Whenever I think about this, it always makes me a little sad since Confusion, Bad, and Evol seem to represent three very distinct, very interesting ways that the band could have gone. Then Sister tightens up Evol, for what's generally my vote for strongest album, though you could kind of feel the world catching up with them on that.
By Daydream Nation, it's pretty clear what's going to happen to the band going forward. And the noisy bits are starting to sound obligatory, and much less "composed" than they used to.
The one I listen to the most nowadays isn't on the poll (first EP), so, strongest album of these is probably Sister. Most interesting road not taken is Bad Moon Rising (wish to hell they'd kept working w/tape loops tying things together and w/the more rhythmic stuff). Best sustained (bad) mood is Confusion, which is also a lot more melodic and structured than people give it credit for.
Evol sorta sits as their Sgt. Pepper (clearly the first one where their iconography goes all psychedelic).
Have to sit in the thinking chair to decide which aspect adds up to "best."
― dlp9001, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 19:41 (fourteen years ago) link
EVOL and Sister are basically equally good, but EVOL was more personally important to me (first album I really fell in love with.)
― He was only 21 years old when he 16 (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 19:50 (fourteen years ago) link
EVOL
full ranking would go EVOL > DN > Sister > Whitey > BMR > Confusion
― Beanbag the Gardener (WmC), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 19:53 (fourteen years ago) link
Sister, but only by a very, very narrow margain over EVOL.
Actually, no, not really that narrow. Sister is the best album SY ever did.
― Violent In Design (Masonic Boom), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:06 (fourteen years ago) link
I used to think Sister was best, but for the last 10 years I've been an Evol guy.Evol>Sister>Bad Moon Rising>Daydream Nation>Confusion.
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:08 (fourteen years ago) link
sister never stuck with me, i find it's too awkward. i mean all sonic youth is awkward, but on sister methinks it goes a bit too far. i can't help imagine them standing, knees wobbling, holding their guitars in lanky arms and singing these bad lyrics really clearly so you can hear all the words perfectly. maybe the vocals are too high in the mix? obv catholic block and schizophrenia and hotwire my heart are still amazing though.
― samosa gibreel, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:11 (fourteen years ago) link
Evol fans should check out the Austin TX 1986 show where they debut a bunch of that album -- loose, but in the best way.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:11 (fourteen years ago) link
^ great boot
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:12 (fourteen years ago) link
prefer the paradiso boot from the same era
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:14 (fourteen years ago) link
xpost did they sorta semi-officially release that one? fan club style? i'll have to check out the paradiso one, haven't heard that ...
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:15 (fourteen years ago) link
you should put some of their boots (Walls Have Ears esp. please!) up on yr blog, tyler.
xps
― Ioannis, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:15 (fourteen years ago) link
can walls have ears really be considered a boot?
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:16 (fourteen years ago) link
well, it ain't officially available to buy is it?
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:17 (fourteen years ago) link
but yeah, i'll get around to posting some SY soon! there are some excellent shows from all eras ...
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:18 (fourteen years ago) link
it was an "official" bootleg put out on Blast First sublabel NOT.
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:19 (fourteen years ago) link
good point, interesting ideas, i'm picking up what you're putting down
ya lost me
― some dude, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:20 (fourteen years ago) link
i only have it on vinyl, with no way to convert to digital. *sob*
― Ioannis, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:20 (fourteen years ago) link
"^ great boot"
I thought they put this out on CD themselves for like a fanclub release?
― He was only 21 years old when he 16 (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:21 (fourteen years ago) link
I get the "obligatory" noise comment - that's my main problem with goo, it's like they had to keep making noise cuz they were sonic youth but it wasn't really integrated into what they were doing anymore
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:21 (fourteen years ago) link
here
http://johnnylove-fuzztone.blogspot.com/2009/03/sonic-youth-walls-have-ears-london.html
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:22 (fourteen years ago) link
pssst http://johnnylove-fuzztone.blogspot.com/2009/03/sonic-youth-walls-have-ears-london.html
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:22 (fourteen years ago) link
oh shit xpost, you beat me to it
thanking all y'all kindly. <3<3<3
― Ioannis, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:25 (fourteen years ago) link
the biggest lesson I've learned from these threads is that apparently Sonic Youth have a big on/off switch marked "NOISE" that they flick at will, and that sometimes they do so for the right reasons, and sometimes for the wrong reasons.
― some dude, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:31 (fourteen years ago) link
xpost i might have to DL that one myself -- i have a burned copy of Walls but the sound is kinda bizarre. is the sound just bizarre on everyone's copies or is it a weird mp3 thing on mine?
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:31 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.discogs.com/Sonic-Youth-Live-At-The-Continental-Club/release/1773255
Yeah this was an official release. I had this CD for a while, but I think I sold it during a poorer day.
― He was only 21 years old when he 16 (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:36 (fourteen years ago) link
I got Walls Have Ears on CD some time in the late 90s, I think it sounds pretty good although it's been a while since I've listened to it. The version of Death Valley '69 with Steve drumming is really, really good on that.
― someone who is ranked fairly highly in an army of poo (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:49 (fourteen years ago) link
1. Bad Moon Rising2. The Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth)3. Daydream Nation4. Confusion Is Sex5. EVOL6. Sister
(based on impact on high school self; but since I collected them all within the space of a year, they had a cumulative effect ... they're all pretty good)
― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:54 (fourteen years ago) link
SisterDaydreamBad Moon RisingEVOLConfusionWhitey
― da croupier, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:00 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, being a teenager in the 90s and devouring the band's first 8 albums within the course of a year or two was definitely a "cumulative effect" thing for me too
xpost
― the fool boy Shiplo (some dude), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:02 (fourteen years ago) link
1. EVOL2. Sister3. Daydream4. Confusion5. Bad Moon Rising (CD version w/ Death Valley and the awesome Flower/Halloween single)
― He was only 21 years old when he 16 (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:03 (fourteen years ago) link
I mean, I would drive around to different record stores and only look in the "S" section for a while there ...
― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:07 (fourteen years ago) link
s/t, Sonic Death, Bad Moon Rising and Sister on CD; Daydream Nation, Confusion is Sex, Whitey Album and EVOL on cassette; Kill Yr Idols and Master=Dik on vinyl
― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:16 (fourteen years ago) link
There was a brief period in the early 90s when Sonic Youth albums were really hard to find pre-Geffen's reissue program. I made a lot of tapes for people back then.
― He was only 21 years old when he 16 (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:21 (fourteen years ago) link
I got mine on 2nd hand vinyl from Missing in Glasgow around 92/93
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:22 (fourteen years ago) link
once i though Daydream Nation, now i know i was wrong.Sister all the way
― Zeno, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:25 (fourteen years ago) link
i got into SY thru their 90s albums, sister is of course much more raw and shapeless but also, on the whole, sharper and faster... steve shelley is given almost a lead role on a lot of it. my big problem with SY going forward, especially post 00, is how rhythmically uninteresting it is, relatively
― goole, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:29 (fourteen years ago) link
I got Confusion Is Sex, Bad Moon Rising, Daydream Nation & Sister all in the same HMV sale c1997 for £5 each. Thought Sister was the best then and still do.
― someone who is ranked fairly highly in an army of poo (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:29 (fourteen years ago) link
my big problem with SY going forward, especially post 00, is how rhythmically uninteresting it is, relativelywas actually thinking the same thing while listening to The Eternal (which i like quite bit) -- Shelley seems reigned in these days, whereas he used to be a hell of an exciting drummer. I think he still does interesting stuff occasionally, but it's nothing compared to how thrilling some of his stuff was back in the day.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:31 (fourteen years ago) link
experimental jet set was the first album of theirs i bought, and i've listened to it all of twice (tho these threads have made me want to go back to it). confusion is sex came next iirc
― all we hear is lady o'gaga (donna rouge), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:38 (fourteen years ago) link
yea i feel like shelley has just been coasting since, well, 'goo' basically. has made it difficult for me to care that much about 90s-00s SY tbh.
― mark cl, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 12:35 (fourteen years ago) link
He's still an excellent drummer, though, even if he's not showy. Lots of crisp locked-in beats.
― sad-ass Gen Y fantasist (jaymc), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 12:50 (fourteen years ago) link
I'll be a contrarian and vote for what now appears to be the underdog, Daydream Nation.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 13:35 (fourteen years ago) link
EVOL, please. It was the first SY album I heard, after being put off the band for years by 'Little Trouble Girl'.
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 14:16 (fourteen years ago) link
it's interesting to see how varied people's rankings are, here's mine:
EVOLBad Moon RisingConfusion Is SexSisterDaydream NationThe Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth)
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 15:22 (fourteen years ago) link
found a link to that Paradiso 86 show mentioned above :D http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f90/sonic-youth-1986-05-11-amsterdam-sbd-87396.html
― tylerw, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 16:02 (fourteen years ago) link
my ranking:
Daydream Nation/Sister (to pick one of these is just about impossible)Bad Moon RisingEVOLConfusion is sexWhitey
― sonderangerbot, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 16:22 (fourteen years ago) link
Bad MoonSisterDaydreamEvolConfusion
― ian, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 17:02 (fourteen years ago) link
daydreamsisterbad moonconfusionevol
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 17:03 (fourteen years ago) link
i think there are songs on bad moon/confusion/evol that are among sonic youth's best, but as albums, daydream and sister work as stronger statements.
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 17:04 (fourteen years ago) link
what's a good sister-era show to get a recording of? liking the brixton academy show (post-dirty) and i wish i could hear more of the sister songs in non-album performances
(and is there really no sister thread?!?)
― j., Tuesday, 19 June 2018 01:18 (five years ago) link
"Hold That Tiger" was available thru their website for a time:
▸ A1 Intro 0:43▸ A2 Schizophrenia 4:30▸ A3 Tom Violence 2:43▸ A4 White Cross 2:57▸ A5 Kotton Krown 4:05▸ A6 Stereo Sanctity 3:27▸ A7 Brother James 3:22▸ A8 Pipeline / Kill Time 4:03▸ A9 Catholic Block 3:55▸ B1 Tuff Gnarl 3:26▸ B2 Death Valley '69 4:50▸ B3 Beauty Lies in the Eye 2:40▸ B4 Expressway to Yr. Skull 4:32▸ B5 Pacific Coast Highway 4:59▸ B6 Loudmouth 2:01▸ B7 I Don't Wanna Walk Around You 1:33▸ B8 Today Yr. Love, Tomorrow the World 2:00▸ B9 Beat on the Brat 2:41
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 02:58 (five years ago) link
oh yeah i used to have that somewhere
any other bootlegs?
― j., Tuesday, 19 June 2018 03:54 (five years ago) link
Be My Sister In Death?
― Stanley Therapy (stevie), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 11:46 (five years ago) link
"Hold That Tiger" is really good imo. I am sure there are copies out there if you want it, but a good set list and good quality recording.
― grandavis, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 13:44 (five years ago) link
I sold my Hold That Tiger CD a few years ago, only got a few quid for it so it's not rare if you want a physical copy (I did rip it first)
― Colonel Poo, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 13:59 (five years ago) link
there's a few shows from Maxwell's in early 87 when they're debuting the Sister material that's a great listen - everything's falling apart, Thurston starts playing Crucifucks songs, they've got TVs up on stage with them that cause tons of hum, etc. I don't have a copy anymore unfortunately, but I'll take a look around and see if it's still up somewhere. Sister's my favourite album period, so over the years I've heard most of the shows.
― whitehallunity, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 17:51 (five years ago) link
https://www.themckenzietapes.com/tapes/2018/4/24/0trmkz2yal6ct5d4xusp9s1swy4eym
https://www.themckenzietapes.com/tapes/2018/4/24/sonic-youth-at-maxwells-04-23-1987
― tylerw, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 17:53 (five years ago) link
^ this guy oughta wear a trench coat with wares hanging from the inside
― j., Tuesday, 19 June 2018 17:59 (five years ago) link
I knew Tyler would know exactly what I meant, which is half the reason I didn't bother to look it up first, haha. Thanks man.
― whitehallunity, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 18:16 (five years ago) link
Hold That Tiger is on Spotify, btw (not if this fact was implied in the above convo)
― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 20:43 (five years ago) link
*not sure if...
(btw - I'm not a big SY fan, but I'm enjoying this particular live album!)
― i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 20:52 (five years ago) link
the ramones covers on Tiger are wonderful
― Stanley Therapy (stevie), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 21:22 (five years ago) link
my fave version of Today Your Love