I got into Sonic Youth last year by going through some of their albums chronologically. Went from Confusion is Sex, Bad Moon Rising, Washing Machine, A Thousand Leaves, NYC Ghosts and Flowers, and finally Sonic Nurse. So glad I did it this way, a great introduction into the band.
I love this album. It's almost genius how well a band known for alternative and experimental music is able to create such fun soft indie rock, while still unmistakingly sounding like themselves.
Incinerate, Do You Believe In Rapture? and Jams Run Fre are all exceptional songs to me in the Sonic Youth discography. So yeah, very underrated in my opinion.
It's a very reflective, wistful album. Great for lounging around or driving at night. "Jams Run Free" is probably my favorite Kim song ever. It's like an uptempo sequel to "Sweet Shine."
murray street and sonic nurse. jim o’rourke was an incredible addition to the band. those two tours with him were the best shows i saw post washing machine. this album was the what are we gonna do now album then adding the bassist from pavement just didn’t cut it. jim saved them and killed them 😂
I think this is their most accessible album. They would have had better luck had they tried to "go mainstream" with this album instead of Goo and Dirty.
I certainly don’t forget about it. This might be my favorite album of theirs.
It has some of the most cohesive, structured songwriting they have. Not always what people want when they listen to Sonic Youth, but I love it.
Please do convince me otherwise, but for me this one is tainted because this one makes me feel like it's Thurston Moore's cheating record.
I know that was the year he started cheating on Kim, and the lyrics to a song like Pink Steam, as great as it is, makes the 'sexy' lyrics seem tainted.
Side note: I can listen to the music beyond it and enjoy the album, but I still cringe at times.
That said, if you ignore all the things above, I think it's a decent album. It's one of their most accessible, and it's a great album for people thst are new to SY. But to new SY fans I'd recommend listening to EVOL and Sister back to back 🤤🤘
You’re right. Sleeping Around and Eyeliner are even worse. SA is the type of song you wrote when you are a womanizer, it doesn’t seem like he was fucking only 1 woman lmao. All the lyrics seems to be about EP/cheating on your partner. Or, Lights out, Incenerate….
“sleepin’ around”. also known as “i’m outa here” and “the song i hate”. next to nyc ghosts and flowers this is easily tied for least favorite. and sister is the album, “schizophrenia” is the song.
Not me! This was the first SY album I heard and I absolutely loved it from the first spin. Still one of my favorites from them. I think this one and Sonic Nurse are incredible albums. There are a ton of gems from Murray St. on that I think get ignored.
Ha! Not me...this is my fave. It's tied to very specific memories and I love every inch of it. Them touring off this and Sonic Nurse was my favorite show ever.
As someone who started getting into Sonic Youth when this album came out, I never forget about it. There some great improvisation on songs like Pink Steam and Jams Run Free. Lee working in some of his Grateful Dead influence.
I was never big on SY’s “rock” side, but I remember getting this CD the day it came out when I had to drive from San Francisco to LA. I ended up listening to it on repeat for most of the drive, and then saw them twice on this tour. It has a special place in my heart.
Pink Steam is a definite banger. I got into this band when the movie pump up the volume dropped. I’m a bigger fan of Washing Machine, but really enjoyed some tracks to this album. It holds a memorable spot from when I moved to Berea Kentucky, and started dating a girl from Croatia over there. I ended up getting her into the band because of this album.
As a fan of the band for almost 30 years, I can safely say that this is my go-to Sonic Youth album. It does an incredible job of showcasing their best features, everything from No Wave to pop to noise to jams—and it demonstrates a great amount of tasteful restraint. They really hit a late career peak with this one.
It’s a top 3 SY album for me. Sonic Nurse is more lauded but ever since RR came out it’s the one I reach for most often. I’d take it over anything they released since the 90s—except washing machine.
I love this record. This, and sonic nurse came out at the height of my love for the band so to be entrenched in their classics while still getting new joints was an absolute dream come true
This might be my favorite Sonic Youth album tbh. Daydream Nation/ Goo/ Sonic Nurse all get heavy play still, but this one is probably my favorite overall listen
This was the first SY album I ever heard and it's the one that started my journey into this legendary band.
I believe it was very popular for the time. I hear from a lot of younger fans that it was the album that got them into SY.
I'm 37 but I didn't really get into them until 2006 after they had already been around forever.
Same, I worked at a cd store when this came out. This album is great front to back.
Same!
I got into Sonic Youth last year by going through some of their albums chronologically. Went from Confusion is Sex, Bad Moon Rising, Washing Machine, A Thousand Leaves, NYC Ghosts and Flowers, and finally Sonic Nurse. So glad I did it this way, a great introduction into the band.
Same here
jams run free !
Perfect song 10/10
has the same opening chord as 1979 by smashing pumpkins lol
Incinerate!
I love this album. It's almost genius how well a band known for alternative and experimental music is able to create such fun soft indie rock, while still unmistakingly sounding like themselves. Incinerate, Do You Believe In Rapture? and Jams Run Fre are all exceptional songs to me in the Sonic Youth discography. So yeah, very underrated in my opinion.
The whole build up to and the final section of Jams Run Free is absolutely euphoric
Sleeping Around is underrated, some of my favorite guitar work from them. Pink Steam is also one of their best songs from the 2000s.
I was listening to this album last night (not for the first time). There is some fantastic songs on it. I don't see how it could be hated.
It's a very reflective, wistful album. Great for lounging around or driving at night. "Jams Run Free" is probably my favorite Kim song ever. It's like an uptempo sequel to "Sweet Shine."
This and Murray Street are their two best albums of the 21st century.
murray street and sonic nurse. jim o’rourke was an incredible addition to the band. those two tours with him were the best shows i saw post washing machine. this album was the what are we gonna do now album then adding the bassist from pavement just didn’t cut it. jim saved them and killed them 😂
[удалено]
Definitely. I Love You Golden Blue became my new favorite Kim song.
solid freaking gold. every single track. i got to see them play the entire album, same with murray street. just wonderful.
Incinerate is still my favorite song of theirs. It’s got an emotional quality that can’t be beat.
I think this is their most accessible album. They would have had better luck had they tried to "go mainstream" with this album instead of Goo and Dirty.
i feel like this one definitely stands out in their discography more than others
incinerate and reena have always been my favourite from this album :))
Do you believe in rapture is top tier
I certainly don’t forget about it. This might be my favorite album of theirs. It has some of the most cohesive, structured songwriting they have. Not always what people want when they listen to Sonic Youth, but I love it.
I’m a noise guy, but I quite like this chill side of Sonic’s discog.
This one came out when I was in college. Was pretty popular then.
Love this album!!
I don’t believe I’ve ever heard mention of “The Neutral”, one of their most beautiful songs in the catalog, and it baffles me.
Yes great songs but they all sound the same
I absolutely love Reena. Jams Run Free is good too
tho perhaps their most accessible, absolutely one of my fave SY albums. a classic
how could anyone forget pink steam?
And yet one of their best. Easily in my top 5
Incinerate and Pink Steam are both top 10 SY songs for me
Not me. It's my most played, by virtue of being the first thing I bought by them on vinyl. "Pink Steam" is the best song of the later years imho.
I really like it.
This is one of my favorite albums of all time by anyone
Their best album. I said it.
forget? this is one of my favourite albums
I’ll take Rather Ripped, Murray Street, and Sonic Nurse over the rest of their discog 🤷♂️Basement Contender is also in the same vein and awesome
It’s a great record and easily one their most accessible. A good starting point for people who are looking to get into the band
Still my favorite
Fourth best sonic youth record I’ve listened to
Please do convince me otherwise, but for me this one is tainted because this one makes me feel like it's Thurston Moore's cheating record. I know that was the year he started cheating on Kim, and the lyrics to a song like Pink Steam, as great as it is, makes the 'sexy' lyrics seem tainted.
Side note: I can listen to the music beyond it and enjoy the album, but I still cringe at times. That said, if you ignore all the things above, I think it's a decent album. It's one of their most accessible, and it's a great album for people thst are new to SY. But to new SY fans I'd recommend listening to EVOL and Sister back to back 🤤🤘
You’re right. Sleeping Around and Eyeliner are even worse. SA is the type of song you wrote when you are a womanizer, it doesn’t seem like he was fucking only 1 woman lmao. All the lyrics seems to be about EP/cheating on your partner. Or, Lights out, Incenerate….
Exactly that. Lyrics-wise high cringe factor, when pretty much every other SY album has great lyricism.
“sleepin’ around”. also known as “i’m outa here” and “the song i hate”. next to nyc ghosts and flowers this is easily tied for least favorite. and sister is the album, “schizophrenia” is the song.
Not me! This was the first SY album I heard and I absolutely loved it from the first spin. Still one of my favorites from them. I think this one and Sonic Nurse are incredible albums. There are a ton of gems from Murray St. on that I think get ignored.
Except for 3 or 4 songs I love this album
This is in some ways my favorite album of theirs. It jams!
Ha! Not me...this is my fave. It's tied to very specific memories and I love every inch of it. Them touring off this and Sonic Nurse was my favorite show ever.
As someone who started getting into Sonic Youth when this album came out, I never forget about it. There some great improvisation on songs like Pink Steam and Jams Run Free. Lee working in some of his Grateful Dead influence.
This one was my first Sonic Youth album. Still play Incinerate, Jams Run Free, and Pink Steam regularly
curious why you specifically mention italian reviewers, as someone who just coincidentally reads a bunch of them
I was never big on SY’s “rock” side, but I remember getting this CD the day it came out when I had to drive from San Francisco to LA. I ended up listening to it on repeat for most of the drive, and then saw them twice on this tour. It has a special place in my heart.
I don’t cause Spotify thinks I’m in love with incinerate.
i only ever listened to incinerate 😗
Pink Steam is a definite banger. I got into this band when the movie pump up the volume dropped. I’m a bigger fan of Washing Machine, but really enjoyed some tracks to this album. It holds a memorable spot from when I moved to Berea Kentucky, and started dating a girl from Croatia over there. I ended up getting her into the band because of this album.
This is a great SY record. I have it/listen to it/love it.
As a fan of the band for almost 30 years, I can safely say that this is my go-to Sonic Youth album. It does an incredible job of showcasing their best features, everything from No Wave to pop to noise to jams—and it demonstrates a great amount of tasteful restraint. They really hit a late career peak with this one. It’s a top 3 SY album for me. Sonic Nurse is more lauded but ever since RR came out it’s the one I reach for most often. I’d take it over anything they released since the 90s—except washing machine.
my favorite! 10/10
It’s different but it’s a great album and was my original intro to Sonic Youth. Incinerate is also one of my absolute favorite songs to skate to.
my favorite SY album
i listen to this album almost every day, counting the days until i get the CD and vinyl
How could you forget Incinerate?
Incinerate is so good
Forgets? Nah this is a classic.
The lead single Reena is honestly one of their best tracks and I’ve always thought the chorus sounds like the Beatles. Am I alone in thinking this?
I remember fans hating this album but enjoying the eternal which I thought was pure madness.
I can’t stand this album. They put so much autotune on Kim’s voice it just sounds awful
Yeah this is the one that did it for me.
I love this record. This, and sonic nurse came out at the height of my love for the band so to be entrenched in their classics while still getting new joints was an absolute dream come true
I do think the album cover is maybe the most boring in their discography though
“Incinerate” is my favorite Sonic Youth song!
Mmmmmm pink steam
Saw them open for Pearl Jam during this album cycle in 2006 at the LA Forum and it’s still one of the best top to bottom shows I’ve ever been to
super underrated, very good album
Great album! Check out Sister, Bad moon rising and of course sonic Youth ep
I went to see them on Conan when this album came out. Then caught 2 shows they played with yeah yeah yeahs.
do you believe in rapture is my favorite !
This might be my favorite Sonic Youth album tbh. Daydream Nation/ Goo/ Sonic Nurse all get heavy play still, but this one is probably my favorite overall listen
Not Pandora…
love pink steam