Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves.  

 Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves.  

 Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves.  

 Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves.  

 Many of their guitar tones sounded "wrong" to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves. 

 Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves.  

 Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves. The excellent 1985 single "Flower”/“Halloween” ... 

 Many of their guitar tones sounded “wrong” to rock ears on Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex, and Kill Yr Idols, but they were definitely on to something new, and by Bad Moon Rising the Youth had learned to emit some serious sonic shock waves. The excellent 1985 single "Flower”/“Halloween” ... 

 But Evol, their first album with new drummer Steve Shelley, took the band’s unique guitar textures and shaped them into compelling music. The macabre tones of the guitars really ring out in “Shadow of a Doubt,” “Secret Girls,” and “Star Power”; the violent guitar explosions of “Ex... 

 But Evol, their first album with new drummer Steve Shelley, took the band’s unique guitar textures and shaped them into compelling music. The macabre tones of the guitars really ring out in “Shadow of a Doubt,” “Secret Girls,” and “Star Power”; the violent guitar explosions of “Ex... 

 The next step turned out to be Sister, an album so good that the band’s previous glories sounded a little dim by comparison. “Schizophrenia” and “Tuff Gnarl” are corrosively lyrical guitar-noise reveries, while Steve Shelley brings forward motion to the rockers “Stereo Sanctity,” �... 

 The next step turned out to be Sister, an album so good that the band’s previous glories sounded a little dim by comparison. “Schizophrenia” and “Tuff Gnarl” are corrosively lyrical guitar-noise reveries, while Steve Shelley brings forward motion to the rockers “Stereo Sanctity,” �... 

 Sonic Youth has always strewn odds and ends about for their fans: places to experiment (Goodbye 20th Century), places to unload pure feedback (Silver Session), places to cover "Beat on the Brat" (Master-Dik). 

 Sonic Youth has always strewn odds and ends about for their fans: places to experiment (Goodbye 20th Century), places to unload pure feedback (Silver Session), places to cover "Beat on the Brat" (Master-Dik). 

 Daydream Nation was Sister’s double-album companion piece, and it was also the Youth’s triumph. Instead of continuing the succinct punch of Sister, the band try something new every track, stretching out for long multidimensional instrumental passages of headphone-friendly guitar exploration t... 

 Daydream Nation was Sister’s double-album companion piece, and it was also the Youth’s triumph. Instead of continuing the succinct punch of Sister, the band try something new every track, stretching out for long multidimensional instrumental passages of headphone-friendly guitar exploration t... 

 The initial Geffen albums had their moments: “Kool Thing” and “Dirty Boots” on Goo, “Purr” on Dirty, “Bull in the Heather” on Experimental Jet Set. But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1... 

 The initial Geffen albums had their moments: “Kool Thing” and “Dirty Boots” on Goo, “Purr” on Dirty, “Bull in the Heather” on Experimental Jet Set. But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1... 

 The initial Geffen albums had their moments: “Kool Thing” and “Dirty Boots” on Goo, “Purr” on Dirty, “Bull in the Heather” on Experimental Jet Set. But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1... 

 The initial Geffen albums had their moments: “Kool Thing” and “Dirty Boots” on Goo, “Purr” on Dirty, “Bull in the Heather” on Experimental Jet Set. But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1... 

 The initial Geffen albums had their moments: "Kool Thing" and "Dirty Boots" on Goo, "Purr" on Dirty, "Bull in the Heather" on Experimental Jet Set. But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1995's Washi... 

 The initial Geffen albums had their moments: "Kool Thing" and "Dirty Boots" on Goo, "Purr" on Dirty, "Bull in the Heather" on Experimental Jet Set. But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1995's Was... 

 But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1995’s Washing Machine. Alongside some truly sad attempts at tunecraft (“No Queen Blues,” “Junkie's Promise") there were amazing jams on the title track... 

 But for better or worse, Sonic Youth are a groove band, not a song band, so it was a relief when they began stretching out again on 1995’s Washing Machine. Alongside some truly sad attempts at tunecraft (“No Queen Blues,” “Junkie's Promise") there were amazing jams on the title track... 

 Screaming Fields of Sonic Love is an Eighties best-of that does a patch-up job on the early, sketchier records.  

 Screaming Fields of Sonic Love is an Eighties best-of that does a patch-up job on the early, sketchier records.  

 Sonic Youth has always strewn odds and ends about for their fans: places to experiment (Goodbye 20th Century), places to unload pure feedback (Silver Session), places to cover “Beat on the Brat” (Master-Dik). Goodbye covers avant-garde compositions by the likes of John Cage and Christian Wolff.  

 Sonic Youth has always strewn odds and ends about for their fans: places to experiment (Goodbye 20th Century), places to unload pure feedback (Silver Session), places to cover “Beat on the Brat” (Master-Dik). Goodbye covers avant-garde compositions by the likes of John Cage and Christian Wolff.  

 Sonic Youth has always strewn odds and ends about for their fans: places to experiment (Goodbye 20th Century), places to unload pure feedback (Silver Session), places to cover “Beat on the Brat” (Master-Dik).  

 Sonic Youth has always strewn odds and ends about for their fans: places to experiment (Goodbye 20th Century), places to unload pure feedback (Silver Session), places to cover “Beat on the Brat” (Master-Dik).  

 A Thousand Leaves took this approach further–it was utterly ignored on its release, but it was their spaciest and best since Daydream Nation. Program it 2-4-5-7-8-10 for a six-song, 46-minute-groove album as intense as Sister, topped by the Ranaldo ballads "Hoarfrost" and "Karen Koltrane."  

 A Thousand Leaves took this approach further–it was utterly ignored on its release, but it was their spaciest and best since Daydream Nation. Program it 2-4-5-7-8-10 for a six-song, 46-minute-groove album as intense as Sister, topped by the Ranaldo ballads "Hoarfrost" and "Karen Koltrane."  

 NYC Ghosts and Flowers was a mainly instrumental throwaway, bringing in Jim O’Rourke as a full-fledged fifth member.  

 NYC Ghosts and Flowers was a mainly instrumental throwaway, bringing in Jim O’Rourke as a full-fledged fifth member.  

 Murray Street and Sonic Nurse were up there with A Thousand Leaves, with long, engrossing drones like “Rain on Tin,” “Sympathy for the Strawberry,” "Stones," and "Dripping Dream" summing up the music Sonic Youth could keep making for 20 more years.  

 Murray Street and Sonic Nurse were up there with A Thousand Leaves, with long, engrossing drones like “Rain on Tin,” “Sympathy for the Strawberry,” "Stones," and "Dripping Dream" summing up the music Sonic Youth could keep making for 20 more years.  

 Murray Street and Sonic Nurse were up there with A Thousand Leaves, with long, engrossing drones like “Rain on Tin,” “Sympathy for the Strawberry,” "Stones," and "Dripping Dream" summing up the music Sonic Youth could keep making for 20 more years.  

 Murray Street and Sonic Nurse were up there with A Thousand Leaves, with long, engrossing drones like “Rain on Tin,” “Sympathy for the Strawberry,” "Stones," and "Dripping Dream" summing up the music Sonic Youth could keep making for 20 more years.  

 Minus O’Rourke, and eventually adding Pavement’s Mark Ibold on bass, the band went for brazenly emotional punk rock songs on Rather Ripped, with Moore’s “Incinerate,” Gordon’s “Jams Run Free,” and the Ranaldo guitar showcase “Pink Steam,” while The Eternal peaks with the maste... 

 Minus O’Rourke, and eventually adding Pavement’s Mark Ibold on bass, the band went for brazenly emotional punk rock songs on Rather Ripped, with Moore’s “Incinerate,” Gordon’s “Jams Run Free,” and the Ranaldo guitar showcase “Pink Steam,” while The Eternal peaks with the maste... 

 The celebrity-curated compilation Hits Are For Squares is a solid collection, although newbies should start with Daydream Nation.  

 The celebrity-curated compilation Hits Are For Squares is a solid collection, although newbies should start with Daydream Nation.  

 Minus O’Rourke, and eventually adding Pavement’s Mark Ibold on bass, the band went for brazenly emotional punk rock songs on Rather Ripped, with Moore’s “Incinerate,” Gordon’s “Jams Run Free,” and the Ranaldo guitar showcase “Pink Steam,” while The Eternal peaks with the maste... 

 Minus O’Rourke, and eventually adding Pavement’s Mark Ibold on bass, the band went for brazenly emotional punk rock songs on Rather Ripped, with Moore’s “Incinerate,” Gordon’s “Jams Run Free,” and the Ranaldo guitar showcase “Pink Steam,” while The Eternal peaks with the maste...