Tuesday 22 July 2008

Sonic Youth in the 90's - Part Two

Experimental Jet Set, Trash, and No Star was considered one of Sonic Youth's weaker efforts when it came out in 1994, and tends to get short shrift with critics even now. The band themselves admitted they'd released it as a rock album so they could compete live with the newer, heavier grunge acts that were around at the time. That said, it is a consistent piece of work, has aged very well, and deserves to be reconsidered as one of their better albums.
A deluxe re-issue is pending.
Sonic Youth - Androgynous Mind
Sonic Youth - Tokyo Eye

Dirty was Sonic Youth's 1992 UK breakthrough album. It made #6 in the album charts (compared with Goo's meagre #32), and was PACKED with singles. Definitely a step towards the mainstream, to my mind at least, this was their best 90's effort. Included here are the non-single highlights, the furious guitar attack of Drunken Butterfly*, and the majestic indie rock masterclass that is Wish Fulfilment. Check out the drumming on these tracks. Steve Shelley is a gifted drummer, and was at his peak here.
Sonic Youth - Drunken Butterfly
Sonic Youth - Wish Fulfilment

*(OK, Drunken Butterfly was a single in Germany. You get nothing for pedantry in this game, y'know)

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