QFT!

Sweet Shine = top ten SY songs ever. Easy.

I have listened it maybe ten times. I don´t believe it will open me like the other SY-stuff, but I believe I will listen it in the future sometimes when I´m in a need of very chaotic feelings. But anyway I think in that mini-lp their creativity is not in the normal level.

Oh, now I remember, thanks :)
Maybe I'll "cover" something else off EVOL.

I like Experimental Jet Set. I like how minimal it is. Sounds like Sonic Youth just rockin' out in a garage somewhere. Of course, the songs aren't as good as those off of Dirty, but it's still an interesting album.

I LOVE NYCG+F, if only because it stands out so well when compared to the rest of the records (I guess the same thing can be said about Rather Ripped, more on that later). It took a while for this one to grow on me, but when it did it never really stopped growing. It has that same "sonic mystery" vibe that came along with some of their earlier stuff (just really "out there" and thought provoking), but experimental in a different kind of way. The only SY album that I'll actually listen to while paying close attention to the lyrics (something I seldom do for any album). Just poetic and chaotic and beautiful and everything I love about Sonic Youth. Hear something new whenever I give it a listen.

As far as Rather Ripped: I always thought the album sounded very uninspired, which doesn't make for a very inspirational album whenever I'm (which is basically never) listening to it. A very "easy listen", which wasn't and isn't anything I ever wanted out of SY. There are a couple tracks that stand out, most notably "Rats" (but then again, almost everything Lee does is just fantastic). "Do You Believe In Rapture" has got to be the worst song in their entire catalog. Every great band, especially those that have been together so long, are allowed a terrible album here and there. Thankfully though, this is the only terrible album the Youth have been responsible for.

Pretty good point. It's a real bare bones sounding album, which I guess is a big part of the appeal to me. It's definitely different from their others.

The really truly interesting thing about Jet Set to me though is that for all this time it has always felt like some secret album that no one ever really knows about but me. Like I'm the only one who knows about this album, and somehow that makes it really personal to me. Of course everyone does know about it, but you know what I mean.

I guess it's because no one ever really wants to talk about it. The band never plays songs from that album, no one will ever write a book specifically about it, I highly doubt it will ever be in anyone's top three sonic youth albums. The only time it ever gets brought up is in these types of threads where someone chimes in 'oh and by the way, what the hell is the deal with EJST&NS?'

So sure, probably one of the worst ones by default given it's competition, but there's still some secret mysterious aura about it that's fascinating to me. I might go put it on in a minute haha.

It's definitely one of those people don't mention often whenever discussing the band. And quite honestly, I seldom listen to it probably at least partially for that very reason...seldom am I led to think about it. Whenever I do listen to it, though, I always enjoy it. Was the third Sonic Youth album I owned (first: A Thousand Leaves, which is my favorite. second: Screaming Fields of Sonic Love, which back then served as a great introduction to some of the bands other material, but being that I own all that other material it serves little purpose for me these days. Either way, A great compilation). It definitely sounds and feels more so like some rare/jam session than anything....which, is appealing to me. I always loved the sleeve(ssss), too.

And what about those Winners Blues? :)

It's funny that EJS was supposed to be a kind of mainstream rock record- or at least that's what I get from G20C... that they actually just wanted to rock out a bit, but what came out was weirder by far than anything before it.

I will always love EJS. Like most of you, I was a 90's kid (read: I'm an old fart) and I remember when it came out, even though I wasn't quite into SY yet. It was my first SY album, and listening to it brings back memories of junior high and high school.

Yeah, it's weird as hell... but it's not a non-album. Some people seem to treat it that way, but it's an important part of SY's history. The transition from Dirty to Washing Machine.... it's all exposed in EJS. Everything's just laid out in the open, and the album feels so free and spirited.

Look at modern rock now- it seems impossible that DGC would ever release an album like EJS, especially when they were expecting SY to be some breakout pop sensation. All the sparsity and spaciousness of EJS is utilized in Washing Machine, which is the band's defining 90's album (though not their best).

... not the best SY album, but still light years ahead of Dirty, which was also awesome in many ways.

As a whole, I always thought EJS was far better than Washing Machine (even if nothing on EJS can really compare to the utter beauty of Diamond Sea). Washing Machine definitely marked the beginning of a new chapter for the band, even if most of what followed ended up being better.

Are you out of your mind? Experimental Jet Set better than Washing Machine? Come on.

Actually, I think I could agree on that one but at the same time not.

Washing Machine is an awesome album because there's a cear difference between all the songs while EJST&NS is more like an album that flows all the way through (at least that's how I feel about it).

None of em is better, but they're good in different ways..but I try not to listen to Washing Machine too often cause it's the kind of album you really gotta be in the mood for and not waste away like you can do with EJST&NS..:p

I like a few songs off of Washing Machine (Skip Tracer and Diamond Sea are two of my favorite Sonic Youth songs, period) but find the majority of the album to be kind of boring. But like I was saying, I definitely think it was a sign of things to come. Better things/etc.

Washing Machine, despite having no bad songs, and a handful of GREAT ones, is actually one of my least* favorite SY albums. Not sure why. I just think it was totally outdone by ATL, and that in hindsight, it was little more than a practice run for an infinitely more perfect album.

Don't shoot me. I know, it's sacrilege. But even though WM's songs are great individually, I never play it straight through like I do with others (Jet Set included).

To me Washing Machine really meaned a new great period to begin in SY. After EJSTANS I was thinking that maybe Sonic Youth will not be one of my favourite bands anymore. But the first moment I heard Washing Machine I just loved it. And I still love all the songs in Washing Machine. To me Washing Machine is as strong entity as ATL, I always listen them both fully (well it´s very rare I don´t listen the whole album, but in many albums I found myself thinking something else in the time of some songs but not in Washing or ATL). Maybe ATL is a little better, but just a little.

I believe Dirty was their lowest point besides Rather Ripped.

I love Dirty, it's just that it defnielty misses something that wants you to listen to it again, that's all.

From the time it came out until 1998, Dirty was my favorite SY record.
Now I wouldn't put it in my top 5.

Ive always divided the band's output into 3/4 album bursts, and EJS represents the end of the period where they first attained mainstream popularity. I may be misremembering but im sure ive read something about the early 90s being a time when there were rumblings about it, and that would make sense given the fact theyd completed the underground to mainstream journey. Alot of people might have thought "where else is there to go?"

EJS is a fundamentally inconsitent album for me, though it has its moments it doesnt hold together and could have done with losing 3 or 4 songs. I think Washing Machine is overrated, but it follows its own internal thread in a way that EJS really doesnt, which is what marks EJS out from all their other releases

In The Fishtank is probably the only SY release I genuinely don't like.

^ I can see that. I listened to it a few times and it's also on an SY mixtape Peltor Sent me.

Seems like a bunch of tomfoolery to me.

Oh, I don't think that counts as an "album"... not to me anyway. And you're right- it's shit. But it's not, like, an SY record. It's a collaboration sessions release from a series that hasn't produced anything memorable.

I think this thread is referring to the studio albums and big EPs, mostly.

I actually don't consider many of the SYR's to be "Sonic Youth albums". SYR 5 may say "Sonic Youth" on it, but it's not an SY album... nor SYR 3. Others are more so (SYR 1- Anagrama ranks with my favorite SY releases, and I'd put it next to their studio albums any day), but definitely not all of them.

Honestly, who among us is totally familiar with every second of every album that say "Sonic Youth" on it? Not I. I may own 90% of them, and base my life on 75% of them as though they were scripture, but I couldn't rattle off the tracklisting for every collabo, sessions EP, soundtrack, etc., and I consider myself a massive SY fan.

But yr right that ITF sucks.

In The Fishtank fuckin rules dude!

NYC G&F LOL

Dude, shut the lights, sit alone in a room, smoke one and listen to it..

You'll love it man. It's thee best.

I have some problems with the lyrics on "Nevermind...". it's a strong song, but it could use a bit of finesse, and it doesn't really fit with the rest of the album.

Aside from that, yes. NYCG&F is f'ing brilliant and glorious.

The only reason people dis' it is because of dumbass Pitchforkmedia.com giving it a 0 out of 10. When that happened, all the little indie kids started calling it crap, though half at least have probably never listened to it.

Goddamn Pitchforkmedia. To give you an idea of their critique ethics and standards, they also gave Zaireeka by the Flaming Lips a 0. I mean...... where is their mind???

(actually I think they spoke out and retracted their 0 score for NYC... but still)

hey, you forgot about me??
http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=54369

Watcha mean?

Best frickin album they've did..and no I still haven't got me a LP version :(
BUT I'm seriously in for it now dude..

Ha ha,no, I mean, it's pretty obvious I already love it (I was kidding in my post), and you "suggested" a way to get into it :D. No need for me ;).
I can't speak english today sorry...

NYCG&F is an excellent album. Not sure why the hate.

I will say I don't hate it. I hate "Small Flowers" but that's it.The title track, "Free City Rhymes"...those songs are too fucking good for me to ever hate the album. But having seen "Side2Side" and "Lightnin'" live way back when...the studio versions suffer in comparison. "Renegade Princess" takes too long (to my ears) to get revving. It's not an album that evokes any strong reaction from me, really.

ugh. I'm jealous. Side2side is tied with Free City Rhymes for best song on there. imo.


sway side to side. Kim hypnotizes me with this song's minimalism.

"Lightenin'" live is a fucking revelation. At least in my experience.

It's a goddamn orgasm on the album too, though.

I always thought In the Fishtank was a bit on the dull side. Improv for the sake of improv that never really seems to go anywhere. That Hidros 3 w/ Mats Gustafsson kicks ass, however. Textures all over the place. Love that contrabass sax.

Yeah, I do like Hidros 3.

I <3 NYC G&F. I don't listen to it too often, but whenever I'm in mood for this record, it's rough, but with good production. There are sometimes minimalistic and very noisy experimental sounds + synths. It was the end of some era in sonics career. A culmination. That's how I like to think of that album.

Good description. Like Lightnin maked the end of that era. I feel ya.

Hard to understand your opinion. Now I quite like that song when I think it´s not made seriusly.

Goddammit.

That was a brain queef. I was thinking of the title track because I always end the album with Lee's big crescendo.

I'm apathetic to Lightenin'.

Sorry. I was talking about "NYC Ghosts..." (the song) every time I said Lightnin'.

Typical, i go 7 or 8 years without discussing the possibility, then i mention it once and it only bloody happens. And what do i get for years of praying for bono to die? Nothing. FML

you fucked it all up