Reviews (page 6 of 7)
They are fortunate this isn't a 1. The songs weren't wildly offensive so that's the only reason why. I just can't enjoy any band that is trying to be artsy and that's exactly what Sonic Youth is, a band trying to be artsy but not too hard. They aren't Public Image Ltd. bad, but it's still not really enjoyable. There's a reason there's standard tuning on a guitar. It's cause it sounds good. You don't need a bunch of wonky tunings, just chill out. It's not selling out if your music sounds good. Usually its a good thing, and something people strive for, to make you music sound good, not actively make it obnoxious.
Not a 1 star but not good at all. Boring and plodding. Yawwwwwn
Oh so trendy oh so boring
first time heard 1.5 round up to 2
Sonic Youth’s Evol has its moments, but they’re buried under a heap of noise and art-school pretension. I get why Kurt Cobain liked them — they were edgy, weird, and doing something different — but different doesn’t always mean good. There are a few catchy songs here that break through the fuzz, but the rest just sort of meanders aimlessly. It’s like they’re trying really hard to be avant-garde but forgot to bring the hooks. Not the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but nowhere near the hype.
They may have influenced my favorite bands, but that is no reason for this list to force me to endure 5 miserable albums from them. Cocaine, another bad idea, was also influential the 80s as well. You're not going to make me experience that bad idea as well, are you? Here is a tip. If Robert Christagu and Pitchfork agree on something, you know it must be pretentious bullshit.
Incredibly boring with almost toneless singing. Some interesting ideas bring this up to a 2-star album.
One day, a group of slam poets turned on a white noise maker picked up some instruments, recorded for forty minutes and released the album. and it is about as good as you would think
Shit as
Nothing to draw from this, nothing to say about it either. NEXT!!!!
Thought this was EVOL by Future at first and got excited. Turned out to be a bunch of noise with no heart.
I just don’t get the appeal of Sonic Youth. It becomes a lot of droning distorted noise to me. I can, however, see how this may have been appealing to the youth of the time. And I can also hear the influence that they had on bands to come. But overall I don’t enjoy it and wouldn’t revisit.
I know it is well regarded but I never got into it.
Not my style.
I must be thoroughly uncool, because I don’t get these guys at all and I have no desire to. Best song: Shadow of a Doubt
meh
2.8
Irrelevant.
Didn't really do much for me. Not particularly memorable. Nowhere near as good as Sister. Disappointing.
Bit warbly
I don't get it. Guess I'm a square.
Harsh, kinda punky, rock
Prior to this project, I had heard a few Sonic Youth songs, and enjoyed them quite a bit. So I just always assumed I was a prime candidate to be a Sonic Youth fan. Well, after a couple Sonic Youth albums on this project, I think I was just simply wrong about that. With Sonic Youth, I constantly find myself on the fence. I want to like aspects of their alternative, punky vocals and instrumentals. But they always have a tendency to take it a bit too far into the noise rock territory for me, to the point where it just sounds like a bunch of, well, noise. In terms of just being all noise and little substance, this album is among the worst offenders from Sonic Youth thus far. And honestly, do we really need this much Sonic Youth on this project?
I normally try to get through an album. This one is bad. I think this is the third Sonic Youth album so far, and it’s probably the worst.
Never understood the appeal of Sonic Youth.
# 378 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. It's just sloppy noise-rock. This is my second Sonic Youth albums on this list. I don't get what all the fuss is about. Sometimes this list feels like things are included just because they were really popular at the time, but does anyone actually still listen to this album?
Rejected
Another disappointing album
Some of the music was interesting, couldn’t really get behind the vocals though. Didn’t really capture my attention for the most part but there were some interesting bits. Madonna, Sean and Me did not need to be a 7 minute song either, but it would be a great night out.
E.V.O.L - Excessive, Vapid and 'Orribly Loud. What I thought would be a run of the mill heavy metal album turned into something far worse, as I was suddenly roundhouse kicked into a soundtrack from an overly complicated 90s slasher movie. Heavy metal is still quite an apt description for what I can only describe as 'fingers in the plug socket' style music, because 90% of it made me feel like I was being hunted by Leatherface and his heavy, metal chainsaw. The album was akin to what was initially, quite a novel ghost train ride. I sat there and pretended it hadn't give me the willies (I'd had enough of them listening to little Richard's album yesterday). My bravery soon turned to boredom, screams turned to yawns, and the bird I'd taken on the ride to try and cop a cheeky feel of in the dark, steadily got uglier.. as the ghost train went on, and on, and on. Occasionally something would pop out that piqued my interest, but I was otherwise trapped on the janky, dated masturbatathon that was this shite fairground 'attraction'.. forever edging itself towards hell. Someone tell the miserable gypo running the show I want to get off. 2 stars, only because I listened to a lot of it whilst driving and it was fun to pretend I was the one chasing people down country lanes in the middle of the night.
I really wanted to like this sonic youth album. I like some of their other stuff, but I never listened to this album. Sometimes I just don’t get Sonic Youth and this is one of those cases I think.
Future 1 Sonic Youth 0 (2.5/5)
I was planning on being impressed but very little came
This was....listenable.
Probably what Velvet Underground would have sounds like if they had been an 80’s band. A nice and interesting vibe is going on here, but the musicianship and vocals are weak. Anyhow, as with VU, I get the feeling that this is not what it is about anyway. Rather it is a kind of we don’t care if we are not that technically skilled, we come out with something more important than that, as an art thing. I am divided… but overall it does not really appeal to me. Probably because I do not really get the lyrics either.
Even if I ignore the speaking and distortion, the songs are decent at best.
Not bad sound wise, just unorganized as an album.
This seemed like an appropriate album to listen to the day before Halloween. That was the best part for me.
Never understood why so many people and critics liked this band. Not much in the way of melodies and the noise stuff isn’t that interesting. If they didn’t have a female in the group would they have been as popular?
My second sonic youth album. This one is sitting a little better with me, but still not really my thing. I understand how much they were pushing rock music to its limits and trying to break the tropes of rock music, but i just really dont enjoy the dissonant sound and depressing tone. While technically skilled, the music just isnt for me
I liked the other SY album a lot more this seemed a little less organized and grungy
Why are they on here so much? I really don’t get it. I’ve tried on every album that has popped up and I can’t get past a 2 rating. I don't get the hype.
2.4 - not for me this
The instrumentals are fine for the most part, but the vocals are boring and sound uninterested. I’ve heard of this band, but have never listened to them before. After this, I have to say… I’m not a fan. Favorite track: Shadow of a Doubt
This was so depressing
Eghhhhhh
Some songs remind me of Hole without the energy, some songs don't make sense to me at all.
A few ok tracks but overall it just did nothing for me.
Some standouts.
I didn't mind Tom Violence, Shadow of a Doubt or Secret Girl. The rest had too much of a performance piece vibe for me. The sounds weren't all bad, I just felt like they should be along with an art installation or a performance. On their own they felt unfinished. Some were totally lost on me, like Into the Kingdom, and didn't really fit into the whole album.
This was pretty creative, but also kind of weird. Goes a little too much into the experimental world for me. There wasn't anything I felt I could really grab onto, and some of it was just too noisy.
Am I old because I think this is noise?
Just not feeling this…
Very dull and draining. I had this record on while I was working and it just didn't stand out. Couple cool tracks, but overall it didn't have anything that stood out. Before I realized it, the algorithm took over after the record was over and played something immediately more grasping ("Celebrity Skin" by Hole). Not impressed by this one, but it's not deserving of 1 star.
“My name is bubblegum!” I listened all the way through, it was a bit painful but doable
A little bit too indie, a little bit too much "garage"
Given Pitchfork have 3 of their albums in their top 100 of the 80s, including Daydream Nation at 1 and this at 31, it's fair to say I probably don't appreciate Sonic Youth as much as I could. I found Evol quite a hard listen.. a little Cure like in places and with plenty of the guitar experimentation that SY are known for. Really lacks pop structures though so maybe an acquired taste?
..
Bad
Lots of sections of ambient noise that fail to act as an interesting counterpoint to the lyric-driven sections, which are also quite dull. Not much to write home about on this one. Listened to: walking on LVRT. Favorite track: Bubblegum
I didn't listen to much Sonic Youth in my youth, and not this album, so I don't have that nostalgic feeling that I think would help me appreciate this more.
I think I would be cooler if I liked more Sonic Youth. But sometimes albums like this make it hard to be cool.
I loved the album "Dirty" but find this so much less appealing.
Noisy, grungy, punky, velvet undergroundy. None of the songs on this album stuck with me, save for the super graphic one about the car accident.
Just loud noises for the sake of being loud
Dull
Very goth with lots of bells. A well put together album, but no need to explore further at this point. (2,4*s)
I think you have to be in the right mood (or a teenager) for this one because I am not getting it at all. Maybe it was avant-garde in the late 80's but it just sounds like a bunch of discordant, gritty noise now. It has the elements to be good like really leaning into the edginess or surreal sound but it just falls short on all accounts. Female vocalist is annoying, nothing stood out, it's bad without a "Shadow of a Doubt."
I was tempted to give this one 1 star, but I gave it a second listen and bumped it to a 2. It’s not as unpleasant as I initially thought it was, but it’s not particularly interesting or exciting either.
Too ominous for me. Madonna, Sean, and me was somewhat enjoyable
An ok album
It’s not noisy No Wave and it’s not Daydream Nation. It’s the beginnings of something but not the peak.
Slow album. Never really made me interested. Surprising cause I have like some of their other work. 2.5/5 Won’t listen again
EVOLution of boredom and mediocre music. Wasn't entirely terrible, but definitely it was a wasted time.
Unfortunately boring and dull. Uninterested vocals, little message in the lyrics, and not much to listen to otherwise. While I can appreciate angsty teen rock, this album isn't it. Shadow of a Doubt was cool but that was about it.
meh
Noise
I really want to like these guys but somehow they snuck a handful of albums on this list and I truthfully don't get their music. Instrumentals aren't particularly great, nevermind the singing. Just trying to find one catchy song but still nothing. This reminds me of angry teenagers making music. 3/10.
e.v.o.l sonic youth 1986 1. tom violence: 5/10 2. shadow of a doubt: 4/10 3. starpower: 6/10 4. in the kingdow #19: 2/10 5. green light: 5/10 6. death to our friends: 5/10 7. secret girl: 3/10 8. marilyn moore: 2/10 9. madonna, sean and me: 7/10 10. bubble gum: 6/10 overall rating: 4,5/10
Masso
Thoughts before listening: Everything about Sonic Youth says I should love them, but outside of a handful of songs, I just don't. Its too atonal and weird for me maybe. Every album has a couple of interesting songs mixed in with a bunch of over distorted, tuneless noise rock non-songs. I'm not sure if I've listened to Evol before, but I'd expect more of the same. Review: So I think Sonic Youth is just going to be the band that I respect a whole lot more than I enjoy. At least not until later in their career when they started adding some melody to the mix with albums like Daydream Nation. I guess I'm just not as cool as I pretend. The best tracks here are the instrumental \"Death to Our Friends\" and \"Madonna, Sean, and Me\". Everything else is just so dark and droney and not for me. 2-stars cause I just can't give a respectable band like Sonic Youth 1-star.
It's funny how Sonic Youth gets stripped from one the best Grunge bands. As they were pioneering that genre. Their songs are far from accessible at times and I think this record suffers from it. Some cool ideas going on. The secret song in Nirvana's Nevermind album called Endless Nameless has a lot of sounds thwt I hear in this record. A lot of noise. A lot of chaos. A lot of angst. This record just wasn't that fun to listen to overall.
didn't like this one, too noisy, depressive... nah
I’m gonna need someone to sell me on this one. I couldn’t find an entry point into this album. It’s all minor chords, violent imagery and off-key instruments with echoing reverb. There’s a high level of craft and musicianship too but I just don’t see when or why I’d listen to this. I’ve liked some Sonic Youth in the past but I’m often appreciating them at a distance. And this one felt further away from me enjoying it than others.
I'm a passive Sonic Youth enjoyer- I can hear their music and generally have a good time listening, and I do recognize that they are a super influential band, but this record just kind of came and went. It almost felt like the genre Post-Rock, which I absolutely adore, but I think it fell flat because I was expecting a sound that is more like "Goo" or "Rather Ripped", both albums that I'm more familiar with and I more think of when I think of Sonic Youth. This one just kind of droned on and felt kind of depressing. That's OK, and the album isn't bad per se but I'm not sure if it should be on the list.
Tror fan det är fjärde plattan med Sonic Youth jag får. Kanske skulle världen se bättre ut om Sonic Youth inte fanns.
Pretty dull. Not my thing anyway.
I do not like this band.
Fuck sonic youth
Tough listen. Really not my genre and some really unenjoyable sounds all around. I know Sonic Youth is a very well regarded band if you're into punk, but it's simply not for me. At least the album was short. 3/10 (1.5/5)
Alright
I want to like Sonic Youth so bad - but they just make it so goddamned difficult. Overall this wasn’t terrible and was short. Still not something I would return to.
I don't really have much to say about this album. Sounds like sonic youth.
Meh, kinda shoe-gazey
Too thrashy. Needs more tunes.
not for me
Really? Four Sonic Youth albums? I think they made their major statements in the first. Enough already.
Same as always with Sonic Youth - complex, unique, interesting - except this time without any real good songs. It felt like an off-kilter goth record without enough melody to the doom and gloom. Far too many overly abrasive or droning songs like In the Kingdom #19, Secret Girl, and Marilyn Monroe and not enough songs like and Shadow of a Doubt, Starpower, and Bubblegum. I guess Tom Violence wasn't okay too. I've given them a bump in the past but I feel like I need to take off a point on this one.
Not my taste. That's pretty much it. There is a definite value in here. Just not for me.
2.4 they definitely developed their style a lot since this faves: tom violence
heard a lil peep sample from fuck fame but i wasnt super entertained
This reminds me of the My Bloody Valentine album I got a while back. Not a ringing endorsement. I didn't have to aggressively power through any tracks, but I was kind of wishing it was over so I could move on to the next one the whole way through.
I didn’t despise it like their album “GOO” but still not a fan. They still can’t sing, but it doesn’t really matter since their melodies are terrible anyway. Some interesting mood pieces but mostly noise. I did kind of like “Shadow of a Doubt” however; maybe because she doesn’t really sing in that one…just whispers.
Fun 80’s tunes
Nah mate. Not for me.
It feels like there was serious potential to make good music but they decided not to.
Didn’t really care for this.
Never was a fan of noise rock. I see the complexity and the heavy use of dissonant tunings as part of their experimental avant-garde approach to their music, while somehow trying to be more mainstream, if that makes any sense. Overall dark, I wouldn't label this as goth. Still not my thing.
I just don't like Sonic Youth. I don't understand what the critics see in them. It's just noisy, lazy rock.
Hmmmm
Different sound of rock, not punk, not industrial, not heavy metal, country or disco. In fact, I don't know what I just listened too.
Messy, nonsensical, just not good.
Sheesh. “My violence is a dream / a ‘real dream’ / a skinny arm / a crush on living sin”. … what the f is that supposed to mean? I get it, you’re goth, you hate the world. Blah blah blah. I looked at some of the critic’s comments on Wikipedia and I see comments like: “one of [Sonic Youth's] strangest albums", "a difficult album” and “no wave chaos." And "bring[s] form to the formless, tune to the tuneless, and … melody and composition on their trademark dissonance.” Yeah. I can see all those descriptions here, but none of them appeal to me. I don’t suppose it sucks, but I can’t dig it either. But the further along I went, the less I liked it. Started at 3, worked down to 2 2/5
Album 338 of 1001 Sonic Youth - E.V.O.L. Rating : 2 / 5 I'm sure this scratches somebody's itch
i like a lot of sonic youth’s stuff but i don’t enjoy this album very much unfortunately.
Not a huge fan of this. The shoegazey, spacey rock just doesn’t land
idk
Punk origins and what I imagine was a pretty unique sound at the time
Was not a fan. It was very airy grunge. Dissonance all around with for me very few redeeming qualities.
Yawn fest
Really dreary and borning album, not my cup of tea at all. But I guessed depressed expunks would be into it
Noisy rock. Gave me nothing!
Call me gramps, but this is a little too ‘tuneless noise’ for my tastes. In its favour I’d say that it does sound very ‘modern’ in its sensibilities for 1986, so maybe it helped pioneer alt-rock as we know it, or something? Also, Shadow of a Doubt is a gem. The creepy/dreamy atmosphere the band builds really works on that track. 2.5 stars
Don't get it
I thought this was going to be better for some reason. There were definitely some interesting and good moments, but most of it was just hard to listen to. 2/5
It's just sloppy noise-rock.
Some of it was good…then got bad.
In the typical Sonic Youth fashion, this one starts strong but just can’t sustain melodic interest before most of the album falls into homogenous noise. Usually I’m on board with the resulting jams, but this one fixates too hard on its darker thematics and just kind of sinks into murk halfway through.
First half was pretty good - surprisingly sparse and post-punk when I was expecting something more noisy. As the album went on it got more and more oblique musically and less enjoyable.
ew, punk degenerates.
Icons but not my thing
Ugh. Can’t imagine why this album made the list.
Očaj, nije my cup of tea Jedva sam ga do kraja poslusala
nista mi se nije bas istaklo, niti iman zelju opet poslusat
Imala neke nade na prvoj pjesmi cak ali SMORILO me nisam ni poslušala sve
I can appreciate what Sonic Youth was doing here, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to this again.
This is just not my thing. Nothing really stood out while listening, nothing made me perk up and pay more attention. It just was blah. Makes me wonder how this was so highly rated back in the day.
Hmm niks voor mij, niet slecht maar wel 2 sterren waardig vind het een beetje saai Would not buy
Sonic Youth sounds like all of the middle school garage bands that started among those of us who thought we could be rock stars at 12. The difference is that we eventually realized we weren't talented enough.
3rd Sonic Youth album in this list and it’s still not for me. I just don’t appreciate the lack of any interesting rhythms. 2/5.
This album has a great sound, but not great songs. This is refined over subsequent albums
Af en toe toegankelijk. Vooral door het ritme. Af en toe creatieve pop. Maar veel te vaak slechte zang en vage geluiden.
Very much not my style of music, abrasive instrumentals and lyrics didn’t grab me
I’m too old for this shit.
J'étais en train de lutter contre le sommeil (il était 15h) (j'avais mes règles) et ça m'a overstimulé c'était pas le mood du moment
ugh, where to start? sonic youth are so deeply fake, there’s nothing real happening here
Moody and atmospheric, while simultaneously being antagonistic and jagged. Part goth, part experimental, part no wave. It's like listening to an album that just isn't quite sure what it wants to be.
For the whole time I was listening, I was praying my headphones don’t disconnect in the office so everyone didn’t think I ate babies for breakfast
idk it kinda misses for me, it sounds like the mid 90s but it's missing something that would complete the sound. the last solo on bubblegum is pretty sick
Dissonant and uncomfortable
Like the pixies? But bad. Not into this one.
Last song was cool but probably because I wanted it to be over.
I just don’t get it and I didn’t when I first came out either
This album felt awfully disjointed. At best, it was adequate.
Not my vibe at all.
Ass 2
some good highlights and other okay songs
I dont understand why people bitch and moan when they get a weird album from a website that is meant to give you weird albums, like holy shit stop crying about it and go listen to Creed or some shit. anyway 2/5 this kinda sucks.
No-wave meets punk meets goth-rock, EVOL is Sonic Youth leaning into melody and pushing toward the mainstream, for what that means for a band like Sonic Youth. Not exactly my cup of tea: especially not a fan of either of the singers’ voices. Just seems underdone, and/or just off-key. I guess I can see why people love them, but I find the whole project too much and without any hint of fun or enjoyment, just drudgery.
In line with the other 3 Sonic Youth albums for me. Just pretty uninspiring for me.
Not my usual taste. Listenable if unremarkable, 2/3* ?
Was OK. Nothing more.
Evol by sonic youth is like a dull mesmerising drone that does not linger around long enough to become catchy. Would not recommend myself.
Tässä on efektejä, jotka saavat aikaan jopa fyysisen reaktion (sellainen huippaus, esim. In the kingdom #19:ssa), mikä on oikeastaan siistiä. Mutta muuten: liikaa kolinaa ja raahaavuutta.
I've already had to do two Sonic Youth albums. Just a bit yawn basically. Bit Velvet Underground, an bit noise, less than the sum of its parts.
blah - nothin to hear here.
2/5. While I don’t mind the idea of Sonic Youth’s droning similar to post-rock, I just can’t fully dive into it. The lack of measured verses/chorus, makes it hard for me to relate and enjoy.
So I really enjoyed half this album. The other half was not my favorite but...I am glad to have listened to it.
Not sure why this one is on this list. We have heard some sonic youth before but this one has many skips for me.
Woof, went to double check that we had another Sonic Youth album on this list and this one's actually number four. Not a good sign. I gave each of the three prior albums 3 stars, very middle of the road rock. This one's not even quite that good. It's not bad, but very forgettable rock. I think I've heard enough now to say I don't really get the appeal. Do we really need all of these from them? Favorite tracks: Secret Girl, In the Kingdom #19. Album art: Some crazy lady who looks like she's trying (?) to shit herself. The colorful and squiggly font and drawing on top of the picture is nice though, adds some much needed life to this weird picture. 2.5/5
This was a real mixed bag for me, as most noise-rock albums are. I kinda liked a few tracks at the beginning, but hated the few before "Bubblegum" and I didn't really like the vocals, so I guess this ends up as a 2 even though some of it worked for me.
I'm wondering if this is one of the greatest albums of all time simply because it was released in 1986, which would seem to me to make it a seminal forerunner of alternative rock, which is kind of impressive. I can imagine rising Gen Xers embracing the rebelliousness of their sound as a way of flipping the bird to their Byrds loving Boomer parents. But as music I want to listen to more, not really.
Ties monesko levy tältä tusinabändiltä tässä listauksessa. En voi ymmärtää hypeä... Kertakäyttökamaa eikä edes laadukasta.
Tää oli jo tutumpaa Sonic Youthia eli liian erikoista/taiteellista omaan makuun.
An incohesive album from an overrated band whose main achievement was being there at the right time.
Same as all the other Sonic Youth records except falls towards the lower end of the scale. Stop putting their entire back catalogue on the list.
I didn't enjoy the last Sonic Youth album we had, and this one was less good than that. It's really depressing, but not interesting, it's grungey without the energy. 2/5.
Listened to it several times now, barely remember it, sorry...
Reminds me of high school. Not the good parts.
Didn't think much of this album, not much to it
Nice stuff good quality definitely a five for someone else just not my type of music
Not a fan
Looking at this album through the lens of an angsty 80's teenager who was desperate for something relatable in a sea of hair metal and glossy pop, I can get behind what SY was trying to do. Looking at it as a 32 year old in 2023, boy is this tiring. There's nothing exciting to me about this record. I do like the band, and really get on board with some of their later 90's/2000's stuff, but this one is just a drawn out noise/goth record with some depressing production.
It would have been nice if either vocalist knew how to sing.
Decent. All of the songs started to mesh around halfway through, some songs were not for the faint of hearing.
Rock alternativo.
Niin hirveää shit ass en ymmärrä ei mene lehti laatikkoon
Kind of interesting but not my cup of tea.
I've tried to like Sonic Youth several times, but it's like listening to Jazz impersonating Rock.
Overkill having this many albums by them.
Totally unnecessary given that this is the 5th, yes you read that right, the 5th Sonic Youth album, yet doesn't provide anything that the other 4 albums wouldn't have already
BL: Sonic Youth have been on my to-listen list for some time so let’s see if they live up to my expectation AL: I thought this was pretty meh. I liked the more spoken word style tracks but generally speaking sonically it was quite bland I thought. Maybe on a relisten I’d like it a bit more but I’m not really sold on it FT: “star power”, “in the kingdom #19”, 2/5
Will never listen to this again. No melody just noise. Have no idea if people just use this as goth ASMR but genuinely baffled by all of the high reviews. Rating: 1.8
Quite amazing that this band has now 5 albums on this list. Hopefully it’s the last. Their music may be great to some people but overall it’s not appealing to me. The curator of this list however must love this band. I would like to know what makes them so worthy of 5 albums. This album was okay. Somewhere in the mix of their others but nothing I’d revisit. 4.3/10
Emo.
Found this quite monotonous. Lots of the songs lacked grunt, and overall it just felt droll. Not moody or biting enough to warrant the low energy. Admittedly I haven't listened to a whole lot of Sonic Youth, but have enjoyed the albums I've listened to, and have loved Kim Gordon's solo stuff, so I was disappointed by this. Fav Track: Shadow of a doubt 2.5
I enjoyed this album although it's not my favorite, there are many good songs.
Un aburrimiento. Se salva porque es de los Sonic Youth y tal, pero no debería estar en esta lista.
A little too tonal and spoken word for me to really take any enjoyment out of it. I can appreciate what went into it but I don’t get anything out of it 2/5
HL: "Tom Violence", "Shadow of a Doubt", "Expressway to Yr. Skull" My reasoning for wanting to like this was that the 90s Sonic Youth albums were kind of misses for me but EVOL's follow-up Sister was pretty enjoyable. ...It's another miss for me, despite some standouts that bookend the album, and despite the foreboding goth atmosphere (“Shadow of a Doubt” is both of those things). I couldn't shake the mental image of a 50-something's TEDTalk entitled "Why *You* Need to Hear the Albums *I* Got Stoned To At NYU" "Daydream Nation" is the one Sonic Youth on this list I haven't heard, and based on the fact that it's a Sonic Youth double album, I'm not exactly waiting with bated breath to hear it
I have wanted to like Sonic Youth for such a long time. I even saw them back in the '90s. They don't tickle my earballs no matter how many times I let them in.
meh, kind of odd. I've heard of the band, but haven't actually heard them before.
I found this tedious. Definitely not my style.
Sonic Youth are starting to learn to write songs, rather than just making a helluva noise. Now, don't get me wrong; I enjoy a helluva noise as much as the next man, possibly more. But, seriously, how many Sonic Youth albums do you need? There are five (five!) on this list, and I would argue that they don't really hit their straps until Daydream Nation. This 1001 albums project really likes an album where a band is starting to develop into the changes that would make them great, rather than just sticking to the albums that really are the band at their peak. I was kinda interested in this record, and I didn't hate it, but found it really inessential. The only song that really leapt out of the speakers at me was Bubblegum , which is a cover. There are some arresting soundscapes on here, but their songcraft has a long way to go. Wake me up when it is time to review Daydream or Goo.
I really wanted to like this because I love Goo, but the abstract noises just weren’t doing it for me
Pretty sure there’s a better Sonic Youth album to be on this list.
I think they're basically boring and their music aged not well
Okay album. After a while it just felt like one massive droning noise. There were a couple of highlights but the monotonous repetition got to me after a while FAVORITE SONGS: - Shadow of a Doubt - In the Kingdom #19 2.5/5
I don't think I understood what they were going for.
Orket ikke, merket i de tidlige låtene at jeg ikke var i modus
The fifth Sonic Youth album so far and the second in five days. The good news is, I'm now done with them. This is the darkest of the five. Otherwise it's more of the same and I don't have loads to say about it. They may be an 'important' band, but apart from 'Goo' I haven't remotely enjoyed any of Sonic Youth's albums and I doubt I'll ever listen to them again. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Secret Girl Date listened: 25/01/23
Quite liked the darkness of it but it all kind of merged together
First track was alright, didn’t enjoy much of the rest.
Not a bad listening experience, at all, bit like many other albums, it did little to hook me.
No
Как может понравится альбом с такой обложкой? Ничего прикольного и запоминающегося (говно)
2/5. Feels like a mix of punk and experimental which doesn’t sit quite right.
I remember Sonic Youth being a favourite of John Peel and I didn't quite get it at the time. Now I've sat back and listened to this album I still don't get it. It's a sort of mixture of music and throwing stuff together rather lazily. I look back at a lot of the music like this and think that they were just messing with us.
Прослушано! Альбом откровенно не зашел, как то обыденно и скучно.
Not great
So. There ought to be a rule here. 1 artist = 1 album. All rules are honoured in the breach, of course, so there will be room for exceptions. The point is that with such an injunction, this 40 minute dirge wouldn't have had a look in. Not even as a second album (Daydream Nation and A Thousand Leaves both wipe the floor with this. And that's without even thinking too hard about the SY back catalogue.)
I just didn’t enjoy this album. It wasn’t bad, and I thought I was going to like it based on its description, but it may have been too experimental in places
Wat ruigere indierock. Beetje chaotisch, weinig structuur, veel rare elementen zoals gepraat of piepjes/scheurende gitaargeluiden. Iets te alternatief. 2*
I am shocked that I don’t hate all of this. I hate some of it. I don’t like the deliberate discordance—that’s not music to me, it’s grating. I don’t like a lot of experimentation in general (hence why my love for Radiohead drifted) but I REALLY don’t like it when someone hits ‘record’ while they fuck around on their guitar to see what happens if I pluck this or turn up that knobby. That’s lazy. On the occasion they had structure to their songs, ie they followed a time signature with actual downbeats and discernible rhythm, I liked their sound. All in all, I like Kate’s review of the album more than the album itself.
Nope
Noise rock with very little direction or momentum. Best track: Starpower
Not a fan of sonic youth. I don't get it. I mean, just looks at the album art.
Short and interestingly noisy. Have preferred other albums by then with more actual “songs” but I guess it’s at least pure.
Tom Violence was okay, not for me but I can see how someone would like it. Shadow Of A Doubt and Starpower were not for me, just not what I like. In The Kingdom #19 was just background talking, didn’t really see the point in it. Green Light wasn’t my favourite, again wasn’t really what I like. Death To Our Friends is just an okay instrumental, I didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Secret Girl wasn’t my favourite either. Marilyn Moore is just dissonant noise to me. Madonna, Sean and Me should have ended at 3 minutes, it didn’t need the slow, long, drawn out outro. Bubble Gum I wanted to try and like, but it just isn’t my style of music. In all honesty, I’m disappointed, I had high hopes for the album, I wanted something a bit more rock, and this album sadly just didn’t meet my expectations. I can see how someone would like it, but again it’s just not my thing. 1.5/5
starts out OK, then just annoying.
Dirge
ik lige mig
Alternativ post punk, goth-vibes
Ekki minn tebolli.
The worst of the 3 sonic youth albums (so far??). What if fuzzy but also incredibly bored. These boys are too bored.
No me convenció
meh. i guess i get it, but not for me.
Sciapo e insignificante 2
I came to the Sonic Youth party just a little late, and missed their first few LPs, including this one, the third in their catalogue, and the first to feature drummer Steve Shelley. His shuffle style is fundamentally important to the overall sound of the band, but on E.V.O.L. he’s still searching for his place. Likewise, the rest of the band have not yet completely found their signature sound yet either, making for a musically disappointing experience for this listener, an otherwise big fan. Melody isn’t at the top of Sonic Youth’s composition list to begin with, but I couldn’t locate a one in the bunch on this LP. I also found myself questioning the point of the ambience on ‘Secret Girl’ or ‘Death to Our Friends,’ as two examples. What significance does it play? How does it serve the song? Neither Thurston Moore of Kim Gordon’s vocals ever rose to the occasion, and Lee Ranaldo’s sole composition (usually one of the best on any of their LPs) was just ok as a spoken word performance, but I couldn’t discern a song amidst the din. Lastly, to include Mike Watt, the legendary Minutemen bassist, on two songs and not be able to even hear him kind of defeats the purpose of inviting him to play in the first place. This hurts me to write this review, because beginning with their very next LP and for the next three decades that followed, Sonic Youth put out some of the finest, most creative and enjoyable music around. Alas, I’m unable to give much E.V.O.L. for this one. Truer still, I couldn’t really find much to even E.K.I.L.
Couldn’t find reason to push this higher when compared to other albums
So many sonic Youth albums.... I give this one a lower mark because 1) it doesn't have the one or two power songs that I want to play loud in my car over and over or ride my bike to (though Starpower is in that mold, but like much of the album, lacks energy) 2) I'm just getting tired of The Sonic Youth sound - this the 4th album, of 5. For a band to have 5+ albums on 1001, you'd think the sound would evolve more than this (think David Bowie, Neil Young or even Elvis Costello) but they sound pretty much the same to me.
Early Sonic Youth is pretty raw, dissonant, experimental and somewhat disturbing so it takes some effort to get into it. I must admit that I prefer their latter material such as Sister, Goo, Daydream and Rather Ripped which is more melodic and less dissonant. Its interesting that Wiki describes them as moving from their experimental No Wave roots to a greater pop sensibility because I only hear No Wave here and no pop at all.
Nah, not interested
Really want to like this album, but it's not grabbing me.
Ah, my ex-husband's favorite. And one of the more painful concert memories I have. But let's try to listen with an open mind, shall we? Yeah, still don't love it. But more listenable than I was expecting. By the time I got to Bubblegum I felt like I had the hang of the album. I get why he liked it, he always was deeper than me. And more troubled and depressed. I prefer a little more order and optimism. I'm glad I listened to a whole Sonic Youth album carefully start to finish. I don't imagine I will visit it again.
Listened to it while doing stuff and didn't really notice it in the background. Thought it would be punkier.
This is the second Sonic Youth album to come up. My review of this album is essentially exactly the same as my first, which I shall quote verbatim here: "Listened to this earlier today and I do believe that I have forgotten every single last thing about it. It can't have been objectionable, but it sure wasn't memorable. "
Much noise, not-so-much substance. 2/5
Dark, broody, and not much sense.
Well... after listening to 3 Sonic Youth albums, i can say that this is my favorite. The first 3 songs are not too experimental and sound like dirty/edgy alternative. Unfortunately it devolves quite a bit from there... and ends up sounding like a Sonic Youth album. A high 2.
Still not good. I don't understand the draw to Sonic Youth. Nothing worth listening to on this album
Soniczna mlodziez z swoim trzecim studyjnym krazkiem evol z roku 1986 jest tym wszystkim czym moze tylko byc indyjskie granie w stylu post punkowym, wiec awangardowe brzmienie, ktore bedzie cechowala przede wszystkim charczaca gitarka poprzesterowana, diabelki w budce nagraniowej, jak na in the kingdom, wokale zmieniajace sie z minuty na minute, raz zenskie raz meskie wokale, to wlasnie wokale pani Kim Gordon sa jak dla mnie czescia nagrania ktora chcialbym z niego wyciac, dodatkowo jedyne dwa traki z ciekawie zagranym basem, to wlasnie te na ktorych Mike Watt ja zastepuje, na plejke dodam jeden z nich zamykajacy plyte bubblegum, ktory dodatkowo jest coverem, a nie orginalnym trakiem zespolu, bo co do kontentu lirycznego to jest on ubogi nie tylko ze wzgledu na to, ze traki takie krotkie i niezbyt obfite w slowa, ale jak przystalo na indyjskie granie jest mialko i o niczym robiac nawiazania do wszystkiego co sie da, wiec otwierajacy trak jest listem milosnym do pana Toma Verlaine, ktory byl frontmenem Television, ktorzy juz sie pojawili na plejce i pokazali, ze skape w liryke traki rowniez moga byc ciekawe, tutaj tego nie ma i gdyby nie bubblegum i in the kingdom, to te prawie 40 minut bym sie wynudzil, nie pamietam kiedy ostatnio hamerykanski album indyjsko punkowy tak bardzo wydawal mi sie nijaki jak ta plyta
2nd sonic youth album, also not my cup of tea. Too much ambient nothingness for me
2nd listen. I don't get the reason for so many Sonic Youth albums on this list. For me, this one is just ok. 2/5
I don't mind guitars being used to make noise and in the right context, when made by a skilled musician, it can really enhance a song. My problem with this album is they don't appear to have the basic requirements; they don't know how to write a song, can't really sing and the lyrics are trite. Kind of reminds me of when I first got an electric guitar, reverb unit and a tascam 4 track and would make lots of weird noise because it was fun to do. But every now and again my dad would come in and tell me to f-ing shut up with that bloody racket (he didn't actually swear, but I could see that's what he was thinking). Now in my forties, I think I can finally see where he was coming from.
I said this a few reviews ago so I'm just repeating myself here, but 80s alternative from the US that doesn't come from Seattle is always lame. This is just shoegazey shit, high school garage band quality/talent. 2/5.
gnirob
Not my style
1986. Starpower
A bit meh.
Les Sonic Youth recoltent ici un 2 pour l'ensemble de leur oeuvre musicale, leur présence à trois reprises dans la liste étant une honte absolue. C'est ce que je m'appretai à écrire, avant d'effectuer une dernière vérification sur le nombre d'apparition du groupe Sonic Youth dans la liste des 1001. Il se trouve que ce groupe revient à 5 reprises, c'est une boucle infernale, un cauchemar sans fin, un scandale d'état.
I can respect this album for what it is, but it is way too avantgarde for me. Though I have never listened to Sonic Youth before, this almost feels like a "transitional" album in a way between crazy/experimental sounds and a more traditional pop structure (though I am not sure which way they are transitioning at this point in their career). For every moment that resembles an average pop song, you get a "In the Kingdom #19" or "Death to Our Friends" that is out-of-this-world weird (did like some of the instrumentals on DtOF though). The best song in terms of both sides of the spectrum was Madonna, Sean, and Me (although the ending has no right to be that long since it is just ambient noise), but I can't say anything here is fully clicking with me. I could see them progressing past this album, but I don't really have the desire to see what else they have done since 1986. 2/5. NOTE: Did listen to their top rated song on Spotify out of curiosity (Teen Age Riot), and it was much better than any of the songs on EVOL. They definitely went more pop (probably controversial based on everything else I heard today), but I feel they made the right move.
A bit too pretentious and arty for me, but can appreciate the experimentation. Didn't really have any tracks that resonated with me.
First listen. Need to hear more. Ok.
nah, not good. and the album cover freaks me out.
I know of Sonic Youth. I have heard a song or two in passing, but I can't tell you anything other than that they are a band. I have now listened to an album, and I'm still not sure what I can tell you about the band. I didn't hate anything on the album. I'm not sure what this music is, or who listens to it. I would give the band a second chance with a different album or track, but so far Sonic Youth does not seem like it's music for me.
A lot darker than one was anticipating.
Not a favorite. Just not my genre
Nothing compelling here for me. Meh
I liked their other album we did better
A bit redundant and a droning whiny with a solid serving of punky. A bit monotonous
Not the best singing voices
not their best
Quizás no estaba de humor para escucharlo pero se me hizo un toque difícil. No me disgustó igual.
Better than some of the other Sonic Youth albums I've heard but still not a fan.
I am not a big fan of the atonal noise-pop music of Sonic Youth, although there were a few tracks that I would listen to again: Starpower, In The Kingdom #19, and Bubblegum
A bit too avant garde for my taste - one for hard core music fans
Hm, beim Autofahren gehört. Irgendwie ist da wenig hängengeblieben - vielleicht zu untecht...
Not entirely pleasant, but I appreciate their experimentation and it was interesting.
Just a wall of noise. Not the worst thing I've ever heard but wouldn't go back to it.
Too much of it goes nowhere and the singer is a wet flannel.
Not their best
Never got them. I’ve tried - it was passable noise
It's not really moving me. I'm not hearing a lot of variety in the songs.
Nooit echt een lekker album gevonden van Sonic Youth
Moeilijk moeilijk weer, Sonic Youth blijft voor mij een onbegrijpelijke band, hoewel er hier en daar altijd aardige dingen bij zitten.
Info voor de auteurs: Als een band 'credibly cool' is wil dat nog niet zeggen dat ALLE albums die ze gemaakt hebben automatisch briljant zijn en voor moeten komen in de lijst van de 1001 albums die je gehoord moet hebben voor je gaat hemelen.
Waarom zou je dit soort naargeestige muziek willen maken?
Never clicked with Sonic Youth, but I can see the draw and the uniqueness of them. Enjoyed the album but like always, nothing stood out.
At first I was excited because it sounded like grunge, but it turned out to be pretty boring. It felt like they grabbed a random person from the streets and put her in the position of lead singer. No passion whatsoever. I read on wikipedia though that Sonic Youth influenced the development of grunge - so kudos for that. Two stars.
Nope
Meh.
Didn’t like. Don’t see the appeal.
So much noise 🙀
Cansei de dar nota 2 nas músicas... Se tem uma coisa q eu descobri ouvindo esses álbuns é q é mto difícil gostar de algo dos anos 80.
Not a fan
Die Musik erinnert mich an Placebo, aber da wo ich Melodien oder überzeugende Rhythmen erwarte, stoße ich meistens nur auf Lärm und Langeweile. Die Texte empfinde ich ebenso als lieblos, aber bei der massiven Discography lässt mich das Gefühl nicht los, dass die Band noch Potential hat. Nur deswegen verbanne ich sie nicht unmittelbar auf die schwarze 1-Punkte-Liste.
Sadly I think I’m just not a sonic youth fan
Dis-sonic, whatever their age.
https://media.tenor.com/sV_pMSp-XkIAAAAM/hullapalooza-simpsons.gif