Perhaps the most popular band to be present on this site. The reason I chose to put them anyway is simply because I like them too much, not to mention that they influence alot of other bands (including a few one on this page). They also introduce me to the world of experimentation. If you don't know them yet, they're a bit like the gods of lo-fi music (also known as indie rock), and they're kinda the precursor of garage/grunge rock.
Expect extremely noisy guitars (uncommonly tune) creating weird chords and bizzard melodies. Also note a constant evolution between albums in terms of song structures, and the general sound of the band.
VERY, VERY difficult to understand and to lisent to the first time. Obscure, deranged and distorted, this is
THE album that describe the band's philosophy in music: as long as there's sound, (in this
case, noise), there's music. Confusion is next. samples: Less interesting than "confusion is sex" in terms of experiment, but this is still a fairly
good album. The song "Death Valley 69" made some noise in many student radio in the United State.
Less distortion, with more understandable melody, quiet, dark and strange. samples: Really good album! The only bad thing about this one is the song
bubblegum at the end: just stop the cd before it, and you have a masterpiece.
samples: One of their best album. Great melody and interesting sound textures.
Not much to say, the album speak for itself.
samples: Only album where you can hear Sonic Youth experiment with keyboards and other electronic
machines. A nice cover of Madona's "into the groove" and Robert palmer's
"Addicted to love". Also include is a rap version of "making the nature
scene", a song in "Confusion is sex". For fans only. samples: More energy than any previous release, this is the one to buy
if you've never been into Sonic Youth's sound-world. Great adrenaline songs
with a good dose of experimentation. samples:
Not every song is good on this one, but you'll notice that there's
about 4 tracks witch I think should be consider as classic Sonic Youth
songs ( Dirty Boots, Tunic, Kool Thing and Mote). samples:
My favorite recent Sonic Youth album. Highly experimental
for the fans, but also enough understandable for someone who don't know them.
samples:
Ironicly, this is the less experimental album of Sonic Youth. The
only thing I find experimental here is the name, but the rest is crap. Too
much like rock n'roll à la AC/DC with perfectly tune guitars doing
technicly perfect solos. These samples represent what I consider the best of
the album (but then again...). samples:
You'll notice on this album that Kim Gordon sing more often and that the band begins to be a
bit more quiet. I like the way they are changing, but not everybody are in agrement with that.
find out for yourself! samples:
Sonic Youth are really getting older. Less noisy, more mature, they are what you can call
band that is able to evolve by regenerating their sound and their style. Trading adrenaline for
improvisation and experimentation/decronstruction of song structure, they are giving their best
at producing new, original material. They have the experience and the talent to, even after 12
albums and so many side projects, never repete themselves. This is a excenlent album.
CONFUSION IS SEX (1983)
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BAD MOON RISING (1985)
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EVOL (1986)
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SISTER (1987)
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CICCONE YOUTH: THE WITHEY ALBUM (1988)
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DAYDREAM NATION (1988)
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GOO (1990)
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DIRTY (1992)
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EXPERIMENTAL JET SET, TRASH AND NO STAR (1994)
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WASHING MACHINE (1995)
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A THOUSANE LEAVE (1999)
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