Washing Machine (studio album) by Sonic Youth

The best '90's Sonic Youth album, and the first one I ever bought. I saw the Diamond Sea video on MTV, and at the time, I convinced myself it was the best song I had ever heard and bought the album.

Highlights: Becuz, Washing Machine, Little Trouble Girl, No Queen Blues, Panty Lies, The Diamond Sea

From teague 07/14/2020 01:04

Sonic Youth's ninth outing is a return to their roots, if they ever even had any definitive lineage. It's amazing to me how each respective band member can wander off into a separate sonic scape, yet the song will never fall apart until and unless they intend it to. This album will take you on 11 (10 if you include track 9 as a coda to track 1) aural journeys, each somewhat different than the last. Washing Machine is a must for noise rock and 90s music in general.

Excellent.

I used to think that this album was overrated in terms of Sonic Youth’s best, but it’s slowly climbed the ladder and I now understand why they call it one of their best. If you look at my ranking of their albums, I currently have this album ranked as their 4th best album (out of 4) that have perfect scores. I used to have this as a 90, but what I once thought was filler in songs like “Little Trouble Girl”, and “Panty Lies” I now have much more appreciation for; After Sonic Youth slowly burnt out in New York with “Experimental Jet Set, Trash, and No Star”, they retreated to Memphis, and it gave them a new, more relaxed sense in playing and writing, and they benefited from it. Thurston and Lee’s playing grew from restrained noise to chaotic, loud, compositions accompanied with almost robotic, defined riffs. Kim switched her perspective as a songwriter from protesting feminist to a more passive, “girly” tone, without her songs losing too much depth or character. Thurston on the other hand wrote a song for Kurt Cobain, “Junkie’s Promise”, an ode to his family and love, “The Diamond Sea”, and two others that I still have a hard time trying to figure out what to make of them. Lee wrote Saucer-Like, a psychedelic indie tribute to Kurt Cobain, and Skip Tracer, a commentator’s perspective of a Mecca Normal show he went to with his wife (who contributed to the lyrics!).

In short, this album will be remembered as one of their best for its artistic and musical significance, and Sonic Youth’s last great triumph.

Favorite Tracks: Saucer-Like, Washing Machine, Skip Tracer, The Diamond Sea

A new era for SY. After the grunge Dirty, they turned into post rock, and made this beautiful record. The Diamond Sea is one of the best (and longest) SY song ever.

From GandalfORiley345 04/27/2015 21:59

Youth is never up to dissapoint me, even when I'm not in the mood for listening to them, they still one of the most epic music makers that have ever existed, and this albums prooves such a great part of that. "Machine" is a worth-buying album that delivers, as always, all the guitar riffs and creativity they can give, from the first song to the last, all of it the complete song, which is something every artist should have, but only a few can, and between them, is Youth, and between Youth, is "Machine"
9.2/10

best song: The Diamond Sea
worst song: No Queen Blues

Very good album!
Standout Tracks: Unwind, Little Trouble Girl, Skip Tracer, The Diamond Sea

8.0
A-

From suedehead 09/22/2014 19:23

my favourite 'sonic youth' album, problably as it is more repetitive melodic, kind of post-rock

last great album. IMO

From C_Krug2009 02/04/2012 23:51

This is a classic 90s album, it has your slow songs, to your creative to your fast paced angry to your experimental improv. song. This is my favorite 90s album other than my favorite of all time (Red Hot Chili Peppers' Californication) but this is represents the decade much better, this is beautiful. So much variety!