Artist: Sonic Youth 
Album: Rather Ripped
Label: Geffen/Universal
Tracks: 12
Length: 51:55
Review by: Luke Kruse

 

One would be hard pressed to think of a band that has released more quality albums than NYC’s Sonic Youth has in the past twenty years.  From early masterpieces like Daydream Nation to recent critically acclaimed albums like Sonic Nurse, Sonic Youth have managed to stay relevant and influential for a long time.  Rather Ripped is yet another fine album to add to an already impressive discography.  For a band with members in their 50’s, the band still sounds remarkably hungry, focused, and rocking on this collection of twelve tracks.

 

Sonic Youth returns to being a four-piece on this album, as longtime contributor Jim O’Rourke left the group prior to Rather Ripped’s recording.  The impact of his departure seems to have had an affect, as the songs here are decidedly more stripped-down and song-oriented than previous outings.  The tracks here mostly stay between three and four minutes, so those who appreciate Sonic Youth when they are at their most jam-oriented will probably be disappointed.  Sonic Youth will always be a guitar band, but the layers of distortion and noise are kept to a minimum in favor or intricate picked parts and simple riffing.  While most of the songs are probably still too artistic for mainstream radio acceptance, tracks such as, “Sleepin Around” and “What a Waste” sound like they could have been MTV hits back in the early 90’s alternative rock heyday.

 

Vocalists Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon split lead vocal duties, and while Gordon’s vocals are perhaps more pleasant, Moore sings lead on the albums two prettiest tracks, the otherworldly “Do You Believe in Rapture” and the slow-building closer “Or.”  The former track is perhaps the albums highlight, complete with haunting religious overtones and gorgeous guitar tones.

 

While there is much to praise about Rather Ripped, I cannot help but feel like the album is not quite the attention grabber it could have been.  This album would sound great while driving at night, but there are few moments on the album that reach out and demand one’s attention.  Rather Ripped is another fine entry into the cannon of a legendary band, but it is not one that will stand as a milestone in their history.