[noisereductions]

if SY is really no more I mean?

I know SYR9 came out later, but as a studio album...

my feeling is that even if they are split, we'll get archival material in the form of reissues w/ bonus discs, live albums, subsequent SYR's recorded prior, etc.

BUt studio album-wise:

on the one hand, I loved Eternal. I think it's a great way to end on a high note. On another, it bums me out even more. Makes me wonder what could have come next.

Thoughts?

[logicalharm]

It's not a bad album but I don't really like the idea of it as a "final" album, I definitely prefer to consider SYR9 (I mean the closing track? wow) as a satisfying culmination of everything they've done.

Hopefully we're all wrong and there's more but for now....

[Mortte Jousimo]

My opinion is that the Eternal and SYR9 are both great ends of SY, if there is coming nothing more. And you all have to remember it´s very rare that bands that have existed so long make great last album. Only Beefhearts Ice Cream for Crow comes into my mind when I am thinking great last albums.

[badgercorn]

Originally Posted by Mortte Jousimo

My opinion is that the Eternal and SYR9 are both great ends of SY, if there is coming nothing more. And you all have to remember it´s very rare that bands that have existed so long make great last album. Only Beefhearts Ice Cream for Crow comes into my mind when I am thinking great last albums.

I think Massage The History, as the final (and best IMO) track on The Eternal, would be a pretty fantastic full-stop to their recording career.

And if you include SYR9, Theme D'Alice would be a good way to bow out too. I stress the use of the word 'would', though. I'm not convinced it's over.

[Severian]

Actually, this album is just now starting to grow on me. I've had it since before its release, but I have never really appreciated it as a singular work until recently. It was actually the say the final show was released on the internet. I was waking taking the bus home, thinking about the break up, and this was the only SY album that was on my iPod at the time. So I listened to it, from start to finish, and it all started to make sense on a strange way.

I definitely think it is a worthy album, and I believe it has a place in SY history. Is it all that it could have been? Probably not. But how many final albums are perfect? Most bands don't end on top, with an Abbey Road/Let it Be kind of final statement that perfectly sums up their career. So I'm not going to say it couldn't have been better, or that I wouldn't love to see my favorite group end with another, more definitive, final album. But it certainly could have been a good deal worse. Plus, the title is pretty perfect, and "Massage the History" is about as great a final song as one could hope for.

[EVOLghost]

Aye fuck you!

The eternal...it's a nice album, but AS far as their "farewell" Nah.....Honestly, I'd rather have them end with another NYC Ghost & FLowers-esque album.

[SONIC GAIL]

I think they could havec ended much better, but it is not possible to compare the begining to the end. The beginning is always better. like sex

[evollove]

Eternal would be a lousy final statement.

Most final albums aren't made with the foreknowledge that it will be the last one, which is why they are disapointing when listened to as such.

But if SY knew they were going to make a final album, it wouldn't sound like ETERNAL, which, in my opinion, was an attempt to cash in with a particular segment of the record-buying public. (It worked. It's their highest charted album last I checked.)

It would sound like a final statement. It would sound like SY unfettered by any consideration other than their collective muse. Christ, can you imagine how mind-blowing the closing track would be? It would put Massage the History (overrated) to shame. Hell, it would put Diamond Sea or Expressway or ___ to shame.

And I've always preferred the middle of sex.

[demonrail666]

I don't like Rather Ripped but think 'Or' would've made a decent finale.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by SONIC GAIL

The beginning is always better. like sex

says you, sex is an art, and it only gets better with time. When it declines it is not because of the passing of time, but rather a waning of interest.

Back to the OP, the Eternal is a fine enough album to end on, it could be worse, it could have all ended on EJSTNS

[rocky]

What I eventually decided with R.E.M. was, it is much more fun and meaningful alike, to consider New Adventures in Hi Fi / Up / Reveal / Around the Sun / Accelerate ... and Collapse all as their final album. :P

so with Sonic Youth,
A Thousand Leaves / NYC Ghosts and Flowers / Murray Street / Sonic Nurse / Rather Ripped / The Eternal ... i guess is what I would consider their final album, for now. I just like how it feels to pretend a band on hiatus has released a several hours long mind inspiring/shocking final release spaced out across several years, do you?

[ann ashtray]

I don't think it's their strongest effort, but still a great record nonetheless. I feel the fact that musically it contained so many elements from sonic-days past that it will hold up well as a final record...a little something there for anyone and everyone that takes the time to listen to it.

I was kinda hoping for a while that they'd do an acoustic album. Maybe one day.

And no matter what kind of note they ended on, or may eventually end on, there will always be a "what could have came next". These sort of thoughts, while fun to entertain, are barely worth considering much as they can become a bit draining and never go anywhere...sorta like sitting around debating what Nirvana or Kurt would have went on to do...no one will ever really know for sure. I think with the youth there was a formula strong enough to maybe speculate..but that's all that could ever happen, speculations. I was always sorta hoping they'd break the formula a bit...I thought, personally, an acoustic record would have been an interesting way to do it. Maybe a series of acoustic albums.

[Mortte Jousimo]

Originally Posted by Severian

Actually, this album is just now starting to grow on me. I've had it since before its release, but I have never really appreciated it as a singular work until recently. It was actually the say the final show was released on the internet. I was waking taking the bus home, thinking about the break up, and this was the only SY album that was on my iPod at the time. So I listened to it, from start to finish, and it all started to make sense on a strange way.

I definitely think it is a worthy album, and I believe it has a place in SY history. Is it all that it could have been? Probably not. But how many final albums are perfect? Most bands don't end on top, with an Abbey Road/Let it Be kind of final statement that perfectly sums up their career. So I'm not going to say it couldn't have been better, or that I wouldn't love to see my favorite group end with another, more definitive, final album. But it certainly could have been a good deal worse. Plus, the title is pretty perfect, and "Massage the History" is about as great a final song as one could hope for.

Maybe it´s hard to believe, but when Eternal came, I was really excited about it and thinking it was their Sgt. Pepper! I mean it is kind of "perfect" SY album, great songs and sounds are quite soft and balanced, there are no sharp elements that are very typical almost all the other SY albums (I think only comparison to Eternal is Daydream Nation). I don´t mean I don´t like those sharp elements. Well, maybe I even then didn´t think it was better than EVOL or Sister, but anyway SY is to me one of the rare bands whose material haven´t ever got bad. There are two albums, that I was disappointed right after their release, but I have also learned to love them later.

I don´t think it´s realistic to expect that SY will decide to make a "great, final album" and also succeed in that. I think in art when somebody is trying to make something, I mean in purpose trying to make something really great, it´s just don´t work. I think what´s really great in SY-albums that they sound very natural made to me.

[ann ashtray]

Originally Posted by Murmer99

The album is insignificant, and will stay insignificant.


fucking thread.

Quit being sucha Debbie Downer.

[_slavo_]

They should have ended after Sonic Nurse. That would have been decent.

[Mortte Jousimo]

Originally Posted by Murmer99

Sorry if I'm illustrating a great deal of pessimism.... it probably won't be "approved" on a sonic youth board that I'm actually very uncertain regarding whether they should continue or not. I just rarely feel the need to put this album on with my own personal volition. These letters are in italics but there's no reason for that... never mind it.

My experience is that you´re not approved on SY board if you like both Rather Ripped and the Eternal. It seems you have to hate both or one of them if you want to be someone who is respected here. I know here are fans who like them both, but they very rare say their opinion (I understand them, because there is too much people who want to threw their hate everytime it´s possible).

I hope SY will continue, if they can make as great records as Eternal is. But I also think it´s better to split than make any lousy record and I really believe SY will do it, if they notice they don´t have anything to give anymore.

[EVOLghost]

^ Rather Ripped is their worst album....but I still like it.


I still listen to it.

[mil_pl]

Originally Posted by _slavo_

They should have ended after Sonic Nurse. That would have been decent.

This.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by Mortte Jousimo

Maybe it´s hard to believe, but when Eternal came, I was really excited about it and thinking it was their Sgt. Pepper! I mean it is kind of "perfect" SY album, great songs and sounds are quite soft and balanced, there are no sharp elements that are very typical almost all the other SY albums (I think only comparison to Eternal is Daydream Nation). I don´t mean I don´t like those sharp elements. Well, maybe I even then didn´t think it was better than EVOL or Sister, but anyway SY is to me one of the rare bands whose material haven´t ever got bad. There are two albums, that I was disappointed right after their release, but I have also learned to love them later.

I don´t think it´s realistic to expect that SY will decide to make a "great, final album" and also succeed in that. I think in art when somebody is trying to make something, I mean in purpose trying to make something really great, it´s just don´t work. I think what´s really great in SY-albums that they sound very natural made to me.

I don't agree about it being the "perfect SY album," but I am on board with just about everything else you're saying. I too was extremely excited for Eternal, as I have been for every new SY album since the mid 90s. However, I have been listening to them long enough to know never to be surprised if an album doesn't grab me on the first listen. Very few of them have, and I knew Eternal would probably be no different. It's taken Mich lo Ger than usual for this one to grab me, but it finally has.

I think the album stands out or its production, which is often shat on by fans, but is actually extremely precise. Yes, it's kind of "big rock" sounding, but it's "big rock" done extremely well.

[Derek]