reassessing washing machine - Page 5

Green Magnesium · 02.16.2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

Sonic Youth has bad songs. EVERY BAND has bad songs.

Who stated otherwise?

Derek · 02.16.2009, 04:39 PM

The people who posted a few posts above that one.

Rob Instigator · 02.16.2009, 04:50 PM

I like most of this album a lot.
I love Junkie's Promise. It rocks hard like a magic kiss.
I always, always forward past or skip past Little Trouble Girl. I find it tepid and too long, and not to my taste.
I love Panty Lies. and Becuz is one of my favorite Kim songs.

all in all, I put the album in the lower third of SY releases.

nancykitten · 02.16.2009, 05:47 PM

I've been listening to it a lot recently and Saucer-Like is doing a lot more for me now than it ever did back then.

Panty Lies is still irritating as fuck, but I do like the actual music. An instrumental would have been fine; it's Kim's antics there that make it a 'bad song'.

I don't recall liking Junkie's Promise as much either, yet I'm digging it.

It's funny how you can go a few years without hearing a record and then you seem to get something brand new from it; probably because you've experienced all kinds of new music in the meantime, so your ears are constantly 'opening'.

And Skip Tracer is eternal. The Eternal?

Dead-Air · 02.16.2009, 06:23 PM

It's always strange when these old threads resurface, as I can never remember if I commented or not. Digging though, I did, and I said all that I really can about the record.

What's interesting in retrospect is that I find the people who were most critical of this, one of my very favorite SY records, are people who's opinions I generally respect more than most who post here. So what is the difference? I think one level is that the very premise of picking it apart song by song cannot work for me with Washing Machine. That's how I end up looking at EJT&NS because it hits me as an uneven collection of songs that often could have been fleshed out to reach their potential. Washing Machine, though is an ALBUM, in fact the most so of anything they'd done since the '80s and the most so of anything they would do until Nurse. Each song is stronger for me because of the song that follows it and the song before, and really they don't stand alone because of that. It's a record to put on and feel rather than pick apart.

atsonicpark · 02.16.2009, 06:27 PM

no queen blues really is an underrated masterpiece. I probably listen to it more than any other song on the album.

akprodr · 02.16.2009, 07:03 PM

Skip Tracer is defiantly one of my all time fav songs. Panty Lies is a good one. Unwind isn't high up there.

Malcolm81 · 02.16.2009, 07:19 PM

Sonic Youth do have bad songs, of course... who says they don't? But in my opinion, Washing Machine doesn't have a single bad track. No Queen Blues might even be my most favorite SY song...

atsonicpark · 02.16.2009, 07:21 PM

Again, someone on the last page said they don't have any bad songs!

Dead-Air · 02.16.2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

Again, someone on the last page said they don't have any bad songs!

"Bad" is such a subjective thing though. I don't particularly like "Hits of Sunshine" because I just find the whole hippie trip Thurston was on with it a bit too cheesy and don't really think it's a very fitting tribute to Ginsberg who to me is about a whole lot more than acid. However, I wouldn't say it's a "bad" song. If somebody else finds listening to it a fulfilling experience, more power to them. I'm even mildly envious that they are enjoying a song I can't get into.

atsonicpark · 02.16.2009, 07:49 PM

I love that song. 11 minutes of 2 boring bass chords and random spacey sounds. Masterpiece.

02.16.2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead-Air

"Bad" is such a subjective thing though. I don't particularly like "Hits of Sunshine" because I just find the whole hippie trip Thurston was on with it a bit too cheesy and don't really think it's a very fitting tribute to Ginsberg who to me is about a whole lot more than acid. However, I wouldn't say it's a "bad" song. If somebody else finds listening to it a fulfilling experience, more power to them. I'm even mildly envious that they are enjoying a song I can't get into.

That's one my favourite Sonic Youth songs, which I find a bit odd 'cause it's one of their most 'straight' numbers. I agree with the whole 'overall feel' about this record, whereas EJSTNS' strength for me comes from the very fact that it feels like such a fragmented album, with songs being able to sustain their own worth by themselves. Up until 'Sonic Nurse' I always felt like all their records worked as some sort of narrative that unfolded with each record, and then I was badly let down when that one came out, which sounded like a dull chapter in the whole story.

Rob Instigator · 02.16.2009, 08:00 PM

ive done hits of sunshine.
love that song

viewtiful_alan · 02.16.2009, 08:29 PM

Am I the only one who loves Saucer-like...?
I just love Lee's vocals on that one, and the ooh's in the chorus really work for me XD

samuel · 02.16.2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viewtiful_alan

Am I the only one who loves Saucer-like...?
I just love Lee's vocals on that one, and the ooh's in the chorus really work for me XD

I think Saucer-Like is perfect. I love whenever Lee and Kim are paired together vocally. I know Kim doesn't say much, but when she does come in underneath Lee, it's beautiful. The music is fantastic too!

This is also why I love I Dreamed I Dream.

EVOLghost · 02.16.2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

no queen blues really is an underrated masterpiece. I probably listen to it more than any other song on the album.

Great song indeed, probably my favorite right next to Diamond Sea.

joe11121 · 02.17.2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

I think Saucer-Like is perfect. I love whenever Lee and Kim are paired together vocally. I know Kim doesn't say much, but when she does come in underneath Lee, it's beautiful. The music is fantastic too!

This is also why I love I Dreamed I Dream.

I Dreamed I Dream is an awesome track, I do love when the two are singing together, although I'm not the biggest fan of Saucer-like, it is in no way a bad song. Now, Panty Lies is a god awful track.

jetengine · 02.18.2009, 10:02 AM

I don't think it's as consistent musically and conceptually as what A Thousand Leaves is--or their other mainstream double LP from the '90s, Dirty. I think it comes across as a flawed masterpiece because (and I think I already mentioned this in this thread some time back) 'The Diamond Sea' got its tail chopped off, 'Becuz' got split in two and divided between sides 1 and 3, and it seems to be missing a number ('My Arena'?) regardless of whether 'Becuz' was kept in one piece or not (i.e., either way, Side 1 or Side 3 is going to seem truncated to vinyl listeners). So, from my angle anyway, the album sounds unfinished on 2 or 3 different levels. I can't understand how the band allowed Geffen to talk them into this. Sad, really.

A similar thing can be said about Sonic Nurse--at least to LP listeners: Sides 3 and 4 really need 'Kim's Chords', 'Beautiful Plateau' and 'Fire Engine Dream'. But at least all the numbers that made it onto Sonic Nurse never got chopped up and divided--at least to the best of my knowledge.

[Sandbag] · 02.18.2009, 09:13 PM

i'll not try to write down in a pretentious extended musical journo lingo if this album IS good or band

but only what i think of it.

becuz: is a great opener. its a bit repetitive, but when the middle part starts... i can't avoid getting goosebumps... that middle part in this song is the best musical achievement in the history of humanity.

junkies promise: great song too. nothing special... catchy rhythm and singing.

saucer like: nice song.. nice riffs.. i like the last part...

washing machine: greeeeeeeeeeat song. including the ending (trippy) and kims tomboy vocals...i LOVE HER VOICE.

unwind: it's ok.. song for going to sleep as someone said. sounds a bit like the diamond sea...

little trouble girl: theres nothing wrong with this track. i love the voices and the guitar is ok.. not one of my faves.. but its not shit neither.

no queen blues: dirty..the voice, guitars and rhythm. love this one.

panty lies: if you feel uncomfortable by kims voice when playing this loud, that means the song works. one of the best songs by them.

untitled: niiiiice stuff.

skip tracer: best song on the album (by Lee :P) great lyrics.. and it grows..

the diamond sea: this is perfection.

all of the above is only my personal opinion ^_^

[Sandbag] · 02.18.2009, 09:22 PM

i can't think of one sonic youth bad song

02.16.2009, 04:39 PM	#82
Derek invito al cielo Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 8,095	The people who posted a few posts above that one.
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02.16.2009, 04:50 PM	#83
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,976	I like most of this album a lot. I love Junkie's Promise. It rocks hard like a magic kiss. I always, always forward past or skip past Little Trouble Girl. I find it tepid and too long, and not to my taste. I love Panty Lies. and Becuz is one of my favorite Kim songs. all in all, I put the album in the lower third of SY releases. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
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02.16.2009, 05:47 PM	#84
nancykitten children of satan Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 316	I've been listening to it a lot recently and Saucer-Like is doing a lot more for me now than it ever did back then. Panty Lies is still irritating as fuck, but I do like the actual music. An instrumental would have been fine; it's Kim's antics there that make it a 'bad song'. I don't recall liking Junkie's Promise as much either, yet I'm digging it. It's funny how you can go a few years without hearing a record and then you seem to get something brand new from it; probably because you've experienced all kinds of new music in the meantime, so your ears are constantly 'opening'. And Skip Tracer is eternal. The Eternal? __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.16.2009, 06:23 PM	#85
Dead-Air invito al cielo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portland OR Posts: 4,300	It's always strange when these old threads resurface, as I can never remember if I commented or not. Digging though, I did, and I said all that I really can about the record. What's interesting in retrospect is that I find the people who were most critical of this, one of my very favorite SY records, are people who's opinions I generally respect more than most who post here. So what is the difference? I think one level is that the very premise of picking it apart song by song cannot work for me with Washing Machine. That's how I end up looking at EJT&NS because it hits me as an uneven collection of songs that often could have been fleshed out to reach their potential. Washing Machine, though is an ALBUM, in fact the most so of anything they'd done since the '80s and the most so of anything they would do until Nurse. Each song is stronger for me because of the song that follows it and the song before, and really they don't stand alone because of that. It's a record to put on and feel rather than pick apart. __________________ FuckBook; My Band; My Radio Show; My Flickr Page; Science Fiction Message Board
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.16.2009, 06:27 PM	#86
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	no queen blues really is an underrated masterpiece. I probably listen to it more than any other song on the album. __________________
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02.16.2009, 07:03 PM	#87
akprodr the end of the ugly Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mt Clair Posts: 1,129	Skip Tracer is defiantly one of my all time fav songs. Panty Lies is a good one. Unwind isn't high up there. __________________ Odi profanum vulgus et arceo
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02.16.2009, 07:19 PM	#88
Malcolm81 little trouble girl Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 36	Sonic Youth do have bad songs, of course... who says they don't? But in my opinion, Washing Machine doesn't have a single bad track. No Queen Blues might even be my most favorite SY song...
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02.16.2009, 07:21 PM	#89
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	Again, someone on the last page said they don't have any bad songs! __________________
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02.16.2009, 07:49 PM	#91
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	I love that song. 11 minutes of 2 boring bass chords and random spacey sounds. Masterpiece. __________________
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02.16.2009, 08:00 PM	#93
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,976	ive done hits of sunshine. love that song __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
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02.16.2009, 08:29 PM	#94
viewtiful_alan invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 2,663	Am I the only one who loves Saucer-like...? I just love Lee's vocals on that one, and the ooh's in the chorus really work for me XD __________________
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02.18.2009, 10:02 AM	#98
jetengine children of satan Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 399	I don't think it's as consistent musically and conceptually as what A Thousand Leaves is--or their other mainstream double LP from the '90s, Dirty. I think it comes across as a flawed masterpiece because (and I think I already mentioned this in this thread some time back) 'The Diamond Sea' got its tail chopped off, 'Becuz' got split in two and divided between sides 1 and 3, and it seems to be missing a number ('My Arena'?) regardless of whether 'Becuz' was kept in one piece or not (i.e., either way, Side 1 or Side 3 is going to seem truncated to vinyl listeners). So, from my angle anyway, the album sounds unfinished on 2 or 3 different levels. I can't understand how the band allowed Geffen to talk them into this. Sad, really. A similar thing can be said about Sonic Nurse--at least to LP listeners: Sides 3 and 4 really need 'Kim's Chords', 'Beautiful Plateau' and 'Fire Engine Dream'. But at least all the numbers that made it onto Sonic Nurse never got chopped up and divided--at least to the best of my knowledge.
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02.18.2009, 09:13 PM	#99
[Sandbag] 100% Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 820	i'll not try to write down in a pretentious extended musical journo lingo if this album IS good or band but only what i think of it. becuz: is a great opener. its a bit repetitive, but when the middle part starts... i can't avoid getting goosebumps... that middle part in this song is the best musical achievement in the history of humanity. junkies promise: great song too. nothing special... catchy rhythm and singing. saucer like: nice song.. nice riffs.. i like the last part... washing machine: greeeeeeeeeeat song. including the ending (trippy) and kims tomboy vocals...i LOVE HER VOICE. unwind: it's ok.. song for going to sleep as someone said. sounds a bit like the diamond sea... little trouble girl: theres nothing wrong with this track. i love the voices and the guitar is ok.. not one of my faves.. but its not shit neither. no queen blues: dirty..the voice, guitars and rhythm. love this one. panty lies: if you feel uncomfortable by kims voice when playing this loud, that means the song works. one of the best songs by them. untitled: niiiiice stuff. skip tracer: best song on the album (by Lee :P) great lyrics.. and it grows.. the diamond sea: this is perfection. all of the above is only my personal opinion ^_^ __________________ My new facebook page for my new mainstream noise band
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02.18.2009, 09:22 PM	#100
[Sandbag] 100% Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 820	i can't think of one sonic youth bad song __________________ My new facebook page for my new mainstream noise band
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