POLL YR. IDOLS: The official SONIC YOUTH RESULTS thread!

http://i.imgur.com/2uEyZNI.jpg

Wow, I remember in the 90s, Lee was often the fans' choice. Seems like it's still the case.

Are people able to distinguish Thurston's and Lee's playing on the albums? I assume that most of the more traditionally melodic lead parts are Lee but otherwise, I can never tell by listening. Not like listening to, I dunno Clapton and Allman or Metheny/Scofield.

Phh. I shouldn't say this here but I struggle to distinguish between their voices sometimes.

I always thought Lee had the noisy parts!

Speaking of Lee:
http://i.imgur.com/vXaGuhI.jpg

I always thought Lee had the noisy parts!

They both do plenty of noisy parts, though. Some of the most 'out' stuff is Lee, you're right, e.g. the 'antennabox' on "Antenna" or the prepared guitar on "She's in a Bad Mood". But Thurston also did prepared guitar on the first two albums and played the guitar with a drumstick (iirc?) on "Burning Spear". In any live stuff I've seen, they both do plenty of the Hendrix-style feedback. I thought most of the parts that sound like 'normal' rock lead guitar solos were Lee though? The "Pacific Coast Highway" solo is him, right? "Purr" sounds like it's split up. Even that's not too reliable, though: doesn't Thurston play the solo on "Washing Machine"?

Thurston has some pretty distinctive strumming rhythms that make his stuff stick out pretty often, a lot of time in those riffy sections Lee has more of the 'lead' lines. but there have definitely been times when i visualize one or the other playing particular parts, but then i see them play the song live and i had it totally backwards.

You guys don't deserve Steve.

The lead guitar parts on "Chapel Hill": those are Lee?

xpost Fripp/Belew on 80s KC is another example where it's really easy to distinguish the guitarists.

the huge gap in votes between thurston and kim is pretty funny, wonder what it would've looked like before that elle interview ran

You guys don't deserve Steve.

Even you didn't vote for him!

I didn't vote for a favourite band member btw. I almost never have a favourite member of a band, most especially with a band like this where the ensemble playing is so much the point (to the point where we have trouble identifying which guitarist is playing what).

I didn't vote, I did a list but I am a little too shy.

I voted in this poll, like the band, have most of their records...but I find Thurston & Kim insufferable. anytime I read anything that those said, or hear them talk, I want to throw their records in the trash.

honestly i don't think any list of best SY album covers shouldn't include Washing Machine

― seanpennderizer (some dude), Saturday, May 11, 2013 1:39 AM (9 hours ago)

Sadly, it received just one vote, just like A Thousand Leaves, Confusion Is Sex, Goodbye 20th Century, Sonic Nurse and The Whitey Album

― ArchCarrier, Saturday, May 11, 2013 1:41 AM (9 hours ago)

all of which are less ugly than all of the 2nd and 3rd place finishers, w/the possible exception of bad moon rising.

(lol, just noticed some dude's handle)

Seriously? I don't at all see the appeal of the Washing Machine and ATL covers.

http://i.imgur.com/Cm4HUkG.png

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GA9bBKSpL.jpg
10. Dirty
(25 points, 7 votes)

washing machine cover is clean, simple & rather clever, imo.

ATL cover is awfully a bit heavy-handed, but well-designed, texturally interesting. plus i like marnie weber.

http://991.com/NewGallery/Sonic-Youth-Confusion-Is-Sex-277107.jpg
9. Confusion Is Sex
(26 points, 8 votes)

^ my favorite SY cover, that and sav's "death valley 69" drawing

(we are counting down ALBUMS now, not COVERS :)

http://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/sonicyouth_record.jpg
8. Washing Machine
(27 points, 9 votes)

http://cdn.7static.com/static/img/sleeveart/00/019/238/0001923899_500.jpg
7. Sonic Nurse
(29 points, 12 votes)

Steve is my second favourite band member, if that helps him sleep at night.

http://criticalmassesmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/badmooncover.jpeg
6. Bad Moon Rising
(33 points, 10 votes)

too low.

http://www.drawuslines.com/wp-content/themes/tma/images/bg/Murray-Street.jpg
5. Murray Street
(34 points, 13 votes)

too low

figure goo's up next?

Nope.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6qkdbcy2N1rxa0n6o1_500.jpg
4. A Thousand Leaves
(35 points, 12 votes)

dang! slap me silly. okay w this though.

Goo is right where it belongs, at 11 or 12.

yup. it's my least favourite of their albums.

Huh. Surprised at A Thousand Leaves placing so high.

If I were voting 100% based on how good the albums sounded to me when I was listening over the past week, I might have voted for Murray Street (or POSSIBLY Sonic Nurse) over Evol, despite some of the reservations I mentioned on the other thread.

xposts There was a lot of love for ATL on the first thread. It doesn't hold up that great for me on the whole, despite a lot of good ideas and some excellent moments. I didn't end up voting for a single song from it.

It's the Macaulay Culkin effect.

ATL would sit just outside my top 5.

Notice the jump in points:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RD8fe3qwL.jpg
3. Evol
(71 points, 20 votes)

Notice the jump in points:

yeah, wow. but otm.

p.s. i like goo

Dirty is so underrated ;_;. #3VOL is my number one but Dirty had the most songs on my ballot

I'd put Goo over Dirty but I think I'd have difficulty arguing with any order of the top 9 (or the top 9 I'm now boldly assuming), I can definitely understand why each would be a favourite for someone.

http://eil.com/Gallery/188066b.jpg
2. Sister
(91 points, 29 votes)

And of course
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gDLlfzH6WM/UPYRFhoElUI/AAAAAAAABoE/UM7TFoVK5Tc/s1600/sonicyouthdaydreamnatio.jpg
1. Daydream Nation
(107 points, 30 votes)

Goo is better than any of the albums that came after it - they never fully recovered after the Dirty nadir. Kim's post-Goo voice is mostly intolerable with few exceptions.

Voted Kim fave member to help liberate her from male, white, corporate oppression. Always liked her songs best. Can't stand Thurston and Lee's bad beat poetry songs are overrated.

Never got the praise of DN cover. Voted BMR. EVOL cover is better than DN.

Full album results:
01. Daydream Nation (107 points, 30 votes)
02. Sister (91 points, 29 votes)
03. Evol (71 points, 20 votes)
04. A Thousand Leaves (35 points, 12 votes)
05. Murray Street (34 points, 13 votes)
06. Bad Moon Rising (33 points, 10 votes)
07. Sonic Nurse (29 points, 12 votes)
08. Washing Machine (27 points, 9 votes)
09. Confusion Is Sex (26 points, 8 votes)
10. Dirty (25 points, 7 votes)
11. Goo (23 points, 10 votes)
12. Rather Ripped (8 points, 4 votes)
13. Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (7 points, 2 votes)
14. SYR9 (5 points, 1 vote)
15. (TIE) Smart Bar Chicago 1985 (4 points, 1 vote)
15. (TIE) Sonic Youth (4 points, 1 vote)
17. Kill Yr Idols EP (3 points, 2 votes)
18. (TIE) NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2 points, 1 vote)
18. (TIE) Sonic Death (2 points, 1 vote)
18. (TIE) The Whitey Album (2 points, 1 vote)
21. (TIE) Goodbye 20th Century (1 point, 1 vote)
21. (TIE) Hits Are for Squares (1 point, 1 vote)
21. (TIE) Silver Session (For Jason Knuth) (1 point, 1 vote)
21. (TIE) SYR3 (1 point, 1 vote)
21. (TIE) The Eternal (1 point, 1 vote)

Alright, that's it for today. I'm taking a break tomorrow, but check this space on Monday for the results of the song poll.
Good night, everybody!

Lee's bad beat poetry songs

more obvious during the Geffen era but he becomes more graceful sometime after Washing Machine.

Kim's post-Goo voice is mostly intolerable with few exceptions.

disagree, but i was asking earlier where she acquired the strangled whisper/scream voice that, imo, only really becomes a problem on ATL. and yeah, she started doing that on dirty: "shoot", "drunken butterfly", "orange rolls". but i love those songs! and she's done good work post-dirty. i like her on experimental and washing machine, count a few of her sonic nurse and rather ripped tracks among SY's best.

man I am wondering if you just hate ATL's pacing, where Kim's aggro noisepunk is allowed to completely disrupt the beatific calm the other two are cultivating, rather than Kim's aggro noisepunk in and of itself (which to me doesn't blot out the autumnal groovejamz but just inverts their beauty/noise ratio, and offers interesting counterpoint, but I've made this case before blah blah blah...)

Where's Glenn when you need him?

A mall store close by has had some SY CDs on the wall for $4.99; bought NYC Ghosts & Flowers and Murray Street, which I've never had, and also A Thousand Leaves--I bought that on vinyl a few years ago, but vinyl at home tends to be background for me these days, and I don't really listen attentively to something new unless it's in the car. So I've essentially been listening to A Thousand Leaves for the first time too.

Two songs I would have had on my ballot for sure: "Free City Rhymes" and "Wildflower Soul." I've played the latter six or seven times the last couple of days--perfect driving music. I wish it were 20 minutes long instead of nine.

Yeah, "Free City Rhymes" is really great. That was my #12.

This poll got me interested in reading David Browne's book Goodbye 20th Century. I think it's great, much better than Foege's earlier book. Interesting to read that as per the discussion on this thread, it really was a deliberate move for them to get sloppy with the albums after Dirty and before O'Rourke, intentionally e.g. recording things in just one take, influenced by bands like Pavement. Also to read about them (or people close to them?) acknowledging that their ambivalence about pursuing fame and mainstream success meant that they never really pursued those things wholeheartedly.

Also enjoyed the discussions about their legendary thriftiness.

love that book.

sund4r, I only got your webmail about that show in the last week. During the next week I should be able to email you and get that together.

Play this, hit mute (something brilliant, but do it anyway), and play either "Wildflower Soul" or "Kotton Krown" overtop. Sublime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exFokKr-WEg

The Body/Head album is VICIOUS

Esp the third track, damn. It's the flip of Kim's recent interviews, claws out

This whole album slays

http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/feb/02/kim-gordon-girl-in-a-band-10-things

I updated my list

Winner's Blues at #7 is something you don't see every day.
And only one Lee song? That's madness.