Track Listing

1. Schizophrenia
2. (I Got A) Catholic Block
3. Beauty Lies In The Eye
4. Stereo Sanctity
5. Pipeline/Kill Time
6. Tuff Gnarl
7. Pacific Coast Highway
8. Hot Wire My Heart
9. Kotton Krown
10. White Cross
11. Master-Dik

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55011 in Music
• Released on: 2005-11-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 43 minutes

From Amazon.com
Once again, the band that completely revitalized guitar rock in the '80s brings all its beautiful weapons to bear on this well-crafted and exquisite set of instant classics. Sister finds Sonic Youth in top form and tentatively reaching out for a wider audience. The album benefits from being recorded on all vacuum-tube equipment (even down to the mixing board). The resulting sound is fat, warm, and full of wonderful harmonics. The songs are as evocative and challenging as any in the band's repertoire, though several veer dangerously close to traditional rock territory before being swallowed up in devastating soundscapes. If "Schizophrenia" alone doesn't convince you of this band's godliness, nothing will. --Mike Corrigan

CD Description
With SISTER, Sonic Youth moved even further from the self-conscious punk rock that marred their first releases, SONIC YOUTH (1982) and CONFUSION IS SEX (1983). Incorporating heavyecho effects--especially on bassist Kim Gordon's vocal turns like "Beauty Lies in the Eye"--and Steve Shelley's propulsive and nuanced drumming, SISTER shows the band refining itssignature sound with vocal harmonies and great slabs of rusty guitar. The sound developed by the band here helped shapethe course of American independent rock.
"Catholic Block" creates fascinating tensions between its various instruments, using an almost hypnotic pulse during the verses, while the bridges devolve into near-freeform experimentation. The distorted foundation of "Cotton Crown" ebbs and flows, laying a base that gives the almost ballad-like song an epic feelthat suggest it could go on forever--it is one of the band's best moments. The record concludes with an odd-ball bonus track, "Master-Dik", a bizarre "white-guy" rap from a 12" single that includes a lot of naughty words, in addition to Thurston Moore singing along with a short sample from the Rolling Stones "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". SISTER is a state-of-the-art rock album that shows no signs of aging--a classic.

Customer Reviews

The future is static...
'Sister' & 'Daydream Nation' are the best albums by Sonic Youth in the Eighties. They may very well be the best albums of the 80's (then again, the 80's produced 'Atomizer'; 'Sulk'; 'Locust Abortion Technician'; 'Technique'; 'Remain in Light'; '3 Feet High & Rising'; 'Flip Your Wig'; 'Nebraska'; 'Sign o the Times'; 'Imperial Bedroom'; 'Haus der Luge'-and so many others. Some competition...)The template for this record is probably 'Starpower', a move from the tuffgrot of 'Inhuman'. The majority of tracks here are controlled & subtle- there is a sense of space in these songs (& a burgeoning pop element, that would be explored & rejected on the charming 'Goo' & 'Dirty'). Fans of Philip K Dick will find many references here; 'A Scanner Darkly' & 'Valis' are the two most relevant books...'Schizophrenia' is the opener, building slowly & initially sung by Thurston. We reach that pulsing guitar chime, the sound of the Youth, and Kim takes over. The song then detonates in a lo-fi fashion- giving way to the feedback which begins 'Catholic Block'- a SY classic. Here we have a postrock take on the Stooges- "I've got a cathlolic block/do you like to f**k?". 'Beauty Lies in the Eye' is a mellower number, sung by Kim. It sounds stoned & a portent of later tracks like 'Doctors Orders' & 'Theresa's Sound World'. 'Stereo Sanctity' is another bursting popsong, close to DN's 'Rain King'; while 'Pipeline/killtime' is a Lee Ranaldo vocal akin to 'Mote' & 'Wish Fullfillment'- it falls into a repetitive drone a la 'You Made Me Realise' or 'OD Catastrophe'...'Tuff Gnarl' takes us to quieter climes, the guitars build up & take you places you never thought existed...'Pacific Coast Highway' is a minimal Kim-vocalled drone, which makes me think of Denis Johnson novels & dead Playboy models in car-wrecks & 'Play Misty For Me'& 'The Day of the Locust'& 'Valis'...I don't know who did 'Hot Wire My Heart' originally, but it is one of those great songs about songs on the radio & adrenaline & the moment. They sound like they're having fun!...'Cotton Crown' is more of a lull of feedback, the acid-drenched atmosphere of 'Tom Violence' or 'Ghost Bitch' is recalled. 'White Kross' takes us to that violent thrashy place of 'Death Valley 69' or 'Eric's Trip' & ends a perfect album...The non-beatbox take of 'Masterdik' is an extra track, it's still great Ciccone-fun (though the single is worth getting for the amusing medley, the beatbox & the cover of 'Beat on the Brat'). Any song that says "Jam it anywhere/I don't f***ing care" is bound to be a classic. Attitude?- they got it...So, a classic. A must-own. The future was static. It's coming back to me...

slow grower
I was confused by this album when I bought it. Apart from the first 3 tracks there didn't seem to be much else going on. However, after a while I realized that beyond the simple melodies and seemingly impenetrable noise there was actually some interesting and unique bass, guitar arrangements.

Most of the verses are simple props to allow the band to get to the inevitable instrumental sections that often ended the songs. For example, the spiraling noise freak out of Tuff Gnarl or the ominous harmonic and snarling guitars of Stereo Sanctity's outro.

This album has a weird wirey sound to it. Apparently recorded on wax cylinder vacuum tube equipment, it actually has a pleasant balance that, say, Daydream Nation lacked. You can really the difference between the two guitarist on this record. One has a cleaner over-driven sound whilst the other has a very fuzzy big muff thing going on.

Favorite songs are Catholic Block, Kotton Krown, White Cross, and Schizophrenia. Their best album since Confusion is Sex IMO.

Nothing special as far as I can tell.....
OK - I have only given this album one spin but it didn't really inspire me to listen again in a hurry. Maybe I am missing the point but I found the songs a bit too messy and not enough structure.