Tell me more about Sonic Youth

juice · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:09 pm

I have Rather Ripped and Sonic Nurse. Where should I go from here...Daydream Nation, Dirt?

Enlighten me.

shaMoxie · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:13 pm

This might help. Loads of other threads too.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:14 pm

Daydream Nation.

Exquisite,

Spade Kitty · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:49 am **Posts:** 4401

Rather Ripped is very similar to Dirty in some ways. The sound is very streamlined, the songs are poppy, and the production is pretty hi-fi. That said, I like Rather Ripped a whole lot more than Dirty, mostly because I wanted Sonic Youth to stay edgier than they did when Dirty came out.

I'd recommend Daydream Nation for sure. There's really no doubt that it's their best album. After that I'd get Sister and then Goo, and then Dirty and then EVOL. Everything from Dirty to Sonic Nurse I would skip for now.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

my favorites in order that i think you'd be happy with:

sister
daydream nation
dirty
goo
evol

daydream nation took me the longest to get into of those.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

don't ever get "experimentl crap fest and poo stains" the worst album ever put out by a band that i like.

Sex, Drugs, and Dave · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:19 pm

daydream, dirty, sister.

Evil Dr. K · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:51 am **Posts:** 6327

If you've only heard the last two albums it might be best to go backwards into the back catalogue.

Very early Sonic Youth is a long way from the likes of 'Incierate' or 'Stones' and it might be too big a leap backwards.

Most people say things like "Sonic Youth were great between EVOL and Goo!" completely dismissing everything they've done since. In actuality Sonic Youth's 90's output was pretty strong.

You can probably miss out 'NY Ghosts & Flowers' and the SYR stuff but 'Murray Street', 'A Thousand Leaves' and especially 'Washing Machine' are all excellent. I also rate 'Dirty' higher than 'Goo'.

Once you've got the ninties out of the way you can go back to the three classic albums. 'EVOL' and 'Sister' are outstanding ('EVOL' it has been decided is my favourite album of all time). 'Daydream Nation' is also worthy of classic status but is probably the lesser of the three

DumpJack · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:27 pm

jewels santana Wrote:

don't ever get "experimentl crap fest and poo stains" the worst album ever put out by a band that i like.

It's not that bad. I actually dig the album, but before you wade into to SY territory, I'd leave this one alone. I guess a lot of bands are probably like this, but I can't think of another one where aside from a few albums, you get some seriously differing opinions on where to go. Obviously, Daydream Nation is the one to get next. It's a fucking brilliant, brilliant album. I also really love Goo as well, one of my favourites. Those two should be the next couple to pick up. Now I personally hate Dirty about as much as Jewels hates Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star. I think it's the worst piece of shit by a band I really enjoy. The last time I tried listening to it, I just turned it off. Fucking garbage. Anyway, I also really like Evol as well, there's lots of great songs on it, like 'Tom Violence' and 'Expressway to yr Skull'. Other than these, I'm only minorly enthusiastic for their other albums with the exception of Sonic Nurse and Rather Ripped which you already like. Washing Machine has some great tracks as well. But, overall, you never know which one will really appeal to you

Evil Dr. K · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:51 am **Posts:** 6327

Spade Kitty Wrote:

Rather Ripped is very similar to Dirty in some ways. The sound is very streamlined, the songs are poppy, and the production is pretty hi-fi. That said, I like Rather Ripped a whole lot more than Dirty, mostly because I wanted Sonic Youth to stay edgier than they did when Dirty came out.

I'd recommend Daydream Nation for sure. There's really no doubt that it's their best album. After that I'd get Sister and then Goo, and then Dirty and then EVOL. Everything from Dirty to Sonic Nurse I would skip for now.

Just how exactly is 'Dirty' poppy? If only we could turn the radio on and hear guitar grinding par excellence like 'Drunken Butterfly', 'Swimsuit Issue' 'Nic Fit' or 'Youth Against Facism'. Even 'Sugar Kane' goes pretty crazy if you listen to the whole thing all the way through.

Unless, of course, making a video for '100%' meant 'going pop'.

Mick · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:33 pm

tell me about sonic youth?

Spade Kitty · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:49 am **Posts:** 4401

konstantinl Wrote:

Spade Kitty Wrote:

Rather Ripped is very similar to Dirty in some ways. The sound is very streamlined, the songs are poppy, and the production is pretty hi-fi. That said, I like Rather Ripped a whole lot more than Dirty, mostly because I wanted Sonic Youth to stay edgier than they did when Dirty came out.

I'd recommend Daydream Nation for sure. There's really no doubt that it's their best album. After that I'd get Sister and then Goo, and then Dirty and then EVOL. Everything from Dirty to Sonic Nurse I would skip for now.

Just how exactly is 'Dirty' poppy? If only we could turn the radio on and hear guitar grinding par excellence like 'Drunken Butterfly', 'Swimsuit Issue' 'Nic Fit' or 'Youth Against Facism'. Even 'Sugar Kane' goes pretty crazy if you listen to the whole thing all the way through.

Unless, of course, making a video for '100%' meant 'going pop'.

"Wish Fulfillment", "Theresa's Soundworld", tracks 11-14...and come on... Sugar Kane is a pretty poppy song, even if it does have dissonant elements.

Sonic Youth made a very safe album with Dirty. It was pretty clear to these ears in '92 that they were trying for a more commercial sound. That doesn't mean there were dissonant songs, just less than before.

juice · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:14 pm

Mick the Stripper Wrote:

tell me about sonic youth?

Yeah, I know. I'm a late bloomer.

juice · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:17 pm

I appreciate the input, obs.

I'm going to grab Daydream Nation, Sister and Dirty based on the comments so far to listen to over the weekend. Are there any reissues or versions of the discs I need to specifically try and pick up?

Timis · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:18 pm

i am not a big fan of these guys...but you can do no wrong with "Daydream Nation"

T/t/ Q\_/enteh · **Joined:** Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:31 pm **Posts:** 283

They were cool when i was 14 in like 1999, but now. . . not so much.

alongwaltz. · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:28 pm

Dirty's where I started. That's where I'd usually recommend.

Tell me more about Sonic Youth

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