Sonic Youth Geffen Records Updated: 07/26/06
On Rather Ripped, Sonic Youth turn down the distortion, slow the tempo down and turn the amps from 11 to 8-ish. What they don’t tone down is the intelligence and passion inherent in their songs. The group has never stopped learning and trying new things, but what does a quieter, gentler Sonic Youth sound like? We still get mostly hushed vocals from Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, though they do let loose occasionally, but they let the guitar melodies be the centerpiece of the songs. The minor chord progressions are just distinct enough to feel familiar, yet the entire album is one of their most lovely and invites repeated listens to catch everything. Listening to the radio single Incinerate you hear J Mascis’ delivery in Thurston’s vocals and the guitar tunings. On Do You Believe in Rapture?, the simple guitar strumming is accompanied by spare ambient static and distant rain cymbal vibrations. Sleeping Around opens with Eight Miles High like portentous distorted guitar and tom pattern with ample scratchy and wailing performances from Moore and Lee Ranaldo. They work up a sweat to suit a song about sex in the burbs. The Neutral is one of the most clear-headed songs ever from SY, suggesting that they might want people to hear them on the radio, with Kim Gordon’s voice confident, the rhythm moves from strident to flowing, with smart cymbal usage, the guitars pretty, layered, then clean and rocking.
On Rather Ripped, Sonic Youth are at their most accessible while maintaining all the personality and wit that their long time fans know and love. (Bret Miller)
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