Rather RippedSonic Youth
Geffen, 2006
Numerical Feelings: 5.9
Sonic Youth revisit the thick nebulous roaming forms of Sonic Nurse, without the interspersed solid hooks that held the previous album together. There's no rousing 'Paper Cup Exit' choruses, no purposeful epic constructions as those found in 'Stones'-- just all the filling in between. As far as filling goes, it's substantial enough -- guitars interlocking in graceful and inspired figures, voice and rhythm section oozing out strange cold textures coated in condensation: and in fact, it's this kind of filling filler that makes listening to Sonic Nurse so persistently worthwhile, so it certainly is enough to make Rather Ripped at least a satisfying consumption.
But without the occasional dramatic moment to lend this unyielding muscular pulse any personality, Rather Ripped presents nothing really commanding, or essential. There are a few close moments, where the roaming jams threaten to really come to life, as with the sweeping and hypnotic 'Turquoise Boy', but even so the end result leaves it all feeling rather dispensable. Better sense can tell us otherwise, and held on to, the album is fairly certain to carry its weight -- but that is the best that can be said for it.
-7.29.2006
Rather Ripped is the twentieth album from alt-rock veterans Sonic Youth, who had some albums in the 80s that were terribly important though I've never really gotten into them. They seem to really like what they are doing, and I think that is the most important thing of all, especially at this age.
Running Time: 51.53
Metacritic Score: 80
Track Listing:
01 Reena
02 Incinerate
03 Do You Believe in Rapture?
04 Sleepin Around
05 What a Waste
06 Jams Run Free
07 Rats*
08 Turquoise Boy*
09 Lights out
10 The Neutral
11 Pink Steam*
12 Or
(*: best to play)
(Metacritic belongs to CNET Networks, Inc. They give an accurate idea of general critical feeling.)
This Review Copyright twentypelicans.com, 2006
Running Time: 51.53
Metacritic Score: 80
Track Listing:
01 Reena
02 Incinerate
03 Do You Believe in Rapture?
04 Sleepin Around
05 What a Waste
06 Jams Run Free
07 Rats*
08 Turquoise Boy*
09 Lights out
10 The Neutral
11 Pink Steam*
12 Or
(*: best to play)
(Metacritic belongs to CNET Networks, Inc. They give an accurate idea of general critical feeling.)
This Review Copyright twentypelicans.com, 2006