Sonic Youth: Three Decades of Dissonance

This month marks the 30th anniversary of Sonic Youth's first EP in 1982. Though the band started out as part of the No Wave scene in downtown Manhattan, they evolved into one of the best and most innovative guitar bands of all time. Over the course of a catalog that includes 15 studio albums and a number of side projects, experimental EPs and soundtracks, the group has explored the possibilities of abrasive dissonance, pushed the limits of punk rock and created elaborate tapestries of overlapping melodies. Click through for a guided tour of their discography, with highlights from all of their major works over the past three decades.

By Matthew Perpetua