Sonic Youth's noise stuff...SYR...

[LVC_Jeff]

So, I'm a little behind the times, but I was recently introduced to Sonic Youth's SYR-series of albums. Well, 1-4 anyway. I've listened through the first two now, and, dare I say, it's actually something I can listen to. Don't get me wrong, I'm usually one of those people that is the first to turn off "noise" music and dismiss it as pretentious, self-indulgent junk. Maybe it's the fact that this stuff has tonal stuff interspersed in it?

Anyone else heard these and/or fans of them?

[JGriffin]

I like the Silver Sessions (for Jason Knuth) CD a bit.

[fossiltooth]

The first SYR is pretty good. That's the red one, right? I used to go to sleep to it every night for a few months when I was a teenagers... and then I would wake up having nightmares about giant metallic ballons. What was that, the 4th track?

I kind of lost interest after the 2nd or 3rd one and didn't really keep track.

I don't know about the Silver Sessions though. I never owned it, but I heard it a couple of times, and it kinda just sounded like noise to me. Kinda like the album "TV Shit".... Total garbage. I can't believe they got my ten dollars for that one. It's possibly worse than NYC Ghosts and Flowers.

On the slightly obscure Sonic Youth tip, did you ever check out the soundtrack to "Made In USA"? Pretty Gnarly. A good listen! Not great, like say, the "The Whitey Album", but pretty damn good.

Damn, it's been a long time since I listened to any Sonic Youth.

[Tragabigzanda]

I'm on a DEEP Sonic Youth kick right now; I can't stop...

NYC Ghosts & Flowers has its moments. "Nevermind" is a GREAT song, and "Free City Rhymes" is pretty good. That's a funny album, 'coz it was basically their reaction to all their gear getting stolen. But I think most of it would have worked better as a "SY" release...

"Sister" and "A Thousand Leaves" have been getting tons of play; Lee Renaldo's got a great "everyman" sort of voice. "Pipeline/Killtime" from Sister is just amazing, and his two songs on "A Thousand Leaves" are great, too...

I love the dynamics they've been incorporating, starting with "Washing Machine." Steve Shelley is one of my most favorite drummers, and on the last few records, he really pulls his punches; he doesn't hit too hard until it's time, and for the most part plays real gentle...

And "Pattern Recognition" from "Sonic Nurse" is one of the most mind-blowing songs I've ever heard; it's set a new bar for what I'd love to achieve with a rock tune...
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