1001 Albums Generator
Dirty by Sonic Youth

Dirty

Sonic Youth

1992
3.12
Rating
23298
Votes
1
8%
2
21%
3
35%
4
26%
5
11%
Distribution
Genres: Rock Styles: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Noise Rock, Experimental

Reviews (page 3 of 8)

Albie thinks it's rad, Brenden said one of his uncles used to listen to Sonic Youth.

It’s like they try to ruin every single song on the album with their vocals.

This is one of those bands I know I'm supposed to love based on the critics telling me so. I got Daydream Nation back when it came out to indie fanfare, and I could not get into it at all. At the time I was not into noisier music, so I just didn't bother listening to any of their other music when it came out. I thought maybe I'd feel differently today when Dirty showed up. I wasn't excited to find out it was an hour long, but thankfully I had the time to listen this morning. Lyrically this was funnier than I expected it to be, but I again didn't really vibe with it. The noise aspect wasn't as much the problem this time around, but it was more the sameness of most of the songs. The tracks that stood out were the slower ones, like Theresa's Sound-World, Sugar Kane and Chapel Hill. But that wasn't enough to make me actually enjoy listening to whole album.

Škripavo i dezorijentirajuće, ali skoro na dobar način. Solidno zanimljiv album, mada malo predug. Konačno donekle razumijem šta je njihova poenta i moram sad vidjeti da li mi je prošli album bio baš loš ili samo nisam kontala.

There are some great moments on here, but also a lot of stuff which is a chore to get through. I can defo see the influence on bands even today.

Maybe Sonic Youth’s most accessible album, but no less potent and still unique enough to have alluded largescale mainstream acclaim. A fantastic album.

I DNFed :/

The youth against fascism song was entertaining.

Liked this one! I preferred the man singing to the woman

I remember being in college and having some friends who listened to a lot of music—their tastes were the most eclectic I’d ever seen! Thanks to many of them, that’s how I became a fan of Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Violent Femmes, and so many others. I was introduced to this band through them as well… those were the days—I really miss all of that!

Yeah it's dirty, but in one of the best ways. Other than dirty, I'm not entirely sure what to call this. Prog grunge? Doesn't matter. This isn't mind-blowingly wonderful, but it certainly doesn't suck.

It’s Sonic Youth so always interesting but not my favorite of theirs. I don’t find it too essential of a listen and not the biggest grunge fan. It still has some classics on here though. Rating: 3.4

It wasn’t horrible, but just okay

jo voll gebed mir 2 90er albe nochenand denn hani sicher freud. gest isch nice gsi aber mer mönds nöd übertriibe. die erste zwei songs sind sehr angsty und chli jooo ich hass alles und musikalisch chani nonig meeega viel mitne afange. sugar kane isch no easy. youth against fascism isch sehr es guet statement i like aber de song selber isch huuuuere langwilig. die songs sind lang. und immer mega moll und gloomy und hookless.

wenn ich mich richtig erinnere, han ich s letschte sonic youth album iwie cool aber au chli enttüschend gfunde? es git spannenderi stimme abeeer na cool? ohhh okaaayy gsehn de grunge theresa's sound,world isch mega spannend omg drunken butterfly isch riiichtig geil d stimm vode kim gordon gfalltmer iwie na, uf jede fall besser als de thurston jaaa sie schaffeds e cooli brugg zwüsche aggressiv und ruhige parts mache nic fit beste song ever ich mach jz en nic fit (ich gah schmouk) on the strip isch jz nüt speziells mannn und halt de "mier mached vill grüsch uf eusne instrument isch nöd kin oieblingsschluss zumene song OHHH NVM ES GAHT NA WIITER ok das isch na geil gsi wies sich wieder entspannt het chapel hill findi musikalisch wieder geil aber sini stimm nervtmi eifach chli und isch glichzitig z wenig speziell, dass sie wenigstens ussesticht ABER d ziit usch schnell verbiigange und au eenn sicher vill sache ah mier verbii sind, ischs es 4i

Originally gave this a 2, although I never ended up finishing it. Now that I've actually finished I can see I wasn't missing out on much

mucho ruido y pocas nueces

Pretty harsh around the edges. Feels angsty and grungey but a little darker and stranger. Smashing pumpkins vibes for sure. Actually a pretty cool album, right up my alley.

Solid, but not one of the greats.

Not for me.

Catch, fun, and the interplay between both singers is a blast

Well, talk about recognisable album cover. Daydream Nation was my introduction to Sonic Youth (through this list) and I was kinda meh, so curious to see how this lands, especially as a more recognisable album (?) and been wanting to listen to it for a while. I feel like I would expect to like Sonic Youth more. Their rough edges, the experimentation and going against the grain, but it just doesn’t lad in a particularly pleasurable way. It’s good and different but I’m left just kind of meh. Again, seem to appear to prefer Kim’s vocal tracks (unsure if these songs are her songwriting more?) getting a similar feeling to Daydream Nation - got my fill and know where I stand with them, but still half the album to go. LOUD NOISES! (3.5)

Unbelievably bad. I have no idea why people like this band.

Esto es rock, carajo. Nada más que decir. ↑: 100%; Theresa's Sound World; Wish Fullfilment; Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit; On The Strip; JC ↓: Nic Fit; Crème Brûlée

I'm not so sure I'm into it. I don't hate it. I don't love it.

not quite my tempo

This is really fantastic. A perfect (dis)harmony of distortion and melody. Some very satisfying skronk and screams balanced with warm chords and melodies that draw you in. Equally the album is well weighted in the ratio of 3 minute bursts and longer, more slowly built up atmospheres. All while being effortlessly, effortlessly cool. Spectacular.

Not quite as godlike as Daydream Nation or Goo but still absolutely fucking awesome. All the noise and stuff is great and right up my alley but they really are great songwriters who more people should cover in different genres, imo.

I do not enjoy Sonic Youth at all. I just wanted this album to be over and it was almost an hour long. I especially dislike Kim Gordon’s voice.

i prefer this album when they stick to their alt rock sound. the punk attempt just doesn't work for me. it's a shame because there are some really good songs on here. but there are some very bad songs too. which ultimately makes for a bit of an erratic listen. very mixed bag. it's also a pretty long album. i think it could have been cut in half basically. like, "sugar kane" is a pretty neat song, but i'm not sure it needed to be nearly 6 minutes. "youth against fascism" is a cool song title, but unfortunately, just as he sings on the chorus, it is a 'song i hate' (sorry lol). "purr" is pretty sick though. i wish they had stuck a little more to that kind of sound. maybe there's another sonic youth album that does that i would prefer.

So far this album has a good vibe to it. Liked 100%. Wasn’t a huge fan of Swimsuit issue, but then loved Theresa’s Word Sound. Had a good indie rock feel to it. I feel like it’s very up and down in terms of style. There’s a lighter track, then a heavier track and it keeps repeating. I think it’s messing with the flow slightly. Even Shoot, with the heavier vocals, was still a lighter track. I slightly regret saying this, but the female heavy vocals sound like she’s about to vomit. I much prefer the male vocalist. Wish Fulfillment was a really quality track. So was Sugar Kane. Back to the other vocalist with Orange Rolls… ugh. I just don’t like the way this lady screams. While I can get behind Youth Against Fascism, I didnt overly enjoy the track. The guitar and instrumental parts on Chapel Hill were awesome! As much as I don’t really like the vocalist, JC was pretty good. Purr was a good track and Crème Brûlée closed it alright enough. Ughhhhh, 2.5/5 ⭐️. Like it probably deserves better but the bad outweighed the good in this case. 63/1089

The beauty of 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 f this is that for fans of the band 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. As it stands it falls into the problem with most double albums in that few bands can acutally make an enjoyable double album that doesn't feel too bloated. There are some songs that I dig 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 s to offer. With this one though I am giving it a 2/5 as the misses greatly outweigh the hits.

Banger of an album. It perhaps runs a little on the long side, but there's a lot to love here. Raw vocals, crashing guitars, and some good ol' social justice thrown in.

ugh kim gordon is such a badass i love you

Nee doet me niks. Of juist saai, of juist irritante geluiden. DNF

Bad 90s rock

Good for first listeners Not for me this one at least

Great scuzzy album

God this was just an hour of tedious noise

260226 12:39 4

good album, this felt like the most accessible of theirs so far, good music, proper moody

Not bad. Rate 6/10

Very peaceful, mostly 😅

A lot of highs and lows with this one. Moments of greatness; moments of clangers and clunky lyrics... one song, 'Youth Against Fascism', I looked up on genuis.com just for fun - and saw this exchange: AriannaHiggins 7 years ago the revolution is coming, comrades. courtesan 3 days ago 7 years later, still waiting on that revolution…comrades

While there is a symphonic grandeur to their music, it ultimately bored me to death!

It’s a good album it’s just really long. Better than the other album I heard from them.

I know it's a classic but I was never really a big listener of sonic youth? I'm in the genre and age bracket. It never quite grabbed me. I will say that Chapel Hill was a striking song and I do like the album. I'll probably listen to it again at a time where I'm not at work.

Listened through a couple times, no track stood out as incredible but the whole album just worked for me. Gritty and real, not like the quantized and soulless popular music of today that sounds decent but something is off.. 3.75/5

This hit after a really hard week. I needed the noise and chaos of this. Great album, kept me guessing the whole way through. 2/27/26

bien weno

I don't like this. Some of the songs on this album are okay, if not really my thing. However, "Swimsuit Issue" was by far the worst song on the album, (lyrically and vocally) and really brought down my opinion of it as a whole. Two stars. (Favorite track: Sugar Kane.)

Yes!! Thank you very much

Favorite track(s): Swimsuit Issue, Theresa's Sound-World, Drunken Butterfly, Sugar Kane

This just seemed derivative and confected, no thank you. I think this album only exists because of the success and greater creative talents of other bands and this version doesn’t add anything other than noise. A bit of a mess of an album.

It’s hard to love this immediately, it feels a bit flat and 'mungy.'  The constant droning is painful on the ear, creating a sound that is strangely compelling yet constantly misses the mark. While the rustic, grunge elements and brief nods to better bands like the Pixies are audible, they are ultimately overshadowed by an 'angry teenager' vibe (one that moans a lot). Much like 'Swimsuit Issue' it’s a terrible slog / song. I can only describe this like a jamming session.  I would go great work guys you're really onto something.  Then because they couldn't be fecked they walked off leaving me with this!  Thanks.

I'm afraid that this album commits the cardinal sin of this project which is to be incredibly boring. This is an issue at the best of times, more so when you have an album that is an hour long. The album sounds like it's derived from every other early grunge album. Few tracks are terrible in isolation, but they manage to sound affected and derivative, a poor facsimile of the styles they mimic. There were moments when both singers slip into a stylistic drawl which had me physically cringing. It sounds like kids pretending to be a rock band. Why would you listen to this when you could listen to Pixies, Pavement or early Radiohead? All of whom serve up something similar whilst sounding genuinely unique and original. This album sounds like an emulation of the early nineties grunge movement, rather than a participant.

Dirty (printed and stylized as diRty) is the seventh full-length studio album and second double album by American rock band Sonic Youth, released on July 21, 1992, by DGC Records. Dirty reached number 83 on the US Billboard 200 and number six on the UK Albums Chart. Dirty was deemed the best album of 1992 by Entertainment Weekly. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Meh, gave up listening. Not interested personally

My first real introduction to Sonic Youth and I've got to say I love it. The noise is just so raw and powerful it makes me want to relisten immediately. Just leaves me wondering why I've never checked them out properly before. Favourites: 100% Wish Fulfillment Sugar Kane Chapel Hill

Easily the best Sonic Youth album, and it's no coincidence that this is the least ambient/noise rock-focused. There are still remnants of that sound which drag the album down a bit, and Gordon's vocals are downright abysmal at times. But this is overall a good record with some excellent stand out tracks that elevate the album in a very entertaining way. Top tracks: 100%, Drunken Butterfly, Sugar Kane

Another one. This must be 5 records by these guys. My initial reaction is to skip this one. Ok I went back and skimmed. Looks like this is the forth time, not the fifth. Sugar cane was an especially interesting song.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGgg

Another album from my youth. More scattergun than I remember witha huge array of song styles. Not all hit but you can see why so many bands were influenced by them

Ok grungy emo vibes. Nice. That's cunt okkkk. Yeah this is good I like the vibes songs are unique but very classic emo. Ok there's a woman yelling I like this. You tell em. Fuck yeah. Yeah fuck that guy. Raging in my ear in the Simon's change room rn that's what this was meant for fs. You tell em. I really like this. Def a precursor to 2000s emo I can hear the screaming. I really like the way it's switching between the girls voice and the guys they're both cunt af. They're just yapping all over ngl. This youth is against fascism speak on it. Favourite: Wish Fulfillment Least favourite: Nic Fit

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? Nah, particularly when Kim Gordon’s looking for the notes in every song. But it washes over you in a special way. 3.5⭐️

I love Sonic Youth but I really struggle with the fact that many of their albums aren't something you can easily keeping listening to. "Daydream Nation" aside, I find myself listening only once in a while and quickly getting bored. The noise rock style is only ok in small doses. Frustratingly, they have some incredible songs in between. "100%" and "Sugar Cane" are both great tracks that I could easily listen to on repeat. And their entire discography has plenty of songs like this. But the albums only work when I'm in the right mood. I wanted to give this 5 stars because I genuinely love this band. But if I'm being honest, it's only a handful of great tracks that keep my interest here.

🎧Some of these songs are very good, like Sugar Kane. Some are very bad, like Swimsuit Issue.

I like that this one is more punky and less shoe gaze dirge than Daydream Nation, this is the album that helped me get what the fuss is about. “Swimsuit Issue” is a new personal banger.

Miraculously, my fourth and final Sonic Youth album from the list is the one I enjoyed the most. I definitely rolled my eyes when the generator gave it to me, but as I listened, I don’t know - it just kind of clicked this time. Seems like there’s more focus and less musical fucking around. For an album that’s almost an hour long, it’s pretty precise and direct. I’m not going to become a Youth-head anytime soon, but I am tempted to revisit the albums I was lukewarm or cold towards. >:(

I was really into Sonic Youth until this album and I kinda moved on. Apart from 'Wish Fulfillment' and a couple of other tracks, this just passed me by. Nothing annoying about it, well maybe some of the Kim Gordon led tracks are a bit iffy, but I can't really say anything on it is particularly attention grabbing.

I liked a handful of the songs, but overall this album is not for me. I have some friends who would love this album though. I really don't like when the woman scream sings. She sounds awful. When she sings normally she sounds fine. Several 7 minute instrumental tracks make up the back half of the album and they wore on me SUPER fast.

Fun, but a lot of noise.

Excellent the whole way through.

There are too many albums for many artists on this list. One of the biggest offenders is Sonic Youth. While I admit their albums all hit differently, I would almost consider inconsistent rather than innovative as their general sound doesn't evolve or change (with the exception of this album's predecessor Goo, they figured it out for that one). The first half of this record gets off to a poor start, with the band returning to their garage quality post-punk roots. I like the messaging of Youth Against Fascism of course, with the songs that follow getting much better over the course of the second half. It wasn't enough to salvage the record, though. 2.4/5 -> 2/5

Maybe the first Sonic Youth album we’ve had where a Kim Gordon vocal isn’t my favorite of the bunch. That honor goes to “Theresa’s Sound World”, but I don’t think it matters who sung on this one. Such a hectic, engaging wall-of-sound performance on that song. “Sugar Kane” was also worth remembering, this sounded like their effort at a single, with its relatively-digestible chorus. Good enough to get a 3/5, a stronger second half of the album was very welcome. I can see myself giving this a higher score with a few more listens. But I’d be happy to be done with Sonic Youth albums on this list for the sake of variety.

Ugh. So Neil Young really likes this band. OK. There's no escaping this man whilst listening to this damn list. He's my fourth most played artist on my Spotify Wrapped this year, and I only listen to him, and his wretched Extended Universe™, because of this bastard project. Fuck you, Robert Dimery.

Coming of age in the early 90s, I gravitated towards the more radio-friendly sounds of Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, and the like. I’m coming to realize how much those bands owe to Sonic Youth. I may not have loved every track here, but I really like the overall feeling it left me with of having heard something original.

Started well enough, but the bloated length led to several average songs. Realistically, it’s forgettable.

Would like them more with better singing.

This album goes so hard I can’t even, idk what’s the exact reason behind my love, but it doesn’t matter; a great album is always a great album

at first i disliked it and was going to give it 3/5 out of respect for sonic youth but my player was on repeat and i listened to it the second time and really enjoyed it. so if you generally like sonic youth but can't connect with this album, you might want to try to listen to it again and give it a chance to grow on you.

Never again

I'm giving this a 1 because I'm tried of listening to this band

Yeah they cool

Ennen en ollut kauheasti innostunut Sonic Youthista, mutta tämä levyhän rokkasi aika kovaa. Bändillähän on tällä listalla vielä ainanin kolme muuta albumia ja nyt ne alkoivat kiinnostaa.

This album is really good. I love the combination of Sonic Youth's experimentation with Butch Vig's clean production, it makes things sounds very "loose in a tight way". 4.5/5

Man, I keep finding Sonic Youth albums that rule. This is one of them. I really enjoyed this one. It's a 4/5 now, with room to grow. Definitely will revisit. 4/5

Not my preferred Sonic Youth album nor would I say this particular album deserves a spot on this list. If Jet Set Trash and No Star is also here I'll give it a pass. Dirty is a borderline 3 to 4 star album. It's surprising to me how unwelcome Kim Gordon's delivery is on this album all these years later. I remember it being more striking and palatable in the 90's.

This album was very high highs and a few lows. I liked it best when it didn't sound too 90s--for whatever reason the most grungy of the tracks sounds more dated in a way that Nirvana never does. But when it was a bit unexpected it really spoke to me. Standouts were: "Theresa's Sound-World," "Sugar Kane," "Youth Against Fascism," and "JC."

It's only just over, and already I've forgotten it.

I know they're super influential but I didn't get it

I'll search for information about Sonic Youth's album "Dirty" to provide you with a comprehensive review. Now let me search for more specific information about the lyrics and themes of the album: I now have excellent information about Sonic Youth's "Dirty" album. Let me provide you with a comprehensive in-depth review. --- # **Sonic Youth – *Dirty* (1992): In-Depth Review** ## **Overview** Released on July 21, 1992, *Dirty* represents a pivotal moment in Sonic Youth's career. As their seventh studio album and second for major label DGC (a Geffen subsidiary), it arrived at the height of the grunge explosion that their 1991 tourmates Nirvana had ignited with *Nevermind*. The band enlisted Butch Vig (who produced *Nevermind*) and mixer Andy Wallace to create what many expected would be their commercial breakthrough. Instead, *Dirty* became something far more interesting: a masterclass in how to embrace accessibility without sacrificing artistic integrity. --- ## **Music & Sound** ### **The Sonic Youth Sound, Condensed** *Dirty* is notable for being Sonic Youth's first album to rely primarily on radio-friendly three-to-four-minute song structures. Yet this brevity doesn't mean simplicity. The album explodes with the band's signature elements: Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo's coruscating, alternate-tuned guitars, Kim Gordon's alternately breathy and abrasive bass lines, and Steve Shelley's remarkably steady drumming that somehow holds the chaos together. The album opens with "100%," a song that immediately establishes the template: a driving, hypnotic riff, Moore's detached vocals, and guitars that seem to exist in a state of beautiful corrosion. The track builds layers of dissonance and melody until it becomes impossible to separate the two. Key musical moments include: - **"Sugar Kane"**: Perhaps the band's most straightforward pop song, nodding to both Velvet Underground and Marilyn Monroe (her character in *Some Like It Hot*), featuring an extended instrumental middle section that showcases the band's ability to stretch time within a conventional framework - **"Theresa's Sound World"**: A symphonic, building-and-releasing masterpiece that demonstrates the band's patience and dynamic control - **"Drunken Butterfly"**: A chaotic, driving rocker with lyrics borrowed entirely from Heart songs, originally titled "Barracuda" - **"Wish Fulfillment"**: Written and sung by Lee Ranaldo, one of the album's most emotionally resonant and curiously beautiful tracks The band also experiments with three-guitar arrangements on several tracks, adding extra density to their already massive sound. --- ## **Production** ### **Butch Vig's Touch** Butch Vig's production on *Dirty* is a fascinating case study in streamlining without sanitizing. Vig wanted to tighten arrangements and focus on guitar sounds, while Moore reportedly told him he wanted the album to sound like an obscure 1983 hardcore single Vig had produced for Mecht Mensch. The result is a compromise that satisfies both visions. Vig's production gives the guitars "additional punch and presence" compared to earlier albums, creating a clear, solid representation of the band's sound that still explodes with live intensity. The mix, handled mostly by Andy Wallace, is glossy but not disingenuous—Wallace even added subtle drum samples to beef up Shelley's beats, though this barely registers as intrusive. The production choices on *Dirty* were controversial among fans who preferred the messier, more experimental approach of albums like *Daydream Nation* or *EVOL*. However, the album's sound has aged remarkably well—the heaviness feels authentic rather than manufactured, and the clarity actually highlights the complexity of the guitar interplay rather than diminishing it. --- ## **Lyrics & Themes** ### **Political Engagement and Personal Grief** *Dirty* marks Sonic Youth's most overtly political album, railing against the abuses of the Reagan/Bush era with a directness that surprised many who associated the band with cryptic irony. **Political Tracks:** - **"Youth Against Fascism"**: A straightforward punk anthem featuring Fugazi's Ian MacKaye on additional guitar. The lyrics attack President Bush ("Yeah, the president sucks/He's a war pig fuck"), the KKK, Nazi skinhead bands, and reference Anita Hill ("I believe Anita Hill/The judge will rot in hell"). Thurston Moore described it as putting what DC punk protesters would say "into headline terms." - **"Swimsuit Issue"**: Kim Gordon's feminist manifesto about sexual harassment in the workplace, inspired by an actual harassment case at Geffen Records. The lyrics "Don't touch my breast, I'm just working at my desk" and "I'm just here for dictation" capture working women's exasperation, while the song's final section features Gordon naming all the models from the March 1992 *Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue* (Roshumba, Judith, Paulina, Kathy, Vendela, Naomi, Ashley, Angie, Stacey, Gail)—a brilliant juxtaposition of objectification and agency. - **"Chapel Hill"**: Written about the 1991 murder of Bob Sheldon, owner of Internationalist Books in Carrboro, North Carolina, and a vocal critic of the First Gulf War. The lyrics suggest CIA, KKK, or Jesse Helms connections, capturing the paranoia and confusion surrounding the murder. **Personal Grief:** - **"100%"** and **"JC"**: Both written about the murder of Joe Cole, a close friend of the band, in February 1991. "100%" addresses the tragedy in present tense ("I been waiting for you just to say the zaftig girl is mine"), creating a haunting meditation on violent loss. "JC" is perhaps the album's most emotionally devastating track—pure grief delivered through Gordon's talk-singing and disjointed memories, ending with over a minute of buzzing, droning guitar that evokes dread and absence. **Other Notable Lyrics:** - **"Shoot"**: Sung by Gordon from the perspective of an abused woman dreaming of retribution ("I stick a knife in my head thinking about your eyes") - **"Sugar Kane"**: A meditation on celebrity and emotional connection ("Sugar Kane, what went wrong?") - **"Crème Brûlée"**: A hazy, summer-tinged closer featuring the couplet "Last night I dreamt I kissed Neil Young/If I was a boy I guess it would be fun" --- ## **Influence & Legacy** ### **Paving the Way** *Dirty* stands as a crucial document of alternative rock's mainstream moment. While it didn't achieve Nirvana-level sales (peaking at #83 in the US, though it reached #6 in the UK), its influence is immeasurable: - **Gateway Drug**: For many listeners, *Dirty* served as an accessible entry point into Sonic Youth's catalog and, by extension, into noise rock, post-punk, and experimental music. The album proved that avant-garde sensibilities could coexist with rock song structures. - **Validation of Noise**: By presenting their abrasive sound with major-label production values, Sonic Youth helped validate noise-rock as a legitimate artistic form rather than just underground contrarianism. - **Feminist Rock**: Kim Gordon's presence and songwriting on tracks like "Swimsuit Issue" provided a model for women in alternative rock, demonstrating that feminist critique could coexist with rock aggression. - **The "Pretty Fucking Dirty" Tour**: The album's supporting tour (1992-1993) was legendary, with the band performing most of the album nightly and cementing their reputation as a formidable live act. ### **Critical Reassessment** While some critics initially viewed *Dirty* as a commercial compromise, retrospective assessment has been kinder. AllMusic noted that "heard today, *Dirty* doesn't sound like a masterpiece (like *Daydream Nation*) or a gesture toward the mainstream audience (like *Goo*)—it just sounds like a damn good rock album, and on those terms it ranks with Sonic Youth's best work." The album's 30th anniversary in 2022 prompted numerous reappraisals celebrating its ability to "hijack the grunge mainstream with some patented NYC avant-garde hijinks." --- ## **Pros & Cons** ### **Pros** | Aspect | Strength | |--------|----------| | **Accessibility** | Most approachable Sonic Youth album without sacrificing identity; perfect entry point for new listeners | | **Songcraft** | Contains some of the band's most memorable songs ("Sugar Kane," "100%," "Youth Against Fascism") | | **Production** | Butch Vig and Andy Wallace deliver clarity and punch while preserving the band's raw energy | | **Political Engagement** | Direct, unapologetic political lyrics that remain relevant today | | **Vocal Variety** | Effective alternation between Moore, Gordon, and Ranaldo provides textural diversity | | **Guitar Work** | Moore and Ranaldo's interplay reaches new heights of symphonic dissonance | | **Drumming** | Steve Shelley's steady hand anchors the chaos with remarkable precision | | **Pacing** | Despite 15 tracks and nearly 60 minutes, the album maintains momentum through variety | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Weakness | |--------|----------| | **Length** | At nearly an hour, the album can feel exhausting; some tracks ("Nic Fit," the 52-second hardcore cover) feel like filler | | **Production Polish** | Some fans argue the glossy production sanded off too much of the band's rough edges | | **Inconsistency** | Not every track reaches the heights of the best material; the second half sags slightly | | **Vocals** | Kim Gordon's speak-singing and Moore's detached delivery can be an acquired taste for some listeners | | **Experimental Compromise** | Those seeking the extended noise-jams of *Daydream Nation* or *EVOL* may find the shorter song structures limiting | | **Commercial Expectations** | The album was positioned as a potential breakthrough that never quite materialized, which colored some contemporary perceptions | --- ## **Final Assessment** *Dirty* is neither Sonic Youth's most experimental album nor their most commercially successful, but it may be their most perfectly realized. It captures a band at the height of their powers, confident enough to condense their avant-garde instincts into sharp, accessible songs without diluting their essence. The album serves as a bridge between the underground and the mainstream, proving that artistic integrity and accessibility need not be mutually exclusive. The political engagement feels remarkably prescient today—the fascism youth were against in 1992 hasn't gone away, and Gordon's workplace harassment anthem "Swimsuit Issue" could have been written yesterday. The personal grief of "100%" and "JC" cuts deep, while rockers like "Sugar Kane" and "Youth Against Fascism" remain exhilarating. For newcomers, *Dirty* remains the ideal starting point. For longtime fans, it's the album that proves Sonic Youth could do anything—including write "pop songs"—without ever really selling out. It's not their masterpiece, but it's a damn good rock album, and sometimes that's enough. **Essential Tracks:** "100%," "Sugar Kane," "Youth Against Fascism," "Swimsuit Issue," "JC," "Theresa's Sound World," "Wish Fulfillment" **Rating:** 4.5/5—a near-classic that successfully navigated the treacherous waters between artistic credibility and mainstream accessibility.

This was a lot less smug than I though it would be given my preconceptions about the band. Much more accessible than anything else I've heard by the band, its loud and noisy yet it still feels like good alternative rock that is a steps ahead of a lot of the grunge bands that they got lumped in with. It's able to be both radio friendly whilst still feeling experimental. Take 'Drunken Butterfly' for example. Starting out as loud anthem with a lot of attitude due to Gordon 's breathey vocals, the song takes a turn when Moore' s wailing guitar brings the noise in the second half. The biggest downfall to this record is its length. 58 minutes might not be a particularly lengthy album, but this would be an easy 4 stars if they trimmed the fat. It feels like they ran out of ideas 3 quarters way through.

What a run this week! Still feels fresh. Guitars!!

Stand-out tracks: 100%, Swimsuit Issue, Wish Fulfillment, Chapel Hill, Purr Most tracks are very hit or miss for me. Some I would relisten to again. Too much distortion on some and some have off-putting vocals.

Highlights: Swimsuit Issue, Drunken Butterfly, Shoot, Youth Against Fascism, Purr Love the style, but feels a bit too abstract for it to be something more than a nice one-off listen. Musically it slaps. I wish the lyrics weren't so lacking in comparison. The record oozes with cool, but alas, in the sea of other "cool" albums from the 90's this just doesn't stand out with its bland themes. Also, couldn't help but think how the female vocalist constantly sounds like she's taking a giant dump. It didn't bother me, it was just a bit funny.

If I were one of the many otherwise reasonable and respectable people who don't enjoy Sonic Youth, I would be pretty upset about the number of their albums on this list. I would rail on about how they all sound the same and it's just a bunch of noise anyway. I would curse Robert Dimery and his willingness to ignore common sense by including every Sonic Youth album in this project. But I like Sonic Youth. And, to me, every Sonic Youth album featured here is one less Morrissey, Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, or Dexy's Fucking Midnight Fucking Runners album that I must endure. Maybe tomorrow we listen to "Washing Machine"? You should probably hear it before you die.

It was fine, not amazing but an enjoyable listen

This was *fine*, some actual bangers in here including "Theresa's Sound-World", "Shoot", "Wish Fulfillment", and "Sugar Kane", but the vocals were SO BAD for most of the album, unbelievably grating, along with barely understandable accompaniments

This wasn’t for me, I wouldn’t mind if someone put it on but I am not rushing to listen to it again

loved this

Mwah. 2 sterren

Sonic youth always felt like homework for me so I tended to avoid them. They’d always pop up on college radio. This listen kinda recalibrated them for me, I really liked it, the energy, the unique sound. Looking forward to more Sonic Youth!

listened to this a lot growing up, didn't like it then, don't like it now

Best one so far

Not as strong as Goo and Daydream Nation but I'll take any excuse to listen to this phenomenal band.

Just noise.

Great album. Heavy and cozy at the same time.

Was fine. Youth against Fascism was the best track, good bass.

One big takeaway from this project in my opinion is that there are not 1000 albums that must be listened to before I die. This is one of the ones I could have skipped. 2 stars, didn't make it very far into this one - More annoying rock, yay! Brutal back-to-back - Why must there be so much noise!!!!

Never heard SY before but I really enjoyed Wish Fulfilment and Drunken Butterfly. I think I’d have loved this more if I heard it when it came out

Instruments were ok. I get that they influenced the grunge genre but the singing was so bad, I couldn’t get into it.

Love the grungy rock feel, great sound. Some songs were a bit whiny for me, but otherwise good.

Thought this would be better

i expected more based reputation. pretty good music - expected more because Butch Vig involved

not for me this one, i could listen to it once through, but likely not again

Slightly depressing Experimental Grunge Noise Rock. Not really a fan. In my opinion, the best tracks on the album are "Theresa's Sound-World", followed by "Sugar Kane".

Didn't get to listen to the whole album properly but there was nothing that I liked. I don't think noise rock is my thing.

parts good parts a bit eh

Oh gosh, I used to be obsessed.wirh Sonic Youth. Haven't listened to this one in a few years. It is still a very good album.

Ok punk album, just seemed to be lots of noise.

Not too sure about this one. I’m a fan of grunge and garage rock but this sounds like a group of talented musicians intentionally playing out of tune. The vocals in particular from the female vocalist are quite weak. I’ve listened to other albums from this band and know that this lofi discordant sound is not what they can sound like. Not one for me. 2 stars. Best track Sugar Kane.

This got me offside from the start, the first few tracks werr all a bit bit discordant. It got a bit more mellow and the secpnd half of the album was fine

The music is OK, vocals make this a difficult listen, particularly the Kim Gordon tracks.

Definitivamente é um rock Nao pulei nenhuma musica Mas nada especial

Completamente esquecível, não lembro mais de nenhuma música além da gritaria

Duro de roer, tinha uma música boa, Theresa's Sound-World. Dá para entender porque o grunge foi um movimento curto, só existiu 3 boas bandas.

Excellent.

Excellent record. Just track after track of great tunes that straddle the line between indie rock and noise rock so well.

Kim Gordon is my favorite Sonic Youth member by far and maybe my favorite female vocalist and this album has some of her best songs: Swimsuit Issue, Drunken Butterfly and JC. This album also has some of the other members best songs too: 100%, Sugar Cane, and Chapel Hill. I just love noise rock and no one does it like Sonic Youth. High 5!!!!

love sonic youth, though dirty is not my favorite work of theirs. could be a 3, could be a 4. very dependent on the mood.

7/10 enjoyed a few of the songs

Typical SY. Lots of noise. Lots of societal commentary.

Overlooked by many but one of my faves.

First listen, to this album, still love the singles 100% and Sugar Kane. Enjoyed this a lot.

My favourite Sonic Youth album, and one of there most accessible. They sometimes wander into a soundscape and show their music can be art, but not here. Just great songs of the time that hold up today. 100% give exactly that. Sugar Cane is a gateway drug to their overall experience. No filler.

Some ok, some annoying. I think this was their goal?

It sounds like the neighborhood kids are practicing their rock band. Didn't like Goo and didn't like this album either.

Mix van indie en grunge, beetje alternatief. Ik snap niet helemaal waarom dit album een must listen is. Klinkt leuk, maar niet heel bijzonder

Sonic Youth is a weird one for me. When they are in their more melodic riff-based mode (“Sugar Kane” for example) I love it. But mostly here it is too moody and thrashy for me.

As with all Sonic Youth records, it has its charms and there are some really strong songs.. there are also some that don't quite do anything for me.

The album still sounds very modern for a 35 year old album. Their albums seem to get more refined with every new installment, drums and bass I really enjoyed here. It doesn't really offer much that other Sonic Youth albums don't do, it's just more of what you're used to. Some of Kim Gordon's vocals here feel a little excessive. A shame, because there's some of her best songs on here as well.

Liked this, though the female singers voice deducts one star.

Bad singing voice, mediocre music. Was there really nothing more deserving that could be on this list?

We got two Sonic Youth albums in a row, and I love them so that’s fine. But Dirty has never been one of my favorites, and listening to it a day after Goo didn’t improve my opinion of it. There are cool moments (Sugar Kane chief among them), and the band is as tight as ever, but it’s missing that hypnotic quality that gets you lost in the organized noise.

pas mon genre :(

Guete nami mitnenand Zrugg us de lange pause. Das album öpe 3 mal halbe ieglosst, weiss aber immer nani öbs cool experimental oder nervig isch. Glaub es isch eifach 3

Have heard a lot about Sonic Youth and their influence, can defintely see why. Raw and edgy, filled with flair and technically great. Been enjoying this kind of sound but don't have a ton else to say about this album in particular, fun but not my fav. Fav Track: Theresa's Sound-World

It was good

Noisy, metal, rocking. Very raw and electric sound on this one. Moody guitars with even moodier vocals. The tempo is moderate, but they rock out every so often. This is a solid record.

I know you don't have money but that has nothing to do with having a good time

Again, not my typical style of music to listen to on a daily basis, but it was a lot better than I expected going into it. The only song that specifically stuck out to me was JC because I liked the women’s voice for a change, something I feel like I don’t hear a lot in this style of music. Overall, the album exceeded the expectations I had for it.

Loved Theresa's Sound-World, but skipped most tracks. I get the feeling this was important to the evolution of punk and grunge but I prefer other artists in the genre.

For some reason I never got into Sonic Youth when I was a kid, but I really missed out on such an inspirational band that influenced so many of my favourite bands of 90's Alternative and beyond. This album is pretty great, although I have been listening to their album a lot more this past year.

This was OK. I think it might grow on me if I gave it a chance. 2.5/5

Those guitars are loud as hell. I feel like this one is a little more songy than Goo.. maybe slightly more melody, Sugar Kane in particular is a nice mix of Sonic Youth's aggressive guitars and good vocal melody

What a great album in the evolution of Sonic Youth. Such a perfect blend of art rock and grunge, the album is relentless with the feedback and distortion. Love Kim and Thurston's vocal styles. There is something about this album that really gets you pumped.

Not very memorable

Grungy! I like.

Yeah pretty good

Nog geen zin om dit een eerlijke kans te geven

Found it a little annoying.

The middle ground between the pixies and Nirvana, maybe? This album started strong for me and slowly fell off a cliff. An hour for this type of music is too much.

When I first saw Sonic Youth I was thinking to myself, I didn’t feel like listening to another one. But in the rise of grunge and the onset of new metal Sonic Youth reinvented themselves on this album in an impressive way. This album is definitely more aggressive than otheralbums I’ve heard. Kim Gordon took a lot more of the vocal work on this album relegating Thurston Moore to the guitar parts. I liked some of the more psychedelic songs boast, like Shoot and Teresa‘s Sound World. This was surprising and fit inside of the block of time between Alanis Morissette, Nirvana, and Korn. This may be my favorite Sonic album!

Random thoughts: * I'm not a Sonic Youth fan. I've tried it many times and I'm just not buying it. * Sonic Youth and Pavement feel similar to me. and I doubt I'll ever come around. * This music isn't bad per se. But it's just not for me. * I'm sure I could give this many listens and possibly get some enjoyment out of it but I'd have to try way harder than I want to.

Probably my favourite one of all the fuck ass sonic youth albums on here

This is everything I dislike about 90s music but not as bad as them at the height of their powers

Pretty punk rock to call it the Pretty Fucking Dirty tour. Pretty mind-expanding guitars. Sugar Kane should have been a hit.

Liked about half of this, and I preferred Thurston’s vocal leads over Kim’s. Some nice guitar vibes here and there, countered by too discordant noise elsewhere. Enjoyed it better than I expected to.

I'm a bit on the fence on this one - it's kinda fun to listen to but also kinda poorly performed, although I feel like if it was well performed it would lose the fun aspect. I don't know man, I'll give it a 3 and let future me decide on this one

We have listened to this at least twice and yet somehow we still don't remember much about it. There are too many Sonic Youth albums on this list.

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'm glad so many of the bands I love were able to hear this and have it influence them cause personally I don't get it. Kim Gordon is cool, though.

It’s okay. A little too long

Not great

There were some really good tracks, but then some tracks were just abhorrent. I feel like if they trimmed the fat on this album, this would have been a 4+ star rating. Sadly there is too much holding it back. 3.25 / 5

We’ve had our one. This is unnecessary Sonic Youth isn’t THAT important. White not critics strike again.

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!

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'.

Sister was OK, Daydream Nation was good, this is pretty great. Butch Vig's fingerprints are all over this 4

This album is a bit weird. Although it has some alright moments here and there, there are quite a lot of noises going on and there are parts that get quite annoying to listen to.

Ruido… con buena intencion

Not my vibe and too long. Mid 2

Apt album name! And god, it really IS close to that 5. I think this is my favorite sonic youth album thus far (having listened to Goo and Washing Machine). It has a really excellent sound and cool songwriting and delivery. My only note against it is it feels a bit too long! There's also some slow points earlier on that aren't my thing. But really good stuff.

Dirty is the right word. This thing is filthy, with songs lumbered down with groaning, bassy noise throughout - however, the noise never detracts from the melodies or catchiness of the songs, only adds to them. This is what noise rock is all about!

This was not a very enjoyable experience. I liked Sugar Kane and that’s about it.

It's surprisingly melodic for a so-called noise rock album, but it also leans too close to punk, which I don't enjoy much in large doses. It's a good album though! Standouts: Theresa's Sound-World • Drunken Butterfly • Chapel Hill • Purr • Creme Brulee

This was really good and I think i like it even more than Goo. Talk about atmospheric. And I love how lush the sound got on tracks like Sugar Kane and Wish Fulfillment.

Not my favorite Sonic Youth by any means but they're always solid, gotta love their edge

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

Possibly the worst female vocalist ever ! I understand one album but not five on the list

Better but still rough for me.

This one kicks ass. Stuffed front-to-back with that post-ironic 'fuck the world' angst of the 90s that, in the greatest irony of all, ends up feeling a little quaint. Thematically and lyrically this reminds me of that feeling of being eighteen, punching darts in the back of my shitbox old Commodore, blasting alt rock music and feeling that melancholic sense of directionlessness that comes from having the whole, terrifying world laid out before you. fav tracks: Drunken Butterfly, Shoot, Sugar Kane, Purr

Couldn’t get past the distortion and terrible singing.

Ok. I can see how someone could enjoy this style of music…it’s just not me. The album is full of foolish instrument effects (electric guitar slides, holding notes for way too long, etc…) and bad vocals with even worse lyrics. There was a reason I never listened to this band in the 80s and I now know what it is. Seriously, some of these songs are truly unlistenable. I don’t know if that is even a word, but it should be to help describe today’s task. Don’t believe me?? Try to stomach Orange Rolls, Angel’s Spit. The lead singer screamed at me more than my wife does. This music is no good.

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.

The female singer sounds very annoyed. It doesn't sound nice. Lots of dissonance

*1992. *I haven't listened to much Sonic Youth, but they're in my wheelhouse (90s alt/grunge) so not surprisingly I mostly like this album. *There are some odd songs on here (eg Drunken Butterfly) and some kind of annoying ones toward the end, but most sound pretty much the same. Decent slightly moody background music. RATING - 6/10

I have a hard time getting into Sonic Youth. Seems like a lot of droning noise and screeching guitars.

A lot of feedback and just… noise before, during, and/or after some songs but I guess with a name like “Sonic” Youth, that is to be expected. Otherwise, was a decent punk rock listen. I’d prefer a 2.5.

A couple of gems, but the album was mostly uninteresting; still a good listen.

YES!!! Love this album, love Sonic Youth!

Among all the indies they are definitely better, maybe

This is not my favorite Sonic Youth album but I enjoy the back and forth between the styles of the vocals and the general noisyness of it. 3.5

yeah turns out i don't like sonic youth, i just feel peer pressure to do so

2, because i liked it but found the length grating

I feel like I like Sonic Youth conceptually and I'm very into Kim Gordon but I did not enjoy sitting down and listening to this album as a whole.

I don't know what's on here that I haven't heard in the other 2 albums on this list. 3/5

Definitely the most straightforward Sonic Youth album. One of my favorites too.

I've made the same Sonic Youth jokes on this list already so i'll keep it short. Bad. Annoying.

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

Not for me Clive

The sound is interesting and raw but they feel like an endurance test and I need more variation or shorter songs or more melody.

Not their best. A bit boring or too produced

One best albums I own

Generally liked this. Didn't need to be 2 discs though. "100%" "Shoot" "Sugar Kane" and "Chapel Hill" were faves on here

J'avais jamais écouté celui-là mais c'est mon préféré de Sonic Youth après une écoute. Tounes et prod canon. 4.5 étoiles

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

I really did not enjoy this.

I went in like oh shoot and I left like OH SHOOT!!!!

Ok I guess more just pretty noisy and one person can’t sing

%60 of the songs were trash. It sounds like they tried to do something but couldn't.

Bits of it are okay, but not good enough to make me want to hear more. 3 stars or D+.

I never dived into Sonic Youth, and after hearing this, I am very sorry that I didn't. It's noisy, agressive at times and very cool and rebellious. I liked it a lot!

Good, JC was a particular highlight

It’s a little bit more workmanlike than their very best records, but ‘Dirty’ is still another solid, if slightly inconsistent outing by Sonic Youth.

Better than expected... A need to be in the "right mood" kind of album

I can see why Sonic Youth has a strong following. A solid album.

This was great. Perfect balance of noise rock and song structure to keep me interested, and the guitar and drum sounds from Butch Vig are top notch. A couple too many throwaway tunes though, and the vocals are nothing to write home about but that wasn't a surprise.

It’s a big YES from me. Cracking album that gets better and better with each listen. My first exposure to Sonic Youth, definitely getting added to my rotation. Excuse me a second while I slip off and check out their back catalogue .

i'm not a fan of noise rock so this was a sort of a tough listen. it doesn't help that i REALLY didn't like their singing. some of the songs i was just hoping it would end soon. love: like: 'Sugar Kane & 'Chapel Hill' meh: the rest bad:

2/10… Noise rock / grunge / *1992

Not bad. Not great

Raw. Sounds like the 90s.

medio fuerte pero interesante. 3,5

100% 3.7 Swimsuit Issue 3.7 Theresa's Sound-World 3.5 Drunken Butterfly 3.6 Shoot 3.7 Wish Fulfilment 3.7 Sugar Kane 3.8 Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit 3.6 Youth Against Fascism 3.8 Nic Fit 3.3 On the Strip 3.6 Chapel Hill 3.7 JC 3.7 Purr 3.5 Crème Brûlée 3.3 Score: 3.613333333

соник ёз - это тот тип групп, когда вроде ничего себе не добавил, но сам релиз послушал с кайфом.

The third Sonic Youth album that’s popped on this list. Last two Sonic Youth albums I listened to for review I mentioned I’d listen to more. If I sit tight the rest of the catalog should pop up.

A good album by a great band. Daydream Nation is still gold standard for Sonic Youth in my opinion

Nice to see another Sonic Youth album on the list and it's one of my favourites. "Lovely stuff", not my words, the words of Shakin' Stevens.

Redemption for making me listen to Limp Biscuits earlier this week.

After the more accessible sounds of 1990's Goo, Sonic Youth delve even further into early-90's Alternative Rock. While it may not as successful at remaining unique as the previous album, it still blows most of its competition out the water. However, other then the excellent Washing Machine from 1995, I can't say I'm a big fan of anything they've done after. Fitting, because I wasn't really a fan of their pre-Daydream Nation days either. Key tracks: 100% Sugar Kane Purr

Awesome indie album, Sonic Youth rocks. This whole album is youthful angst, gritty, and just the ideal garage rock sound. My favorites include Theresa's Sound-World, Sugar Kane, Youth Against Fascism, On The Strip, and Creme Brulee, but I think I just really liked the whole album.

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.

Great stuff- about twice as long as necessary tho

As others have said, I want to like Sonic Youth more than I do. Hadn't heard this album before. Liked it but didn't love it.

Sonic Youth's "Dirty" has a distinct 90s alternative sound and a few "experimental elements" (most of them are actually intentional background noises). While bass and guitars feature a muddy low-end crunch, the vocal production is crystal clear and the drums - well, sound like standard 90s drums. Some of the songs are not bad (e.g. "Sugar Kane", "Youth Against Fascism") and I like the overall punk-attitude influenced vibe (no, not exactly grunge) so it was a nice-ish listen for me.

Is it an important album? Probably. Is it good? No. Is it better than the pixies. Oh yeah. Made me realize how similar this is to smashing pumpkins first album. What a weird intersection.

A strong 2, if that means anything.

I have fond memories of this album. I remember buying it as a teen in 1992 without really knowing what it was ; it completely blew my mind, introducing me to noise rock, distorted guitars and post-punk imagery. Sonic Youth played a more seminal role in my musical education than the grunge movement, and Drunken Butterfly still sends shivers down my spine. I hadn't listened to Dirty in a decade, but I still enjoyed it this time around. I really love Kim Gordon's weird vocals, and the demented, dreamy guitars still hit me hard. It is indeed one of the most polished and accessible SY albums ; it's not as messy and experimental as some of their previous works, but it gained them a lot of credibility as a solid alternative act, and paved the way for mainstream acceptance of hyper-saturated sounds (without which a lot of mid-90s bands would have remained underground). It's not a perfect album, but it's pivotal by many aspects, and it will always feel special to me. I would objectively rate it a 4*, but I'm adding a star out of sheer nostalgia. 9/10

I remember this album very muchwhen I was a student in my 20's and feeling it was too noisy. After time I don't really fee that way at all ;-). It's noisy sometime and not that much.

It’s true, this is probably the most accessible album from the band and not their best, but even here, Sonic Youth stays the ultimate noisy reference. They were brilliant for almost 40 years, making almost every garage-rock attempt sound like pop in comparison. Kim Gordon on swimsuit issue or Shoot is more grunge than grunge itself, and yet the music is full of emotion, nuance, and that beautiful sense of transgression, thanks to Thurston Moore and his dreamy guitar layers. Punk, post-punk, grunge, always raw, always on the side of the streets, and always against America’s puritan morals. A true benchmark, at least for me, though not that easy to get into. Listening to Chapel Hill again, I can’t help but think we haven’t done much better in the genre since.

I'm tired of Sonic Youth. Nevertheless, 4.

Kinda heavy but good

Highs and lows

Dirty, grungy and classic Youth.

Dirty will be my fifth and final Sonic Youth album to review. Before starting this project, I’d listened to Daydream Nation and Goo, and I really liked both of them. I considered myself a casual Sonic Youth fan; I thought their two albums that I’d listened to were really good, but their sound wasn’t something that I wanted to listen to often. Now, however, I’d consider myself a big fan of them. I’ve given every album of theirs five stars, and even added Sister to my CD collection because I loved it so much. I’ve never listened to anything off of Dirty before, but I have high hopes, mixed with trepidation. High hopes, because I’ve grown to really love Sonic Youth, but trepidation, because even some of my favorite artists have had albums on this list that I wasn’t that big of a fan of. Can Sonic Youth make it a sweep with five five-star albums? It is with pleasure that I can officially declare that Sonic Youth has achieved the improbable, and achieved a fifth and final five-star rating. I always have doubts with Sonic Youth, wondering if I’ve gaslit myself into liking their music, convincing myself that I like them, solely because I feel like I should. But every time I listen to one of their albums, I’m completely engrossed with the moods and atmospheres that they create with their guitar playing. It honestly defies logic that they would be able to craft five albums with such a distinct sound, but with each album sounds so distinctly different, and creates its moods in different ways. I really loved that so many of the songs on this album had choruses and verses that were so different from one another, but the songs still felt really cohesive. I love Sonic Youth’s use of multiple guitars as well. The sound is so dense, but there are always some really beautiful melodies in their music. From a lyrical standpoint, I thought this album was really strong as well. “Swimsuit Issue,” “Shoot,” “Youth Against Fascism,” and “JC” were particularly good. I loved that line at the end of “Swimsuit Issue” that could have been ‘us women’ or ‘I’m swimmin’. I thought that was particularly clever wordplay. Some notes on individual songs: I loved the tone of the guitars on “Theresa’s Sound-World.” This was the type of thing I love that Sonic Youth does: they set the atmosphere of the song before even singing a single word is sung. The first Sonic Youth song I ever heard was “Teenage Riot,” and I’ve been chasing that high ever since. This song was incredibly close in terms of having a melody that’s just as beautiful. The crunchiness of the guitars on “Drunken Butterfly” was great. There was so much going on in terms of sound, but everything still clicked really well. “Shoot” was so dark, both lyrically and sonically. What a dark and depressing song. Yet again, the mood and atmosphere were set before the lyrics even began. Kim Gordon’s vocals were insanely good, and I loved how growly and guttural she got at the end. I loved the guitars on “Wish Fulfillment.” The melodic verses were so beautiful and haunting. “Sugar Kane” is a lot like “Theresa’s Sound-World” to me in terms of what I like to hear from Sonic Youth. There was just so much atmosphere from the guitars alone. I loved how the melodies were buried under the distortion of the other guitars, and the guitar on the chorus was particularly excellent. I thought this felt right at home in the early nineties. The lyrics were the best part of “Youth Against Fascism,” but the sound was great too. Excellent guitar playing. The guitar on “Chapel Hill” was really melodic, and the drumming was great too. I particularly loved the guitar on the intro and bridge. The outro was great too, with more awesome guitars and drums. On an album full of haunting songs, “JC” might have been the most haunting of them all. I remember seeing an Unsolved Mysteries episode about the murder of Joe Cole, and this song really captures just how I felt watching that segment. Dirty was fantastic from start to finish, with plenty of the excellent guitar work that Sonic Youth is known for. Sonic Youth has grown from a band that I appreciate into a band that I really love to listen to and lose myself in their sound.

Nope. 1.0

Bändi oli taas nimenä tuttu, mutta tuotantoa en ollu yksittäisiä biisejä lukuunottamatta kuunnellut. Tämä levy omi semmoista räimettä mistä tykkään, mutta ensi kuuntelulla jäi kokonaisuus vähän valjuksi. ”Drunken Butterfly” jäi ainoana mieleeni. Siitä tykkäsin.

5 ⭐️for Sugar Kane … 4 ⭐️ for the rest

This is the third Sonic Youth album that has been presented to me on this list. Unlike the other two, I actually kind of liked this one for the most part. Some of it is just noise, and there is a lot of musical anarchy in here, but I found this one to be more listener-friendly than the other two, which were Sister and E.V.O.L. I will give this one three stars, but likely won’t listen to it again. There is some good stuff in here, though…if I could edit out some of the selections, I think I would give it four stars. I am an old man approaching 70, for what it’s worth.

мое сердце абсолютно не лежит к нойз року и гранжу, слушала скрипя зубами. мне не нравится что там нет интересного вокала, как будто солисты не научились петь. музыкальное сопровождение не запоминающееся, все рифы и ритмы просто повторяются как реальный шум на фоне, к 2000-м уже и поинтереснее звучание делали, а это блекло

A classic.

Most of this I actively don't want on and would take it off if it was. I was good with Sugar Kane and Personality Crisis, but as a whole, I really didn't like this.

круто!

Some good tracks. Need to be in the right mood

270/1089 - Given the sad news I thought I was gonna get Brown Sugar which is definitely a 5 star album but it's nice to get more Sonic youth so I can get these albums out of the way and never listen to them again. At least the drummer is competent.

Some pretty accessible stuff here by Sonic Youth standards. Lulls a little in the middle but finished strong. Enjoyed this one.

Never heard these guys before (heard of, obviously). Butch Vig's production is top-notch and the drums sound massive. Is Kim's voice a bit annoying? I haven't decided yet. Favourite tracks: 100%, Theresa's Sound-World, Chapel Hill.

I think that this album got lumped in with grunge-mania at the time, which is slightly unfair. It’s their seventh album, and pretty much in the same post-punk/experimental vein as previous releases. This is a varied selection of songs, alternating between vocals from Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, and occasionally descending into howls of feedback and distorted guitars to thrilling effect. Good stuff.

My love for the Youth is still intact. I actually bought Dirty months ago, when discovering Sonic Youth thanks to this website.

Yeah I could not get through this album. Not hate, just not for me and there wasn't anything too interesting about it either.

The female vocalist her songs were better.

great album from a great band

Heel vet

The time has come for me to review this album. Now I get why most people love it. There's a nice bit of noise mixed in with alt-rock. "Dirty" even has a cover of a song by a short-lived hardcore band called the Untouchables. That band only recorded four tracks, one of which was a cover of another artist's song. 4 stars for "Dirty".

Some of the songs were incredible (Chapel Hill, Purr) Others had painful whining/wailing voice or really basic lyrical structure that were so borderline cheesy they reminded me of primary school poems. A way better album than Goo, but Sonic Youth just seem to have a mixed bag of tastes/sounds and only half of them are good.

Hmm, I still don't love Sonic Youth, but this was noticeably better than Sister, so I feel I must give it a higher grade.

Can't say I was thrilled to see yet another Sonic Youth album pop up. I feel like I've made my judgement on them by now, having given them numerous chances. To give Dirty its due, though, it might just be the best of the bunch (with potentially the best album cover - or second best, behind Goo). There are more tracks here that grab you with a strong hook, or purposeful rhythm, or chorus, and fewer that descend into noise and/or forget to include a tune. Was this Butch Vig's influence? In contrast to their other albums, I thought the tracks with Thurston Moore on vocals were often stronger than the Kim Gordon leads. Overall this is the first Sonic Youth record where I felt the style and substance - the noise and the music - all work together successfully (more often than not). 3.5 / 4

7/10 Not as good as some of their recordings, but solid 10-10-2025

Lo puse mientras cocinaba, y a los 10 minutos ya estaba enchuchada gritandole a todo el mundo. Este disco se siente como andar por la vida con una piedra en el pie, un lente de contacto dado vuelta y una quemadura a piel viva en tus manos que se raspa todo el rato con tu ropa. Hay algunas canciones, como On the Strip que no odié.