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

Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I had a great time running this poll and seeing all of you get together to discuss my alltime favorite band. Sorry I had to leave immediately after I posted the top 3, but I had a bus to catch for a Beethoven / Orff double bill. Here's the full list of songs:

1. Schizophrenia (909 points, 34 votes, 5 #1)
2. The Diamond Sea (707 points, 33 votes, 5 #1)
3. Expressway to Yr Skull (685 points, 29 votes, 4 #1)
4. Shadow of a Doubt (656 points, 28 votes, 3 #1)
5. Teen Age Riot (519 points, 24 votes, 2 #1)
6. 'Cross the Breeze (463 points, 23 votes, 1 #1)
7. Death Valley '69 (415 points, 23 votes, 1 #1)
8. Kotton Krown (412 points, 21 votes, 2 #1)
9. Mote (401 points, 21 votes, 1 #1)
10. Theresa's Sound World (378 points, 20 votes)
11. Candle (375 points, 18 votes, 2 #1)
12. (I Got a) Catholic Block (342 points, 18 votes)
13. Brave Men Run (in My Family) (329 points, 16 votes)
14. Rain on Tin (313 points, 18 votes, 1 #1)
15. Wish Fulfillment (297 points, 15 votes, 1 #1)
16. Total Trash (297 points, 14 votes, 1 #1)
17. Star Power (267 points, 14 votes, 1 #1)
18. Pacific Coast Highway (259 points, 17 votes)
19. Tom Violence (257 points, 18 votes)
20. Eric's Trip (254 points, 13 votes)
21. The Sprawl (250 points, 14 votes)
22. Hey Joni (249 points, 14 votes)
23. Silver Rocket (249 points, 12 votes, 1 #1)
24. Sugar Kane (238 points, 17 votes)
25. Sunday (227 points, 15 votes)
26. Dirty Boots (221 points, 14 votes)
27. Tuff Gnarl (221 points, 11 votes)
28. Tunic (Song for Karen) (212 points, 17 votes, 1 #1)
29. Karen Revisited (212 points, 11 votes, 1 #1)
30. I Love Her All The Time (210 points, 12 votes)
31. I Dreamed I Dream (209 points, 12 votes)
32. JC (207 points, 13 votes)
33. Disappearer (206 points, 8 votes)
34. Disconnection Notice (204 points, 10 votes, 1 #1)
35. Brother James (202 points, 13 votes)
36. Hyperstation (191 points, 12 votes)
37. Stereo Sanctity (184 points, 10 votes, 1 #1)
38. Shaking Hell (183 points, 11 votes, 1 #1)
39. Bull in the Heather (182 points, 12 votes)
40. Inhuman (181 points, 10 votes, 2 #1)
41. Wildflower Soul (176 points, 8 votes)
42. Karen Koltrane (172 points, 12 votes)
43. Beauty Lies in the Eye (172 points, 11 votes)
44. Skip Tracer (172 points, 11 votes)
45. Washing Machine (169 points, 11 votes, 1 #1)
46. Halloween (159 points, 10 votes)
47. Pipeline / Kill Time (158 points, 10 votes)
48. The Empty Page (157 points, 10 votes)
49. Kill Yr. Idols (155 points, 12 votes)
50. Youth Against Fascism (151 points, 9 votes)
51. Hits of Sunshine (For Allen Ginsberg) (145 points, 9 votes, 1 #1)
52. Becuz (143 points, 8 votes)
53. Hoarfrost (139 points, 9 votes)
54. I Love You Golden Blue (138 points, 9 votes)
55. Titanium Exposé (136 points, 7 votes, 1 #1)
56. Kool Thing (135 points, 7 votes)
57. The Burning Spear (124 points, 7 votes)
58. Green Light (120 points, 6 votes)
59. Eliminator Jr. (119 points, 9 votes)
60. Society is a Hole (115 points, 7 votes)
61. Unmade Bed (114 points, 10 votes)
62. Incinerate (113 points, 10 votes)
63. Protect Me You (110 points, 6 votes)
64. The World Looks Red (108 points, 8 votes)
65. Kissability (108 points, 7 votes)
66. Drunken Butterfly (107 points, 7 votes)
67. Making the Nature Scene (106 points, 7 votes)
68. Tokyo Eye (100 points, 5 votes)
69. Superstar (97 points, 5 votes)
70. Free City Rhymes (94 points, 8 votes)
71. Jams Run Free (89 points, 7 votes)
72. Macbeth (89 points, 6 votes)
73. Cinderella's Big Score (88 points, 5 votes)
74. Into the Groove(y) (88 points, 5 votes)
75. Chapel Hill (87 points, 6 votes)
76. Death to Our Friends (85 points, 3 votes)
77. Ghost Bitch (84 points, 4 votes)
78. Rain King (82 points, 6 votes)
79. Providence (82 points, 4 votes)
80. Sweet Shine (81 points, 7 votes)
81. 100% (81 points, 6 votes)
82. Flower (81 points, 6 votes)
83. Androgynous Mind (80 points, 4 votes)
84. NYC Ghosts & Flowers (79 points, 6 votes)
85. I'm Insane (74 points, 4 votes, 1 #1)
86. Genetic (72 points, 6 votes)
87. Stones (72 points, 6 votes)
88. Reena (64 points, 7 votes)
89. She's in a Bad Mood (64 points, 6 votes)
90. Dude Ranch Nurse (63 points, 3 votes)
91. The Wonder (63 points, 3 votes)
92. In the Kingdom #19 (62 points, 3 votes)
93. Anagrama (60 points, 8 votes)
94. Little Trouble Girl (60 points, 6 votes)
95. Pattern Recognition (60 points, 5 votes)
96. The Neutral (58 points, 4 votes)
97. Computer Age (57 points, 4 votes)
98. Paper Cup Exit (55 points, 4 votes)
99. Saucer-Like (52 points, 3 votes)
100. Secret Girl (50 points, 4 votes)
101. Mildred Pierce (48 points, 4 votes)
102. Lee Is Free (48 points, 3 votes)
103. Master-Dik (48 points, 3 votes)
104. Sympathy for the Strawberry (46 points, 4 votes)
105. White Cross (45 points, 3 votes)
106. Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream (45 points, 2 votes)
107. Do You Believe in Rapture? (44 points, 4 votes)
108. Unwind (42 points, 3 votes)
109. Pink Steam (40 points, 3 votes)
110. Silver Panties (40 points, 1 vote, 1 #1)
111. Peace Attack (39 points, 4 votes)
112. Winner's Blues (39 points, 2 votes)
113. Snare, Girl (34 points, 3 votes)
114. Purr (33 points, 3 votes)
115. Slaapkamers met slagroom (33 points, 3 votes)
116. Dans Les Bois Monsieur Rabier (33 points, 1 vote)
117. Female Mechanic Now on Duty (32 points, 3 votes)
118. Antenna (31 points, 6 votes)
119. On the Strip (31 points, 4 votes)
120. Or (31 points, 3 votes)
121. Swimsuit Issue (31 points, 3 votes)
122. What a Waste (31 points, 2 votes)
123. She Is Not Alone (30 points, 4 votes)
124. My Friend Goo (30 points, 2 votes)
125. New Hampshire (30 points, 2 votes)
126. No Queen Blues (27 points, 2 votes)
127. Ça Plane Pour Moi (27 points, 1 vote)
128. Crème Brûlée (25 points, 2 votes)
129. Having Never Written a Note for Percussion (25 points, 2 votes)
130. Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit (25 points, 2 votes)
131. Satan Is Boring (24 points, 1 vote)
132. Blink (22 points, 2 votes)
133. Quest for the Cup (22 points, 2 votes)
134. Shoot (22 points, 2 votes)
135. Side2Side (22 points, 2 votes)
136. Personality Crisis (22 points, 1 vote)
137. Nic Fit (21 points, 1 vote)
138. Addicted to Love (20 points, 1 vote)
139. Invito Al Cielo (19 points, 2 votes)
140. No II (Part 4) (19 points, 2 votes)
141. In the Mind of the Bourgeois Reader (19 points, 1 vote)
142. Moustache Riders (19 points, 1 vote)
143. The Ineffable Me (18 points, 2 votes)
144. Self Obsessed and Sexxee (17 points, 1 vote)
145. Kim's Chords (16 points, 1 vote)
146. Confusion Is Next (13 points, 2 votes)
147. Screaming Skull (12 points, 2 votes)
148. G-Force (12 points, 1 vote)
149. Au Café (11 points, 1 vote)
150. Hot Wire my Heart (11 points, 1 vote)
151. Loud and Soft (11 points, 1 vote)
152. The Bedroom (10 points, 1 vote)
153. Tremens (9 points, 2 votes)
154. Six for New Time (9 points, 1 vote)
155. Tuck N Dar (9 points, 1 vote)
156. Walkin Blue (9 points, 1 vote)
157. Fire Engine Dreams (8 points, 1 vote)
158. Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style (8 points, 1 vote)
159. Rats (8 points, 1 vote)
160. French Tickler (7 points, 1 vote)
161. Loop Cat (7 points, 1 vote)
162. Massage the History (7 points, 1 vote)
163. Two Cool Rock Chicks Listening to Neu (7 points, 1 vote)
164. Malibu Gas Station (6 points, 2 votes)
165. Marilyn Moore (6 points, 2 votes)
166. Mary-Christ (6 points, 2 votes)
167. Plastic Sun (6 points, 1 vote)
168. Small Flowers Crack Concrete (6 points, 1 vote)
169. Panty Lies (5 points, 1 vote)
170. Sacred Trickster (5 points, 1 vote)
171. Freezer Burn/I Wanna Be Your Dog (4 points, 1 vote)
172. Justice is Might (4 points, 1 vote)
173. Poison Arrow (4 points, 1 vote)
174. Skink (4 points, 1 vote)
175. Ticket to Ride/Master-Dik (version)/Introducing the Stars (4 points, 1 vote)
176. Nevermind (What Was It Anyway) (2 points, 1 vote)
177. StreamXSonik Subway (2 points, 1 vote)
178. Turquoise Boy (2 points, 1 vote)
179. What We Know (2 points, 1 vote)
180. Dripping Dream (1 point, 1 vote)
181. Piano Piece #13 (Carpenter's Piece) (1 point, 1 vote)
182. Theme d'Alice (1 point, 1 vote)

Oops, forgot to mention the ties, but you get the idea.

the low placement of "Unwind" is the only thing I'm really, truly surprised by.

FWIW, if you total up the "Trilogy" entries, it'd come at #12 at 373 points / 24 votes.

7 ppl wear white power sneakers

(Little sad side note: I have to say I'm disappointed that no one spotted the *star* in my 'Star Power' image...)

Awww, Mildred Pierce just missed the rollout.

Wow. Just logged on and must say I'm surprised by the results. Many thanks to Mr. ArchCarrier for running this poll. There will always be a place for it in the Pacific Coast Highway of my heart.

Here is my ballot:

Tracks

1. Teen Age Riot
2. Total Trash
3. Silver Rocket
4. Candle
5. Eliminator Jr.
6. Tuff Gnarl
7. Cotton Crown
8. Hey Joni
9. Intro/Brave Men Run
10. White Cross
11. Schizophrenia
12. Sunday
13. Wildflower Soul
14. The Wonder
15. Hyperstation
16. Chapel Hill
17. The Empty Page
18. Computer Age
19. Do You Believe In Rapture?
20. Kool Thing
21. Bull In The Heather
22. Sugar Kane
23. Star Power
24. Pacific Coast Highway
25. Expressway To Yr Skull
26. The Diamond Sea
27. Reena
28. Incinerate
29. Jams Run Free
30. Pipeline/Kill Time

Real life lol at some dude's Obama remark.

Who gave the other vote to "Invito al Cielo"? I owe you a beer next time you're in Saskatchewan.

White Cross doesn't even crack the top 100? Strange

yeah that was a pretty big shocker to me.

It was a late cut for me. In the end, I went with "Catholic Block" instead.

to test my theory that you could easily make a ballot of good songs that missed the top 100, I made a playlist of 30 songs I dig that didn't place in the poll: http://open.spotify.com/user/1219464571/playlist/5ln14wNIPMvwLmXmS3DGrm

Sund4r, I like Molson

I did not make a ballot, but have been following. Impressive rollout! If I had voted, maybe "On the Strip" would have placed. That song is creepy and soothing at the same time and then -- IMMENSE at the noise break. And now I cannot stop thinking about it. Cheers.

1. Silver Panties
2. Youth Against Fascism
3. Dans Les Bois Monsieur Rabier
4. Jams Run Free
5. In the Kingdom #19
6. Halloween
7. Satan is Boring
8. Washing Machine
9. Or
10. Creme Brûlée
11. Mariah Carey and the Arthur Doyle Handcream
12. Becuz
13. Rain On Tin
14. The World Looks Red
15. Society Is A Hole
16. Pipeline / Kill time
17. Pacific Coast Highway
18. Swimsuit Issue
19. JC
20. Saucer Like
21. Anagrama
22. Invito al ĉielo
23. Pattern Recognition
24. Inhuman
25. Shaking Hell
26. Quest for the Cup
27. Free City Rhymes
28. Antenna
29. Hits of Sunshine
30. Screaming Skull

1. SYR9
2. Rather Ripped
3. Washing Machine
4. Dirty
5. Sister

honestly BMR and Silver Sessions could get subbed in there

thanks guys, great job y'all!

1. Expressway To Yr. Skull
2. Schizophrenia
3. Death Valley '69
4. Shadow of a Doubt
5. 'Cross the Breeze
6. Society is a Hole
7. The Sprawl
8. Stereo Sanctity
9. Theresa's Sound-World
10. Mote
11. Tom Violence
12. Brave Men Run
13. She's in a Bad Mood
14. Cotton Crown
15. Eric's Trip
16. Inhuman
17. Green Light
18. Flower
19. The Wonder
20. Hyperstation
21. Disappearer
22. Ghost Bitch
23. On the Strip
24. Wish Fulfillment
25. Shaking Hell
26. White Kross
27. Chapel Hill
28. Tuff Gnarl
29. Death to Our Friends
30. Saucer-Like

Albums

Bad Moon Rising
Sister
EVOL
Daydream Nation
Dirty

Side Projects

Ciccone Youth - The Whitey Album
Harry Crews - Naked in Garden Hills
Glenn Branca - Symphony No. 1

and let me add to the hosannas: thanks ArchCarrier, for putting so much time and effort and passion into this whole thing, and making this a true, involved ILM event. i don't know when i last felt this PLUGGED IN to ILM.

ArchCarrier and Algerian Goalkeeper should make a poll together. how about a noise rock or an avant rock poll later on?

kudos ArchCarrier!

yeah, this was fun.

my ballot...

TRACKS: (ordered 1-30 from top)

Cotton Crown
Ghost Bitch
Schizophrenia
Intro/Brave Men Run
Total Trash
Teresa's Sound World
The Diamond Sea
Hits Of Sunshine
Shadow Of A Doubt
I Dreamed I Dream
Halloween
Unwind
Beauty Lies In The Eye
The Sprawl
Do You Believe In Rapture
Rain King
Drunk Butterfly
Flower
I Love Her All The Time
Snare Girl
'Cross The Breeze
Computer Age
Washing Machine
Making The Nature Scene (Ciccone Youth version)
Death Valley '69
Marilyn Moore
Hyper Station
Rain On Tin
Slaapkamers Met Slagroom
Tunic

ALBUMS:
01 Bad Moon Rising
02 Sister
03 Evol
04 Daydream Nation
05 A Thousand Leaves

BAND MEMBER:
Kim

LEAST-UGLY ALBUM COVER:
Bad Moon Rising

Tracks:

01. Schizophrenia
02. Hallowe'en
03. (I Got A) Catholic Block
04. Shadow Of A Doubt
05. Tuff Gnarl
06. Teen Age Riot
07. Tunic (Song for Karen)
08. Eric's Trip
09. Death Valley 69
10. Expressway To Your Skull
11. I Dreamed I Dream
12. Cinderella's Big Score
13. Hey Joni
14. Kotton Krown
15. Star Power
16. Flower
17. Stereo Sanctity
18. Candle
19. G-Force (Ciccone Youth)
20. Secret Girl
21. Pacific Coast Highway
22. Making the Nature Scene
23. Shaking Hell
24. JC
25. The Sprawl
26. Titanium Expose
27. Mote
28. Brother James
29. Inhuman
30. Eliminator Jr.

Albums:

01. Sister
02. Evol
03. Daydream Nation
04. Goo
05. Confusion Is Sex

Member:

Kim Gordon

Least-ugly LP cover:

Bad Moon Rising

-----------------------

Thanks ArchCarrier!

I like "The Diamond Sea" but didn't expect it to place quite that high. Correct #1, though!

So I was the only vote for "G-Force?!" Can't resist creepy backwoods Kim G.

stuff that nobody voted for (82-00):

I Don't Want to Push It
The Good and the Bad
Echo Canyon
Early American
Bubblegum
Scooter + Jinx
Hendrix Necro
Stalker
I Love You Mary Jane
Compilation Blues
Starfield Road
Doctor's Orders
Waist
Junkie's Promise
Mieux: De Corrosion
Herinneringen
Stil
Contre le sexisme
Heather Angel
Hungara vivo
Radio-Amatoroj
Renegade Princess
Lightnin'

plus most of SYR5 and Goodbye 20th Century

my distressingly centrist ballot:

1. Schizophrenia
2. Mote
3. I Dreamed I Dream
4. Stereo Sanctity
5. Rain King
6. Brother James
7. Expressway to Yr Skull
8. Shadow of a Doubt
9. Tokyo Eye
10. Death Valley '69
11. MacBeth
12. Cotton Crown
13. Kill Yr. Idols
14. In the Kingdom #19
15. Beauty Lies in the Eye
16. Pipeline / Kill Time
17. Brave Men Run (in My Family)
18. Pacific Coast Highway
19. Eric's Trip
20. 'Cross the Breeze
21. Purr
22. Trilogy II - Hyperstation
23. Trilogy III - Eliminator Jr.
24. Tunic (Song for Karen)
25. Youth Against Fascism
26. Theresa's Sound World
27. Tom Violence
28. The Diamond Sea
29. I Love Her All the Time
30. Mary-Christ

only real regrets are not voting for "flower" and "master=dik". and maybe "my new house", which could go on forever far as i'm concerned. love steve (?) yelling "CHORUS!" in the background every time it comes around.

oh, and i don't really regret cutting "total trash", cuz it did just fine w/out me, but it feels dishonest in retrospect. prob should have been top ten.

Man, I totally agree with some dude re "Total Trash".

stuff that nobody voted for (82-00):

I Don't Want to Push It
The Good and the Bad
Echo Canyon
Early American
Bubblegum
Scooter + Jinx
Hendrix Necro
Stalker
I Love You Mary Jane
Compilation Blues
Starfield Road
Doctor's Orders
Waist
Junkie's Promise
Mieux: De Corrosion
Herinneringen
Stil
Contre le sexisme
Heather Angel
Hungara vivo
Radio-Amatoroj
Renegade Princess
Lightnin'

plus most of SYR5 and Goodbye 20th Century

― cock chirea, Saturday, May 18, 2013 2:30 AM (15 minutes ago)

People voted for "I Love You Mary Jane"! Since it was a collaboration, it ended up in the sub-poll up against Psychic Hearts et al. Was on my tracks ballot until I realised it wasn't eligible; shuffled everything else up and appended "Master=Dik", heh.

Also, wow @ Raymond's ballot. Def on for that pint.

xpost

"Hendrix Necro" is DOOOOPE. another Dirty outtake better than half the stuff on the album.

Silver Session sounds really pleasant and enjoyable now. I don't know why I found it boring before.

Hm, I don't think I've heard "Hendrix Necro".

"100%" b-side, on the deluxe reissue of Dirty

s'good

forgot to include "the destroyed room", another b side from the same period

i love the distorted bass on hendrix necro and other songs from that era (mildred pierce, youth against fascism, bone). not sure why kim didn't use that sound more often, a entire SY record with that bass tone would've been great.

Oh, I do know this song. I was really hoping it was an instrumental guitar feedback Hendrix tribute.

stuff that nobody voted for (82-00):
...
Stalker
...
Starfield Road

If I'd voted, "Stalker" would definitely have gotten a vote and "Starfield Road" probably would have gotten squeezed off the list at the last minute.

But "Within You Without You" would have been top 10, and not just because it's the song where I "got" Sonic Youth--I also think it's a perfect cover, honoring what's great about the original while making it completely their own. And the descent-into-squall middle section is right up there with "Silver Rocket."

forgot to include "the destroyed room", another b side from the same period
Someone did vote for 'The Bedroom', which is the same song.

Great work ArchCarrier, really enjoyed getting back into SY this past couple of weeks.

My ballot:

TRACKS
1. The Diamond Sea
2. Candle
3. Shadow of a Doubt
4. Disappearer
5. Hey Joni
6. 'Cross the Breeze
7. Unmade Bed
8. Tom Violence
9. Sugar Kane
10. Disconnection Notice
11. Wish Fulfillment
12. Catholic Block
13. Mote
14. Expressway to Yr. Skull
15. Incinerate
16. Stones
17. Silver Rocket
18. Kissability
19. Stereo Sanctity
20. Beauty Lies in the Eye
21. The Empty Page
22. Genetic
23. Tunic (Song for Karen)
24. Sunday
25. Peace Attack
26. The World Looks Red
27. Skink
28. Rain King
29. Pipeline/Kill Time
30. Theresa's Sound-World

ALBUMS
1. Evol
2. Daydream Nation
3. Sister
4. Sonic Nurse
5. Goo

Just had a look at the big 80s poll where "Schizophrenia" placed second, and there's really any discussion there either - uh, so, why is it an obvious #1 / what lifts it 200-ish points above the rest of their catalogue? I've only recently gotten around to listening to Sister, and there's a bit of disjunction between the title/reputation and what it actually sounds like.

I think it's kind of a unique song in their catalog in many ways -- Steve playing mostly toms (and i think the snare off on the snare drum?), it has this kind of minimal melodic sound of a lot of their slower songs but it's kind of fast and propulsive, one of the only songs where Thurston and Kim alternate long sections of each doing lead vocals, also has a completely different tone and sound from the album that follows. plus there's some possible autobiography in the lyrics (but it was Kim's brother, not sister, that was schizophrenic), but generally the story is kind of vague and eerie.

Strikes me as a tighter version of a few threads from evol: descending melodic line like Tom Violence, spooky Kim vocal like Shadow, psych-ending like Expressway. When I first heard it (when it came out) it seemed like they were just firing on all cylinders on that track.

some dude otm. most of the things i said about "shadow of a doubt" apply here: it's creepy, sexy, mysterious and radiantly beautiful. a perfect pop song that doesn't at all resemble the conventional image of such a thing. i fell in love with it the first time i heard it, and my affection hasn't faded a bit over the years.

i def understand how it might be hard to get into the track when it's hyped as their ultimate moment, but its tight otherworldliness totally blew me away when discovering it in my teens

one way you know it has some surreal romantic weight - m83 totally jacked the climax for "don't save us from flames"

daydream nation was just a perfect sndtrk for the election of Bush I.... i remember listening to it on a Walkman daily as i strolled down 8th Avenue to work.

Ranaldo is also my fave band member.

of the 20x or so times i saw em play, first was on a bill w/ the Minutemen i think

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzPsMalV8ns

first hearing the shift at 3:28 was a real "oh no you didn't" moment

I go back and forth w "Schizophrenia"; when I first got into SY and couldn't find anything earlier than DN at the record stores in the malls, it was def a quality older cut. But as I became more exposed not only to their catalogue, but to more music in general, I kind of thought of its uptempo hookiness as sort of bland. But some time in the last couple of years I watched the performance of it at the beginning of The Year Punk Broke, and that reinstated some of that initial strangeness of the song for,me. But I still left it off my ballot...

I do think that as hooky guitar rock goes, it has a really interesting structure--it has no chorus, which is weird, but weirder still is how easy it is to almost forget that, how complete it feels without one--and really builds and develops in unusual ways. The instrumental , which is most of the song, is put together so that the melody/noise ratio is carefully modulated, so as to ratchet up or dissipate tension as needed. The song doesn't seem longer than it is or shorter, but with the amount of stuff they do and ideas they pack in there, it feels like it should be longer. And again, all of this moves so effortlessly that it is easy to take it for granted, as in my aforementioned sniffiness about the song. Taken apart, the diff't components of the song feel very left-field, but put back together, it makes perfect musical sense. But then, that's p much late-80s SY in a nutshell...

i like the idea of hearing schizophrenia as "bland uptempo hookiness"