this was their comeback disc, after their disastrous attempt at trying to be real life big ass rock stars. it's interesting to note how many people are pointing out they were young when it was released. i was 14 as well. first sonic youth disc. and, yes, it had a huge effect on me..
(relevant tracks: screwed up, all the symphonies, [2002], more)
Paul S
they've never screwed up, not artistically. Don't think they ever been considered 'big-ass rock stars' ----where did you get that from ? theyr'e like the artiest rock band ever,
deathtokoalas
they toned things down dramatically at the precise time they signed to geffen. the band had a bit of a split personality for pretty much it's entire existence, but they were very obviously in world domination mode between daydream nation and washing machine, and i don't think it's a coincidence that that's their weakest period (non-inclusive), musically.
Paul S
I like all their albums but fair enuff.
rickiwarrior
Hi. I could not help reply.... I understand how this album is a comeback, but I do not consider it´s predecessors disastrous attempts at all. I think that Sonic Youth´s relevance is based in that period you call "weakest" as well, because then, they proved that their talent can be comprehended massively (or commercially), not only by hardcore fans.---------------------------------------------------- I was born in 1982, so in 1995 I was just 13 years old. I started with Sonic Youth recently, around 2000, after I borrowed Dirty from a friend, and since then, is one of my Sonic Youth favorite albums. Washing Machine is really difficult to dig, so it takes 5 times more to love, and at this moment, for me it´s equally loveable as Dirty, I don´t know how would I feel about this in the future - (by the way, I can get enough of WM and The Diamond Sea.....ufff)---------- Finally, where does the Geffen period ends and begins?
deathtokoalas
what you mean to say is that they watered the sound down to sell more records.
sonic youth's cultural relevance is not their geffen years. it's their sst years. sister and daydream nation, particularly (although daydream nation wasn't on sst). the stuff after washing machine was very good for a while, but it will have no cultural impact. likewise, as bad a record as it was, people in their 40s today may look back at dirty as something they liked in a period of their life, but it will not be passed on to the next generation.
daydream nation, on the other hand, will be referenced for the next century.
