Experimental Jet Set
 

Out of their 90s albums I've heard, it's my favourite. I used to hate it, but a recent relistening changed my mind.

When I first heard it, I was slightly caught off guard. Not disappointed, I knew there was something special about it, but just caught off guard.... ESPECIALLY following the polished and big sounding "Dirty".

This is no joke and not commendable, but soon after it came out I was taking acid, which happened to be the best hit of my life and I unconsciously put on Experimental Jet Set. Don't know why. It wasn't the most listened to album I owned, but felt right. Turns out to be a VERY amusing time. I was just constantly laughing at every sound they made. Laughing for hours, repeating the album. Suddenly, the very "in-your-face" and raw mix of the album all became very touchable and appropriate. It was a high, high, highly entertaining album. It may not strike every emotion, but the art of recording is for entertainment, so, mission accomplished!

I wouldn't say it's there most pretty; catchy; complex; or even well thought out album of any of them but it is very unique and a nice addition to their vast collage of recordings. I will add though, it does have a number of tracks that are "goose bump worthy" (like 3, 4, 11, and 14 especially)

I actually had a similiar experience...I was extremely high with a friend I used to date...he found this record (for some reason it was lying around my house? still confuses me to this day....) and put it on while we fooled around...crazy shit! I fell in love immediately. Kim's voice drew me in. I'll never forget that feeling. See, I actually love how Sonic Youth experiments a bit with some minimalism on tracks such as Stink and Sweet Shine. The album has a very unique dark feel to it...no, it doesn't touch every emotion, but i still think it's extremely beautiful and maybe even ethereal?

I actually had a similiar experience...I was extremely high with a friend I used to date...he found this record (for some reason it was lying around my house? still confuses me to this day....) and put it on while we fooled around...crazy shit! I fell in love immediately. Kim's voice drew me in. I'll never forget that feeling. See, I actually love how Sonic Youth experiments a bit with some minimalism on tracks such as Stink and Sweet Shine. The album has a very unique dark feel to it...no, it doesn't touch every emotion, but i still think it's extremely beautiful and maybe even ethereal?

hahahaha. I was just going to say, is this like a monthly topic now? Her'es the short version: Everyone claims to hate it, but really we all love it. End of message board(s).

my least fave sonic youth recording ever.
just sounds halfassed.

because it is. And that was the goal/charm of it.

like a half digested diarrhea


charming

It may be completely half-assed but half of the half-assedness turns out to be really fucking good.

sonic youth halfassing is infinitely better than most bands fullassing.

this

yes

Man, I dare anyone to say something bad about this album. No, I mean I dare
anyone to knock this designer 'lude off of my shoulder. Experimental Jet Set
is kill city.

I don't like the record at all. The songs just don't yank my crank in the way I enjoy my crank to be yanked.

~Jeremy~

Lazy songwriting galore and no Lee vocals=meh

Hahaha.
So true, this album has like 100 threads about it.

Yup, sorry! Just joined these boards and my computer screen is cracked so i didn't see it. :-/ Let's end topic then!

nah, it's fun. This album seems to be the one that splits the board the most. It's great.

Yeah, it seems to be the one that all of the other fans I know are also split on. So strange. I'm surprised by how united people here seem to be in their appreciation of NYG&F - that was the only SY album that didn't blow me off my feet (although some of the songs did get me hooked)

I loved... Loved NYCG&F from the first listen. Blew me the fuck away. Something ineffable I guess?

certainly ineffable. one of the reasons i'm so hooked on SY is because their music and noise becomes so personalized.

i think 'no lee vocals' is the only really legitimate complaint about this album.

"sonic youth cool their jets with an eyes-closed session of esp-driven melodics. a cruise to the altitude beyond the raunch. and a blues for a feather to the breath. features the adult smash "Bull In The Heather".- TM"

You're right. It's great album. Maybe not in top 5 of SY-albums, but great anyway.

I love this album. When trying to think of one song that I don't personally enjoy, I can't come up with any. They all have something cool in them.

I really can't say that it's bad. It has some pretty nice tunes. But it's undoubtly my least favorite SY record. It's there, it's not bad, but I don't care the slightest about it. If someone would officially delete it from their discography forever I probably wouldn't notice.

It's a fantastic record.

One of my favorite albums. I guess its an acquired taste

I strongly dislike the record. I remember searching for it when I started getting into SY, then around Christmas I found it in a Best Buy while visiting my dad in North Carolina. I was pretty excited, I took it home, and hated it. Over the years I've tried listening to it again thinking I'd like it more (I used to hate NYC Ghosts and Flowers, now in a weird way I enjoy that record), but nope, doesn't hit me. Even tried listening to it yesterday and was again disappointed.

~Jeremy~

I can't believe I just saw this thread. I personally love the album. It is by far my favorite not only by SY but of all time. It just really touches me I can identify with every word ..every sound. I had the album for about 2 yrs before i became obsessed.....now i don't ever see myself loving another so much. In fact now i gotta play it yall got me in the mood.

Don't know, it's just never really hit me as a whole, though I will say Bull In The Heather is a great single.

~Jeremy~

i look at it as a notebook or collection of sketches. they range from the catchy (BUll in the Heather) to the whispered (Tokyo Eye). Plus all those tracks in between.

Historically, it was the first SY album I bought as a full-fledged, media-hound fan. Nowadays I don't really read reviews. They make me bitter. But back then in '94, I couldn't get enough. Weird. How mediated has your relationship to SY been?

It was the very first SNY album I bought, at a used CD shop. I loved it then and I love it now. It was a bit of a left turn for them at the time, and I think "expectations" were so different, so I think it got slightly trashed because of that. But I had no reference point....it's a smart, eclectic and exciting album. I hasn't aged a bit.

....and sometimes better than Sonic Youth full-assing. It's a very relaxed and "unforced" album. That's a main charm imho.

but yah. I dig this album. Some songs are REALLY half assed.(Skink)....and others are just great(Starfield Road)

i'm still in love with "screaming skull"!!

THe half assedness is part of the beauty. It's not forced or over done. just right.