.

When I was younger I probably would have liked this band and indeed there were some interesting parts, but overall the sound was just a bit chaotic for my ears.

I can get into this!

Such a good album! 3.5/5 for now, but could see a bump to a 4 after another listen.

Almost nostalgic.

Definitely not going for catchy on every song but there's lots of emotions pointed in the right direction.

What even is this genre, wanted to like it

Sonic Youth are one of my top five bands. Such a solid run up to Rather Ripped and Dirty is my favorite of them all. SY were pretty much peerless at that time with Pavement yet to truly emerge. One of the biggest appeals of this album is how it sonically wanders around. Chaotic and noisy, sleazy, sincere, melodic, experimental, sensitive, and brash all fit.

meh total 4,5/10

Saw them on the tour they did to promote this album. Perhaps not their absolute best (Daydream Nation for me), but still awesome.

I really wanted to like sonic youth. I have a weird memory of everyone speaking about them when I was a kid and it being like a rebel thing to like them. But, no, it's that 90s non grunge scene but I found it more screechy and unstructured than a new era

'Sounds like the Pixies' as M. said, and I'd use that as both an accurate description and a compliment. 'Candy Kane' is a legit banger. Hit material. 'Youth Against Fascism' is a bit simplistic but... *checks notes* oh I see it's 2026 ok.

Messy, loud, bitter, silly. "Dirty" is an apt name for this. Honestly I was going to give it four stars, since this is my first time hearing it, but who am I kidding? This is the attitude I want to channel most days.

Some songs were good some were weird

Some good noise, but not arranged in songs I want to hear again

Sugar Kane

Wish I was listening to this in the 90s

Maybe its just me, but I always pair this with Goo, which came out right before it...because in my head, its a 'dirtier' version of Goo. Very song oriented, like Goo, but with some more dissonant tones that make it Dirty. I don't know if that made sense to anybody. 4/5.

Little glimpses of something decent instantly drowned out by harsh noise and shitty out of key singing.

This is the 2nd Sonic Youth album I have heard and I have to say that I am a fan. The guitars are loud and just rock as hard as anything that was out in the early 90s. Kim Gordon is the key here with her lyricism. It points out the issues with being a woman. It still resonates today. A great double album. I’m glad I heard it.

Decent album, not their best. Still solid.

muy gritones

Magnificent noise

Somehow it's so loud it nearly put me to sleep

Great album! Quite like sonic youth! This is a classic!

“Want this cup o tea, Shaun?” “Nah, it’s not mine.”

Pretty much as I expected, though it did start to improve after the first couple of tracks. But not by much.

A classic of its time. ‘Sugar Kane’ is one of my favourite tracks from the decade!

I still chuckle at the thought of Sonic Youth on a major label. Victims of circumstance I guess. Like Goo before it, this has them writing well structured songs with almost a mass market appeal for the Grunge fans, while still an element of uncompromising attitude of Noise Rock about the whole record. The fact they became known by many a heavy rock fan shows how messed up the music scene had become at the time. 100% still gets a run out from time to time, the best song from their Geffen years by far.

One of the definitive albums of the 1990s.

Had some grunge vibes at times that I really enjoyed, but all the short experimental bits scattered all over missed pretty bad

I just hate music like this.

this is more mainstream than their earlier records, but still has some grit

all i know is you got no money, but that's got nothing to do with a good time Album holds up incredibly well, some of the deeper cuts I actually like more now than when it was released. Really glad I got tossed this album today.

I always got the feeling that Sonic Youth are really trying to be alternative, man. Sometimes it comes effortlessly and it's really good; sometimes it seems forced and it's not so good. This album is one of those compilations.

Solid album. Nothing really stood out.

It rocked pretty hard, and there was lots of cool tones and stuff. However, I just simply wasn’t in the mood for this aggressive punk energy today

Beautiful guitars.

pretty good

Como 'Goo' me parece un buen disco. Ahora, mejor que 'Goo' no es. Con más escuchas le agarraré mayor gusto.

KEN. love it

It took a couple listens to get fully on board. I like the style but it initially found it to be a bit played out by the end. The second time I enjoyed much more from start to end. The noisiness creates a great frantic tone, but I also enjoyed the quieter, more thoughtful moments that give the noisy parts room to breathe and stand out. Particularly thinking of Theresa's Sound-World, I really like the slow build up to the chaotic, almost black metal-esque sections I'm a bit Selective with Kim Gordon's vocals. She's good when more subdued like on Shoot but can be a bit annoying when she does the strained thing. It wasn't enough to harm my enjoyment though Highlights: Theresa's Sound-World, Chapel Hill, Shoot, 100%

I fell in love with this album just now!

The Good: Dirty things can get cleaned! The Bad: Turns out that this dirt is hardbaked… The Ugly: Stains that can’t be removed… Fuck me that was a chore to get through. I love the ‘90s, great music in general, all genres… not as great as the ‘70s, but still… great decade. This. This was just a pain to get through. If I want to listen to noise, I can go and sit next to a busy highway, or stand outside an elementary school while it’s break-time… I don’t know if I’d rather listen to the sounds coming out of a slaughterhouse.. I guess there are noises which are worse then this album. Still, did not enjoy the experience. Sorry. 2*, and I’m being nice here...

They got it

Not my jam. Headache inducing. 2.5

5.0/10 Didn't really enjoy this much at all... thought I would like it more

This album varies from quite good to not good. Usually it is somewhere in the middle…

prima, punk

Remember listening to this, and not turning it off half way, but don't remember much else 🤷‍♀️

Better than goo

Weird and long but there's some good stuff in here. Not one that I'll probably revisit often but a good museum piece of garage band rock. Top tracks: "100%," "Theresa's Sound-World"

--100%...noisy. bass breakdown at the end is fun --Swimsuit Issue…my feeling on Sonic Youth up until today was that Moore should sing all the songs. this track supports this feeling --Theresa’s Sound-World…ominous and interesting --Drunken Butterfly...more Kim Gordon too-cool-for-school vocals. don't care for it --Shoot...two straight Gordon tracks. brave --Wish Fulfillment...the other guy! yeah, guys, stick with Thurston on the mic. the verses are nice, chorus ruins it --Sugar Kane...a pop song! it's good. okay, maybe a little too long for "pop" but it's pleasant --Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit...another Gordon song. guitars are doing cool things to elevate it a little --Youth Against Fascism...if only. nice, chunky bass. lyrics are a little direct but maybe directness has always been necessary in these matters --Nic Fit...apparently this is a cover —On the Strip…no thanks —Chapel Hill…nice guitar rock —Stalker (not on original release)…yup, it’s noise rock —JC…/checks watch —Purr…some noise rock mixed with pop riffs. track is fun but it's more evidence that this album doesn’t really know what it wants to be —Crème Brûlée…delete

Sonic Youth are a band I really should have listened to before now and they didn’t disappoint, I enjoyed both the vocals from Thurston and Kim, and liked that the sequencing allowed for back to back Kim led songs, given she seemed to have the minority in that sense.

Alternative rock. Kinda punk-y. I didn’t really care for it.

Almost a one. I've heard this referenced many times as a seminal moment in music, but it's simply not a pleasant listen.

It started better than the last Sonic Youth album but got worse as it went on. I'm all for noise rock but some of this is just so bad and annoying

This is not my thing.

This is a rock group out of New York, and the music here is rock and hard rock. The song titles are better than the music. A few of the tracks might be ok if I heard them a few more times, but no thanks.

Not my vibe, although cool that there are multiple singers and one is a lady. Also cool that they have an album called "Goo". And I presume I align politically. However, I got an MRI today and this felt less melodious.

No me gustó el estilo de rock

Would listen again. In fact, did!

I know and like this album cos I have it. Proper diRty and grungy. Teresa's sound garden is a cracking tune.

Sonic youth are good enough to make music that could be really good to listen to, but instead they do weird shit and she starts singing likes she’s constipated.

I think this is a good album, one of many Sonic Youth released! Not sure this would be my top choice, though.

Great album. A good mix of experimental, noise and rock.

Great. a bit long, and I think I prefer their early stuff. But still enjoy this a lot. Good motorcycle album too

22 years ago a friend’s older brother gave me 4 CDs on the same day. Sonic Youth’s Dirty, Slint’s Spiderland, My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless and Mogwai’s Happy Songs for Happy People. Ben - thanks for changing my worldview. I should really message you. It’s been a while.

Reading all the 1 star reviews is hurting my head. Learn how to give better criticism than "iT's JuSt NoIzE!!!1!1!111!!!" please I BEG of you.

5 Stars. Noisy. Buzzy. But still with a pop sensibility. ‘100 Percent’ and ‘Sugar Kane’ are standouts, as was a off-kilter cover of the New York Doll’s ‘Personality Crisis’.

Solid album if you want to hear their prior noise-rock stylings at a higher quality level, but they're really not selling themselves as a band with diverse enough offerings to earn five spots on this list. Still good, though

Theresa’s sound world : jolie mélodie L’ambiance de l’album est mélancolique et fonctionne bien, donc l’album se tient et les chansons sont complimentées dans leur ensemble L’album devient finalement assez répétitif. Les voix lassés… lassent, au bout de 40 min Ça va, ça se relance assez vite et on a à nouveau de la variété au 2,3 de l’album Chapel Hill : superbe ! JC : enivrante aussi Vers la fin vraiment ça s’arrête pas les bons riffs

Whimsically titled guitar and drum heavy post punk. Relatively agreeable.

Noisy

one reviewer listened to this album and still typed the words "there's not a lot to dislike about this album" unironically. My only advice to you is to ask your doctor if Vraylar or Prozac may be helpful for you.

The mixing and production on this was so awful I’m not sure what the music was actually like

So irritating - couldn't get through a single song. Once he starts singing.....

Strong songs all the way through, and much poppier than some of their other albums. The best songs on this are Kim's I think.

Feels like 90s rock.

Hard to understand how they got 5 albums on that list. Definitely not their best album. Some good stuffs but way too diluted.

Once i'm through all 5 Sonic Youth albums, i'll probably have 10 songs that I like to make up a good album. This had 2 songs I enjoyed; Theresa's Sound-World and JC. 2.5.

I love Sonic Youth. I think they’re probably my perfect band, if not being my absolute favourite. Experimental, strange, weird, unconventional, but all makes sense. They arent some sort of mad noise rock band that makes no sense to anyone but the purists. Everything always seems to count with Sonic Youth. This record is as great as Goo and Daydream Nation, and still has that raw experimental madness of Evol and Bad Moon. Although everything they touch is experimental. Their entire legacy is pushing things, and this for me is one of them records that proves you can push things and experiment whilst still being accessible. Guitars werent meant for standard tuning and 4 power chords… Daydream, Goo, Dirty must be one of the greatest ever 3 record release runs by any band.

First half of this album was at least as good as goo, if not better. Probably the most listenable of any sonic youth we've had. They have this characteristic tonal sound that is great but they don't deviate from it enough, really liked it when they'd do a more melodic bit before the noise came back, nice to have some dynamics. By and large it stayed unsettling and noisy, which I also really like but I'd be a bigger fan with more variety. Sonic youth don't really sound like everyone else and I love when shuffle brings them on randomly. As a full album I'm not as big a fan but it's still great.

Chapel Hill, Youth Against Facism, Drunken Butterfly, and 100% were the standouts. Lovely wall of noise, loads of feedback in every track. I got on well with this, flew by. Vivid, coherent, captivating. JC was good too. Actually the whole album was good. Go on then, a 5.

Sonic youth are good aren't they. Really like having male and female vocals. 100%, pure and sugar kane were my favourites. Not as good as daydream nation or goo for me, but still good 4 (would probably give daydream nation a 5 now)

Kurz vor zu metalig für mich aber kim gordon ist einfach Queen!!

Not really for me. Female vocals grated on me. I'd listen to one or two songs again, but definitely not an album I'd return to.

A gen-x shibboleth that I still don't quite get. Truly ambivalent: some of the music is amazing, some of the lyrics are trash. Sometimes hypnotic, sometimes just boring.

A lot of this sound just like your average 90s alt rock, not what I expected from Sonic Youth. For the band that made challenging, weird sounding albums like Bad Moon Rising, EVOL and Washing Machine, this is surprisingly normal, way too normal for my liking. Might still grow on me, though.

# Album Name: Dirty # Artist: Sonic Youth # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Honestly, i still dont see the appeal of this lot. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? No

Maybe it's because it's the first one I heard, but this is my favourite SY album

Solid

I preferred Goo but this was still goo(d)

Second SY album and still none of their really good ones, do sort it out RPG, 3 stars for “Dirty” but hopefully we have even greater listening pleasures to come. Tom.

全然わからん

Not sure how the top comment about this band being better than mine is accurate. I think I could do better than some of these moaning or vomit sounding tracks. Really not good

ok

So much good stuff on here, with a lot of variable, well executed songs

My second Sonic Youth album in 3 days. What have I done to deserve this. Cannot understand the hype with this band. Unmeasurable and tuneless. Found this one to be quite boring with no standout tracks. Sounds like a band trying to make a more mainstream album and failing

Not for me even though I usually like a bit of noise.

Really like the album and it's produced nicely without sacrificing much of the Sonic Youth ethos. I'm curious to hear the other 3 SY albums I have yet to get to and find out why there are so many. Sugar Kane hits pretty hard and I love the left turns the rhythms and songs take at times. This one could rise in estimation, but staying with:

Classsssssss act, sy, great!

Vaguely listenable, and feels longer than it is.

One of my favourite LPs and I still play it regularly. Three different songwriters, vocalists and song types, but all of it unmistakably Sonic Youth.

I had previously heard some Sonic Youth material but not this album. This is rock which pushes pretty far into the alternative category. It has a cohesive sound throughout which I appreciate. There's some substance here that I appreciate and although I am not jumping up and down, I would listen again.

They are aptly named. I didn't know "Noise Rock" was a thing, but this is definitely it

Either pretty solid or just absolute garbage, no in between. The songs Thurston Moore does vocals on are actually pretty solid. 100% is a pretty nice track, reminds me a lot of Nirvana at times. There’s some decent guitar instrumentation in there and some really cool techniques. I absolutely can’t stand Kim Gordon’s vocals, when she wants to sound good she can (On the Strip) but there are some putrid performances in this one. Orange Rolls, Angels Spit is absolutely awful, easily a bottom 3 song we’ve gotten so far. It legitimately sounds like she’s retching and about to puke at times. Nic Fit is also particularly bad, but at the very least it’s only 60 seconds. With a half dozen omissions I legitimately think I’d love this album, but the stinkers on this album are just unbearably bad.

Sonic Youth Dirty, huh? Have you tried... not doing that? Let's just wail over the music, that'll really enhance the ambience. There are inklings of good music in here, solid riffs and the like, but ugh. It's like they dumped too much MSG in their food.

This album came out in 1992, I was 22 years old. It didn't appeal to me then, and it doesn't appeal to me now. I realize why I don't have any Sonic Youth CDs in the collection.

I kind of like the sound and energy this album has, but there are certain moments that I just hated listening to. The album would get repetitive and boring and I would want to give it a 2, but then it would get good again and I would want to give it a 4. This opinion going back and forth causes it to be a 3.

The great part about this experience is that I am listening to artists I have never gotten around to listening to before. In this case, I had always heard about Sonic Youth and their influence in music but this is the first time I have ever listened to an album of theirs. The downside of this is that I may not be starting in with a good album to fully appreciate what a band has to offer. Which brings us to this album. I know this is not “the” Sonic Youth album but I also do not know if it is a good place to start in their discography it being a double album and all. It falls into the problem with most double albums in that few bands can acutally make an enjoyable double album that doesn't have too much filler. There are some songs that I like and others that should not be in this track list (such as the multiple songs where the vocalist sounds like they are literally throwing up in the microphone). I look forward to getting more Sonic Youth to get a complete picture of what a band hah to offer. With this one though I am giving it a 2/5 as the misses greatly outweigh the hits.

Some of it was a little difficult, but I liked it overall.

That's a nice cover, better than most music.

Classic

No. 172 Musically this album is good, but the vocals are horrific.

idk what you want from me.

Almost abhorrent there just was a few good moments to justify this not being one of the worst albums I’ve listened to this list.

How can you be both boring and noisy? I have no idea. Neither vocalist was particularly great. How out of it do you have to be to enjoy this? Well, I have another three of their albums to listen to in the next two years, I guess.

Sounds to me like this could be the most overrated band in the history of music.

Better than the last Sonic Youth album I listened to. Still not the best stuff I've heard, but better. Clearly influential, so I understand it being on the list, but there's a lot better stuff out there that I'd rather listen to, personally.

Aging is a hell of a thing. As a teenager I quite liked this album. 30 odd years later, I think it's fine, but it may be another 30 years before I listen to it again.

Solid album. Loud, but not overbearing. Again really enjoyed having the two contrasting vocals on different tracks. Just a really solid rock album, no complaints.

Getting teenagers depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel. The wisdom of the Simpsons knows no bounds. I've always wanted to try getting into this band. Not as a backup bassist or sock puppet stylist, (as cool as that might be) but in terms of enjoying their artistic output. Like many dumb suburban kids, I was introduced to "Kool Thing" via Guitar Hero. Actually, I stand by that game. What a blast. Anyway. Now that the sponsored portion of this unreadable review is over with, I realize that Kool Thing isn't on this record. You know what is on this record? Good fuckin' songs be on dis record. Not songs to fuck to. I think any romantic rendezvous would be swiftly terminated before "100%" had a chance to hit the first refrain. While it is true that this would only crack the "sex playlist" of only the sickest puppies out there, this album rips. It is rife with sardonic angst that somehow conglomerates a blasé aloofness with a hatred and venom that comes from caring too much. Whip out the longest guitar strap you can find and hate the man, man. I love this record. 3.5-4 HIGHLIGHTS: Max(imum) Payne 4

I thought this was cool!

Nice sound! Fuzzy and indeed dirty, but quite listenable . Sugar Kane instrumentally....very nice, the dark solo guitar .

Nice and dirty!

There’s been too much of this band. I’m not listening.

It was ok. Kind of a punk sound.

a chunk of the songs lacked a "bite" (for lack of a better word) that made them fail to keep my interest but there are definitely a few gems here and there. it caught my attention whenever they picked up the tempo. i'm not really a fan of the female vocalist i'm a bit sad that i don't like this more because i'm sure the people who like this are really cool. i wouldn't complain about hear this playing in the background at some kinda gathering but i think i'm a bit too much of a loser to ever find myself in that situation fave track: chapel hill

Sonic Youth have redeemed themselves! On the fourth album in no less. Maybe it just hit a bit harder, it doesn't just "sound like noise". this may prompt me to re-evaluate past ratings.

Just could not bring myself to enjoy through this album. Nothing quite hooked me that well - although it wasn’t tough to listen to either.

Inescuchable. Tube q fijarme q estuvieran bien los parlantes o si se habían roto.

"I'm just from Encino, why are you so mean-o." Are you kidding me? Two stars because a small handful of these songs are half decent and would actually be good if a better band wrote them. I hate this band with a burning passion.

80

not my sound or vibe

Dirty is just that. Sonic Youth (poor choice of band name) has a grinding, dirty sound. Tough to be a US band in the early nineties and not be grungy, so it seems like they tried to add that into their mix. For the first time, I like the male vocals better than the female singer who seems screechy, off key, and all over the place. Purr is the best song on the over length album. Get rid of Orange Rolls, Angel Spit and Nic Fit. Was hoping Crème Brulee as the dessert song would be sweeter. Not worthy of two albums on The 1001 Must Hear List. This album makes it because of the tribute to their dead friend and the controversial Swimsuit Issue. (2.2*s) Better name would be Sonic Noise. If they go back on tour 30 years after the album, can’t really go as Sonic Youth.

After 3 albums from Sonic Youth on the list, I'm out. Each one got progressively worse, following the chronological release dates. The band may have been avant-garde for the early 90s but it has no lasting power. Today, it's a sloppy, noisy annoyance. Don't like either of the leads singers. Some ok guitar work here and there and a glimmer of hope with the three track wrap up "Chapel Hill," "JC" and "Purr." But then Kim Gordon closes the album with burnt "Creme Brulee." I would have given one record from the youth a place on the list, purely for the underground influence but the list has wasted spots on these guys. Hopefully the band slows down and grows up at some point...1.22 stars.

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

Wasn’t a big fan of the first Sonic Youth album I tried, Sister. When I saw this was 58 minutes long I groaned. However I was pleasantly surprised. This is a great rock album. It did help that I was walking while listening, which I think made me go faster. Highlights for me were Sugar Kane and On The Strip. Love the album cover too

Review - weird that I got an album called Dirty the day after an album called Dirt. It was good to re-establish that I just don't like Sonic Youth's music. They seem like interesting people. I bet I'd get along with them. I like almost every band that cites them as a major influence. But whenever I try listening to them I just find the songs boring and the vocals bad. I was thinking just the other week that I should give them another go. And now I have I know that nothing has changed, they're still not for me. Rating - 4.5/10 Need to hear? YES

The 4th best SY record. There's some amazing work here, and some unfulfilled stuff. They are a meticulous constructor of song and sound.

Guess my dazzled Sonic Youthbrun ends here. I couldn’t get into this album. It just felt assaultingly noisy and I was happy when it was over. The only parts I liked were when Kim Gordon sang lead and some moments of the wall of sound aesthetic. I can also see Kim Gordon’s influence on Courtney Love, and I respond to both women’s brand of damaged, edgy delivery. Kim brings this up from a - gasp! - one for me.

Really liked this album. I may be becoming a sonic youth fan because of this project

I understand this album is influential, but it just didn’t appeal to me.

I, for whatever reason, never got into this band at all. I don't think I can name one song by them, even though I've been aware of them basically my entire life. Upon listening, I like a lot of things about the music (I hear pleasant hints of Fugazi), but I don't think I like either vocalist.

"Dirty" is the seventh full-length and second double album by American rock band Sonic Youth. The sole Wiki-listed genre is experimental rock. That covers it. The album was produced by Butch Vig and the band and was inspired by the popularity of grunge music at the time. The bandmembers included Thurston Moore (vocals, guitar), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Lee Renaldo (guitar, vocals) and Steve Shelley (drums). Commercially, the album reached #83 on the US Billboard 200 and #6 in the UK and was generally well-received critically. A loud screeching and distorted guitar opens the album in "100%." A grinding and grungy rhythm pace. Moore on vocals in a tribute to roadie Joe Cole murdered in an armed robbery attempt and explores urban violence. The pace gets revved up in the next song "Swimsuit Issue." Gordon with snarky-sounding vocals as she critiques sexual harassment and workplace misogyny. "Drunken Butterfly" was inspired by mispronouncing and/or mis-hearing Heart's "Dog and Butterfly." An extremely fast start. More of that distorted guitar with a metallic edge. Drummer Steve Shelley shines as the pace changes throughout. An overall creepiness adds to the vibe. Lee Renaldo takes over lead vocals in a great deeper cut "Wish Fulfillment." Layered guitars with one melodic and other distorted. They get the soft-loud-soft dynamic going as well as a dramatic tone. Urgent high-pitched guitar strums open "Sugar Kane." The song settles into a deep groove with a pronounced bass and was inspired by Marilyn Monroe's character in "Some Like It Hot." A freakout ending with distorted guitars...of course. The fuzzed-out guitar makes an appearance in "Youth Against Fascism." More of that grinding rhythm. Fugazi's Ian MacKaye contributes on guitar. A comment on the conservative early 1990's. Oh, if they would have waited 30 or so years for this song. For half the song, "Chapel Hill" is the most straight-forward rock song on the album with a melodic guitar. It then goes fast and distorted recalling an earlier version of Sonic Youth. The majority of these songs are short and fairly focused. However, the band is also able to retain their signature distorted and experimental edges. The rhythm is more grinding and grungy which really wasn't a new thing for them. The songs can be driving, punk-ish, dreamy or psychedelic. The lyrics and themes are personal experiences and critiques on politics and social and societal issues. It's interesting; I tend to go back nowadays to earlier and later-day Sonic Youth. I'm not sure why I overlook this album. It's extremely strong and may showcase the band at their musical height. Drummer Steve Shelley is on fire. I give this album a strong recommendation for any rock fan.

Loud, and not really my thing. Just like Daydream Nation, this is not an enjoyable listen. In fact this is probably worse.

Meh

I’ve tried to get into Sonic Youth several times, but they just don’t do it for me. They’re very New York coded in a way that doesn’t appeal to me. They seem to be more concerned with breaking convention than making good music. That can be a good thing, as other artists would come along inspired by Sonic Youth to make great music, but I’d rather listen to those artists.

Raw grunge/experimental rock. Hallmarks of the genre: angsty lyrics, heavily distorted guitars. Enjoy other Sonic Youth better but this is a fine album. Standouts are "Sugar Kane", "Purr" and "Swimsuit Issue".

Ooooh I've gotten to love Sonic Youth because of this journey through the generator. Never was as a teenager but I've liked what I've heard. This album is so good!! I love the grunginess to it. And the tracks with the female vocals.

I wasn’t paying quite enough attention to this and for that i am sorry but im too far behind to dwell. I enjoyed parts of this but the opening couple tracks were a touch too squeaky and the vocals (i think intentionally) grated in some songs. Should probably give her another listen…

I think if I had listened to the lyrics more closely, this would have resonated more but alas, not to be this time around

I’ve tried to get into Sonic Youth before (unsuccessfully) and this time listening through was pretty much the same. Maybe they’re just too cool for me? Lots of songs started out sounding good but then lost me part way through. Theresa’s Sound-World was maybe my favourite? Maybe some of their other albums contain more delights?

Loud things are great and noise rocks and sonic youth are the best.

The only Sonic Youth album I own - and actually purchased it shortly after it was released. Did not get it then and it has taken quite a few listens over the year to appreciate it. Until doing this list I had not listened to any other Sonic Youth albums and can now say that this is my favorite Sonic Youth album as it feels tighter and more focused. It also features Sugar Cane which I believe is their best track.

Was not looking forward to a second Sonic Youth album. That said, this one was alright. Couple of tunes sounded decent and only a couple of WTF was that tracks.

My second Sonic Youth- same sort of grunge/alternative sound. Didnt really wow me- not a bad album though. 2.5 / 5

One of those bands I'd always kind of heard about but not really listened to any of their stuff. In my head they were always predominantly a 90s band but was surprised to see they originally formed in 1981! I guess what interests me the most listening to this album is hearing who they might have been influenced by vs who Sonic Youth went on to later influence; tracing that line of punk, experimental new wave through to 90s alt-rock grunge, i.e. Velvet Underground, Sex Pistols, Patti Smith -> Nirvana

Okay so it's The Garages. I always wondered if I'd still like The Garages without the emotional connection to Blaseball but based on this album the answer is yes. 5 / 5

I prefer this over Goo, but it still doesn’t quite get there. There are a few good tracks scattered throughout, but overall it falls a bit flat.

Scuzzy punish, will revisit

- i like the faster tempo it opens with - good but not necessarily something i'm itching to revisit etc - favorites: 100%, shoot, sugar kane, chapel hill - rating: 3/5

it's an alright album. not particularly bad, but left me wanting more than what was offered. notable: theresa's sound-world 2.5/5 if i can do that otherwise 3/5

a more interesting/experimental sound than daydream nation, but not as good or cohesive love the lean into embracing noise rock highlights: 100%, purr rating: 3/5

Le doy 4 estrellas porque sería un crimen ponerlo al nivel de Eliminator de ZZ Top, y como no se pueden colocar notas intermedias pues bueno, así se queda (aunque la nota más realista sería 3,5 estrellas). Me ha gustado, aunque por alguna razón lo sentí más largo de lo que debería (aunque sólo dura 62 minutos). Imagínate qué sería de mí entonces si me hubiera escuchado la versión deluxe que dura literalmente 2 horas y media...

Prefer this over “Goo”, which I gave 3 stars, so guess this gets a 3 as well! Let’s say 3.25 to be generous

Sonic Youth's second album on a major label saw them streamlining their compositions and ever-so-slightly containing their noisy proclivities. by some coincidence, Dirty was produced by Butch Vig and mixed by Andy Wallace, who each performed those same duties on Nirvana's Nevermind the year before. songs like "100%" and "Youth Against Fascism" feel very much like conscious nods to grunge, some of the most accessible SY songs I've yet heard. but, not to worry! there's tons of the band's usual timbral tinkering to be found elsewhere, like on the spellbinding "Theresa's Sound-World" (my favorite SY track I've heard so far), the total noise freakout in the middle of "On the Strip", and the experimental closer "Créme brûlèe". something about the way these four write and perform really draws attention to the ways in which they use their instruments; the variety of sounds, styles and contexts they place the standard rock band instrumentation in can be utterly bewildering. strong 8/10.

Best Song: Sugar Kane. This track really shows how talented they are as musicians. The way that this song is able to play with crescendos is fantastic. Worst Song: Creme Brulee. What an absolute energy kill to the end of the album. This is an example of the exact type of song that this album could have done without. Overall: Really great musicians, shame about the vocals. I don't know what it was about the vocals, but they seemed to sit stuck between rock/punk/indie but never pushed hard enough into any particular direction to actually feel notable. I will say I vastly the preferred female vocals to the male ones. At the end of the album, I was left with the feeling that the band had only ever pressed the gas pedal halfway, and I wish I could have seen them press it to the floor.

sugar kane is a car song okay

My old man has told me several times, one of the greatest live music experiences he ever had was going to a Crazy Horse show, and Sonic Youth opened. He loved it. My mom hated it. Dad was right.

- sonic youth on bändinä itselle vähän välimaastossa, hyviä biisejä mutta ei niin hyviä että jaksaisi päivittäiseen rotaatioon ottaa - tämäkin levy ihan jepa

sonic youth jamais vai receber menos do que 5 estrelas no meu setor o dirty é pedrada absoluta

mano pior que acho que a run dos anos 80-90 do sonic youth NÃO TEM album ruim. bizarro demais. não sei se consigo dar menos de 5 estrelas não, papo reto. esse eh dos mais queridinhos, né. gosto DEMAIS de todas as músicas. tudo barulhento guitarrudo gostoso demais do jeito que nóis gosta. tem o adendo que esse tem wish fullfilment, que eh das minhas preferidas do ranaldo.

I have really tried to like Sonic Youth. They’re from the grunge era. They are seen by many grunge artists as icons, but for as much as I love grunge, I just can’t get into these guys.

I went back to listen to the first Sonic Youth album to get a better perspective, and I was a little bit hard on it at the time. I can kind of appreciate what they're doing with varios experimental composition techniques, and I think I like this album a bit more than the last one.. Chapel Hill was actually a decent song, and the tempo changes on the next song "JC" are an example of the experimental techniques I mentioned. That being said, their music still sucks, and this female vocalist, especially needs to be quiet

Aw, man, these guys again? (lol) And still not even the album that I thought was supposed to be their best one (Daydream Nation). (I peeked at the book, and it actually lists *5* Sonic Youth albums; that definitely seems like too many -- but they always were critics' darlings.) I don't think my review of this one is very different from the previous one. If anything, this tends to solidify for me that I just don't love Sonic Youth as much as the critics do. The music just doesn't grab me, and is also maybe too full of, what, angst? dissonance? jarring noisiness? for me. Also, their singing isn't very good. I don't hate it, though, so I guess I'll give it a 3. Best track: "Purr."

Seems like being edgy is more important to them than the music. If I was an edgy teenager in the 90's then I might like it, but this kind of sound is a big part of why I think it was an inferior decade for music There's a cool guitar part on Sugar Kane Chapel Hill rocks - fun drumming