Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
by Jon Rogers
published: 25 / 5 / 2006
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Format: CD
intro
Impressive new album from Sonic Youth, which, despite being their most conventional and straightforward record in some years, finds them having lost little of their explosive edge
Over almost 25 years Sonic Youth have continued to change and adapt, shifting from their downtown New York, loft art-rock days to the more established terrain of their later years as they have moved away from their youth and into the Sunday colour supplements. Despite their inescapable move towards middle age and the loss of their youth the band - now back to a quartet - have still managed to retain some sonic attributes. Recorded at the start of the year following the departure of Jim O'Rourke 'Rather Ripped' is their most conventional album for some time and contains what could easily be seen as straightforward songs - well, as straightforward as Sonic Youth get. Apart from the wailing guitar feedback that introduces 'Sleepin Around' the rest of the song's structure is conservative in style - with a guitar wig out thrown in the middle. There's plenty on 'Rather Ripped' though that will please long term fans. Bassist Kim Gordon - recently featured in The Sunday Times 'Style' section - anchors the songs and supplies her usual breathy vocals on songs like the opener 'Reena' and 'What a Waste'. Steve Shelley maintains an even keel with his light but insistent drumming while Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore supply the knife-sharp guitar parts. There are examples of Sonic Youth's experimental, art-rock days but 'Rather Ripped' is noticeable for its restraint and emphasis on tunes and songs. Moore even describes the album as a "super song record". At times the band even manage to give Tom Verlaine a run for his money in the melody stakes. 'Do You Believe in Rapture?' harks back to songs such as 'The Diamond Sea'. That's not to say that Sonic Youth have mellowed. 'Rats', for example, snarls and spits backed by some free-form guitar noodlings, while 'Incinerate' does exactly that. 'Rather Ripped' may be no match for the band's heyday of albums like 'Daydream Nation', 'Evol' and 'Sister' but is far better than most of their major label outings.
Track Listing:-
1 Reena2 Incinerate
3 Do You Believe In Rapture?
4 Sleepin' Around
5 What A Waste
6 Jams Runs Free
7 Rats
8 Turquoise Boy
9 Lights Out
10 The Neutral
11 Pink Steam
12 Or
13 Helen Lundeberg
14 Eyeliner
Band Links:-
http://sonicyouth.com/https://www.facebook.com/sonicyouth/
https://twitter.com/thesonicyouth
interviews |
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Interview with Steve Shelley (2004) |
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| Remaining constantly inventive, Sonic Youth are soon to release their nineteenth album, 'Sonic Nurse'. Mark Rowland talks to drummer Steve Shelley about its creation,and their recent turn as curators at the All Tomorrow's Parties alternative rock festiva |
live reviews |
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Roundhouse, London, 1/9/2007 |
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| In the iconic recently opened venue of the Roundhouse in London, Dominic Simpson watches Sonic Youth in a 'Don't Look Back' show give a dynamic and forceful perfomance of their classic 1988 album, 'Daydream Nation' |
| Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, 6/8/2004 |
| Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London, |
favourite album |
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Daydream Nation (2007) |
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| Jon Rogers looks at Sonic Youth's 1988 opus 'Daydream Nation'which has just been re-released with both additional songs and a whole extra disc of live versions of the album |
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Sonic Youth 'EVOL' and 'Sister' (2011) |
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| In our ‘Soundtrack of Our Lives’ column, in which our writers reflect upon music that has had a personal impact on them, Jon Rogers writes of Sonic Youth’s 1986 and 1987 albums, ‘EVOL’ and ‘Sister’ |
| Reissues (2006) |
soundcloud
reviews |
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Smart Bar-Chicago 1985 (2013) |
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| Forceful and raw live album from Sonic Youth, recorded at a 1985 Chicago club gig, which will be of appeal only to hardened fans |
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| The Destroyed Room (2007) |
| Goo (2005) |
| Sonic Nurse (2004) |
| Dirty (2003) |
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