Sonic Nurse [ENHANCED]

Sonic Youth

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Original Release Date: June 8, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000255LAM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,582 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If all Sonic Youth albums pretty much sound alike, as skeptics grumble, some Sonic Youth albums definitely sound more alike than others. And Sonic Nurse is one of those. Practically Sonic Youth concentrate, the disc manages to sound like a distillation of the band's career and a promise that they can keep doing this forever. Sonic Youth has trimmed away its more direct hooks, while also curbing its artier indulgences. That isn't to say that melody or noise is absent--especially when it's Kim Gordon's turn to rant on cuts such as "Mariah Carey and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream"--but that these elements are carefully balanced and defer to an overall sound that's richer than ever now that newest member Jim O'Rourke has fully integrated himself into the band's gestalt. The mood may be pastoral and domestic, but often, as on "Peace Attack," it's grounded in an undercurrent of concern. --Keith Harris

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unhealthy? A Sonic Nurse holds the cure., July 27, 2004

By	Ruth A. Miller "viverrinus" (California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

From the keyboard of a devoted Sonic Youth fan:
Out of Sonic Youth albums? A four out of five. Of other 2004 albums? A five out of five. From the start of "Pattern Recognition" to the end of "Peace Attack" you'll get your fair share of the Youth's melodic dissonance. It's a more structured and separated album compared to that of Washing Machine and NYC Ghosts & Flowers in that each song is unique and clearly distinguished from one another.

"Pattern Recognition" is the strong start that such an album requires with Kim's unruffled vocals. As Pattern Recognition finishes, enter:

"Unmade Bed," a mellow "Thurston" song that, for myself, took a while to grow on me, but in the end, I love it. It's also a favorite of theirs to play at the late night shows they have been frequenting recently. An excellent choice on S.Y.'s part in that it features another of their beautiful cacophonous instrumental interludes.

You get another dose of Thurston's singing in the third track "Dripping Dream." The background of their three screeching guitars in the first verse slides into an easy, almost jazz-like, chorus. Then, since it runs for almost eight minutes you get another healthy dose of Sonic's instrumental noise-genius.

Next up? "Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream" This song is always announced live as "Mariah Carey and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream" but was changed on the album to avoid lawsuit. It's driven by Gordon's convicting and almost harsh lyrics that encourage Mariah to "get down before you fall and hurt someone." Open to interpretation, but to myself, comments on the superficial attitude of the entertainment industry.

"Stones" is a Thurston piece, a beautiful piece, not one of the best, but it still retains plenty of Sonic enjoyment for the listener.

"Dude Ranch Nurse" will mend. Just let Nurse give you a shot. It's well worth it for this song, sung by Kim with an appealing overlying tune.

"New Hampshire" begins with a cool minute twenty intro. Featuring the wonderful Mr. O'Rourke playin' a catchy bass line and the great Mr. Moore on vocals.

Now we have Lee singing for us in "Paper Cup Exit." Of Lee's previous work, this ranks up there with the likes of "Skip Tracer" and "Mote". This song number eight will pick you back up if you have zoned out of the album by now.

"I Love You Golden Blue" refers more to Sonic Youth's love of odd assortments of noise contained within a satisfying two-minute plus intro that builds up into a perfectly reasonable S.Y. song. Kim's vocals sound melodiously discordant and almost sad in this serene song.

Finally, we have "Peace Attack." It's a truly conclusive song that is a calm finish compared to the vigorous start produced by "Pattern Recognition."

The enhanced edition of this CD also contains a video called "Unwritten," which is an "examination of the process behind the writing of 'Paper Cup Exit'" and a music video for "Peace Attack." Both are accessible through your CD-ROM drive.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good old style that soothes during these unstable times , October 14, 2004

By	Christopher E. Broski (alamo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

i am 16 years old, and have been enjoying Sonic Youth for about half a year now. Daydream Nation is my favorite, however, often times aged music is scorned on by my peers, and it isnt something that we'd listen to together in the car. This album, although nowhere near as revolutionary as their other albums is very catchy and enjoyable. And is personally valuable to me because it is proof of a living legend, and because it is new it justifies listening to it with friends. Old SY fans will definately enjoy this album, while ppl new to SY may or may not enjoy Sonic Nurse. For you newbies be warned that this music isnt simple and pretty. It is often dissonent, intense, and confusing, but not to fear as there are plenty of pretty melodies -- because of this contrast of sound the music is a much more accurate description of life, and IMO, a much more satisfying listen...Sonic Youth has definately become a part of my life as I hope it will yours, and I would love nothing more than to see a live performance in my lifetime. Definately check out EVOL, Daydream Nation, Dirty, and Sy's other wondreful and inspiring works!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sonic Youth is still at it, April 27, 2005

By	Devin152 (USA) - See all my reviews

Sonic Youth is an interesting band to say the least. They stand pretty much alone in their advant-garde noise rock style, yet have influenced many bands throughout the years.
Sonic Nurse, along with Murray Street, is a twilight album. The underlying meanings in the songs are less agressive than in their earlier days, and the intrumentalization has drastically toned down in intensity.
But the undeniable Sonic Youth Presence is still their. The somewhat sloppy guitar solos of Lee Ranaldo, the mellow, expressive voice of Thurston Moore, the compitent drumwork of Steve Shelly, and Kim is still pounding away on the bass.
Here is a rundown of the songs on the album:

Pattern Recognition: Decent Kim opener. Sets the dark tone for the album. 7/10

Unmade Bed: Fantastic heartfelt song about a woman who is ready to get back into a destructive relationship. The narrator is trying to stop her. 9/10

Dripping Dream: The most expressive sounding song on the album. The guitar solos are golden. 9/10

Mariah Carey and the Arthur Conan Doyle Hand Cream: Here's a fact about the band Sonic Youth: Kim Gordan can not sing all that well. The harder she tries, the worse she sounds. 5/10

Stones: Awesome intro, but the song kind of gets tedious: 7.5/10

Dude Ranch Nurse: Good Kim song, cool guitar effects: 7.5/10

New Hampshire: This song sounds overdone at times, but it still solid. 8/10

Paper Cut Exit: The only song on this album where Lee sings, its a pretty good 9/11 song. 7.5/10

I Love You Golden Blue: This is an awesome, awesome Kim song. She whispers the vocals, which adds to the somewhat lonesome effect of the song. 9/10

Peace Attack: Great song with cool guitar solos. Very Mellow. 9/10