MattZ Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 At the risk of bringing the Wrath of Analogman (WOA) on me (dude, I searched for a thread on this, I SWEAR!), and in keeping with the many other "where do I start with [iNSERT BAND NAME]" threads floating around out there, I was hoping someone could point me in a good direction on Sonic Youth. Dont know anything by them, but I suppose that I keep hearing Daydream Nation is their best... Is that right? Where should a newbie start? Which albums was O'Rourke on? Etc. Gracias. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Which albums was O'Rourke on? Etc. Gracias. SYR3: Invito Al ĈieloMurray StreetSonic Nurse Daydream Nation is a great place to start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 My favourite album of theirs is Goo, so I'd say start there, but it depends if you're bothered about listening in chronological order or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 great - thanks guys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 you should also check out their DVD, Sonic Youth - Corporate Ghost: Videos, 1990-2002. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 They have a lot of good albums. I've always held "Sister" in high regard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bedbug Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Daydream Nation is good. It's considered "quintessential" by most sources, for what it's worth. Plus it's a double album, so you get your bucks worth. For some reason though, I'd probably put Goo slightly above it. It may not be the "avante punk no-wave masterpiece" that DN is, but pound for pound, it's got some of my favorite shit on it. Of the O'Rourke albums, I like Sonic Nurse the best. Rather Ripped, man all you can say is it's rather good! I'd start with Daydream Nation. Then buy Goo and Sister at the same time. Then Dirty and Evol, and work your way backwards and forwards simultaneously at increasing intervals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deepseacatfish Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I would start by getting Sonic Nurse and Daydream Nation. That will give you a good feel for their catalog. Daydream Nation is an essential album to have, but I'm also really partial to their recent albums (some people don't like them quite as much) I think Sonic Nurse and Murray Street are great, and Rather Ripped decent--though not as great as their other work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Haha, I guess I should have known that asking for suggestions would yield a ton of different opinions... Thanks to everyone for weighing in. I think I will pick up Daydream Nation given its quintessential status, and either Goo or Sonic Nurse (given my O'Rourke love). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bedbug Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Haha, I guess I should have known that asking for suggestions would yield a ton of different opinions... Thanks to everyone for weighing in. I think I will pick up Daydream Nation given its quintessential status, and either Goo or Sonic Nurse (given my O'Rourke love). Those three would be great to start with. Great band. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airtaco Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Those three would be great to start with. Great band. If it makes it any easier, I agree with those three as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 My humble advice: start with Daydream Nation and Goo. If you prefer DN, work your way chronologically backwards. If you prefer, Goo, work your way chronologically forward. For what it's worth, Dirty (the one right after Goo) is my favorite SY album, but I bet I'm in the minority! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Toxa Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 my favorite band! SYR3: Invito Al ĈieloMurray StreetSonic NurseDaydream Nation is a great place to start. full discography with Jim: 1997 SYR3: Invito Al Cielo1999 SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century2000 NYC Ghosts & Flowers2000 Lightnin' (Black Box Release)2002 Murray Street2002 Kali Yug Express2002 Terrastock 5: Sweet Emotion2002 Demonlover OST2002 In The Fishtank 92003 Buddy Series #12004 Sonic Nurse2004 Hidros 32006 SYR6: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 I'm pretty sure there's a thread this could have been posted in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiokills Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 basically go through their discography if you really want to get into them. thats what i did. Evol and Sister (pre-Daydream) are my 2 favorite SY albums. Daydream is a good place to start though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheelco Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 In addition to the classic Daydream Nation, the recent Sonic Nurse and last year's Rather Ripped (underrated), let me say that I love the 20 minute "The Diamond Sea" from Washing Machine . . . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TCP Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Murray Street, hands down! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiokills Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Murray Street, hands down! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Picador Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Murray Street, hands down! One of my favorite of all time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Picador Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Thurston's new record 'Trees Outside the Academy' is REALLY good. It might as well be Sonic Youth. 'Wonderful Witches' sounds like a great Sonic Youth tune. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiokills Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 im loving trees outside the academy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HighFives Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 A Thousand Leaves is my favourite. People seem to really like Murray Street but I think its their most overrated. Expirimental Jet Set is excellent. Same with Sister and Evol. Get Daydream too. Those to me are the best ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FourStrongWinds Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 ive only recently started getting into them i have sonic nurse and dirty both great but i like Sonic Nurse more, the guitar playings fantastic and perhaps a little more refined then usual, which in my opinion can be more effective though i might get shot down for saying that where should i go next?? think i might get washing machine after i heard 'The Diamond Sea', just stunning also..am i the only one who secretly wishes Kim didnt sing?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HighFives Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 ive only recently started getting into them i have sonic nurse and dirty both great but i like Sonic Nurse more, the guitar playings fantastic and perhaps a little more refined then usual, which in my opinion can be more effective though i might get shot down for saying that where should i go next?? think i might get washing machine after i heard 'The Diamond Sea', just stunning also..am i the only one who secretly wishes Kim didnt sing?? Eh she can bug sometimes but she has some alright moments. Washing Machine is a good one. I'd get that. Try A Thousand Leaves too that one is the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo Jones Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I would start with Sister and Daydream Nation. These were the two records where the band really honed their sound. They were able to incorporate the noisier elements of their earlier records into more structured songs. If you like those two, move forward to Goo and Dirty and buy everything else. EDIT: I would throw EVOL in with Sister and DN as well for the reasons stated above. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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