I actually prefer EJSTNS to Washing Machine...

Sacrelige (sp?), I know.

you guys all lost your minds

its all about winners blues!

I sorrt of half-agree.I think they're pretty close really.

i have always loved this album, 'Sweet Shine' is probably the best Kim song ever.

EJST&NS was the first album by Sonic Youth that I bought new. Fresh from the factory to my petrie dish mind. Ha! It makes me think of Doctor's Orders mostly, though it also says a lot about music in general and the topical nature of Androgynous Mind actually makes me think of SY as a political band in the 1990s identity politics way.

And I half-agree with that! (See where entropy starts? (though I'm not sure what side I'm on--until you said that, I was confident I enjoyed "Washing Machine" much more; now... eh, it'd be closer))
But seriously, this album will always have a special place, being my first introduction to my favorite band. I think in some senses it's their weirdest, and most like an SYR (think 5, and think Bone). That's what I love about this band--you can get on either side of an opinion about something they do, and make it make sense to yourself. Then come back 10 years later and you could be on the opposite side of the window, still looking at the same thing that you still feel the same way about. I <3 ambiguity!