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I've mostly fell out of listening to Sonic Youth, but it was the first band to ever open my eyes to the idea of 'weird' music. I think a lot of who I am today b

I've mostly fell out of listening to Sonic Youth, but it was the first band to ever open my eyes to the idea of 'weird' music. I think a lot of who I am today began with that first experience, when I first listened to Evol. While I don't listen to them much anymore, I still put on Washing Machine from time to time. I'd argue that is their best work.

_rpxpx 3y ago
Agreed. I bought Washing Machine on the day it was released, during my secondary school lunch break. I remember the NME review claiming The Diamond Sea as the best thing SY had ever done. I agreed with that when I got it home, and still do. It was the pinnacle of their work really, which went rapidly downhill afterwards. Pitchfork's 0.0 rating of NYC Ghosts & Flowers was sadly wholly appropriate. But the records Evol-->Washing Machine altered my life completely, and turned me on to the idea of weird/experimental/avant-garde music, and art.
- nuxi 3y ago
  They had most of their (unique) equipment stolen a year before NYC Ghosts & Flowers was released[0], so they used whatever they had in their studio and put out an experimental album. Not my favourite record (Washing Machine and Daydream Nation for me), but I don't think it's that bad. Their later releases were also pretty good and the "really experimental" SYR stuff is quite interesting as well IMO. [0] - http://www.sonicyouth.com/history/equipment/stolen.html http://www.sonicyouth.com/history/equipment/stolen.html
- microtonal 3y ago
  > It was the pinnacle of their work really, which went rapidly downhill afterwards. Pitchfork's 0.0 rating of NYC Ghosts & Flowers was sadly wholly appropriate. I think that was pretty much the only dud (together with Jet Set), Murray Street and the albums after that are quite ok.
microtonal 3y ago
Sonic Youth was a large part of my high school sound track. I had some class mates who were also into indie music, I lent my copy of Washing Machine to one of them, when she returned it to me she looked at me as if I was insane (or at least my taste in music). Evol/Sister/Daydream Nation were my favorites though.
- rufus_foreman 3y ago
  >> Evol/Sister/Daydream Nation were my favorites though Same here but I would add in Bad Moon Rising which is certainly appropriate for this time of year.
  - art-not 3y ago
    Their self titled similarly has some great 'spooky' tracks. I think I dream I dream fits well along tracks like 'brave men run'

_rpxpx 3y ago

Agreed. I bought Washing Machine on the day it was released, during my secondary school lunch break. I remember the NME review claiming The Diamond Sea as the best thing SY had ever done. I agreed with that when I got it home, and still do. It was the pinnacle of their work really, which went rapidly downhill afterwards. Pitchfork's 0.0 rating of NYC Ghosts & Flowers was sadly wholly appropriate. But the records Evol-->Washing Machine altered my life completely, and turned me on to the idea of weird/experimental/avant-garde music, and art.

nuxi 3y ago
They had most of their (unique) equipment stolen a year before NYC Ghosts & Flowers was released[0], so they used whatever they had in their studio and put out an experimental album. Not my favourite record (Washing Machine and Daydream Nation for me), but I don't think it's that bad. Their later releases were also pretty good and the "really experimental" SYR stuff is quite interesting as well IMO. [0] - http://www.sonicyouth.com/history/equipment/stolen.html http://www.sonicyouth.com/history/equipment/stolen.html
microtonal 3y ago
> It was the pinnacle of their work really, which went rapidly downhill afterwards. Pitchfork's 0.0 rating of NYC Ghosts & Flowers was sadly wholly appropriate. I think that was pretty much the only dud (together with Jet Set), Murray Street and the albums after that are quite ok.

microtonal 3y ago

Sonic Youth was a large part of my high school sound track. I had some class mates who were also into indie music, I lent my copy of Washing Machine to one of them, when she returned it to me she looked at me as if I was insane (or at least my taste in music). Evol/Sister/Daydream Nation were my favorites though.

rufus_foreman 3y ago
>> Evol/Sister/Daydream Nation were my favorites though Same here but I would add in Bad Moon Rising which is certainly appropriate for this time of year.
- art-not 3y ago
  Their self titled similarly has some great 'spooky' tracks. I think I dream I dream fits well along tracks like 'brave men run'