Don't see the problem with Kool thing or Dirty boots; Yeah, is like a more standard indie rock, and not as good as "hey Joni" for example, but both have hooks galore.

Mote, as Don Bernardo said, is one of their best. I think is Ranaldo's. A lot of my fave songs are his.

I'm happy to put on any of these except Rather Ripped, and that's only because I don't own a copy. I love all the obvious stuff to love here. Mote is an amazing song. Dirty Boots, Kool Thing, whatever else, meh. They are okay. Not favorites though.

I recall really getting hooked on Washing Machine. I probably prefer Goo to Dirty, but I remember listening to them together a lot, so it's blurry. (Do other people do that? Listen to albums in groups, likely if they were purchased together or something?)

I am probably the only guy who likes NYC Ghosts & Flowers, but I do. Eat that cheese, folks! I like it. (I also like some of the few SRY albums I could find back when.) I got it when I got 1,000 Leaves. I enjoyed the contrast when listening back to back. Got Murry Street around then too. I'm rather fond of it.

I missed getting the final three albums until way, way late. There's a very good Nurse era show at Chapel Hill I somehow missed seeing at the time (long story, still kinda pissed about that one). I like these last albums from what I recall, but I just got my own copy of Sonic Nurse very recently and The Eternal just a bit prior. Going to spin Sonic Nurse on an upcoming road trip. I might also be the only person who really likes The Eternal. I really, really like the final track. I think it makes a great coda.

VaticanShotglass wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 12:54 am I am probably the only guy who likes NYC Ghosts & Flowers, but I do. Eat that cheese, folks! I like it.

Far from their best but as long as your SY cutoff point isn't 1988 it's got its moments. That 0.0 Pitchfork review was childish BS.

Hard for me to choose as almost every album on this list has songs that I LOVE (Wish Fulfillment, Rena, Sweet Shine, Little Trouble Girl, Sugar Kane...on and on) and some clunkers (Sleepin' Around, Self Obsessed and Sexxee). I don't think any of them constitute a perfect album, or even a super solid front-to-back great album. I think I would go with Experimental Jet Set though. The good is so great and the 'meh' go by quickly. Kim's contributions are particularly awesome; Skink, Bone, Quest for the Cup.

I agree fully with everyone defending Dirty Boots. It rocks. It's snaky and slinky and takes you somewhere. The Disappearer 12" EP fucking rules, those 8 track 'demo' versions of Dirty Boots and Disappearer are probably my 2 fav SY songs ever. So strong. Noisy, but restrained and melodic, so weird yet so accessible.

Incidentally, “Tom Wanderer” is one of my favorite 90s/00s Sonic Youth tracks that references an 80s Sonic Youth track.

Probably Goo, with Murray Street running a close second. OK, Kool Thing and My Friend Goo may not have dated well, but I can't understand how anyone could perceive Dirty Boots as anything but the mighty gargantuan bleeding slab of rock and roll that it is. Someone out there doesn't like Dirty Boots? Really? Hmm. Well, that's weird. Takes all kinds I suppose.

Experimental Jet Set turned me off of SY so hard I ignored Washing Machine and A Thousand Leaves (still think they're pretty boring although The Diamond Sea is nice). The addition of Jim O'Rourke gave the band a kick in the ass: NYC Ghosts & Flowers hearkened back to the spoken word stuff on Bad Moon Rising, and the magnificent Murray Street fully turned it around. The rest of their albums are all unique and great.

I kind of assumed there would always be a Sonic Youth, that they would keep on playing until they fell over, but they probably cut it off at the right point.

Wood Goblin wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:18 am Incidentally, “Tom Wanderer” is one of my favorite 90s/00s Sonic Youth tracks that references an 80s Sonic Youth track.

I wish I knew what this meant!

Tom Wanderer wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 12:30 pm

Wood Goblin wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:18 am Incidentally, “Tom Wanderer” is one of my favorite 90s/00s Sonic Youth tracks that references an 80s Sonic Youth track.

I wish I knew what this meant!

It’s a very SY-ish name, and it reminds me of “Tom Violence” from Evol.

Ah! It's the name I was born with! Tom Violence is a killer song.

I'm sure I posted this on the old forum, but I got to interview Thurston on my radio show in August of 2019. He was super cool and extremely generous with his time. I wasn't sure how to feel about him after the split, but he couldn't have been a nicer guy.

I'll tell ya what I don't like
nurse/ripped/eternal