Reviewed by: Jeff Siegel
Reviewed on: 2006-06-12

Posted 06/12/2006 - 09:16:27 AM by draglikepull:
	I think the "mainstream" and "pop" elements of this record are being way overplayed. If this was any band other than Sonic Youth everyone would be talking about how daring and creative it is. Yeah, the songs are shorter and the riffs are a bit more direct, but this is anything but a mainstream rock record. It sounds to me like they took the ideas from Sonic Nurse and just condensed them.
Posted 06/12/2006 - 11:25:40 AM by bassman08:
	Oh man, I almost forgot that this record was coming out, now I'm excited to hear it (although nowhere nearly as such as when Sonic Nurse came out). This one seems a bit more under the radar.
Posted 06/12/2006 - 02:22:12 PM by prohibitedart:
	I've yet to hear the album, because I wasn't one of the five million people to download the album and listen to it a month and a half before it's released. But regardless, this is certainly a decent review. A little heavy on the "bullshit" word, though. haha
Posted 06/12/2006 - 05:05:38 PM by Zarklephaser:
	A couple listens later, this is likely going to make my top five albums of 2006.
Posted 06/13/2006 - 04:58:19 AM by shoalman:
	I should start by saying I am continually bored shitless by all the delusionary word shuffle over whether Sonic Youth "sold out" to "the man", "dude". This mythic notion of the mainstream is as irrelevant as the mythic notion of indie. But of course I digress rather majorly! The first track on this album is absolutely beatific rock - takes me right out there to the "nice place". But I gotta say that most of the rest of the album bores me. I do find for once that I am digging the tracks that Kim sings on more than the Thurstons (we are first name basis now) for the first time. Not who wrote what without looking closer at the cd art. Haveing said all that I will probably love the whole thing in 3 weeks!
Posted 06/13/2006 - 12:11:44 PM by bassman08:
	prohibetedart: My brother did that, and kept asking me if I wanted it, because he had it and said it was amazing. I continually refused. For some reason, although I am in no way adverse to downloading (in fact, I download lots of albums...), I just don't like downloading albums before their release. I dunno, it just feels more like piracy than normal...
Posted 06/13/2006 - 07:44:42 PM by outerillusion5:
	IMO this album is an uninpired snorefest except for the first two tracks. To these ears, Sonic Youth have just been going through the motions for the past couple albums. NYC Ghosts and Flowers was considered crap by many, but at least it had passion. Their hearts now seem more in their experimental side projects then their full-time band. Many will lap this album up just because it's Sonic Youth, but it is such a mediocre work when measured against the majority of their vast catalogue.
Posted 06/14/2006 - 06:11:27 PM by cwperry:
	I agree wholeheartedly with outerillusion5. This album is a bore and I wonder why it even needs to exist. Sonic Youth seems to be making albums for the sake of making albums at this point. I've loved the band for 20 years, but they've outlived their usefulness for me. And as for the much-maligned NYC Ghosts & Flowers, outerillusion5 is right--at least it had passion. Sonic Youth will always have a place of honor, but the returns are diminishing. This is their contractual obligation album--perhaps they will retire the SY name and slip away full-time into their many side projects. Exit gracefully.
Posted 06/15/2006 - 09:30:02 AM by J_R_K_:
	on first listen i liked the record a lot so i can see how it got an A- or whatever, but there is no replay value with this disc. no standouts, just formulas and sonic youth resting on its laurels. i never thought jim o rourke leaving the band would be so glaring, but they just have this gap in their sound. this album is barely passable.
Posted 06/19/2006 - 10:22:06 PM by cwperry:
	The label on the vinyl version says "Goodbye Sonic." Perhaps they have secretly broken up after all.
Posted 07/11/2006 - 06:55:44 PM by nyabinghi:
	Sonic Youth remains one of the few bands that I would buy their CD's without listening to them first. I don't get "outlived their usefullness" -as if they were some kind of commodity. I find their most recent efforts (since Murray Street) some of their better and consistent offerings. They are still imbued with moments of exhiliration and beauty.
Posted 09/19/2006 - 02:15:13 PM by J_R_K_:
	sonic youth made a great jim o rourke solo album with this one.
Posted 10/16/2006 - 04:05:53 PM by mhotter:
	sytlus, you truly have out pitchforked pitchfork as of late - even when your right, it's for all the wrong fucking reasons. oh well, gotta make a buck somehow. Keep slinging the horseshit, Stylus-guys!!!
Posted 01/12/2007 - 05:23:40 PM by cwperry:
	nyabinghi: My full comment was "outlived their usefulness FOR ME," i.e. I no longer get joy from them. That said, since my initial appraisal, I've come to thoroughly enjoy this album--isn't it funny how we sometimes feel on the first couple of listens versus the fifteenth or sixteenth?