C/D: Sonic Youth - Washing Machine

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Washing Machine is a decent enough record, but it doesn't rate terribly high w/me when compared to their truly classic stuff.

And I have to jump in on the EJSTANS argument: my favorite SY album, and one of my favorite albums, period. I don't know if that says anything about its objective quality, but I know that I love it.

And I know that you are WRONG if you do not also love it. WRONG.

Deric W. Haircare (Deric W. Haircare), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 17:29 (eighteen years ago) link

All this nu-SY love is making me inexplicably sad. IT'S SO FUCKING BORING.

n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 17:38 (eighteen years ago) link

man, classic record. skip tracer is the ultimate Lee song, and unwind has gotta be the most blissed-out, chill sy song. the guitars breathe with a lot of space, with a weird, dull clarity. thick guitar sounds. probably the "biggest," breathin'-est sounding sy album, without much glossy sheen. the clean guitars sound enourmous on it. EJTNS takes the taco, though, for a variety of shorter songs, super-sounding riffs, and strange atmospheric beauty. it has this quiet, dense humidity to it. classic sy

Rvssignonald's, Wednesday, 7 December 2005 17:54 (eighteen years ago) link

i know snare-girl is blissed out, but Thousand Leaves is another story. talk about a beautiful recording, Thousand Leaves.

rssl, Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:00 (eighteen years ago) link

poortheatre, it seems weird that you would want a deluxe edition of something you'd never heard!

Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:00 (eighteen years ago) link

The album that got me back into the SY fold, after having somewhat lost interest. Skip Tracer = best song ever. YES, SIRRRRRRR!

Baaderonixx weaves a daisy chain for... SATAN!! (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I love washing machine. "unwind" is my favorite sounding SY song by far and one of the prettiest songs ever. "washing machine" is my favorite Kim vocal post-EVOL. everything else is pretty damn swell (great Lee songs), not a clunker in the bunch (well maybe Panty Lies kinda sucks).

anyways, CLASSIC. better than Daydream! as good as Sister or EVOL!

brontosaur, Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:05 (eighteen years ago) link

I love "Skip Tracer" and "Unwind" and like "Becuz" and "Diamond Sea" and a few others, but on the whole I don't rate it as highly as the albums that directly preceded and followed it.

Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:14 (eighteen years ago) link

also: track 9 aka BECUZ CODA is the bomb.

Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:14 (eighteen years ago) link

OMG yeah that's great: that beautiful bloom at the end.

jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:27 (eighteen years ago) link

one of their last greats. no wait, the 3 SYR eps were amazing.

then the dramatic slide into the most severe mediocrity imaginable with A Thousand Leaves. they ain't come up since.

Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:43 (eighteen years ago) link

All this nu-SY love is making me inexplicably sad. IT'S SO FUCKING BORING.

If you want to avoid the boring peg you have abandon SY entirely. The 80s stuff isn't as boring as the 00s stuff but its also 20 years old, so the boringness evens out.

'Twan (miccio), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:44 (eighteen years ago) link

Plus, as much as I love Sister, there's something incredibly boring about any album with Thurston Moore & Kim Gordon on it - at least in hindsight.

'Twan (miccio), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:45 (eighteen years ago) link

Oh the guilt.

earlnash, Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:47 (eighteen years ago) link

Dance beats and funny clothes helped Bowie escape this fate.

'Twan (miccio), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 18:49 (eighteen years ago) link

And bad teeth.

Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 19:13 (eighteen years ago) link

ANTHONY YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING

n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 19:25 (eighteen years ago) link

GOOD JOB

n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 19:25 (eighteen years ago) link

Why did I think it was a good idea to start posting on ILM again?

n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 19:28 (eighteen years ago) link

Had been a major, major obsessive from Confusion is Sex, was severely disillusioned by Daydream Nation and Master dik, had quite liked a couple of the subsequent albums but Washing Machine was really the end of the road for me. I just found myself thinking why do I even own this? Not sure I actually made it all the way through the whole thing - maybe while doing the dishes.

Soukesian, Wednesday, 7 December 2005 19:39 (eighteen years ago) link

JUDAS!

Baaderonixx weaves a daisy chain for... SATAN!! (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 20:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Why did I think it was a good idea to start posting on ILM again?

you're lonely.

'Twan (miccio), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 20:16 (eighteen years ago) link

Classic. Only clunker is indeed "Panty Lies" which I hate more than almost any other SY song. The solo in the middle of "Washing Machine" is up in the stratosphere, and "Unwind" is one of the most beautiful songs I know.

sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 7 December 2005 20:23 (eighteen years ago) link

classique. 'skiptracer' is up there w/ 'in the kingdom #19' and 'genetic' as the best lee songs evar. 'unwind' is one of the most gorgeous songs i've ever heard... and 'diamond sea' is close behind. all the songs rule except for 'panty lies', which i can't stand.

i'm not sure why i even posted, rssvldonalds and sleeve already said everything i had to say. DITTO'D

6335, Thursday, 8 December 2005 00:45 (eighteen years ago) link

poor, poor theatre.

amon (eman), Thursday, 8 December 2005 03:19 (eighteen years ago) link

in da kingdom #19 is one of the WORST Lee songs!!! Genetic is grebt, though, of course. And Wish Fulfillment. The Lee stuff on Dirty is some of the only decent material on that album.

I'm a big Eric's Trip fan.

Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Thursday, 8 December 2005 03:26 (eighteen years ago) link

i believe anita hill

dali madison's nut (donut), Thursday, 8 December 2005 03:31 (eighteen years ago) link

It's their best album dudez.

The Brainwasher (Twilight), Thursday, 8 December 2005 05:37 (eighteen years ago) link

poortheatre, it seems weird that you would want a deluxe edition of something you'd never heard!

well, I bought Goo this past summer and fell in love with it-- and then they came out with a deluxe version two months later. so, now i want to pick up Washing Machine, but if they're going to do a deluxe version, I might as well just wait until that comes out... yafeelme?

poortheatre (poortheatre), Thursday, 8 December 2005 06:02 (eighteen years ago) link

As taken from dali madison's interview with Mark Hosler in a previous life -- he began it while fading out "The Diamond Sea" (I should know, I was in the studio):

K!z!K:
It is 8pm here on KUCI 88.9fM in Irvine...
Voice:
It's 8pm...

K!z!K:
Pacific time of course! And we're on the phone right now with Mark Hosler of Negativland, so, say hi.

Voice:
[Gurgling] "GGGH-GHGGHG-GGHGHGHHG-GHGHHGHGHG_GGHGMmmm..... GGHGHGGHGG- GHGHGHGHHG-GHGHG-GHGHGmmmm"

K!z!K:
[laugh] Well, there you go... well, anyway, you released the Fair Use book about a few months ago, and it ended on a somewhat positive note. You reached an out-of-court settlement with SST. Island records and affiliates finally agreed to give permission for the re-release of the U2 single, provided of course that Casey Kasem give permission. So that only leaves that one obstacle...the "Casey" barrier... I wanted to ask how far you've gotten along in tackling that barrier, and in perhaps convincing Casey to finally give the OK.

Voice:
[Gurgling] "GHGHGHG-GGGHGHGHGHG_GHGHG GOOOHHGmOGHGGHM GGGANNSWERR GU GGHGAT GGGESTIONGGh.... GHIM GNONT GGHGMARGHGK GHGOOSLEGLER... GHGHI GGHAAM GNOT.....[in background] he wants to know about...U2"

Mark Hosler:
Hi.

K!z!K:
[laugh] Did you hear my question?

MH:
No, I didn't hear your question. They...they wouldn't let me use the phone. Someone else had the telephone, and I just...[LOUD BANG AND CRASH] ...got it from him. That was, man... [LOUD TONE PITCH BENDING].... wait a minute... you're going to have to repeat that question. Real sorry.

K!z!K:
[laughing] No problem! The question was this: Fair Use was released about a few... well, almost a year ago...

MH:
See, now everyone here is talking while you're talking...[CRASHING SOUND]...and I can't hear...the question.

K!z!K:
Well, OK, then...now can you hear me? Am I coming through clear?

Voice [background]: I was not talking!

MH [to Voice in background]: Will you shut up? [SCREECH AND ANOTHER LOUD BANG] I'm trying to talk on the RADIO... in Southern California after a lame Sonic Youth song. [to K!z!K] OK, go ahead.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 December 2005 06:04 (eighteen years ago) link

I Don't care at all if people find latterday SY boring - I just immerse and flow on some of the most beautiful shit ever. I forgive them, often actively enjoy, stoopid lyrics, Thurston's irritating pretentiousness, over long songs, all of it. They've given me more pleasure these past 15 years than the Beatles themselves. I mean physical pleasure. You find them boring? Your loss.

thousands of tiny luminous spheres (plebian), Thursday, 8 December 2005 08:21 (eighteen years ago) link

this record is solid. and nobody wanna talk about my fave tracks: no queen blues, junkie's promise??? a $100 used to be more than enough . . . damn! buy it poortheatre! foe reel

jdchurchill (jdchurchill), Thursday, 8 December 2005 23:33 (eighteen years ago) link

two years pass...

LIstening to this again now after perhaps a decade. No Queen Blues is great. Actually, the whole thing is very good.

paulhw, Tuesday, 8 July 2008 23:02 (fifteen years ago) link

this one = good.

A Thousand Leaves = much, much, much better.

stephen, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 00:35 (fifteen years ago) link

title track = awez

clotpoll, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 02:31 (fifteen years ago) link

This is perhaps my favourite Sonic Youth album. It certainly was a few years ago, though Daydream Nation may edge it now, since I've become a lot more familiar with that album in the last year or so.

krakow, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 06:48 (fifteen years ago) link

It's the only one since Sister that I really like much.

Nate Carson, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 10:18 (fifteen years ago) link

now i want to pick up Washing Machine, but if they're going to do a deluxe version, I might as well just wait until that comes out

i doubt that this will ever happen

akm, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 13:45 (fifteen years ago) link

I've never actually heard this album but I've played "The Diamond Sea" more than any other Sonic Youth track.

HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 13:47 (fifteen years ago) link

Then you should probably check this out...

I think this is one of their best, still a rewarding listen. A Thousand Leaves is similar and fine but a bit more on the SYR side...

sonderangerbot, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link

My least fave SY album.

Raw Patrick, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 14:37 (fifteen years ago) link

Love "Unwind" and "The Diamond Sea," can't remember anything else.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 14:38 (fifteen years ago) link

'Little Trouble Girl' turned me off Sonic Youth for YEARS. It took a chance encounter with EVOL to change my mind about them.

MacDara, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 16:06 (fifteen years ago) link

And the vocal melody is "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys, which is a much better song.

I'm trying to work out what Vic meant by this. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is definitely more sophisticated in terms of melody-writing craft but I don't see a strong similarity with the melody of "The Diamond Sea". Nor would it have occurred to me that SY was attempting that kind of songwriting with this song.

This was my favourite album in high school. I still really like "The Diamond Sea", as basic as its melodies are.

Sundar, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 18:00 (fifteen years ago) link

This is one of my favorite SY records. Probably my most favorite.

Marty Innerlogic, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 18:18 (fifteen years ago) link

Actually, this thread made me take it off my shelf. Now listening. This a great record. That guitarlead in the beginning of Saucer-like is a total hommage to the guitar lead of The Byrds' 8 Miles High.

Marty Innerlogic, Wednesday, 9 July 2008 18:22 (fifteen years ago) link

eleven months pass...

KILL YOURSELF NYC DOUCHEBAG

haha Ø_Ø man "the diamond sea" is probably my favorite sy track

Lamp, Friday, 19 June 2009 02:37 (fourteen years ago) link

I'm trying to work out what Vic meant by this. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is definitely more sophisticated in terms of melody-writing craft but I don't see a strong similarity with the melody of "The Diamond Sea".

I see the similarity, but I wouldn't have thought of it on my own. If you hum the line that goes "Wouldn't it be nice", it sounds very similar to the main melody of "Diamond Sea."

Jesus Christ, Chiropractor at Law (res), Friday, 19 June 2009 02:56 (fourteen years ago) link

Get it on vinyl. Out of this world.

calstars, Friday, 19 June 2009 02:57 (fourteen years ago) link

I think the little bluesy part of Washing Machine (where Kim does her monologue and says the title phrase) was one of those little oases of (mostly unfulfilled) hope scattered among the albums from this period...

dlp9001, Friday, 19 June 2009 03:45 (fourteen years ago) link

Ah, yeah, I see what you mean.

The New York Times' effect on man (Sund4r), Saturday, 12 December 2020 01:22 (three years ago) link


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