Reviews (page 4 of 7)
I'll say of the Sonic Youth on this list, this has been my least favorite. Could be that I am conditioned to expect something different by this point, but this is sort of underwhelming. Whereas the other albums are more overtly angsty and, at times, driven, this one feel feels less punchy and more post-punk influenced. Not a bad thing per-se, but I found the overall effect to be pretty forgettable. Only things that stood out to me were the sprawling, almost industrial sounding In the Kingdom #19, and the outro Bubblegum (which is itself a jam -- love the bass on it). Otherwise, I'll say this was _fine_ but forgettable. Soft 3 / 5.
It’s not my type of music but I can appreciate it’s energy and see it’s a well crafted album flowing nicely
Sonic Youth always sounds raw (in a great way), but this is rawest raw I've ever heard from them. Slap that shit on the grill for at least a few seconds guys.
Been binging South Park so Thurston sounds like Mr. Garrison. 3/5
I'd not given much time to Sonic Youth for some reason. ironic, considering that Kim Gordon's solo output has shown up in music service suggestions for me recently. Coming to this cold, EVOL sounds very much of its time — it has raw power, but little finesse that might start to emerge in some of the more melodic tracks that close the album. This album hasn't acted as a gateway to Sonic Youth unfortunately, it'll need to be something I keep working on.
It's rock but kind of experimental / atmospheric. Given that it was released in 1986 it's kind of ahead of it's time - I can see how it influenced grunge bands. The music is at times almost catchy and at times almost too dissonant, but on the whole it's a decent listen if you're in the mood for something a little artsy/heavy.
I definitely prefer this album to the other Sonic Youth album we've had. It's luster and more inviting. I flirted with 4 stars, but middle portion weeds off in an experimental way that makes me unlikely to revisit.
Ultimately a bit too experimental to really enjoy. We’re also hitting the point of encountering too many entries from one band to justify the inclusion of an album that doesn’t feel that remarkable. A 3 but a low 3.
I’ve heard bits of Sonic Youth before, but never sat down and listened to one, so this is a first for me. It’s funny, the reviews on this record are pretty polarized. I guess you either love Sonic Youth or you hate them. I would say that I like this record; it’s shoe gazey and darker than I expected, but there are some subtle pop sensibilities floating in and out of it. But I do completely understand why some folks loathe this one. It’s pretty challenging at a lot of points, particularly when we’re pretty conditioned by hooks and catchy choruses (of which I haven’t really found any). I think what’s appealing to me on this record are some of the more exploratory guitar bits. The drums can get pretty dynamic. And I think the bass does a good job of tying it together in such a way that it’s not quite an incoherent mess. Some of the lyrics are a bit too “Virginia Woolf, stream of consciousness” for my liking, but overall, I’m not sad I heard this one. 3.7/5 For such a seemingly polarizing record, I find this one in the “pretty decent” camp. I probably won’t revisit it often, but I’m looking forward to another Sonic Youth entry.
Liked around half the tracks. The first one and Madonna and me. Generally liked the vibe
Having had an awful German industrial rock album where the instruments were made from scraps from the tip the day before this sounded really, really good by comparison. I’m taking that into account with my review here, but I genuinely liked this. I’ve never listened to Sonic Youth before, but they were big with some of my mates at school in the late 90s. Given this album was late 80s it’s pointing at where much music was going to be taken in the 90s and even early 2000s. Yip, I liked it, but knocking a star off because I think I might still be rebounding from the German industrial rock yesterday. 3 stars.
Faves were Shadow of a Doubt and Bubblegum
Don’t mind SY used to listen to back when. Not sure need multiple albums by them on this list, but that’s an ongoing comment on the list as a whole, SY sound is their sound album to album is this 1 better than the last? More representative? Different?, it sounds like SY to me but whatever 3 Star
not quite my cup of tea
I found out that Sonic Youth is just not for me. I do understand their music, and the reason that people might like, but doesn't have me going. Well, at least in the 2 or 3 albuns that I listened to. I think 3 stars is fair enough
The best reason to do this 1001 albums was to discover bands I don't know or never dug into. Sonic Youth definitely hits that reason.
Definitely more of an artistic installation than pleasant to listen to music. I wish i could have given this one more time to really click for me but I’m very sure there’s something really interesting here so I guess three stars for potential
First Sonic Youth, only knew a song or two, didn't seem like the best intro album, I liked the uniqueness of their sound, shadow was pretty good, staying open to other albums.
They're really not beating the allegations that it's just noise. That said, I'm sorta down for just noise sometimes.
Spikey, loud and jangly - makes great use of the band's different singers, helps create an album where you're never sure what to expect next. Favourite tracks: Starpower, Green Light, Madonna Sean and Me
Love the band, not my favorite album of theirs: more interesting as an "early" album
Not sure about this being one of the 1001 albums you need to hear before you die. I can think of at least half a dozen Sonic Youth albums that are better and I'm not sure they'd all make the list either.
I like Sonic Youth, but I wouldn't call this essential listening.
Definitely an experience, just not really for me, it was a bit too noisy. Low 3/5.
My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division, and these guys all the sound the same.
Very experimental and industrial, but not fully grating or abrasive either.
7/24/25. Sonic Youth definitely has a unique sound and love that there’s two vocalists. Some songs here were dull, but the ones I liked went above and beyond.
It's fine. Dissonant angsty music with some power chords. Nothing bad but nothing really remarkable. I don't exactly want to hear it again but I wouldn't hate it if it was on
Some odd promiscuity here
Sonic Youth is always hit and miss for me. Some good tracks and some not so good tracks. Almost a 4.
not my favorite album from the band
inte särskilt märkvärdigt jfr med andra sonic youth album jag hört
#636. There are several Sonic Youth albums on this list, and some of them are quite good. This one, while fine, is nothing spectacular and is very questionably deserving to be here. 3/5: fine
A 3.5/5. Probably my least favorite Sonic Youth album so far, but it's still pretty good.
For some reason i haven't listened to these early Sonic Youth records. Evol is not the easiest record to approach, but it has the ingredients that made the band one of the coolest ever to exist. Have to give this more spins, to really get in to it.
I have a lot of their albums, but you really have to be in the right mood. Not exceptional IMO
-fav track: In the Kingdom #19
Needs another listen I think, lots of droning noise rock which can be a little hard to appreciate on a first listen, having said there were some nice moments in the album
Tää olikin vähän erilaista mitä odotin. Tää ei ollut ihan niin kasvolle hyppivää kuin näiden aikaisempi levy tällä listalla. Tää oli paljon maalailevampaa ja jotenkin ambienttia. Eikä tää ollut niin provosoivaa kuin se aikaisempi levy. Tää oli miellyttävää. Parhaat: Shadow Of A Doubt, Madonna Sean And Me
Probably my least listened to, and least liked, Sonic Youth album. I’m being generous with my 3-stars as it may deliver more if I was to go back in time to my 1986 self and give it some more listens.
Había escuchado algo de Sonic Youth y, la verdad, no soy especialmente fan. Además, entiendo que si está EVOL estarán también Daydream Nation y Goo (mínimo). La verdad es que no me interesa mucho esta época post-rock y pre-grunch, pero en algún momento tenía que ponerme con Sonic Youth...
EVOL is the third album from New York City based band Sonic Youth, and their first releases on SST records. Sonic Youth was a post-punk band, and evolved into a noise rock/alt rock icon. EVOL marks a significant step in that evolution; this album shows the band developing their style. They used effects, unusual tunings, and experimental playing styles to get different sounds out of their guitars. Sonic Youth's noise rock was centered on their saturated guitar sound. They added vocals from both bassist Kim Gordon and guitarist Thurston Moore, giving the band a range of sounds within their distinct style.
Kinda good but also kinda bad
Ikke min kopp te.
lisää näitä jeejee.. viisi albumia? häh? siis on mennyt jo tähän mennessä perille. en edes vihaa tätä millään tavalla.. ihan kivaa kuunneltavaa.. mutta 5 albumia samaa saatanan sontaa ... naamani kuin album cover heh... ei ole mitään mistä ottaa kiinni.. kaasuesque albumi. niin paljon ääntä ja mihinkään ei voi keskittyä.. gas concept? öyöäyöyäyöäyöyäöyöä type beat.. siis ei taaskaan niinkun pitää sanoa. sanon sen että ei mitään halveksuntaa täältäpäin tule kohti sinneppäin vaan all love all love.. rakkaus tulee muodossa konstruktiivinen kritisismi: älkää tehkö samaa täysin samaa paskaa joka ikinen kerta vaan vähän kehittykää jossain skaalassa pelle peloton mode (gyro gearloose mode) päälle! starpower
It's pretty good. Sounds like another Sonic Youth album. Which isn't a bad thing, I've only heard a few of them, but they all mostly sounded like this. Really well crafted noise rock. 3.5/5
a lot of people go through a “goth phase” when they’re younger. apparently, sonic youth did too.
Not a Sonic Youth album I was as familiar with as others. It was chiller than I expected and a good preview of what is to come from the band.
This was fine but the monotone vocals killed some songs.
This is the sort of music that the skater girl you had a crush on would listen to. It's certainly unique, I don't know how else to describe it.
This album had an intriguing, dark sound. I think that was what I liked about it most, as it had a different feel from a lot of the music I've encountered on here so far. It seemed like that's what they were trying for, since it really was the feel through the whole album. And they certainly attained it. Both the instruments and the vocals made it almost unsettling at times. There wasn't a lot more that really worked for me, though. Some of it was good. Much of it was just kind of... unengaging? Hard to explain, since it was interesting. I could see letting it drone on in the background to get an eerie vibe, but not sure it's great for casual listening. I wasn't turned off by it, but it didn't really do a lot for me. I may want to give this another try later and see if I like it better. As it is, it's a little hard to rate highly. Overall: 2.75/5
Probably would grow on relistening
Not bad. 3.5/5
Overall it’s fine. Good, even! Does this project really need *four* Sonic Youth albums? I submit that it does not.
3.75
It’s mid. Nothing bad. Nothing great.
3.5
Not my favorite era of Sonic Youth -- their next three albums are the sweet spot for me -- but you do get some signs of greatness here. I think the first few tracks are cool, and "Expressway to Yr. Skull" is one of the band's best songs. 3.5 Stars.
Was interested to put this on as I was aware of Sonic Youth but hadn’t listened to them at all. In my head I had them lumped in with early 90s grunge, but this was a little different than I expected. Sounds to me like a lot of Pixies influence but darker, harder and less concerned with melody. Can’t say I necessarily liked it but I did think it was interesting and probably worth another listen.
3.5 Gothy sonic youth. Drums didnt sound very good to me, too low in the mix.
Sounds almost like punk rock if it had a twist of pop. Interesting sound. Vocals are a bit strange though.
3 (three!) whole albums so far by these random nobodies, are y'all insane?? I can stomach one but three completely uremarkable piles of guitar distortion, c'mon man that ain't Pink Floyd... Wait. I just checked and there are 5 fucking albums FIVE ALBUMS I REPEAT by fucking sonic youth which editor was drinking acid while letting this happen??
This is the first time I really sat down and listened to Sonic Youth. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting other than an alternative band that I believe was referenced on The Simpsons once or twice back in the early '90s. Well it certainly gets points for originality, I'm just not sure I'm going to be returning to this and there weren't any standalone songs that I really got into so I'm going to give it three out of five.
Jeg burde elske det her, men det gør ikke det store ved mig.
This one got a lot better on headphones. Really cool sound. It took more than one listen but I'm glad I did. High three low four.
There could be less Sonic Youth albums on this list I liked this album for the most part, but I'd also say nothing popped for me If this is the album where the seeds are planted, then just skip to the produce. This is a list to listen to before one dies. Odd to waste time with a transitional album. Anyway, I like this as it reminds me of a band I liked in my youth, before I knew of Sonic Youth.
Probably enough Sonic Youth.
I'm very curious to see James review on this one. It is sonically (no pun intended) not for me, but they do seem to craft a cohesive vibe throughout. It almost felt like a jam-band aesthetic mapped on to post-punk.
Soft
Not super listenable but thats okay. Very unique and overall a solid project. Very interesting experimental stuff on here. I think 3.5 or 4... there are better sonic youth projects but this is still great
1. Tom Violence - 8.5/10 2. Shadow of a Doubt - 7.8/10 3. Starpower - 7.5/10 4. In the Kingdom #19 - 6.5/10 5. Green Light - 8/10 6. Death to Our Friends - 6.5/10 7. Secret Girl - 6/10 8. Marilyn Moore - 7.8/10 9. Madonna, Sean, and Me - 7/10 10. Bubblegum - 7.5/10 7/10
Getting Joy Division, early Cure vibes from this one. Rawer and more discordant than the other Sonic Youth albums I’ve had so far on the list (there’s five overall, this one was number four). If you’re looking to get into their music, I’d skip this and start with ‘Goo’ or ‘Daydream Nation’ which are both better representations of their music.
At this point, it almost feels like I should just copy and paste my other Sonic Youth reviews. I really want to understand the fuss, but these albums just don’t do anything for me. To my ears, it’s ok alt rock with nothing really exceptional. I know and accept that I’m in the minority with this opinion, but I can only review with my own thoughts!
Man, I loved Sonic Youth when I was a kid, then decided I didn't really like them that much. Now I can take or leave them. I only discovered them in the early 90s so this stuff from the mid-80s is new to me. Not bad, really.
This is the third Sonic Youth album I've gotten. I enjoyed it, but do there really need to be three?
That was all right
I never really got into Sonic Youth when they first got really big, and I kind of thought I wouldn't like them, but I enjoyed this more than I expected to. Shadow of a Doubt is a great tune.
This album is really interesting and creative. Not my kind of music — their sound is tortured, post-punk. But it’s clearly very well done and makes a statement. A three for now, but i may come back for another listen.
Sonic Youth's "E.V.O.L." is an album in search of its identity, with elements of new wave, post-punk, and goth within tracks that flirt with conventional pop structures. The record is characterized by a noise, featuring thrashing guitars and heavy, yet precise, drumming, particularly evident in songs like "Death to Our Friend" and "Tom's Violence." In contrast, "Secret Girl" provides a more subdued, albeit haunting, moment on the album. You can also see how this album borrows from early Joy Division, while also being an influence on many 90s artists (Nirvana come to mind), particularly in tracks like "Starpower" and "Bubblegum." Overall, "E.V.O.L." is an intersting album that showcases a band striving to redefine itself and transition into a new phase. However, I do not think this album holds up as well as their next few albums "Sister" or "Daydream Nation"
It has a rough beauty that is not something I fully enjoy. While I hit the demographic for Sonic Youth I have never loved them.
Nothing really stands out and it meshes together
Blackout daydreams. Ethereal noise. No wave psychedelia. On this album the full pallette - the SY alphabet - really comes into focus. Sonically innovative. Engaging grooves that willfully shift into alien terrain. Spoken word. A mix of the concise and the exploratory. Their first great album. But better albums await...
Some good moments.
E.V.O.L is an album that i have somewhat mixed feelings on. This album has an incredibly abstract sound to it where it seems to be picking some of the most random noises and putting them together with mixed results. The album does lack accessibility meaning that it can feel overly forgettable due to the album trying to be so artsy-fartsy. However, there are some pretty solid melodies here and the album definitely sounds cleaner than the last Sonic Youth album i have heard (Sister if you didn't check and i doubt you did anyways). This isn't the worst album but it isn't really the greatest one either. Best Song: Starpower Worst Song: Green Light
Goth vibes that I didn’t know Sonic Youth had. Thoroughly enjoyed it
Easier to listen to than Daydream Nation, but not a go-to album for me. Bubblegum is a certified personal hit now
I don't remember it at all. Better than the other sonic youth albums we've listened to. Could maybe get into it if we listened to it a few more times.
This album overall reminded me of JC + the Voidz, but this one included more interludes, and made even less sense than the Voidz. Feeling a decent 3 here.
I’ve heard a couple of albums by Sonic Youth before and I’m torn. As a teenager trying to find my own style, I convinced myself that I could really like Sonic Youth, but I don’t know that this was ever really true. I liked some of their songs, but others just fell completely flat. Maybe they won’t ever be to my taste, or maybe I need to listen more thoroughly to appreciate them. I still enjoyed this album, and I’d give it another listen, but there are other works by Sonic Youth I’d rather hear.
30/03/25 I have no feelings for this album.
Bon, J'ai écouté d'une oreille plus distraite que d'habitude. J'aime beaucoup Sonic Youth mais il me semble que Sister qui vient après est pas plus essentiel. Il y a des moments forts, Starpower entre autres, mais on reste dans une ambiance vraiment lourde et dark. La production met vraiment une emphase sur un côté presque goth que je ne connaissais pas de SY. Mais bon. C'est pas lui que je vais ré-écouter. Si Daydream Nation est dans la liste, celui là ne fait pas partie des 1001 albums à avoir écouter dans sa vie.
Je sais pas. J'suis d'accord avec tout le monde. Ça s'écoute bien mais pas de goût de revenez-y. Je vais complètement oublier cet album. J'ai pas encore fini et je ne m'en rappelle pus déjà.
I liked Shadow of a Doubt and Bubble Gum, the rest were ok
I liked this more than I thought I would. That being said I didn’t love it. High 3 for these guys
3.5* 82%
Big fan of sonic youth. Great band but I’m not super familiar with their discography outside of goo. But clearly I’ve been missing out cause this album is great. Shockingly haunting for a punk album but that’s really more of an accomplishment than a deterrent. Seriously if you are not familiar with SY I’d highly recommend them, but I would not recommend starting with this album. This felt like a more challenging album than others. It had a lot to offer to the listen as far as variety and creativity. But it’s still not the most accessible album to new fans. Really the only criticism is that I felt the middle of the album sort of meandered. Honestly though, this album is worth your time, super different.
Wanted to like this more than I did, last two songs were highlights (but last is a bonus song so doesn’t really count to me) 3.25/5
It was okay for what it was. Super gothy and droney, fine for background music but not one I’d come back to.
The kind of album you need a palate cleanser after. I needed to get out of the dark and sweaty music venue illuminated only by five blinking red marquee lights ten feet apart from each other and listen to some fucking Shania Twain or something
Noisey, spooky, and cool. Lots of neat soundscapes and guitar work. Initial thought is it could use a bit more pop structure, especially on side B - of course, this would come as they progressed in their career.
I only ever heard of Sonic Youth because of Kim Gordon and her fantastic record "The Collective", now I knew that that record as a very different sound than SY's stuff, but I still expected lots of great things and was honestly kind of disappointed by this thing. It isn't bad, but for the most part this just sounds like arbitrary noise with now clear arrangement or purpose to be found. Now there are some cute songs I liked, mainly "Starpower" and "Express to Yr. Skull", with the second half generally being stronger.
Fulgte ikkje så godt med, men trur da va verdt et gjenlytt
Odd choice from the Sonic Youth cannon.
I don't know I'm just not a big Sonic youth fan. They sure have allot of albums on here
I don’t hate it. Most of it.
It was better than the other Sonic Youth albums that we have listened to this far. It was good early alternative music.
Didn’t knock my socks off but decent
started so, so strong with the first 3 tracks, then kinda rambled & petered out.
Not the best Sonic Youth, but also not bad.
I liked it but didn't love it - if it has to be Sonic Youth, I like Dirty better. It is however a novel album given it's from the mid 80's. Nice soundscapes but I miss a bit of a groove or hook. So, not interesting enough for a careful listen, and not pleasantly sounding enough for background music.
This was definitely different from what I've listened to from them before. Pretty gothy.
I’m familiar with Sonic Youth and enjoy their music. But they’re what I call “mood music”. I have to be in the mood for goth/alternative/angry music. That used to be my go to music of choice back in my angry youth days
Have yet to really connect with Sonic Youth, but I’ll probably keep trying…
I've listened to these guys a little tiny bit and I think they sound cool but they also seem to be a t-shirt band so I've always been slightly averse to them. But I can get past that I'm sure!
I have such mixed feelings about Sonic Youth.
Eh, come on now. It's only sorta cool cos it was way different to anything else in the 80s
Even though "E.V.O.L." has lyrics that touch my heart, its production is not the best and seems amateurish. And that doesn't help much in conveying the necessary emotion for the album.
Lots of bite and noise. Very creative for sure. Not exactly a pleasant listen but I don't think that's what they were going for. Definitely had me feeling their influence on Nirvana and the early Sloan that I love so much.
You know what? Not bad, but there is definitely better
Was not aware that Sonic the Hedgehog was in a band in his younger days!
Sonic Youth just doesn’t do anything for me. It seems like the sort of thing I would love, but I’ve just never really gotten into them. One of life’s great mysteries, I guess.
Shadow of a Doubt's initial melody is lovely, I'd love to know what instrument that is! cool vocals too... I imagine many of the stranger guitar sounds might have been pretty novel at that time. In The Kingdom #19 is unlike anything I've ever heard, I thought it was pretentious at first but it actually tells a compelling scene and the music frames it with sound effects as if narrating a play :D didn't care too much for the 2 tracks after that personally (NOPE the break in Death To Our Friends at 3:09 makes it worth it)... Secret Girls mellow piano kinda reminds me of Drukqs - Aphex Twin lol 5/10 or 6/10 overall
Hm, not sure how this is near the top of the list. I liked a few tracks in the record and they are quite good at making a lot of noise in the middle of the music. But I don't think I will be reaching for this. 3/5 eh
Siguiendo con la tradición neoyorkina de The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth nos muestra EVOL; lo que no deja de ser sorprendente sobretodo para la evolución de lo que consideramos como "indie" o "música alternativa". A pesar de la originalidad, las composiciones caóticas y de temas sórdidos, no puedo dejar de escuchar algo de White Light/White Heat en las composiciones. Dicho esto, no quito el mérito de introducir a toda una nueva generación a la experimentación y a los sonidos que juegan al borde de lo músical y el ruido. Una pieza fundamental para la música alternativa que podría escuchar mil y una veces. Pistas destacadas: Shadow of Doubt Green Light Madonna, Sean and Me Bubblegum
This isn't a great album, its not even the best sonic youth album. Why in the world would this be on this list? Anyway, its not great or even really good but its also not completely unlisten-able. 3/5
It’s a mood. It’s okay.
I’ve always wanted to like Sonic Youth because I feel like I should, but they’ve just never sunk in for me. This listen didn’t change that.
Side A like future albums, really cool and driving forward Side B, the experimental one. You gotta be in the mood to appreciate it. Not their best album, but enjoyable in all.
It was fine, but didn't really grab me, nothing too amazing in my opinion
I don't love Sonic Youth but I've come to appreciate them and find their music interesting and different. Honestly, for EVOL being released in 1986, it sounds a lot like other alternative music in the aughts. The noise rock aspect lets them veer too much into the abrasive category, though I recognize that's my own taste. The instrumentals show Sonic Youth actually has talent--because they could be quite powerful. The female vocalist stood out the most to me. Her vocals were wispy and enticing. And I kept thinking she had the most interesting lyrics to sing. I'd say this is the best showing of Sonic Youth I've heard.
Top Three Songs: 1) Tom Violence 2) Starpower 3) Marilyn Moore Bottom Three Songs: 1) Death to Our Friends 2) Madanna, Sean, and Me 3) Green Light
A bit poppier feeling and melodic than Daydream Nation. It's also less shouty, but doesn't have quite the same thrill of noise guitar. A different experience. Overall, it's good, but it felt a tiny touch lightweight and over before it started. I bet if I gave this repeat listens, I'd find more to enjoy about it, but on initial hearing, it's a solid high-end three.
i had their poster up in my bedroom as a teenager and i loved Sister and Daydream Nation, both of which are better than this record (i also had Goo, which is probably worse). now i figure they're kind of a buncha jerkoffs. one of us hasn't aged well. either way, i'll never forgive 'em for being bullies to Nardwuar.
Some really interesting sounds, but the vocals take me out of it. 3 stars.
For some reason I have always liked Sonic Youth. Technically I probably shouldn't. It is distorted, sometimes screamy, garish, hard to explain... but it is somehow a feeling, an atmosphere surrounds it that works to soothe the soul, almost like by trying to process the crazy sounds coming in we have to calm ourselves down first. But I don't know what it is really. If there is any (not really a) fault to it is that you cannot have Sonic Youth in the background, because it sort of forces you to pay attention to it. you have to really pay attention to the lyrics for full effect, and if you do, it can be quite an interesting experience.
On a different day, or in a different era of my life, this would’ve been five stars. Nowadays, I can’t find objective access in. They don’t seem to be transmitting much value aside from a ‘we’re weird and different, therefore, we’re cool’ vibe. Although, I don’t doubt they would have been a part of a very vibrant scene and would have been very exciting to see perform. An ex of mine’s mom used to tour with Sonic Youth, and she made it sound like the ultimate. For meetups with the in-laws in those days, we’d go see Lydia Lunch speak, rather than have like a standard brunch with the folks. Jamming was always fun, and usually bled into these noise rock sound collages like heard on Evol. It is all a lifestyle and mindframe. I guess I’ve moved on.
There is a small part of me that still regrets the way I reviewed and scored Daydream Nation. Going back and looking at what I wrote, I don’t know if it would still stand. It’s been just over a year since I heard that, and truthfully I can’t recall one memorable thing about it. I think it’s caused me to have to this warped perspective of the band and their fans. I want so badly to enjoy their music and that record. But I was presented with anything that made me feel inclined to do so. In that original review, I said “What I want to hear when I listen to other Sonic Youth records is more. More heaviness. Go crazier. Be more experimental and weird.” Funny how that has aged considering the context of this album. This would mark the beginning of the band’s very strongly praised period from the mid-80s and into the 90s. Kim Gordon calls it their gothic record. And it represents a much darker and less appealing side of their music. What you are actually hearing isn’t too far off from the noisy post-punk and goth music of the time period. But it has their unique spin on it. Kim’s voice is still just as lifeless as ever. I don’t think the music itself is terrible. The first three songs start things off very strong, and led me to believe I would be in for something especially interesting. But after that, the only song that even remotely caught my attention was the longer closing track. To me, the issue that still remains which bars me from really enjoying this is how inconclusive it feels. There are so many times where a proper pay off moment or exciting climactic part feels worthwhile or even necessary. There doesn’t have to be a massive explosive end to every song. But just something more. The only example in which I feel this works is Shadow of a Doubt, where the almost melancholic vibe adds to the song. Even more so than their most celebrated album, I am still searching for more within Sonic Youth’s music. And I’m still holding out hope that one day I can find it. Rating: 5/10
Yeah, it's a classic of noise rock. OK, it's been very influential. It's just not that enjoyable.
Didn’t do much for me
Sonic Youth - a big name, but I never caught on to their appeal.
Good start, got boring in the middle, great finale. Not their best album, not their worst. I enjoyed it for the most part. 3/5
good rock
This is better than other albums by Sonic Youth but I don't really see much interesting stuff in it.
Nice sound, not a lot to say
Good, but not as fun as the first one we listened to.
Sometimes its magical, sometimes its just madness. I appreciate the energy as an important part of Sonic Youth, but the fact of the matter is I would rather skip the vast majority of this album. The first few tracks toe the line, then the middle of the album is a really (intentionally) chaotic scramble, then I really quite love Madonna, Sean and Me. Fave Tracks: Starpower, Madonna, Sean and Me 2.7/5
Cool, I liked how doomy it was. Overall I don’t love Sonic Youth as much as I thought it would but it’s good stuff.
I found this a bit samey but appreciated Generous 3 as I wasn’t in the mood
It's okay but not rotation worthy. Goo on the other hand better? Just not developed enough soz
Even though this came out in 1986, it sounds like the first album of the 90's, that alone is pretty cool. Sonic Youth would go to make better records after this, so I'm not so sure this one stands out enough to be essential. Key tracks: Star Power
- Ich find Sonic Youth irgendwie geil - Kann total verstehen, wenn die einem auf den Sack gehen - Aber ich finde, die haben immer eine ganz besondere eigene Stimmung, die sich in ihrem Sound ausdrückt. Ähnlich charakteristisch wie bei den Doors z.B., halt was ganz eigenes. - Experimentell, abgefahren und trotzdem irgendwie chillig und wiedermal so wunderbar melancholisch - Für Underground Musik sicherlich eine der bedeutensten Bands überhaupt - Habe schon in einige Alben von Sonic Youth reingehört aber kannte keinen Song, bis auf das geile Instrumental von Shadow Of A Doubt Rating: 3,5/5
Fine
Meh
Best cool bij vlagen, lekker experimenteel, maar slaat daardoor toch ook geregeld de plank mis.
Primer acercamiento a este trabajo de Sonic Youth. E.V.O.L. (1986) se trata del cuarto álbum de estudio de la banda neoyorkina, el cual brilla dentro de su discografía como su primer trabajo masivamente alabado por la comunidad musical, significando el primer gran vistazo a lo que vendría después con trabajos crónicamente discutidos como Daydream Nation o Goo. Tomando influencias del Noise Rock, Post Punk y Gothic Rock, este Lp de 39 minutos envuelve al oyente en una ambientación surreal y sombría. Así, considero que el mejor apartado de este trabajo es el sonido que emula la banda a través de su experimentación con los ruidos y las guitarras eléctricas. Asimismo, destaco las letras en cada una de las canciones, las cuales involucran a sus relatores en el mismo mundo que construyen al abarcar las crudas temáticas de la depresión y el caos. Ahora, considero que este trabajo peca en algunos aspectos de la ejecución, siendo el más notorio el despliegue vocal en algunas de las canciones. En comparación, Pornography (1982) de The Cure divaga en el mismo género y temáticas que el trabajo aquí presente y, sin embargo, nunca escuchamos a Robert Smith cantando desganado. Entiendo que la temática del álbum podría encajar el estilo vocal que los interpretes despliegan en algunas de las canciones, pero no puedo evitar hacer la comparación con otros trabajos similares que demuestran una alternativa (a mis ojos) mucho más cautivante. Asimismo, destaco canciones que involucran relatos hablados de los miembros de la banda (como In the Kingdom #19 o Secret Girl), las cuales a pesar de tratarse de estilos vocales monotonales si veo en ellos que los interpretes se involucran con sus relatos. En conclusión, considero que se trata de un buen trabajo por parte de la banda neoyorkina, el cual es también un primer acercamiento necesario para comprender el importante fenómeno que significa su discografía. FAVTRAXS: Shadow Of A Doubt, In the Kingdom #19, Secret Girl, Expressway to Yr. Skull LEASTFAV: Green Light 3/5 (en la teoría podría ser un 3.5/5)
Noisy and a bit ethereal, and okay to listen to for me.
Honestly I feel like I should've given this more of a chance than I have. Their later stuff is still the peak to me but the roughness of this album really works with their sound.
SY is over-rated
Evol is backwards Love. I really like the first 3 songs: Tom Violence, Shadow of A Doubt, and Starpower. Then Lee Renaldo lays down one of his spoken word pieces and the album kinda goes downhill for me from there. I love Thurston's guitar alchemy in Tom Violence. Kim is so whispery and alluring in Shadow of a Doubt. And Starpower is as close to a rock song as you are going to get on this album. Then it gets all artsy.. or maybe too much acid. I love this band but this is not their best.
Pretty skeptical about this exercise now with this being the 4th album by SY to make the cut. It is pretty cool to see the incomparable Mike Watt in his post-Minuteman/pre-firehose days playing bass on a few tracks. And while you can hear seedlings here throughout that definitely lay foundations which other bands take from later, this effort doesn’t merit a placement in the 1001. Some moments are cool, but noise for noise sake is a bit much.
Fourth SY album overall and second of the week… this one made me feel like maybe this band is slightly over represented on this project. Didn’t really feel like this one deserved to be included, but was fine.
I dig a lot of this but loses me when it gets into the non-musical noise. Perhaps one day I’ll come back to Sonic Youth and be like, “oh now I totally get it!” But for me now all their albums seems to be falling in that 3-3.5 star range.
Another day, another Sonic Youth album. Similar to their other albums I like parts of this but it doesn't come together for an amazing album. 3.25/5
Sonic Youth is a group I need to spend more time with in general, so I'm always grateful when they pop up on this list. This record definitely deserves a few more listens; it's dense, experimental, and all over the place. But in a good way! I'm eager to digest it more, what I heard on first listen was interesting. Also if you're reading this and haven't checked out Kim Gordon's latest solo album "The Collective" go do it!!
Interesting but no real standouts and nothing that really draws me back. A little slow.
No private session used for Spotify. I listened to this album three times, hoping something would catch, nothing did. I liked the album, but there wasn't anything here to really grab me, nothing wrong with it, though.
Doesn’t sound as noisy as I expected.
I don’t love
Not their best album, but some good grooves.
Las atmósferas ruidosas y en ocasiones oscuras y los paisajes sonoros inconexos en forma de collage de los primeros trabajos de Sonic Youth evolucionan aquí al incorporar ligeros toques pop y melodías más lúdicas. Es el caso de la ensoñación oscura de "Tom Violence", apertura del disco, y de menera contendia, "Shadow of a Doubt" (de lo que más me gusta del disco). Además destaca el tenso instrumental "Death to Our Friends". Pero también encontramos la experimentación ruidista en temas como "In the Kingdom #19" o las voces deslizantes de Kim Gordon envueltas por un repetitivo bucle de caja de música en "Secret Girls". La nueva dirección que empieza a tomar la música de Sonic Youth en este disco se hace patente en su versión del tema pop "Bubblegum" (no incluida en el LP original, es otro de los temas que más me gustan del álbum) de Kim Fowley, eso sí con un punto de sordidez que lo aleja del original. También destaca la hipnótica canción con la que concluía el LP original "Expressway to Yr. Skull", titulada en reediciones posteriores como "Madonna, Sean and Me".
I'm generally pretty keen on raw, scuzzy indie noise rock, but then I never seem to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. This was the case again with this album. I kept it in my rotation for a few days, hoping it would click but it never really did. It's a good overall vibe and I feel it's worthy of more than a 2, but I still feel a bit disappointed.
Favorite Track: Shadow of a Doubt
A transitional album. It’s good – pretty close to great, even, especially the songs with Gordon doing lead vocals – but I’m not sure if I absolutely *needed* to hear Sonic Youth try to Keep It Real™️ to their no wave/noise roots while also trying hard to not write a pop hook. Maybe I’d suggest EVOL to someone who’s already a fan of the other essential Sonic Youth records as a Tier 2 Essential Listen. As someone who’s only recently become a fan of the band herself, though, this style and sound isn’t my jam, and I’m not sure if EVOL is particularly innovative or unique enough within that style and sound to warrant a specific call out. Maybe this would click more if I’d gotten this on CD 10-15 years ago and felt compelled to constantly replay it in order to get my money’s worth. Today, though, I’d rather just move on to the better, more essential albums that came after this that actually achieved the balance between noise and pop that EVOL was so desperately trying to strike.
Don't even recall it
you get what you paid for. A noise band that wants to be lo-fi. If they actually tried to be a proficient band, these would be some great pop songs, but they want to be brooding and crabby. fine.
Liked it at the start but went off the rails a bit. Weird to think this came out the same year as the queen is dead by the smiths
Couldn't tell if I was listening to a rock album or a soundtrack to a movie about the kid on the cover. Really abstract and dreamlike. Not sure what we got going on here really. Experimental? More than some of the other goth rock we've heard? Shadow of a Doubt was other tracks have solid instrumentals but I don't think the album stands out. It's pretty good but I need a Sonic Youth fan to explain why it makes the list...2.5.
Started off strong but went downhill from there. You can only make the same strange guitar sounds so many times.
I've tried to like Sonic Youth for years and this is probably the closest I've come to it, but there's still something not quite hitting right. Honestly, some of the guitar solos just sound kind of like... what I play when I jam with my friends? And really it can be better described as either trial and error noodling or fretting a bunch of strings and hoping it sounds cool. Which is more of a negative toward Thurston Moore's playing than it is a compliment to my own. Maybe one of the other SY records on this list will land better.
How much Sonic Youth is in this book? They're cool but I never thought of them as critical darlings.
Good punk energy, liked the vocals and guitars quite a bit. 3.2
It was ok
I like this album. It didn't really blow me away but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Not a whole lot to say about this one, it's pretty standard 80s alt. Sounds pretty raw and edgy, well played, interesting compositions. I dig it. 3.5/5 but rounded down because there wasn't anything that really wowed me.
Might be good, need to be in a different mood
I know they were very influential to some of my favorite bands, but I just can’t get into their music. Too unrefined and messy.
a healthy dose of chaos i like first track
A band I feel I should love but leave me a bit cold. This though I feel is the best. And I'd probably calk Expressway as my fave SY track of all
Some tracks are easy to get into and jam with, others just drag on with self-importance and trying far too hard to make a point. Pretentiousness disguised as self-awarenss.
On EVOL, Sonic Youth stumble into a moody sweet spot that makes their usual art-noise provocations feel less like a grad seminar and more like an actual atmosphere you can sink into. Draped in near-goth shadow and powered by a cavernous low end, the album thrives on tension and restraint, with shorter, punchier misfires that don’t overstay their welcome. Opener “Tom Violence” sets the tone with martial drums and a sense of looming drama, while Kim Gordon’s whispery menace on “Shadow of a Doubt” is genuinely unsettling in a way the band rarely nails this cleanly. “Green Light” clangs and lurches like an evil cousin of early Pixies before collapsing into feedback, and the closing epic “Expressway to Yr. Skull” reaches for a grandeur the vocals can’t quite match but almost pull off through sheer volume and intent. Sure, the spoken-word navel-gazing of “In the Kingdom #19” feels a little too pleased with itself, and “Marilyn Moore” is goth to the point of parody, but EVOL remains one of Sonic Youth’s more listenable and intriguing records—proof that when they dial down the hipster reflex, their noise actually hits harder.
3.5
It's not Dirty, but it'll do.
Never got on with SY. This one was decent in parts, pointless in others
3.5/5
The playing is interesting and it creates an intriguing dark mood. But I am having a pretty good day, so not quite my taste.
En del oljud. Men ändå behagligt faktiskt. Lite förvånad. Trodde det skulle vara sämre. Skönt sound i första låten. Sång, lite meh. Men rycks ändå med. Andra låten helt ok. Tredje låten. Sisådär. Fjärde låten är ju bara jobbig. Femte. Sisådär Sjätte. Nja. Sjunde. Meh. Åtta. Nja. Nionde börjar svinnajs. Skönt sound. Gillar driver i sista låten tex. Trummorna och gitarren. Sången är sisådär Lyssnade faktiskt på lite mer SY.
Raw, distorted, slightly atonal. And yet here it is, getting 3 stars from me. Because despite its theoretical unlistenability, it's actually pretty good. The instrumental track, Death To Our Friends, is perhaps the strongest track here, lacking the disinterested and off-putting singing that pulls some of the other songs down. The music in this particular track is dark and foreboding, and overall a great ambient track. Many of the other songs intrigued me because of their spoken vocals, which seem to capture a proto-emo feel. I definitely enjoyed these more than the sung vocals (which were, frankly, bad). At the end of the day, music that sounds good is going to rank higher than music that doesn't, and bored, out-of-tune singing doesn't sound good to me. The drumming and vague rock influence was a standout. Seriously - the percussion in In The Kingdom #19 is great. I also like the instrumentation in Shadow Of A Doubt, combining piano, drums, and acoustic/electric that are just filtered enough to blur the line between human and alien. We also hear rising and falling tension in this song, which is always a win. I don't like the singing, but the backing more than makes up for it. Madonna Sean And Me is similar; a great track overall. Bubble Gum sticks out like a sore thumb at the end of the album, having more of an early 70s sound than an 80s one. Sounds like early Queen prog mixed with Velvet Underground (+ Nico) vocals. Weird, but pretty catchy. 3/5 Key tracks: In The Kingdom #19, Death To Our Friends, Madonna Sean And Me
3.5
I appreciate the sound but not very listenable for me.
It felt more modern (early 90s) than I'd expect from a 1986 album, so I got to give them credit for that. Sadly this style is mostly wasted on me.
7/10
There is probably one album too many by the Sonics on here, but this is one of their finer Blast First albums. Not so much a collection of songs as two sides of organised noise, some stretches more tuneful, others more noisy. My vinyl copy has the last track which goes on for infinity as it has a locked groove. Their secret weapon every listen reveals more is Kim Gordon's uber-cool vocals. 3.5.
Interesting and engaging. This album sounds quite contemporary and the range of guitar sounds is intriguing. This album anticipates so much alternative music and more mainstream moves in rock and roll. 1986. I don’t remember anything remotely sounding like this back then.
I have listened to a lot of Sonic Youth in my life, but not this one. This is a band that is also a movement. They have been a pretty important figure in my journey towards weirder and noisier in music during my teenage years. I can't say this is my cup of tea now, but I still give respect to their sincerity and drive. As always, here we find them searching, looking for something that is eluding them. This is the work of a bunch of punk kids trying to find their way and make art that is true to their experience, and translate that quest in sound. As far as tension and release goes, they still play on that edge, bringing a very primitive take on it. And sometimes we get a reminder that this is still Rock'n'Roll, as the ghost of mystery train checks in. This is also the 80s in the concrete Jungle. This is growing up in reaganomics, and the city is in ruins and all your friends are poor and artists. You play on second hand guitars and broken microphones. This is messy, loud, threatening. At times it feels like chaos is taking over. That we are witnessing some kind of sonic dissolution. Everything then is hanging by the thread of Steve Shelley's drums. Then there are moments of quiet menace, usually carried by Kim Gordon. This is not beautiful, nor is it trying to be. They are after something else than beauty. I am not quite sure what that something else is, so I guess that is why so many still listen after all these years. I gotta admit I did tune out at some point. But I still have a lot of respect for them as artists and gratitude for how they opened my ears to difference in music.
OK stuff.
Noise rock from the mid 1980s, with quite a lot of melodic tunes, though nothing is really very memorable or outstanding on this album. All in all good, but wouldn't want to listen to it again soon.
Middle of the road for me
Another Sonic Youth album. I think one would have been ample, but we are up to 3!
I liked the songs that Sonic Youth did more than the soundscapes. They were more focused and concise. Things like "Madonna and Sean and Me" are just going to sound like a ramble. The spoken word piece "In The Kingdom #19" actually worked really well for me. Top songs "Bubblegum," "In The Kingdom #19," "Tom Violence"
The early stuff doesn’t hit me as hard but it’s a def 3.5 star album. Giving 3. A few standouts.
Time for another artist that I've heard stuff about but never really listened to! Sonic Youth is a pretty influential band that doesn't really get talked about a ton. This was one of their first albums to hit it big, with it being the first album with their "standard" line-up. I'm not entirely sure what to think about it. It's a fairly avant-garde album, which is something that has been pretty hit-or-miss for me. Some of the more avant-garde or artsy albums I've gotten are pretty good, while others are some of my least favorites of all time. Fortunately, this album leans much closer to the former. If there's any album I've listened to that I've thought "I hope this grows on me," it's this one. There's things to like here. The whole feel is very mysterious and dark. It's noisy, but not in an annoying way. This results in a unique sound that takes a while to click with you. It still hasn't fully clicked with me, but I have a feeling that it will eventually. The writing is interesting, with it taking influences from some unexpected places. I like that there are multiple vocalists with such different vocal styles. Overall, I like this album, but I feel like other Sonic Youth albums may end up being more my style. Still, I respect this album and may (KEYWORD: MAY) even bump up the rating if I revisit it in the future. High 3/5.
Какая-то мешанина эмо/пост панка, а не нойз рок. Музыка для думскорлинга какая-то Алкоальбом: идешь домой со школки, пьешь ягуар и челка заезжает тебе в глаз
this just really didn't do anything for me, i'm sorry!
i guess if i had been a teenager growing up in 1986 this might've been the sort of thing i'd listen to, but it's not doing much for me as an adult in 2024. i know a few sonic youth songs and they're definitely an acquired taste. these tracks feel haphazard and everything's all over the place. certainly more interesting than some of the real blase "required listening" on this list but overall just kind of strange and baffling without a real point. favorites: tom violence, shadow of a doubt, starpower, bubblegum
Very erie punk/alternative rock.
I know people love sonic youth, but they sound much the same to me... Like monotone.
Made me put on Pixies.
I liked this better than the other SY album! That’s good I think.
Certainly not my favourite Sonic Youth album.
Quite good start - but become more and more „crazy“
Better than the last Sonic Youth album on this list.
very meh
This music just isn't for me. It's from a time and a scene I was never part of and can't vibe with. The weird part is that it had a huge influence on the angsty music I do like. I can absolutely hear the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in this music. I head Dinosaur Jr. But I just can't get into it. And despite all this, I haven't stopped listening, so maybe there's something in this for me.
It was a pleasant enough noise to noodle through. A band who know what they’re doing, and what they’re about. That’s about the sum of my notes. Solid, but not leaving much of a mark on my consciousness.
Detta är ju rätt så bra. Märks att det har influerat Nirvana med flera. Lite konstiga ljud ibland, men i grunden bra. 3 / 5
• Omslaget ser ut som jag tänker mig Sonic Youth: konstigt och lite kaotiskt • Första tanke: så många av de band man tycker om har Sonic Youth som inspiration, men varje gång jag lyssnat på dem har jag inte tyckt om det så mycket, men detta var rätt normalt nu i början: De kanske blir skummare med åren • Det blev konstigt tillslut ändå Betyg: Jag har inte förmågan att tycka om de flesta låtar hur jag än vill => 2/5 => vad va ja tänkte ge för betyg. Lyssnade om några låtar morgonen efter, vet inte om jag valde exakt alla normala låtar med det va bättre denna gång. Musikmässigt är det bra, men har svårt när sången blir lite för avantgarde => 3/5
3-7-2024 I like the instrumentation. The vocals are pleasant sounding but the lyrics are...worth a listen. Kinda dark. Not terrible but not really for me (maybe if I listened more than once but..)
Completely unaware of Sonic Youth in my uncool younger days. Thought this was a pretty interesting listen, but it's pretty noisy. Centainly had wide ranging influences on all sorts of alt and grunge. Can see why folks reference it. Unexpected bangers: Green Light, Marilyn Moore, Starpower
I like but too long.
Solid album. Pretty emo and nothing stands out too much to me. But enjoyable nevertheless. 3.5/5
Interesting album, just mind blowing guitars and arrangements. A total psychedelic departure. I thought I was going to turn it off at first, ended up even adding a couple things to my favorites. Cool to listen to blow the dust off the hackneyed brain and feel total freedom.
I would have given this two stars, but I'll bump it up one because of the influence it had on so many of the albums I listened to as a teenager. Try as I might, I need some semblence of melody in my music and some of the folks who took this and ran with it really perfected the noisy guitar sound with a slight tinge of pop sensibility. (I know that's verboten in some circles, but to my ear its much more pleasant)
Fine but forgettable
Like many Sonic Youth albums, this one led me in with some grungy catchy songs with a noisy edge. I think this one strikes a better balance between the messy noise and the poppier tracks. The production also feels a little bit more open than something like daydream nation which feels really narrow.
Reminds me of Joy Division
This started very promising, but fell off. Missed the drums in the slow and meandering second half.
is fine ig
(pre)teska alternativa, 3/5. Ima dvije tri pjesme dobre.
nis posebno mi nije bio
In a previous Sonic Youth review, I claimed to not be a fan. But this is now my third SY album and I am loving their diversity in sound!
Rewinding to the 80s for sure.
A dense poertry session with punk rock on the background. I feel it may be hard to listen to people not used to have punk or any kind of rock in their to-go playlists
I should know this album better than I do, given my age, but I guess it's a just a few years too early for me. Shadow of a Doubt is an amazing yet utterly creepy song and I don't know how I feel about that. I like this album better than the other Sonic Youth album I reviewed (Daydream Nation), but overall I'm just not that into Sonic Youth.
I really like Sonic Youth, but Evol is not my favorite album. Still a solid one!
Pretty good
This has been my issue ever since the 90's when my friends all liked Sonic Youth and I did not. I just can't get into them and I'm probably the problem. It's not bad music, I just do not connect to it. I could go with one Sonic Youth album on this list and I've already heard the other. I preferred this one, honestly. Sonic Youth is influential and they are one of the few bands of the grunge era I could not get into. Such is life.
Overall this was an alright album. I absolutely loved Sonic Youth's "Goo" album, that was presented to me earlier, but this was not as good. I only liked a couple of the songs. I would still recommend this album if you are fan. Favorite Song(s): "Tom Violence", "Shadow of a Doubt", "Starpower", "Bubblegum"
I don't know exactly where my deep aversion to Sonic Youth came from; maybe it was playing "Kool Thing" on Guitar Hero when I was too young to Get It and hating the song, maybe it was a reflexive dislike of Kim Gordon's voice (I'm sorry), maybe it was years of being inundated with people insisting that Sonic Youth is the greatest band to come from New York, the apex of cool, heirs apparent to The Velvet Underground, whatever. Here we are. The guitar work, the production and atmosphere--this thing *is* pretty cool. The drums sound great. The songs are tight. The album is polished but not fussy. If I was in somebody's basement or a dim club hearing this stuff live, I think I'd go nuts. There are still the moments of pretentiousness that I'd expected (see: "In the Kingdom #19", "Secret Voice"), but I wouldn't call this a pretentious record. It's good rock music. But I still don't really like Kim Gordon's voice. Highlights: Tom Violence, Star Power, Death to Our Friends, Madonna, Sean, and Me
3,5
I was listening to Sonic Youth in the early 90's (Goo/Dirty), yet I never explored much further. I kinda got over them and didn't really look back. This was interesting. The band sounds amazing, better than what I remember. The songs aren't really getting to me though. At least if I was going to listen to Sonic Youth in the future, if probably pick this album.
Je connaissais pas du tout, très nice. Je pense réécouter.
J'ai bien aimé dans l'ensemble, mais les solo c'est pas mon truc.
Ok
Je pense qu'on a compris le truc maintenant
Rock alternativo oscuro. Me ha disgustado menos que el resto de los que he escuchado de SY. Ni fu ni fa.
Satisfyingly grungy and lo fi. Almost sounds ahead of its time.
well, i have like one or two sonic youth songs across all my playlists but i’ve never listened to an album all together or a bunch of their music, and i’ll be honest, i’ve listened now and probably won’t listen to that album ever again apart from ‘star power’ i love that song a lot. it’s a good album for the genre i guess, but just background annoyance for me; though i love their vibe.
Qlright
To go from an experimental Velvet Underground album to this seems intentional. I'm taking it personally. The algorithm is a little too on the nose. As if I needed help underscoring the idea this album sprang from the ashes of White Light / White Heat. In my mind, this is where it really starts for Sonic Youth. The beginning of them perfecting their sound starts here. This band was never going to be confused with bubble gum pop, but they clearly lightened things up a bit after this album. That said, there's a lot of this I don't particularly care for. Maybe I just don't need my goth to sound so gothy.
This was interesting, and would perhaps require a re-listen to get a better grasp on it. I like the atmosphere and wish I had listened to it in a quieter environment so I could better immerse myself in the album. My favourite song was Shadow of a Doubt.
A very enjoyable 3
Standard Sonic Youth
Pretty solid old noise rock. Not much else to say
Sounds cool
Idk tbh
Sonic Youth is one of those bands that I truly missed the boat on. Hyper aware of them and their imprint on music forever but not really all that familiar with their music. Consequently I don't feel a ton when I listen to it. This album is fine, it's like all other Sonic Youth albums, just kind of whatever for me. Maybe some day I'll do a true deep dive in to Sonic Youth, but I figure if I was ever going to do that I would have done it by now.
7/10
It’s alright but they have other albums that I like better.
Gorgeous, scuzzy music
Kinda boring, but an interesting turning point towards "Daydream Nation" nonetheless.
Not bad. I dig their vibe on this album. I haven't been much of a fan of their others, but this one was pretty good.
очень мрачно
Shadow of a Doubt is cool. Starpower is cool. I think this album is where I finally start to see the appeal of Sonic Youth. In the Kingdom #19 is pretty odd. Maybe after this is done will do another pass at the Sonic Youth. There is something here that caught me, i just dont really know what.
Starts off sounding like The Cure - which is not a bad thing - but shows a lot of where they were headed.
Noise! Noisy noise! Ok though.
Apart from a couple of nice songs (Starpower) the balance on this album leans over to unstructured noise.
I might revisit this one another time when I can pay some more attention. I did enjoy the listen. The instrumentation on here was really interesting and rough - Moore is a pretty phenomenal guitarist and Gordon is her own sort of genius. Sonic Youth were always a band I've been meaning to really get into, but have never engaged with it quite as much as I expect. Maybe overall this album didn't feel as complete as some I've heard in a similar style, and sometimes they maybe seem a little ~too~ angsty. Still benefited from hearing this, and has piqued my curiosity for what I imagine is another handful of albums from this band on this list. Three and a half - Fave track: Starpower
I wonder if the generator has an impact on how I'm perceiving these albums. The Sonic Youth albums are coming at me at a pretty brisk clip, and I'm kind of burnt out on it. Likewise, I'm getting Dylan at a much brisker pace than Bowie, who has a similar amount of representation on the list. Anyway, it's fine - I find Sonic Youth to be kind of tedious, and having so much of it so close together doesn't really help dispel that impression.
Didn't expect to enjoy this but it was intense and different. Lots of interesting directions here. Shows you that there was a resistance movement in 1986
meh
I like it, but I just can't believe there are 5 total Sonic Youth albums on here. Daydream Nation absolutely deserves its spot, but I'm not as sold on the rest. That being said I don't dread the last two of their albums I still have coming because I do like them. Just not necessarily must hears.
I understand that this album has a lot of influences on the kind of bands that would become known as grunge but this kind of feels like a bunch of people f****** around in a garage it crawled that way bands later could run.
Have never gotten over the fact that I was out of the shop chasing stock when Thurston Moore came into Scratches during Sonic Youth’s 1989 tour. Look, I was never a huge fan, but I enjoyed some of their stuff - I have the Starpower single, but I actually prefer the flipside, the Kim Fowley cover, Bubblegum. They were still a bit too noisy for my liking at this point in their development. I finally got to see them at the Enmore in 2008, when they were doing their Daydream Nation tour. Now that was an album.
This sounds like many things, but it's dark, goth and less depressing than expected. Nothing stood out for me, just a sound.
Someone on RYM described this band perfectly as "masters of finely sculpted cacophony." But these masters have better masterpieces.
3/5. Feel like I'm supposed to like it more. Just didn't really click for me
Int lika bra som the beatles!!!
Solid. Found it a bit less meaty than some other SY albums but maybe it was just my mood.
Not my favourite of the Sonic Youth Albums I've been served by 1001 but one I will definitely revisit.
3.5 I don't dislike Sonic Youth, but I have to be on the right wavelength first, and only for varying amounts of time.
Eh
The third Sonic Youth album now and I thought this one was just okay. A little samey after a while and didn't exactly blow me away or anything.
They're an okay band and make a record which could be interesting if I was more teenage, more angry and more American. Feels like a song missing a melody though. It just sort of starts, does it's thing and ends leaving the listener broadly unhooked. Maybe after the millionth listen I'll get there but not today
Liked, but needs a second listen.
Why this album? Sonic Youth have way better ones. It's a decent SY effort I guess but far from their best
It's interesting listening to this earlier album
Historical inflection point where one of the greatest post-Beatles rock figure out how to shape their incredible sound into bonafide songs, decent, but meandering ones (they’d get better after).
Is dit post-punk of pre-grunge? Het heeft wat van beide mee. Aparte sound
да простят меня все ценители, мне кажется что этот альбом попросту плохо состарился и один из немногих хороших моментов который я могу выделить, это то что они не особо говнари как я понял, довольно необычный альбом, но как по мне, но буквально на раз. Лучшие треки: Shadow of a Doubt, Secret Girl
It was interesting from a band I had heard of but was unfamiliar with their work
Good background tunes