A Thousand Leaves
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| A Thousand Leaves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Sonic Youth | ||||
| Released | May 12, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1997–1998 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, psychedelic rock, experimental rock | |||
| Length | 73:36 | |||
| Label | DGC | |||
| Producer | Sonic Youth, Wharton Tiers | |||
| Sonic Youth chronology | ||||
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| Singles from A Thousand Leaves | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Blender | link |
| Entertainment Weekly | (C+) link |
| Mark Prindle |   link |
| Pitchfork Media | (7.1/10) Jun 1 1998 |
| Robert Christgau | (A+) link |
| Rolling Stone |  5/6/98 |
A Thousand Leaves is an album by Sonic Youth. It was the group's first major album to be recorded in their private Manhattan studio, dubbed Echo Canyon.
There are several French references on A Thousand Leaves. On the CD label the phrase mille feuille is crossed out and a thousand leaves is written under it. The name of the first song, "Contre le Sexisme", means against sexism in French. "French Tickler" refers to a sex toy of the same name. It was Thurston Moore who came up with the title, which is inspired by Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass.[citation needed]
A Thousand Leaves peaked at #38 on the UK Album Chart in May 1998.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Sonic Youth.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Contre le sexisme" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) | 3:55 |
| 2. | "Sunday" (lyrics/vocals Moore) | 4:52 |
| 3. | "Female Mechanic Now on Duty" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) | 7:43 |
| 4. | "Wildflower Soul" (lyrics/vocals Moore, background vocal Gordon) | 9:04 |
| 5. | "Hoarfrost" (lyrics/vocals Ranaldo) | 5:01 |
| 6. | "French Tickler" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) | 4:52 |
| 7. | "Hits of Sunshine (For Allen Ginsberg)" (lyrics/vocals Moore) | 11:05 |
| 8. | "Karen Koltrane" (lyrics/vocals Ranaldo, background vocal Moore) | 9:20 |
| 9. | "The Ineffable Me" (lyrics Moore, vocals Gordon) | 5:21 |
| 10. | "Snare, Girl" (lyrics/vocals Moore) | 6:38 |
| 11. | "Heather Angel" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) | 6:09 |
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Total length:
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73:36 | |
[edit] Personnel
Band
- Lee Ranaldo – guitar, vocals
- Kim Gordon – bass, guitar, vocals
- Thurston Moore – guitar, vocals
- Steve Shelley – drums
Technical staff
- Sonic Youth – producers
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Don Fleming – producer
- Wharton Tiers – producer
- Frank Olinsky
- Mark Borthwick – photography, lettering
- Marnie Weber – artwork
[edit] Album charts
| Year | Album | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | A Thousand Leaves | French Albums Chart | 32 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 37 | ||
| UK Albums Chart | 38 | ||
| Sweden Albums Chart | 43 | ||
| German Albums Chart | 84 | ||
| US Billboard Top 200 | 85 |
[edit] Charting singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sunday | UK Singles Chart | 72 |
[edit] In pop culture
The single "Sunday" is featured in the films Bongwater and subUrbia.
