Trompe is ok. It does have their best song on it. Distance = rate x time (Worst song name ever).. if anyone's interested in my awesome taste..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrGI_T3yE1E

I was aware of the fact that RR is not very popular on this board, but what's up with the Sonic Nurse hate?

Whaaaaaaaaaa?????

First off, you're fucking MAD, friend. Nurse seems to be viewed by many as the "best of ALL worlds" SY album... The one that connected the dots between Bad Moon's scorching post-hardcore, art-punk acid haze, the tense dynamics of the "trilogy" (Evol/Sis/DN), the pop-culture trash act of Ciccone Youth, Goo, Dirty, and the textured layers of controlled sonic chaos that the band achieved in their last decade together.

Nurse is a perfectly acceptable "favorite" Sonic Youth album for anyone who got into the band at any time.


Now, as for Rather Ripped... I know most of us probably jumped on board sometime between Dirty and ATL. A few of us got on the train during the late '80s; fewer still, I imagine, remember the anticipation and nervousness that preceded the release of Bad Moon Rising, their weird ass favorite band's first LP.

It stands to reason, then, that SOME folks who love SY as much as the rest of us, were only first exposed to the band back in 2006. They probably love Sonic Youth every bit as much as the rest of us do. Rather Ripped was a scary album, if you recall: it was pop! It was, like, Dirty/EJST&NS v2.0. Only I think it actually worked better as a true pop record than those albums did. I LOVE Rather Ripped, and I'm a child of the Jet Set/Washing Machine era.

I suppose I can understand how some fans might just not like or care about Ripped, but I'm still stumped about the Nurse comment. If I had to guess, I'd say a poll of all users would rank it in the top 3 albums of the band's career.

WeirdoS :p

Never listened to Trompe Le Monde. Bossanova sucked so bad I didn't bother with TLM. Maybe I'll check it out sometime. Or maybe not.

Nurse is SY doing an approximation of themselves but with overly fussy and ornate production.

Nurse is my least favorite SY album. but Ripped is pop goodness. nothing more or less. it tis what it tis.

Ok, I respect your opinion even though I'm disagreeing explosively from my asshhole and esophagus...

But I've got to ask: why do you feel this is the case with Nurse, but presumably not with Murray Street or Nycg&f? I personally think Nurse is weaker than MS, if only because "Dude Ranch Nurse" should have been a b-side, and Murray Street's best moments are *all* on the shortlist of the band's best moments ever.... But why pick on Nurse's production alone when it has so much in common with these other releases?

It's not like they got all precious and corny with their production. Unmade Bed and Dripping Dream contain some of Sonic Youth's most tender guitar tones, but there's feedback swirling in the background, and there's the build up and release of tension...

if you took all the best songs off of Murray Street and Nurse, it would make a fine album. same goes for Ripped and the Eternal.

or for those super fans....two great double albums.:)

there. you :) now?!?!

non doubt in my mind. Thousand Leaves is best Sonic album of the 90's.

thought this at the time. has the most raunchy and pretty songs on any SY album. it's beauty and awkward to the non-believer.

Snare Girl is my fav.

I have a mental love affair with "Sunday"

wait!!! then there's NYC ghost and flowers. which is just as good


Washing Machine has shit boring production.

TL is like winter time in the middle of summer. forgot how psych it is.

middle of Koltrane!!!!

I hate NYCG&F's production actually (extremely cold and dehumanised - and I think SY recognized it in interviews).

EDIT: I should add that most songs of the album sound way better live.

NYCG&F may or may not have bad production but it's got some great songs and sounds like a band pushing their imagination. Sonic Nurse, on the other hand, sounds like they were pushing some of their fans' imagination. To me that's the difference and the end of Sonic Youth. I still love The Eternal overall but not in the same way I loved this band before Sonic Nurse.

I totally agree. I consider it one of their most perfect moments as a band. I never know how to order my Sonic Youth albums, but I always know that ATL is very close to the top at all times.

I have a really weird connection with "Female Mechanic now on Duty," "Karen Koltrane." "Hoarfrost" and "Heather Angel." The record spins me through a rabbit hole of emotions, while keeping me safely rooted to the warm sound of my favorite band jamming it out. The vibe stays positive, but hints at the existence of an underlying horror that is just out of focus.

Hoarfrost gives me the chills, despite being sung by the safest and most trusted of voices. "Heather Angel" feels like it should fill me with anxiety but it doesn't.
In fact it puts me in a very "punk rock" place, like Wire's "Mannequin" or something from Unknown Pleasures. I really would need a term paper or dissertation to fully describe my feelings about ATL.

ATL is def best of the 90s

do not get the nurse hate.

can easily imagine nurse as my fav of all sy albums.

nurse is def best of the 00s - better than murray and eternal. nurse would be in my top 5

if someone said ATL was the best sy album i couldnt disagree - all the 80s stuff is so different that its hard to compare with anything else.

EJSTNS has some weak stuff but also has the best thurston song of all (andro mind)

NYCG&F's is one of Sonic Youth's best. I refuse to let anyone tell me otherwise. it's perfect if you listen to the vinyl track order. besides that part where Thurston say's "blue jean fucking". I kinda wince during that.

Washing Machine is the one that sounds better live. the only time I've heard any NYCGhosts songs live was when I was a witness.

really happy that my thread turned into the board's millionth 'which sonic youth album is best?' discussion :P

it's evol by the way. tsssch.

didn't mean to sound so snarky in that post - i genuinely am happy.

also pleased that other people rate trompe le monde cause everyone i know irl thinks it's a load of shite