I always dug SY better as a rock band than as an art band (SISTER and DAYDREAM NATION are my faves), though their later arty stuff appeals to me more than their earliest stuff. Basically, I think they got really good when they got Steve Shelley on drums ... the earlier drummers didn't cut it.

garble wrote:I only like engine takes to the water through four great points.

I need some explanation here. Is it a joke? Are you inferring that June of 44 sounds like/ripped off SY? I'm confused.

Early shit. Specifically Confusion and Kill Yr Idols. Bad Moon seemed like kind of a step backward. Note that Confusion and Idols were both arty and extremely rocked-up. Bad Moon mostly didn't rock.

Also, Evol and Sister should not be in the same poppy rocky category as Daydream, Goo, and Dirty. They are way above it.

And the later shit: the category coming after Thousand Leaves should read:

whatever studio doodling they managed to take to the presses

A period without Kim's poetry/spoken word contribution would be nice, but since this permeates most of Sonic Youth's periods I'd have to say their Evol - Goo period is, in my opinion, their most consistent.

The only full-on records I like are Daydream Nation, Murray Street and the new one. Call me conflicted. -E

The can't fail trio:
EVOL
Sis'
Daydream

There are others that are great. Some...eh...not so good.
But these three do it for me in a big way. I consider this the peak output of a generally great band.

Nice work, Sonic (not so)Youth(ful).

-A

This is my favorite Sonic Youth record. It is their most unpolished, brutal and psychedelic release. I especially love the drumming.

Confusion and S/T are good runners-up. And some moments on Evol. Most other SY records have stuff that I really like, presented on a hugh tray of waffles. I never was a fan of Daydream Nation. Too clean, chichi.

These days, I find myself thouroughly uninterested in new SY stuff. Wasn't there a thread about the new record? I didn't read that.

Goddammit, SY, how I love your first records.

as i've probably said before, 'evol' and 'sister' are two of my favourite albums ever. i consider both of them to be flawless and i've never tired of either.

i also like 'daydream', 'confusion', 'bad moon rising' and 'dirty' i guess.
the rest all have their moments and i can't say i really hate any of them.

each era had its good, each era had its crap (or less than good, actually). but SY are generally consistently good on the whole.

also you forgot the SYR releases

I like SYR 1 and 3 myself

Now that it's confirmed that Rather Ripped rules, I'm leaning even more toward Experimental thru their latest works.

Just sayin'.