[McDrago]

1. Daydream Nation
2. Sister
3. Bad Moon Rising
4. Washing Machine
5. A Thousand Leaves
As for Sonic Nurse being number one, I think the guitar textures on DDN and Sister are superior. However, SN does have some really excellent songs on it, but as an album it doesn't have that almost conceptual feel to it, which someone else pointed out on another thread.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by McDrago

As for Sonic Nurse being number one, I think the guitar textures on DDN and Sister are superior. However, SN does have some really excellent songs on it, but as an album it doesn't have that almost conceptual feel to it, which someone else pointed out on another thread.

Wait, what? I can feel you about the difference in guitar texture, if anything it seems that may have been the intent. Sonic Nurse feels more minimalist yet musical of all the Sonic Youth albums. As far as a conceptual album, I don't see where you can't see it. The band often described the concept of that album, which was an attempt to merge their two distinct styles, the more chaotic, noisy, feedback oriented "music" with the more structured, harmonic, musical chord-based tunes. Perhaps you weren't blessed to see some of the stageshows from that first Nurse tour, but they were epic. THAT was the concept, what vehicles that music could be for improvisation, and in that explorative process live on stage find that syncretic blend between improvised chaos and structured music. I think it worked, and that is why I have that album as my number one. What is fucking funny to me, is I thought even putting The Eternal on the list would cause the most controversy, not having Nurse as my favorite. By the way, Sonic Nurse isn't just my favorite Sonic Youth album, its in my top-five records of all time from ANY band

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by foreverasskiss

i have a lifelong love affair with Sister. The Eternal is just a mascara smeared whore i've kicked out the door.

Invite her back next time your drunk, trust me, she is more quality than it seems at first. I am surprised to put it in my top-5, but the other day I just honestly realized that is where it belongs. Its a bad ass fucking album. It has grooves, it has teeth, it has a sense of humor, it has noise, what else do we need? I also think that musically it is a fitting period mark to end the band, it sounds like an synthesis of a lot of different Sonic Youths.

[noisereductions]

thx to Rappard, I should have The Eternal Sonik Tooth box next week.

[noisereductions]

also, remember when I made this thread?

http://sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthr...hlight=eternal

[Mortte Jousimo]

I loved immediately the Eternal when it came. Same also RR. Anti-orgasm, Leaky Lifeboat, Antenna, Poison Arrow, Malibu Gas, No Way, Walkin Blue, Massage, Reena, Incinerate, Do you believe, Sleepin, What a Waste, Jams, Rats, Turquoise & Pink Steam are just so great! I could have put these albums or almost any other Sy album in the fifth of my list, because I hear only slight differences in their greatness.

[Severian]

I can dig it, SuchFriends. I personally don't have room in my top five for the Eternal, but I've grown to love it as an album, and get over my disappointment over the band's last album not being a modern DDN.

Eternal is great. They're all (ALL) great. But I personally can't place Eternal alongside mind-shattering, genre defining albums like Bad Moon Rising, Sister, DDN, ATL, Washing Machine, Evol, etc. and at the end of the day, it was the low point of their 00's output, if only because Murray street, Nurse, and Ripped were such incredibly strong records.

[noisereductions]

I never did get the hate for Rather Ripped. It's a solid record all the way thru. "Reena" is prob my favorite SY song of the decade.

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by noisereductions

I never did get the hate for Rather Ripped. It's a solid record all the way thru. "Reena" is prob my favorite SY song of the decade.

Me neither, I think it has some fantastic guitar parts on it. I think people just missed all the feedback? It's a great summer record.

I agree with SuchFriends, Sonic Nurse is my favorite SY record as well, but the next four tend to switch.

1)Sonic Nurse
2)Washing Machine
3)Sister
4)Rather Ripped
5)Daydream Nation

[Peterpuff]

My list, based on several factors. General introduction to SY, live experiences, memories, recording quality, overall aesthetic, etc...

1) Washing Machine
2) Sister
3) Dirty
4) Sonic Nurse
5) EJST&NS

[McDrago]

Wait, what? I can feel you about the difference in guitar texture, if anything it seems that may have been the intent. Sonic Nurse feels more minimalist yet musical of all the Sonic Youth albums. As far as a conceptual album, I don't see where you can't see it. The band often described the concept of that album, which was an attempt to merge their two distinct styles, the more chaotic, noisy, feedback oriented "music" with the more structured, harmonic, musical chord-based tunes. Perhaps you weren't blessed to see some of the stageshows from that first Nurse tour, but they were epic. THAT was the concept, what vehicles that music could be for improvisation, and in that explorative process live on stage find that syncretic blend between improvised chaos and structured music.

I'll just touch on each point in a few separated sentences. I'm not trying to diss Sonic Nurse in any way; some albums take a few listens to register with me. Maybe I haven't given it enough spins. From my initial listen, it didn't strike me as a concept driven album, rather it felt like a handful of good songs.

Unfortunately I have not seen any footage or anything of the sort from that era of touring.

Also, anyone who has a favorite Sonic Youth album should have that album at least in their top ten.

[Peterpuff]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

Perhaps you weren't blessed to see some of the stageshows from that first Nurse tour, but they were epic. THAT was the concept, what vehicles that music could be for improvisation, and in that explorative process live on stage find that syncretic blend between improvised chaos and structured music.

This comment really resonates with me, and is in large part why I worded mine the way I did. Seeing live material from both Washing Machine and Sonic Nurse before hearing the recorded versions, those albums will ALWAYS be near the top of my list. Memories of my SY life that I will always cherish and feel grateful for. There is something nice about having material blow your mind live before hearing the recorded tracks.

But to elaborate on that comment a little further, I do feel there are certain albums that seem to be more "live philosophies captured in recording" vs. "let's record some songs, then see how they translate live." Sonic Nurse is VERY much a varied representation of what SY do best live, imo, as opposed to the vice versa. That album, to me, just feels more a culmination of everything good about that era (the O'rourke era) of SY. While I love 1,000 Leaves, Ghosts and Flowers, and Murray St....(and I adored much of that material live as well)...they just seem a little more "record then perform" vs. Sonic Nurse's energetic feel of "captured live elements"...if that makes sense. At least it's my take on it. Meh, it's hard to explain, and I may be totally off based of the "concept" he is discussing...but it's truly the feelings I get.

And granted, that may also just be a biased view of the album on my part from seeing it live first. That is totally understood on my part.

But either way, just thought I would share this vid. One of my favs on Youtube. I think it exemplifies that "concept" quite well. Seeing the noise breakdown of Mote morphing into the steady vibe of New Hampshire...just fucking beautiful, imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi_1krnCvRE

[McDrago]

It wasn't my intention to strike a nerve with my comment. I was just saying that my first impression of Sonic Nurse didn't "vibe" with me as much as DDN, Sister, or Washing Machine. I enjoyed the songs on the record, but I didn't feel like each one was a next logical step, so to speak, from the last song. I might listen to it again, and it could resonate differently.

[Rob Instigator]

Karen Revisited has beautiful noiseeeeeee

[Genteel Death]

I've tried re-listening to Sonic Nurse again earlier. It's still the most boring Sonic Youth record with Rather Ripped.

[jennthebenn]

"Sleepin' Around" gives lie to the idea that SY were an entirely democratic racket-gang. "Rather Ripped" has some songs I go back to, and also has three songs that give my soul dysentery. It makes me appreciate "The Eternal" even more when I juxtapose the two albums.

[whorefrost]

Jus' fired dis bad boy up 4 the 1st time in what feels like a long damned time and I have 2 say it's sounding pretty fucking nice to these ears.

*nibbles on dem gently salted crisps*

[guest]

I would rather listen to the eternal or rather ripped a million times before dirty, not to mention goo. if you are to take out no way and what we know you're left with a really good, tight record. it's by no means a revolutionary record by any stretch of the imagination, but it's just hit after hit after hit of good pop songs. the production is a bit weird at times though, admittedly. the only sy record which is preferable on headphones.

[McDrago]

RR over Goo? That's the first time I think I've ever heard/read that. To each their own.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

I couldn't put Rather Ripped above Goo either BUT I can see the comparison, they both kind of signaled a new Sonic Youth era, and both I think are Sonic Youth's most "pop" or "accessible" records. I also agree with others, Rather Ripped was an epic summer record when it came out and the tour was shitloads of fun. Rather Ripped was probably the most "fun" sonic youth record..