"Free City Rhymes" is great imo, up there among their best. I do think the live versions of the songs from that album came together better than the recorded versions. Thurston's lyrics are particularly corny on "Renegade Princess" and "Small Flowers..." and the arrangements really foreground them. I think it was a pretty interesting attempt to integrate the ideas they'd been working with on SYR3 and SYR4 with their more song-based work. Overall, I'm not sure it was as successful as either those projects or the two 'song' albums that came afterwards but I don't hate it by any stretch.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Monday, 7 October 2019 14:54 (four years ago) link
Glad to have a little back up. Yeah I just listened to it yesterday and really heard the SYR records in them. I admit I was so annoyed by the discourse about Murray Street (redeeming the "disaster" of NYC Ghosts & Flowers) that I never really got into it. But I'll give it a spin today.
Saw then on on NYC Ghosts tour at the Troc in Philly right after Joey Ramone died. It was a great show, as were all the ones from this era.
― stop torturing me ethel (broom air), Monday, 7 October 2019 15:21 (four years ago) link
I've always dug NYC Ghost & Flowers, I never thought it was their best record or anything but I've always been confused by the prevailing take of "oh it so obviously a terrible mis-step", plus yeah they were so great live when this album came out, the best I had seen them in a while.
― chr1sb3singer, Monday, 7 October 2019 16:04 (four years ago) link
It got decent reviews outside of Pitchfork, for the most part (and diCrescenzo has since recanted):
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/nyc-ghosts-flowers-190312/https://books.google.ca/books?id=AlN-17xfY88C&pg=PA149&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttps://www.metacritic.com/music/nyc-ghosts-flowers/sonic-youth (the aggregate score is really pulled down by the 0 from Pitchfork; reviews are fine otherwise)
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Monday, 7 October 2019 16:09 (four years ago) link
That diCrescenzo review is a classic of the genre, really one for the ages These 40+ year olds continue to operate under the perception that they matter
― “Hakuna Matata,” a nihilist philosophy (One Eye Open), Monday, 7 October 2019 17:22 (four years ago) link
re A Thousand Leaves: "Sunday," "Hits of Sunshine," and especially "Hoarfrost." The Gordon tracks are the weakest, actually.
I feel like one of the issues with Gordon’s tracks on ATL is that they come after Washing Machine where the little girl blues vibe of her tracks feels like the most perfectly realised manifestation of her schtick. By comparison the riot girl/ beat junkie meanderings on ATL feel... meandering. But I imagine Gordon may have felt that she had painted herself into a corner with WM.
― Tim F, Monday, 7 October 2019 20:45 (four years ago) link
re: alfred's list
i can't be the only one offended by the ranking of the eternal over confusion is sex.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 7 October 2019 21:19 (four years ago) link
SYNTAX FREE, TIM CAN'T CATCH MEEE
― j., Monday, 7 October 2019 21:33 (four years ago) link
Saw then on on NYC Ghosts tour at the Troc in Philly right after Joey Ramone died. It was a great show, as were all the ones from this era
I don't remember this— I saw them on the NYC Ghosts tour in 2000 at the old Electric Factory, Stereolab opened and just blew SY out of the fucking water. I was 15 so remember it very, very well. i especially remember the two dudes in front of me eating some mushrooms and just *bopping* throughout the Stereolab set, something which I am now proud to say that I have also done.
― blue light or electric light (the table is the table), Monday, 7 October 2019 22:52 (four years ago) link
blew them off the stage, so to speak?
― j., Monday, 7 October 2019 22:54 (four years ago) link
There was a leg of that tour in the Spring of '01--I saw them in Austin.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 7 October 2019 22:58 (four years ago) link
interesting. had no idea.
― blue light or electric light (the table is the table), Monday, 7 October 2019 23:07 (four years ago) link
Wait, Stereolab and Sonic Youth didn't play together in Austin in 2001, right?
I reacall seeing them separately at La Zona Rosa and Stubb's.
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Monday, 7 October 2019 23:14 (four years ago) link
http://www.mtv.com/news/820973/sonic-youth-to-tour-with-stereolab-between-releases/
― blue light or electric light (the table is the table), Monday, 7 October 2019 23:47 (four years ago) link
They played together at (the SY curated) ATP LA in 2002.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 7 October 2019 23:48 (four years ago) link
I don't remember any opening act on that tour in Montreal.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 00:34 (four years ago) link
Cavernous Electric Factory would be a much better venue for Stereolab than Sonic Youth.
― stop torturing me ethel (broom air), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 01:05 (four years ago) link
I saw the Stubb's show (also under the influence of mushrooms) and it was Curt Kirkwood doing a solo set before SY.
― sknybrg, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 01:26 (four years ago) link
^^Yeah. Sorry for any confusion.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 01:44 (four years ago) link
I also saw SY at Stubb's in 2002. Mary Timony and some really bad local band were the opening acts.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 01:46 (four years ago) link
Hmmm, now I don't remember if the Sonic Youth show I went to was 2001 or 2002. Too old...
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 01:57 (four years ago) link
the one and only time I saw SY was at the hammerstein on the NYCG&F tour but the peter brötzmann octet opened instead of stereolab for some reason. they were about as loud as SY! i liked that album a good deal when it came out but have no idea what i’d think of it now, haven’t listened to it in years.
― donna rouge, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 03:12 (four years ago) link
I'm still working my way through the SY catalog. Whoever said Dirty would be up my alley was spot-on - I think it even beats out Sister. Just really consistent and focused, great sound, even the bonus tracks.
I didn't like Goo apart from a couple tracks, even though there's a stylistic similarity with Dirty. I can't explain why some Goo tracks sound grating where similar Dirty tracks don't. But kinda feeling sarahell's pov, because every album has had at least one or two incredible songs (I'll single out "Dirty Boots" and "Disappearer" on Goo)
― Vinnie, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 03:28 (four years ago) link
pretty sure SY played Stubbs for SXSW, I wanna say 2002? But I also feel it was later, perhaps just before Nurse?
― SHANTY the golden fish portion (stevie), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 08:55 (four years ago) link
Got to see a Stereolab + Sonic Youth show. Went from strength to strength in my opinion, both bands ruling and making for one of the better double bills I have ever seen. Sonic Youth was a fantastic live band at that time, so I mean Stereolab also ruled but both delivered a high-level version of what they were doing well at the time.
― grandavis, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 14:41 (four years ago) link
comprehensive SY resource for gigs, etc: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/sy/
― tylerw, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 14:51 (four years ago) link
I definitely remember seeing Stereolab opening for them. The only time I ever saw Stereolab.
― silverfish, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 16:34 (four years ago) link
that Brent D review of NYC G&F is amazing
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 16:35 (four years ago) link
According to the setlist on the page tylerw linked, you're right. We probably just got there in time for SY then.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 18:21 (four years ago) link
Sounds like we missed a good opening set, based on this thread.
― All along there is the sound of feedback (Sund4r), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 18:43 (four years ago) link
I'm still working my way through the SY catalog. Whoever said Dirty would be up my alley was spot-on - I think it even beats out Sister. Just really consistent and focused, great sound, even the bonus tracks.I didn't like Goo apart from a couple tracks, even though there's a stylistic similarity with Dirty. I can't explain why some Goo tracks sound grating where similar Dirty tracks don't. But kinda feeling sarahell's pov, because every album has had at least one or two incredible songs (I'll single out "Dirty Boots" and "Disappearer" on Goo)― Vinnie, Monday, October 7, 2019 8:28 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― Vinnie, Monday, October 7, 2019 8:28 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
Interesting, I think Dirty is my least favorite of their "good albums." Can't really explain it. (I also think "Mote" is the strongest track on Goo, tho, so what do i know).
― blue light or electric light (the table is the table), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 22:45 (four years ago) link
agree with you table. Thanks to all who sent me back to NYC Ghosts - haven't listened in years, it's not in my top ten but I like its low-key spacious beatnik vibe.
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 23:14 (four years ago) link
Goo is their worst album, and Mote is the best track on it (closely followed by Disappearer).
― Bidh boladh a' mhairbh de 'n láimh fhalaimh (dowd), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 23:32 (four years ago) link
No way, nyc g&f is insufferable, Goo is pretty good.
― blue light or electric light (the table is the table), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 23:33 (four years ago) link
I would have agreed that it was insufferable but I listened this morning and tried to think of it like a SYR release. I've mellowed toward it considerably.
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Wednesday, 9 October 2019 00:15 (four years ago) link
I returned to NYCG&F over the weekend for the first time in probably a decade ... and realized that it's actually a lot better than I'd thought, with some unusual textures and directions.
― Lactose Shaolin Wanker (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 9 October 2019 00:37 (four years ago) link
Goo is great, Kool Thing and Dirty Boots and Tunic are some of their best songs
also really like NYCG&F, not so much for the individual songs as the whole mood of the album
― Dan S, Wednesday, 9 October 2019 00:56 (four years ago) link
as Raymond said
― Dan S, Wednesday, 9 October 2019 00:59 (four years ago) link
the eternal is their worst album, until such time as i start really liking it
― j., Wednesday, 9 October 2019 01:06 (four years ago) link
Goo was huge for me as a kid. Never warmed to Dirty despite some wonderful moments. Mostly lost track of them after EJST&NS, although I just picked up A Thousand Leaves cheap so I’ll be giving that a few spins soon.
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 9 October 2019 01:07 (four years ago) link
My band in high school used to cover Mote; it’s a great pop tune.
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 9 October 2019 01:08 (four years ago) link
Mote is really good
will have to listen to The Eternal again. they were alway my favorite band but I started losing interest at the end
― Dan S, Wednesday, 9 October 2019 01:14 (four years ago) link
I do love Goo as well, and when I dip into it these days it’s for “Disappearer”which is absolutely massive when you crank it. I find it really unsettling, deep sense of dread throughout.
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Wednesday, 9 October 2019 01:21 (four years ago) link
agree about Disappearer
― Dan S, Wednesday, 9 October 2019 02:49 (four years ago) link
yep - accompanying video also made that song more vivid for me
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 9 October 2019 08:41 (four years ago) link
so kim's new lp is really interesting and for me surprisingly enjoyable. major Suicide and occasionally Fall vibes.
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Friday, 11 October 2019 15:09 (four years ago) link
big soft spot for the sound and textures of NYCG&F, and it's probably the last thing by them i was really into. it also has maybe my favorite cover and inner sleeve art of any sy album.
― andrew m., Friday, 11 October 2019 15:28 (four years ago) link
Just me or is this new Kim album a wee bit industrial?
― Position Position, Friday, 11 October 2019 15:38 (four years ago) link
yeah initial thoughts on a few tracks were actually NIN/Ministry, but then i figured she was probably going for more of a Suicide vibe.
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Friday, 11 October 2019 15:42 (four years ago) link
need to stop saying vibe/vibes