Rather Nice
Artist: Sonic Youth
Album: Rather Ripped
Album Length: 51m53s (11 Tracks
Release Date: 13 June 2006
Country: United States of America
Sonic Youth has been around since the early eighties, and have released tons of great records from punk to hardcore to post-hardcore to new wave to alternative rock, whatever you want to call it, Sonic Youth is there to answer it and their latest studio album Rather Ripped is their most subtle and most mature record to date. Rather Ripped resembles 2004’s brilliant Sonic Nurse sound, sophisticated and elegant, smothered with 2002’s explosive rock-arena style in Murray Street. Having said that, Rather Ripped is as good as 1984’s Daydream Nation, only mellower, more subtle and more refined.
Opening track Reena is a trademark Sonic sound, quietly blasts through the entire track with multi layering of guitar and subtle chords change. This is a great opener to Rather Ripped, as it introduces sound that are so familiar but yet new that every Sonic fans would appreciate. “Incinerate” is yet another subtle track that shows their brilliant musicianship handling the instruments, layering them to make it sound ever so beautiful. “Rats” has and intriguing jazz vibe to it, blended with the heavy bass and the raw guitar sound, this song is a nice change to the previous songs in this album. “Turquoise Boy” is one of the main highlight in this album; with Kim Gordon’s yeaning vocals this song starts off with low-key Glen-Branca’s sophisticated guitar breakdowns before returning to a quick burst of distorted clamour that Sonic Youth is best known for. This album peaks with “Pink Stream”, which is probably the best track out of the album, caries a solid testament of their ability in layering the guitars and drums to create this intricate piece of solid 5 minute jams that resonance through the ear before the vocals kick in.
Every few years Sonic Youth throws out a record, that’s part of the deal in their contract with Greffen Records and having one last album before the contract ends, Rather Ripped was speculated to have made just to finish up with Griffen. Whichever the case was, Rather Ripped certainly have become one of their best record ever in their catalogue. Now Rather Ripped might not have the social impact of Daydream Nation or Murray Street, it carries a rather personal and intimate statement of Sonic Youth. Rather Ripped is a graceful, elegant way to end the story. It seems to almost complete a circle, of little bit of something they have done. It’s an instant classic.
Opening track Reena is a trademark Sonic sound, quietly blasts through the entire track with multi layering of guitar and subtle chords change. This is a great opener to Rather Ripped, as it introduces sound that are so familiar but yet new that every Sonic fans would appreciate. “Incinerate” is yet another subtle track that shows their brilliant musicianship handling the instruments, layering them to make it sound ever so beautiful. “Rats” has and intriguing jazz vibe to it, blended with the heavy bass and the raw guitar sound, this song is a nice change to the previous songs in this album. “Turquoise Boy” is one of the main highlight in this album; with Kim Gordon’s yeaning vocals this song starts off with low-key Glen-Branca’s sophisticated guitar breakdowns before returning to a quick burst of distorted clamour that Sonic Youth is best known for. This album peaks with “Pink Stream”, which is probably the best track out of the album, caries a solid testament of their ability in layering the guitars and drums to create this intricate piece of solid 5 minute jams that resonance through the ear before the vocals kick in.
Every few years Sonic Youth throws out a record, that’s part of the deal in their contract with Greffen Records and having one last album before the contract ends, Rather Ripped was speculated to have made just to finish up with Griffen. Whichever the case was, Rather Ripped certainly have become one of their best record ever in their catalogue. Now Rather Ripped might not have the social impact of Daydream Nation or Murray Street, it carries a rather personal and intimate statement of Sonic Youth. Rather Ripped is a graceful, elegant way to end the story. It seems to almost complete a circle, of little bit of something they have done. It’s an instant classic.
Beaker's Verdict: A+
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