The Whitey album with Mike Watt. Daydream Nation is the cut off for me when it comes to their records though.

Tough one.

Daydream Nation feels like the grandest "accomplishment." It was the first SY album I bought when it was brand new.

EVOL seems like a turning point of sorts and has the best atmosphere.

But for me, Confusion Is Sex and Kill Yr. Idols are the most eye-opening of the lot. There's an alien-sounding, violent edge to this era of the band that didn't exist earlier and became obscured later on. Even though "Kill Yr. Idols" and "Brother James" might be my favorite SY songs, I'm going to vote for Confusion Is Sex b/c it's longer and more varied. And Jim Sclavunos has better feel behind the drums than Bob Bert.

That said, I'd maybe vote for EVOL if you asked me tomorrow.

EVOL followed closely by DD.

Daydream Nation is a masterpiece.
A lot of my friends really got into SY with Goo, and I always found myself insisting on Daydream Nation being the better album.

I still have the poster folder in my copy of DN and I'm afraid it will disintegrate if I unfold it.

Everything from Sister on is mostly junk. The addition of Steve Shelley seems to have killed the strange and interesting parts of their music. EVOL is their high-water mark.

losthighway wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 3:47 pm The 3 album run of Daydream Nation, Goo and Dirty is perfection to me. Totally innovative, abstract, and expressive, but still immediate and focused.

Yup.

Sister.

Dirty is my fave though. Because hooks. And Andy Wallace's mix is entertaining, even though I generally prefer the less-shiny sound of their other records.

My ranking from best to worst of the 80s output. The top three are surprisingly close for me.

Daydream Nation (1988)
Sister (1987)
Bad Moon Rising (1985)
Sonic Youth (1982) (EP)
EVOL (1986)
Confusion Is Sex (1983)
Kill Yr Idols (1983) (EP)
Master=Dik (1987) (EP)
The Whitey Album (1989)

MoreSpaceEcho wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:51 am Sister.

Dirty is my fave though. Because hooks. And Andy Wallace's mix is entertaining, even though I generally prefer the less-shiny sound of their other records.

Ha- I was just tripping out on the mix the other night with headphones on as I wen't to sleep. It has been a favorite of mine for many years, but never listened that close until now. lots of cool panning and weaving of guitars.

Those dreamy 7-minute tracks on Daydream Nation means it absolutely laps the field for me