Search - Sonic Youth :: NYC Ghosts & Flowers

Taking the progressive direction

05/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sonic Youth's latest release, "NYC Ghosts & Flowers," continues the artistic direction they have taken since they hit their creative lull in the early 90s. In 1988, Sonic Youth released "Daydream Nation," which stood as their masterwork after several years of writing and performing exploratory rock music. They subsequently signed a major-label deal with Geffen/DGC Records where they released a couple of good pop albums, "Goo" and "Dirty." While those albums contained some quality songs, they seemed to suggest that Sonic Youth were taking a break from progressing through their musical explorations. The album following those two, "Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star" turned out to be the least interesting of all, as it sounded like an arrangement of outtakes purged from their previous two records.In 1995, however, Sonic Youth was back on track with the release of "Washing Machine," which hinted at the group's philosophy on performing live. "Washing Machine," however, was just a precursor to "1,000 Leaves," the album that marked Sonic Youth's return to being one of the most intriguing bands in rock music."NYC Ghosts" marks a further point in their journey through musical artistry. Melodies creep up behind waves of noise, catching a ride and transforming the sounds into something entirely new and fresh within the same song. Meloncholy tunes are twisted into hints of uplifting ideas and vice versa. The waves crash, and the current pulls them back as new waves begin to form behind them, and reincarnated sounds and melodies jump on for a new ride. Sonic Youth is back in full form, and it is well worth the listen to see where the new ride takes you."

Poetic and artistic effort from a 'new' Sonic Youth.

Rahshad Black | Moreno Valley, CA | 07/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So what if "NYC Ghosts & Flowers" will not sell a million, and spawn massivly popular radio singles? This is Sonic Youth we are talking about, and only one thing is important in sonikland: the music. And as long as the listener opens their mind to the album, they will surely find something in it. In some ways, this is the album Sonic Youth's entire career has lead up to. There are obvious parts of "Sister", "Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star", and of course "A Thousand Leaves", but nods to all of their albums can be found within. Although nothing that qualifies as grunge can be found, the themes are sometimes the same, and the energy is uniquely Sonic. The opener, "Free City Rhymes" is an excellent Thurston song, as good as anything he has written since "Dirty". The Thurston-Kim tag team "Renegade Princess" isn't great, but the guitar might remind the listener of a different time in their career, and makes up for the lyrics. Kim's "Nevermind (What Was it Anyway)" is carried by a brilliant Tom Verlaine influenced guitar part courtesy of Lee Ranaldo. "StreamXSonik Subway" is another strong Thurston number that draws the listener right back in if they haven't been paying attention after "Side2Side", which is not bad, but kind of gets lost in the middle. Thurston's other song, "Small Flowers Crack Concrete" finds him loosely imitating Lee's more poetic style, which works, but not as well as Lee's own fantasic title track. "NYC Ghosts & Flowers" is probably the best song on the album, proving how well the new approach can work. Although many of the songs are augmented with long droning sections of noise and minimalist guitar and drums, they hardly ever detract from the song. Besides, this seems to be an album for fans, and what fan cannot appreciate a little well placed noise here and there? Simply put, "NYC Ghosts & Flowers" is not just another strong effort from THE noise/alt/rock band, Sonic Youth. This is one for history."

Sonic Youth, back to their roots.

Dsc | New York City | 05/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sonic Youth has been a band who successfully hugged the outer edges of rock, embracing even the most unlistenable sounds and combining them with something uncannily poppy. On "nyc ghosts" they continue the trend that established them as one of the true godfathers of punk and avant garde music in America. You'll find more of the twisted harmonies, except you'll notice they're leaning more on the avant side. The poppy melodies here are more currents and lying in the underbelly rather than the main engine that pumps through the chorus, as heard on other Sonic Youth albums. You'll hear more John Cage-ish, experimental orchestral arrangements on this album; more than you'd expect. But then again, you'll hear those harsh sounds perfectly blended with harmonic, angelic harmonies the way only Sonic Youth can pull them off. It's almost as if Sonic Youth were looking back on their musical roots and pointing to specific arrangements and saying to themselves, "Imagine if we did that today." That's what you'll find: a mature look back on the edgy, gritty sounds that established the Youth as a staple in American punk rock. But it's not like a grandpa looking back through an old photo album and reminiscing about the past. It's more like Evel Knievel looking through old footage and saying, "Give me the ramps, dammit, I can do that stunt better.""