best sonic youth album?

plastic•husband · 04-26-2004, 03:57 PM

i was listening to EVOL last night and forgot what an amazing album it is... it gives me a feeling i don't get from any other SY album- or any album for that matter- the feeling that anything's possible! wouldn't you all agree? so um, i made a poll: cast your vote........................................

(I only included the basic albums- no side projects, soundtracks, eps...)

Jim · 04-26-2004, 04:31 PM

i've always thought EVOL was kind of skimpy... there's a few great songs and some mediocre. "Starpower", "Shadow of a Doubt", "Green Light", "Bubblegum" are great, but "Secret Girl", "Marilyn Moore", "Death to Our Friends" and the car crash song (??) have never really done it for me.

i went with Daydream Nation, i think it's the most consistently good batch of songs. Dirty and Sister are close seconds. A Thousand Leaves and Murray Street are excellent too.

**Brian** · 04-26-2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2StepDiamondJim

i've always thought EVOL was kind of skimpy... there's a few great songs and some mediocre. "Starpower", "Shadow of a Doubt", "Green Light", "Bubblegum" are great, but "Secret Girl", "Marilyn Moore", "Death to Our Friends" and the car crash song (??) have never really done it for me.

i went with Daydream Nation, i think it's the most consistently good batch of songs. Dirty and Sister are close seconds. A Thousand Leaves and Murray Street are excellent too.

i'm with you right up until Murray Street being an excellent album.

paintedbird · 04-26-2004, 05:54 PM

I had to go with Dirty, it's a classic, every damn song.

Close runner's up are Daydream Nation (though I feel there is some filler on the album), Sister (my first SOnic Youth album, still the one I listen to most other than Dirty), Evol (2Step, you forgot the brilliant Tom Violence!), Goo (also classic) and Washing Machine (too many great tracks to name).

The album I never really got into was Experimental..., it's the favorite amongst my friends, but I'm not too keen on it, with the exception of a few stand-out tracks. I wasn't too crazy about Murray Street, but I didn't really give it too many listens, same with Confusion is Sex (except Shake off Your Flesh) and Thousand Leaves (except SAunday and Heather Angel), though I saw the Thousand Leaves tour on shrooms and had one of the best trips of my life.

Stargazer · 04-26-2004, 10:53 PM

I voted "Washing Machine."

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bjek · 04-27-2004, 03:38 AM

I love Murray Street. Daydream Nation and Washing Machine are close seconds.

plastic•husband · 04-27-2004, 02:23 PM

Washing Machine was my extremely close second.......
It's so good! Becuz, Washing Machine, Unwind, Little Trouble Girl, No Queen Blues, Panty Lies, The Diamond Sea......................................... great album art too

Jim · 05-13-2004, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

i'm with you right up until Murray Street being an excellent album.

hehe. i think they should've called it the Murray Street EP... (who the hell releases an album of 7 songs nowadays anyway?!).. and my opinion of it may just be based on the first 3 tracks, which all easily rank in my SY top 20, and Sympathy for the Strawberry.
Radical Adults and Karen Revisted are just ok.
Plastic Sun is cool and funny but sounds so out of place here. one reason the album could've used more tracks.

Goo >>
i like it, and i even like Dirty Boots, Kool Thing, and My Friend Goo, but they just sound so... ordinary. same with 100%. they're all great songs, but i don't think they have enough SY quirkiness.

Jim · 05-13-2004, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintedbird

The album I never really got into was Experimental..., it's the favorite amongst my friends, but I'm not too keen on it, with the exception of a few stand-out tracks.

i'll never understand how that can be someone's favorite.....
IMO, Kim's songs carry the album -- Sweet Shine, Doctors Orders, Bull.., Skink, Quest... -- all easily in my top 20 Kim tracks.
it's usually Thurston's that do that, but he's got a lot of underdeveloped/filler-type songs on here -- Tokyo Eye, In the Mind..., Androgynous Mind.
but overall there's just a feeling that something's missing.

andromedaburn · 05-13-2004, 03:24 PM

I'm not a huge SY fan, but I really enjoyed Goo. Especially Dirty Boots and Mildred Pierce.

plastic•husband · 05-14-2004, 01:16 AM

I think Experimental... is one of their better albums. "Screaming Skull" is one of Thurston's best! Not to mention "Winner's Blues", "Self-Obsessed and Sexxee", "Waist"... he does have some very good songs here. I think there was just too much filler. maybe only ten tracks or so were keepers, if that.

PS- no one's voted for Sister!

andromedaburn · 05-17-2004, 11:31 PM

Yes, and I absolutley love Bull in the heather.

paintedbird · 05-18-2004, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastic•husband

PS- no one's voted for Sister!

to be fair, I do think it was a close secong for many of us. At least for myself. It was my second Sonic Youth album ever, and Schzophrenia has since been on just about every goddamn compilation I've ever made! Not to mention Beauty Lies In The Eye.

PurpleMonkey · 08-24-2004, 04:53 PM

there is not a bad Sonic Youth album!

kahlil · 08-24-2004, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2StepDiamondJim

i'll never understand how that can be someone's favorite.....
IMO, Kim's songs carry the album -- Sweet Shine, Doctors Orders, Bull.., Skink, Quest... -- all easily in my top 20 Kim tracks.
it's usually Thurston's that do that, but he's got a lot of underdeveloped/filler-type songs on here -- Tokyo Eye, In the Mind..., Androgynous Mind.
but overall there's just a feeling that something's missing.

Yeah, Lee!!!! None of his songs, which is one reason the more recent albums feel incomplete. His are usually my favorites.

Washing Machine was my vote. It was my introduction to SY. I heard Diamond Sea late one night on a college station and then moved onward to everything else. Daydream Nation, Dirty, and Goo come in close after.