Roughly Ranking Sonic Youth's Discography
by 
DeusExMackia 
Delving into Sonic Youth is like dropping acid with your dog. F*ck knows where you're going to end up afterwards and which animal welfare group you're going to offend.
Point is, they are without question one of the most fascinating, huge and ever-amazing bands we've yet been graced with. Their back catalogue is an expanse, and like all great back catalogues, has a distinctive stamp of Sonic Youth'ness across all of the variations and variety its filled with.
This is merely a rough guide from what I've found on my journey so far. And forgive the melodramatic language, being a Sonic Youth fan is a journey. It's hard at points, and at others you wonder what the hell they're doing. But, if catch the hook, the allure that they offer, you'll be left insatiable until you're practically breathing flannel shirts and think Kim Gordon's voice is religious in nature. I'll defend this band til death, frankly; they're one of my absolute all time favourites.
- Chart updated: 05/10/2019 16:15
- (Created: 04/23/2019 21:13).
- Chart size: 7 albums.
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In a sentence: "Let's fantasize about overthrowing Reagan's neoliberal agenda and then do nothing about it because it's all just fucking pointless anyway and the only that matters are the people around you"
The obvious choice for sure, but it's impossible to deny what a landmark record this is and how potent it's brilliance is. Daydream Nation is like gospel. It all just makes sense after a while. And it is a daydream of a record; the idea, the door it opens to the world of those who wrote it and what aspect of late 80s America they were trying to capture will never get old for me. The loneliness, the hope in that loneliness and the sense of belonging among those left behind by political tribalism and upheaval, man, I see myself right there. This record is timeless.
The obvious choice for sure, but it's impossible to deny what a landmark record this is and how potent it's brilliance is. Daydream Nation is like gospel. It all just makes sense after a while. And it is a daydream of a record; the idea, the door it opens to the world of those who wrote it and what aspect of late 80s America they were trying to capture will never get old for me. The loneliness, the hope in that loneliness and the sense of belonging among those left behind by political tribalism and upheaval, man, I see myself right there. This record is timeless.
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,613
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
2.
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In a sentence: "IT'S NOT A PHASE MOM, SONIC YOUTH WEAR FLANNEL SHIRTS AND I WANT TO AS WELL" [screams for 36 seconds precisely]
Pipeline/Kill Time really captures the essence of Sister. Some points of it sound like music you might be able to recognise, but just before you get too comfortable, oh yes, it's time for a musical breakdown into a soundscape! Sister is a savage record; unhinged, but very aware of exactly what it's doing, and superbly well sculpted. Once you let the stabbing knife that is Catholic Block blow your speakers up, you'll start to understand the genius.
Pipeline/Kill Time really captures the essence of Sister. Some points of it sound like music you might be able to recognise, but just before you get too comfortable, oh yes, it's time for a musical breakdown into a soundscape! Sister is a savage record; unhinged, but very aware of exactly what it's doing, and superbly well sculpted. Once you let the stabbing knife that is Catholic Block blow your speakers up, you'll start to understand the genius.
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,285
Rank in 1987:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
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In a sentence: "I'm cooler than your grandma's first spliff"
Sonic Youth decide noise rock needs to be a little more radio friendly. Trades gung-ho basement production for uber-pretentiousness that is intoxicating. It's got the polish and finish of the other alternative rock classics the early 90s rocked out, but this one is the most genuinely cool and underground. Keep the word in mind, 'cool', because this record has none of baggage of its contemporaries. History chose to put Nevermind and Automatic for the People on the pedestals. Goo is your skinny faced, fine beer drinking, gigging friend who may well think he's better than you, but he's never afraid to join the mosh pit.
Sonic Youth decide noise rock needs to be a little more radio friendly. Trades gung-ho basement production for uber-pretentiousness that is intoxicating. It's got the polish and finish of the other alternative rock classics the early 90s rocked out, but this one is the most genuinely cool and underground. Keep the word in mind, 'cool', because this record has none of baggage of its contemporaries. History chose to put Nevermind and Automatic for the People on the pedestals. Goo is your skinny faced, fine beer drinking, gigging friend who may well think he's better than you, but he's never afraid to join the mosh pit.
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,555
Rank in 1990:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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In a sentence: "Y'all sitting around getting off to yer Nirvana's and REM's, pah, THIS is how you make ''''''alternative rock''''''' you fuckers"
Clearly Sonic Youth liked what was happening on Goo and deciding to up the anti a bit. It's a bit too big for its own good in places, but it also shows the band were most certainly not going to become a mainstream-signer, oh no. They were more than happy to sit on the undercurrent, and boy does it work for them. Dirty kicks its shoes off every so often, but remains composed even after 4 drinks. And while it isn't as dangerous as you might want it to be, there's a certain security and enjoyment to be found in choosing to not to try and electrocute yourself through a hammer. This is the one that'll walk you home at the end of the night, not because he wants to sleep with you, but to make sure you get back okay.
Clearly Sonic Youth liked what was happening on Goo and deciding to up the anti a bit. It's a bit too big for its own good in places, but it also shows the band were most certainly not going to become a mainstream-signer, oh no. They were more than happy to sit on the undercurrent, and boy does it work for them. Dirty kicks its shoes off every so often, but remains composed even after 4 drinks. And while it isn't as dangerous as you might want it to be, there's a certain security and enjoyment to be found in choosing to not to try and electrocute yourself through a hammer. This is the one that'll walk you home at the end of the night, not because he wants to sleep with you, but to make sure you get back okay.
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,016
Rank in 1992:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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In a sentence: "let's look out of our apartment window to the street below as the rain falls on a grizzly october evening and just think why in the fuck does anything do it be"
Progression is for losers. EVOL proves that; takes a little hint of a properly darker, concrete-clad, overcast aspect of their early sound and blows it up into an entire record. The freight train of emotions comes the moment you start to delve into the lyrics; this is urban abandonment, mid-20s boredom, only having a choice of three bars your friends actually want to go to, never quite having enough get a proper break from the city. Sometimes though, you gotta release that kind of anguish, and EVOL is the place to do that.
Progression is for losers. EVOL proves that; takes a little hint of a properly darker, concrete-clad, overcast aspect of their early sound and blows it up into an entire record. The freight train of emotions comes the moment you start to delve into the lyrics; this is urban abandonment, mid-20s boredom, only having a choice of three bars your friends actually want to go to, never quite having enough get a proper break from the city. Sometimes though, you gotta release that kind of anguish, and EVOL is the place to do that.
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,284
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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In a sentence: "I WANNA STICK ELECTRIC SCREWDRIVERS IN MY NEIGHBOURS DOG WHILST TRIPPING ON LSD"
The side of Sonic Youth yer mother definitely doesn't want you hanging out with. Part jaunty knife thrower, part fire breather, part sledgehammering your car to see if it sounds like John Coltrane. You get the impression that the madness that fueled the early band's endlessly charging sound finally found its first step here, and took a consumable form.
The side of Sonic Youth yer mother definitely doesn't want you hanging out with. Part jaunty knife thrower, part fire breather, part sledgehammering your car to see if it sounds like John Coltrane. You get the impression that the madness that fueled the early band's endlessly charging sound finally found its first step here, and took a consumable form.
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
732
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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In a sentence: "Wow alternative rock is actually pretty fucking cool let's throw a few feelies in there and feel real fucking sorry for ourselves"
13 years is a long time for any band, and Sonic Youth showed their age here. Not in the sense they were getting tired musically, but rather the worn-out feel of so much expectation, experimentation and noise. Its reflective, its personal, it doesn't try to hide the fact that the band were ready to say goodbye to a lot of what had made them so popular. Why? Because without change, there would be no progression. This is Sonic Youth working out its next direction, and for once, feeling slightly comfortable with where they've ended up and this time genuinely suggesting they might stay here for a while.
13 years is a long time for any band, and Sonic Youth showed their age here. Not in the sense they were getting tired musically, but rather the worn-out feel of so much expectation, experimentation and noise. Its reflective, its personal, it doesn't try to hide the fact that the band were ready to say goodbye to a lot of what had made them so popular. Why? Because without change, there would be no progression. This is Sonic Youth working out its next direction, and for once, feeling slightly comfortable with where they've ended up and this time genuinely suggesting they might stay here for a while.
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,036
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 7. Page 1 of 1
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Roughly Ranking Sonic Youth's Discography composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1970s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1980s | 4 | 57% | |
| 1990s | 3 | 43% | |
| 2000s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2010s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Sonic Youth | 7 | 100% |
Roughly Ranking Sonic Youth's Discography similarity to your chart(s)
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Roughly Ranking Sonic Youth's Discography ratings
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| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 06/05/2025 19:46 | Johnnyo | 2,558 | 80/100 |
Roughly Ranking Sonic Youth's Discography favourites
Roughly Ranking Sonic Youth's Discography comments
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From Johnnyo 06/05/2025 19:47 | #309253
One album not in your chart which I think deserves attention is Murray street. Not an album that generates a lot of traction but I really like it. Thought that it deserved a mention
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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