This is basically the same thing as Artist of the Week. Enjoy.
This week's Album of the Week honor goes to Sonic Nurse by Sonic Youth. I recently purchased this album on Sunday, November 18, and have been listening to it nonstop.
Album Name: Sonic Nurse
Album Artist: Sonic Youth
Release Date: June 7, 2004
Recorded: July 2003-February 2004
Genre: Alternative Rock
Length: 62:48
Label: DGC / Interscope
Producer: Sonic Youth
Track Listing
1. "Pattern Recognition" (6:53)
2. "Unmade Bed" (3:53)
3. "Dripping Dream" (7:46)
4. "Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream" (4:51)
5. "Stones" (7:08)
6. "Dude Ranch Nurse" (5:12)
7. "New Hampshire" (5:12)
8. "Paper Cup Exit" (5:57)
9. "I Love You Golden Blue" (7:03)
10. "Peace Attack" (6:12)
Album Charts
Official Norwegian Chart – No. 21
Official Belgium Chart – No. 23
Official French Chart – No. 41
Official Italian Chart – No. 50
Official Irish Chart – No. 53
Billboard Top 200 – No. 64
Official German Chart – No. 89
Reviews
All Music Guide – 4/5 stars
Entertainment Weekly – A-
The Guardian – 3/5 stars
Pitchfork – 8.5/10
Prefix – 8.0/10
Robert Christgau – A-
Rolling Stone – 3.5/5 stars
Tiny Mix Tapes – 3/5 stars
First off, this is a long album. The shortest song is 3:53. The average song length is over six minutes. This album is not for the faint of heart. It is more reserved compared to Sonic Youth's younger days and contains many instrumental interludes, as opposed to their latest release Rather Ripped. Also, this album was recorded during guitarist Jim O'Rourke's stint with Sonic Youth, adding another guitar to the lineup of Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo. Kim Gordon and Steve Shelley round out the rest of the band on bass guitar and drums. Compared to Sonic Youth's releases in the early 1990's, this release could be seen as a letdown, as shown by the ratings, it is still a fantastic listen, as it mixes early Sonic Youth with newfound maturity and artistic craftsmanship. Even though for being such a great album, it is quite homogeneous. I will probably end up writing the same thing for many of the songs. It's one of those things where it's the same, but different, at the same time. Makes for an enjoyable listen.
Track-by-Track Review
1. "Pattern Recognition" (6:53)
Lyrics and vocals – Kim Gordon
The first song on the album, "Pattern Recognition," starts out very quickly, with a guitar riff in sync with the vocals before it reaches the chorus of "You're the one" less than a minute into the song. The song breaks into tiny breakdowns and bridges at various junctures throughout the song. The last minute of the song dissolves into classic Sonic Youth noise. The three guitars that come together around the 2:40 mark provide an example of the artistic skill of SY and the effect of the addition of Jim O'Rourke on the band.
My rating: 4.5/5
2. "Unmade Bed" (3:53)
Lyrics and vocals – Thurston Moore
This is the shortest song on the album, but one of the best. Its short(er) length makes it catchier to the casual ear, and is a meditative song. Moore's vocals question the listener throughout the song. The guitars (ever present throughout the album) appear to be doing three different things at once, while even the rhythm guitar takes some time out to improvise a bit on the rhythm. Steve Shelley's drums seem a little different to me in the song, but nevertheless, it fits with the unusual nature of the guitars.
My rating: 5/5
3. "Dripping Dream" (7:46)
Lyrics and vocals – Thurston Moore
"Dripping Dream" starts out with spastic noise before a two-guitar riff cuts through. Gradually, the noise is manipulated to create a third riff on top of the other two guitars. The chorus on this song is delivered amazingly in short, two-word lines by Moore. It is hard to tell the exact meaning of the song, but after the first three minutes, it feels as if it should be over at about the three minute mark. The song extends into an elaborate breakdown where all but the bass make their presence known. The original riffs return in the last two minutes with the vocals to end the song.
My rating: 4/5
4. "Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream" (4:51)
Lyrics – Sonic Youth
Vocals – Kim Gordon
If listeners want early 1990's Sonic Youth, this is the closest they will get. This song is somewhat reminiscent of "Swimsuit Issue" off of 1992's Dirty. Gordon's vocals are fierce on the verse, but let up somewhat on the choruses. As with a lot of Gordon's fierce songs, this song really dives in deep and seems to attack whoever the song is about. As for the title of this song, I can't seem to find any connection.
My rating: 3/5
5. "Stones" (7:08)
Lyrics and vocals – Thurston Moore
"Stones" is probably my favorite song off Sonic Nurse. The drumbeat at the beginning is addictive and the riff is great with all the guitars forming a great melody. The vocals don't start until a few minutes into the song, creating a great anticipation as the riffs change many times before the vocals start at the two minute mark. The verse is pretty laid back, but the chorus of "Dead or alive/There's danger/The dead are alright/With me" has some intensity. The chorus is the most intense part of this enjoyable song. The riffs from the beginning of the song persist throughout varying occasionally. Moore's voice intermittently falls into perfect harmony with the guitars. At the four minute mark, a gradual crescendo starts and builds up to past the five minute mark where the guitars start to solo and the bass makes its presence known for the first time on the album. The soloing persists until the end of the song.
My rating: 5/5
6. "Dude Ranch Nurse" (5:44)
Lyrics and vocals – Kim Gordon
This song is just of an "Eh" from me. Gordon's vocals are more laid back compared to "Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream," and they fit in well with the guitars. The use of the phaser effect adds to the guitars. I am pretty sure this is the only sing that mentions nurses on the album. It's a pretty good song, but it doesn't really speak to me the way the "Stones" or "Pattern Recognition" does.
My rating: 3/5
7. "New Hampshire" (5:12)
Lyrics and vocals – Thurston Moore
"New Hampshire" starts off with pounding, distant drums with high noise on the guitar. Pretty soon the two guitar riff starts up with some overlying harmonics added. As the name suggests, this song is about New Hampshire, although it is unclear what exactly about New Hampshire it keys on. Moore's vocals come in a little over a minute into the song and follow the same pattern they have had for the rest of the album. Nothing really fantastic and out of the out of the ordinary happens.
My rating: 4/5
8. "Paper Cup Exit" (5:57)
Lyrics and vocals – Lee Ranaldo
Backing vocals – Thurston Moore
This song is already regarded as "special" because it features Lee Ranaldo on vocal, as opposed to Gordon or Moore. The drums start out the song and the guitar joins them. Then, the vocals swoop in and the guitars change in to a flurry of minor chords. On the chorus, Ranaldo displays his fantastic vocal range and his story-telling style where he urges the subject of the song to "Sing along." Ranaldo's song adds a bit more of a pop aspect to Sonic Youth because his voice fits more of that mold, as opposed to Moore or Gordon, and he puts a lot of urgency behind his voice. I always look forward to Lee's songs on the Sonic Youth albums. This is not his best work, but it is still good enough to earn a rating of four out of five from me.
My rating: 4/5
9. "I Love You Golden Blue" (7:03)
Lyrics and vocals – Kim Gordon
This is the one song on the album that I don't really like. I just can't get into it. Part of it is from being worn down by the length of the album before this song. Gordon's vocals are very, very soft in this song to go along with the guitar, while the drums spend a lot of their time lightly on the ride. I just can't dig it. It's a decent song, I am usually just too worn down by the time I get to it to really have a deep appreciation for it.
My rating: 2.5/5
10. "Peace Attack" (6:12)
Lyrics and vocals – Thurston Moore
The song starts out with a chord similar to the opening one off of "Elegy for All the Dead Rock Stars" from Thurston Moore's solo album Psychic Hearts. Probably my second or third favorite song on the album. It makes the listener feel almost one with nature and just really relaxed. Not much else to say about it other than it is a gem.
My rating: 5/5
Total rating: 4/5
Overall, this is not an album you want to get if you are intent on getting a lot of vocals. However, if you are someone who is most interested in the technical aspects of a song, this would be a very good choice. It receives my seal of approval.
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