Sonic Youth
“Rather Ripped”
Geffen

Sonic Youth’s first album since their New York-themed trilogy also is their most digestible. With most songs coming in at just shy of the four minute mark, and almost all of them are noisy indie tunes, it’s hard to argue that Sonic Youth have given their fans a break from the barrage of overwrought, complicated songscapes that they have produced for the last ten years.

“Sleepin’ Around” is the first track to really smoke. Distortion starts tearing the song at the seams at the halfway mark. The groove chugs like a Stooges track, while proto-punk legend Thurston Moore proclaims that “Nothing you do is right.” Indie-rock starlet Kim Gordon takes the mic for the upbeat “What A Waste,” which features some trippy synth work throughout.

Rather than just play a token long, dreamy number, or an over-the-top rocker, Sonic Youth pepper each track with almost all their signature styles. Songs are so scattershot that they go from laid back to full-force sonic bludgeon in the course of a bridge. Crazy stuff. In no way is “Rather Ripped” a commercial effort, but there are definite signs that the band wasn’t just making a record that the token noise-jazz fan in some Brooklyn basement will enjoy–This record is for fans who want more rock, and Sonic Youth sure bring it.

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