the thematic meaning of sonic nurse
 

Hi there y'all,

I'm new here and I've got a question; I've always been wondering what the sonic nurse album is all about.
I've heard someone referencing to the power of the thematic side of the album before and it's kinda bothering me that I don't know what the nursetheme is all about.. and that might also be the reason that I don't rate the album really high.

So, what do you think it's about?

i think it's about sonic youth trying not to write tons of shitty filler, but they failed.

Can any tell how to start a new Thread thank you gnpmusic.com

I've never really thought of it as a concept album?
Armenia is a good song though, so nice screenname (and pic).

isnt it about an artist?

and when i say "they failed" i mean they failed to even be up to those standards of shittiness. they're way beyond shit.

Don't you ever stop talking shite atsonicpark? Listen to yourself!
Your posts are continuously about how bad this or that band are.
Grow up, will ya?

As I understand it some guy wakes up in an Unmade Bed, with a dripping dream about a dude ranch, he decides to go to Mariah Carey and ask for money, she gives him some Arther Doyle Hand Cream which he sells to set up his Dude Ranch in New Hampshire. Then the whole dude ranch dream falls apart because the Sonic Nurse gets stones. The guys makes a Paper Cup exit out of town. However the guy never really recovers because he loved his Dude Ranch. Its a sad tale of love and loss :(

that album is really genius in the way it sounds as a whole. it really blends the songs into a solid album. not many albums do that besides like NYC Ghosts and Flowers (which is so underrated beyond belief). I think that it is an album that has many cruel undertones and pain. "Unmade Bed" is certainly about the painful wishes and regrets that come with a desired man. ""Stones" is about the dead and hippy drug gen./culture. "Dude Ranch Nurse" always had a hint of sadism in it. "Peace attack" and "Paper Cup Exit" are both political in a dark sense. Thats why the album is great bc it has no central theme, but the music/instruments certainly make it feel that way.

sorry i guess i'm not grown up since i have chose to form an opinion that you disagree with.

You guys are all idiots.

That is the damn meaning of it.

Seriously I think its loosely based around the Richard Prince Nurse paintings nothing to heavy. Thurston? Kim? Lee? maybe you can help with this one?

No, the meaning literally is "You guys are all idiots".

Isn't that the meaning of all of their rekkerds? It seems to me that that is what it's turned into. A lot of "thanks for nothing, you guys suck ass".

well you might as well call yourself Negative Creep, because i never read a positive post by you, but thats your choice... i just wanted to point that out, how much time you spend on negativity, instead of making someone smile... which is the very least someone could do... oh well not everyone is capable of such simple things.

so you don't like sonic nurse, and i don't like you because you are a whiney little jerk... next time when you get off the bus maybe you should let it run you down when you cross the street.

atsonicpark iz controvurshal!!!1

No, it is that you will post a "controvurshal!" opinion, and try to get reactions. No one said anything to your post, so you had to post again talking more shit in hopes of a reaction, which Tokolosh and I are regrettably providing.

nah, the only reason i posted a second post was because my first post was a bit unclear. however, instead of editing it, i posted again to clarify what i meant by that. i usually try not to edit posts, because it takes out some of the realism in posting.

also, i'm not sure how i constantly am posting negative things, since i start threads all the time in praise of old records or new bands. i'd say my posts are 50/50; half positive, half negative. just because you don't agree with them doesn't make them wrong. i don't post negative things just to piss people off, that's just how i feel. and i'm not a dick to everyone on here like some of the more negative posters. so yeah.

but anyone who tries to kid themselves into thinking sonic youth is still making good music and hasn't been a decline for years?...

You guys are all idiots.

That is the damn meaning of it.

nah, the only reason i posted a second post was because my first post was a bit unclear. however, instead of editing it, i posted again to clarify what i meant by that. i usually try not to edit posts, because it takes out some of the realism in posting.

also, i'm not sure how i constantly am posting negative things, since i start threads all the time in praise of old records or new bands. i'd say my posts are 50/50; half positive, half negative. just because you don't agree with them doesn't make them wrong. i don't post negative things just to piss people off, that's just how i feel. and i'm not a dick to everyone on here like some of the more negative posters. so yeah.

but anyone who tries to kid themselves into thinking sonic youth is still making good music and hasn't been a decline for years?...

You guys are all idiots.

That is the damn meaning of it.

oops didn't mean to double post but fuck it.

Possibly my second favourite SY album.

I don't think there's a specific concept to it, though.

Wasn't it the album where the Sonics all read a book and then came back and collaborated around that?

Or was that Murray Street.

The Nurse artwork is stunning. I love the idea of dripping paint being complete (under the word nurse on the cover)

I suppose their is some revenge themes in there. Nursing is maybe a profession in trouble?

Here is a link...
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/media...paintings.html

at least, this is one interesting answer! thank you Forensic Scene! I actually agree with you! I even see NYC G&F, Murray Street and Sonic Nurse as 3 "concept albums" (I don't really like this expression, but it's the closest to my idea). Three albums about politics, urban landscapes, laughing at the ridiculous, emphasizing magic... They're the best SY trilogy after a)b)z)...

it's not as good as the movie body melt, so who gives a fcuk

they really show their musicianship in this record. I feel like Murray Street really gave them the push with the direction Jim was leading them into with a cleaner, more professional and tighter sound. I do think the only song that sticks out is "Mariah Carey..." because it was not mixed like the rest of the songs. however still a good'n.

If you think trying to have a meaningful conversation about Sonic Nurse can stir up shit and brainless responses, don't even think about discussing A Thousand Leaves. That record's easily their darkest and deepest of their post-indie mainstream releases, but if you attempt to analyse it conceptually, all the jealous (or brainless) so-called fans will pounce on you. It seems forums like this one are mainly intended for the duh-uh division of music fans the world over.

a thousand leaves is their last good record.

ha ha ha you're funny.

It's about the downfall of a once very good band that decided to make terrible terrible records.

Truth.

Oh, I misread "least good", sorry. But you're still funny.

Nurse Theme
 

Hey Armenia- I felt compelled to answer albeit incompletely. I love the music of Sonic Nurse. It's smooth, trancelike, cool guitars and love the drumming/stick playing. Kim's vocals really take you in. What does a nurse do? They care for you when you are vulnerable, sometimes control and have power/authority over you. That says a bit. I'm not sure I understand if you just don't like the music or don't like the concept of the album. Pattern Recognition is an incredible song. Anyway I'll think about it more. Diane

oh no hayden you speak the truth!! even though it's negative!! prepare to be flamed!!!!!!!!

www.richardprinceart.com is temporarily unavailable.

Someone at Metafilter earlier this month referenced an old link (I remember this article from back then) to the Nursing Advocacy group:
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/media...nic_nurse.html

Nurses speak out: Grey's Anatomy sucks, Sonic Youth rules

July 14, 2007 4:25 PM


The Center for Nursing Advocacy seems like your typical professional advocacy group—the group's mandate is "to increase public understanding of the central, front-line role nurses play in modern health care." While often the group does its work by highlighting serious issues facing the nursing profession, the Center also keeps a watchful eye on portrayals of nurses in popular culture, both good and bad (Grey's). And then there are the reviews that, frankly, seem to be stretching things just a bit (SY).

If you think trying to have a meaningful conversation about Sonic Nurse can stir up shit and brainless responses, don't even think about discussing A Thousand Leaves. That record's easily their darkest and deepest of their post-indie mainstream releases, but if you attempt to analyse it conceptually, all the jealous (or brainless) so-called fans will pounce on you. It seems forums like this one are mainly intended for the duh-uh division of music fans the world over.

I prefer to call that record "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Crayons".

I beg to differ.
Sonic Nurse is one of my favorite SY albums.
Tell me Adam, why do you think it's such a shit album?

My only thing with it is the Mariah Carey song, it just seems out of place. They could have gone with a better track.

I thought that Sonic Nurse was abouting mixing chaos and classic rhythm together as best as possible, or at least I remember reading something about that in an interview somewhere. like it was an experiment to see how musically mathematical and spontaneous at the same time.

I second that!!!

cuz it makes me sniffle!

the first time i listened to sonic nurse i wasn't into it at all. it's an acquired sound