Sonic Youth discography

Sonic Youth discography
Sonic Youth discography
Studio albums	15
Compilation albums	4
Video albums	6
Music videos	46
EPs	8
Singles	21
Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR)	8
Bootlegs	8
Soundtrack and compilation appearances	16

Sonic Youth is an alternative rock band formed in New York City in 1981.^[1] Sonic Youth's lineup currently includes Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Kim Gordon, Mark Ibold, and Steve Shelley. The band's discography includes 16 studio albums, seven extended plays, three Compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, eight releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series, eight official bootlegs, and contributions to 16 soundtracks and other compilations.

In 1981 Sonic Youth signed with Neutral Records, and released its eponymous debut EP Sonic Youth the next year.^[1] The band's first full-length album was Confusion is Sex, released in 1983.^[1] Kill Yr Idols was released the same year, under the German label Zensor Records.^[1] Bad Moon Rising was released two years later on Blast First, a label created specifically for Sonic Youth releases.^[1] In 1986 Sonic Youth signed to SST Records and released EVOL later the same year. The album gained the band increasing critical acclaim and exposure, and the group released Sister and the double LP Daydream Nation in 1987 and 1988 respectively, the latter on Enigma Records.^[1]

In 1990 the band signed to major label Geffen Records, and released Goo the same year. The band's 1991 tour with the then little-known band Nirvana was documented in the film 1991: The Year Punk Broke. In 1992, Sonic Youth released Dirty. Two years later, the group released Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, and Washing Machine the following year.^[1]

Forced to start from scratch after its instruments and equipment were stolen, the band released NYC Ghosts & Flowers in 2000. Sonic Youth released Murray Street in the summer of 2002, followed in 2004 by Sonic Nurse. Rather Ripped and The Destroyed Room: B-sides and Rarities were released in 2006, the latter featuring tracks previously available only on vinyl, limited-release compilations, B-sides to international singles, and other previously unreleased material.^[1]^[2]

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
Year	Album details	US ^[3]^[4]	UK ^[5]^[6]	AUS ^[7]	GER ^[8]	FRA ^[9]	NOR ^[10]	SWE ^[11]	NLD ^[12]	NZ ^[13]	BEL ^[14]	JPN ^[15]
1983	Confusion Is Sex Released: February 1983 Label: Neutral (Neutral #9)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985	Bad Moon Rising Released: March 1985 Label: Homestead (HMS #16)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1986	EVOL Released: March 1986 Label: SST (SST #59)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1987	Sister Released: June 1987 Label: SST (SST #134)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1988	Daydream Nation Released: October 1988 Label: Enigma (EN #75403-02)	—	99	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989	The Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth) Released: January 1989 Label: Enigma (EN #7 75402)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990	Goo Released: June 26, 1990 Label: DGC (DGC #24297)	96	32	94	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992	Dirty Released: July 21, 1992 Label: DGC (DGC #24485)	83	6	22	59	—	—	26	—	—	—	53
1994	Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star Released: May 3, 1994 Label: DGC (DGC #24632)	34	10	25	87	—	—	27	65	16	—	62
1995	Washing Machine Released: September 26, 1995 Label: DGC (DGC #24852)	58	39	34	—	—	—	—	91	41	38	94
1998	A Thousand Leaves Released: May 12, 1998 Label: DGC (DGC #25203)	85	38	66	84	32	37	43	—	—	28	43
2000	NYC Ghosts & Flowers Released: May 16, 2000 Label: Geffen (GEF #069490650-2)	172	113	—	—	61	37	—	—	—	—	—
2002	Murray Street Released: June 25, 2002 Label: DGC (DGC #694933192)	126	77	78	63	48	16	—	—	—	28	45
2004	Sonic Nurse Released: June 7, 2004 Label: Geffen (GEF #B0002549-12)	64	—	54	89	40	21	—	98	—	23	47
2006	Rather Ripped Released: June 13, 2006 Label: Geffen (GEF #B0006757-02)	71	64	40	79	25	13	46	—	—	20	41
2009	The Eternal Released: June 9, 2009 Label: Matador	18	42	52	29	19	17	28	90	38	9	29
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
		US	UK	AUS	GER	FRA	NOR	SWE	NLD	NZ	BEL	JPN
		Peak chart positions

Extended plays

Year	EP details	Notes
1982	Sonic Youth Released: March 1982 Labels: Neutral (Neutral #1)	Sonic Youth's debut release. Reissued in 2006 by Geffen with eight extra tracks.
1983	Kill Yr Idols Released: October 1983 Label: Zensor Records (Z #S10)	Released on CD with Confusion Is Sex by Geffen in 1995.
1987	Master-Dik Released: January 1988 Label: Blast First (CHAT #1)
1993	Whores Moaning Released: February 1993 Label: Geffen (GEF #21783)	Released for Australian/New Zealand tour.
1994	TV Shit Released: February 1994 Label: Ecstatic Peace! (E #38)	With Yamatsuka Eye.
1998	Silver Session for Jason Knuth Released: July 14, 1998 Label: Sonic Knuth Records (SKR #1)	Dedicated to Sonic Youth fan and radio DJ, Jason Knuth.
2002	In the Fishtank 9 Released: July 2001 Label: Konkurrent Records	With Instant Composers Pool and The Ex.
2002	Kali Yug Express Released: 2002 Label: Geffen Records
2009	Sensational Fix Released: January 2009 Label: Matador Records

Compilations

Year	Compilation details	Notes
1984	Sonic Death Label: Ecstatic Peace (E #2)	Live recordings from 1981 to 1983.
1995	Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Released: April 25, 1995 Label: DGC (DGC #24809)	Compilation of songs from Daydream Nation and earlier.
2006	The Destroyed Room: B-sides and Rarities Released: December 12, 2006 Label: Geffen (GEF #B000812402)	Compilation of various B-sides.
2008	Hits Are for Squares Released: June 10, 2008 Label: Starbucks	Compilation of songs chosen by various celebrities, plus an original song.

Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR) series

Sonic Youth have released a number of mostly experimental and instrumental releases under their own label Sonic Youth Recordings. The SYR series has established a tradition where each album is released in a different language. SYR1 has song titles and album sleeve artwork all in French, SYR2 is in Dutch, SYR3 is in Esperanto, SYR5 is in Japanese, and SYR6 is in Lithuanian.

Year	Album details	Notes
1997	SYR1: Anagrama Released: June 10, 1997
1997	SYR2: Slaapkamers Met Slagroom Released: September 2, 1997
1998	SYR3: Invito Al Ĉielo Released: February 24, 1998	Sonic Youth's first collaboration with Jim O'Rourke.
1999	SYR4: Goodbye 20^th Century Released: November 16, 1999	Double-album featuring covers of various avant-garde recordings by Sonic Youth and collaborators other such as John Cage, Yoko Ono, Steve Reich, and Christian Wolff.
2000	SYR5 Released: August 29, 2000	Collaboration between Kim Gordon, DJ Olive, and Ikue Mori.
2005	SYR6: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui Released: December 6, 2005	Live recording of a Anthology Film Archives benefit show, played to silent films of Stan Brakhage. It is a CD only release.
2008	SYR7: J'Accuse Ted Hughes Released: April 22, 2008	It is a Vinyl only release.
2008	SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth Released: July 28, 2008	Live recording of the 2005 Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Featuring Jim O'Rourke, Mats Gustafsson, and Masami Akita.

Official bootlegs

Year	Title	Notes
1986	The Walls Have Ears	Live show from 1985.
1988	Stick Me Donna Majick Momma
1990	4 Tunna Brix
1991	Goo Demos	Collection of demos for Goo.
1991	Hold that Tiger	Live show from 1987.
1992	Live at the Continental Club	Live show from 1986, released through the band's fan club.
1994	Live in Bremen
1995	Live Venlo, Holland 12.27.83	Live show from 1983, released through the band's fan club.

Video releases

Year	Video details	Notes
1985	Live at Stache's Label: Altavistic (ATV #2)	Concert video filmed on August 1, 1985 in Columbus, Ohio.
1991	Goo Released: April 13, 1993 Label: DGC (DGC #V-39508)	Compilation of music videos for every song on Goo. Featured on Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990–2002.
1992	Gila Monster Jamboree Label: Sonic Death (SD #13005)	Concert video filmed on January 5, 1985 in the Mojave Desert.
1992	1991: The Year Punk Broke Label: DGC (DGC #V-39518)	Documentary featuring various alternative rock bands, mostly Sonic Youth.
1995	Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Label: DGC (DGC #V-39550)	Collects all of the band's pre-DGC music videos and a couple of live performances.
2004	Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990–2002 Released: June 8, 2004 Label: Geffen (GEF #75409)	Compilation DVD of the band's Geffen-era videos, from 1990–2002. Certified gold in Canada.^[16]

Soundtrack and compilation appearances

Year	Title	Track(s)
1988	Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute to Captain Beefheart OST	"Electricity"
1988	Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father	"Within You Without You"
1990	Pump Up the Volume OST	"Titanium Exposé"
1992	Fortune Cookie Surprise: A Tribute Album to Beat Happening	"Black Candy"
1993	Judgment Night OST	"I Love You Mary Jane" with Cypress Hill
1994	If I Were a Carpenter	"Superstar"
1995	My So-Called Life OST	"Genetic"
1995	Made in USA	All tracks.
1997	SubUrbia OST	Three original songs and one from Thurston Moore solo album.
1997	Nowhere OST	"Hendrix Necro"
2002	Demonlover OST	Eight original songs.
2004	Hidros 3 (To Patti Smith) with Mats Gustafsson
2006	From the Kitchen Archives No. 3 – Amplified: New Music Meets Rock 1981–1986	"World Looks Red", "Shaking Hell"
2006	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited	"Dry Bones" with Rosewell Rudd
2007	Like a Hurricane: A Tribute to Neil Young	"Computer Age"
2007	I'm Not There OST	"I'm Not There"
2008	Juno OST	"Superstar"

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions			Album
Year	Single	US Mod. ^[3]^[4]	UK singles ^[5]^[6]	IRL ^[17]	Album
1984	"Death Valley '69"	—	—	—	Bad Moon Rising
1985	"Flower/Halloween"	—	—	—
1986	"Flower/Satan is Boring"	—	—	—
	"Starpower"	—	—	—	EVOL
	"Into the Groove(y)" (as Ciccone Youth)	—	—	—	The Whitey Album
1988	"Teen Age Riot"	20	—	—	Daydream Nation
1989	"Silver Rocket"	—	—	—	Daydream Nation
1989	"Touch Me I'm Sick/Halloween"	—	—	—	split with Mudhoney
1990	"Kool Thing"	7	81	24	Goo
1990	"Disappearer"	—	—	—
1991	"Dirty Boots"	—	—	—
1992	"100%"	4	28	—	Dirty
1992	"Youth Against Fascism"	—	52	—
1993	"Sugar Kane"	—	26	—
1993	"Drunken Butterfly"	—	—	—
1994	"Bull in the Heather"	13	24	—	Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
1994	"Superstar"	26	—	—	If I Were a Carpenter
1995	"The Diamond Sea"	—	—	—	Washing Machine
1996	"Little Trouble Girl"	—	85	—	Washing Machine
1998	"Sunday"	—	72	—	A Thousand Leaves'
2000	"Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)"	—	—	—	NYC Ghosts & Flowers
2003	"Kim Gordon & The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream"	—	—	—	split with Erase Errata
2006	"Helen Lundeberg/Eyeliner"	—	—	—	Rather Ripped
	"Incinerate"	—	—	—	Rather Ripped
	"Beautiful Plateau"	—	—	—	The Destroyed Room
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Music videos

Year	Title	Director
1985	"Death Valley '69"	Richard Kern
1986	"Shadow of a Doubt"	Kevin Kerslake
1987	"Beauty Lies in the Eye"	Kevin Kerslake
1988	"Teen Age Riot"	Sonic Youth
	"Silver Rocket"	Charles Atlas
	"Providence"	Peter Fowler Sonic Youth
	"Candle"	Kevin Kerslake
	"Addicted to Love" (as Ciccone Youth)	Kim Gordon
	"Macbeth" (as Ciccone Youth)	Dave Markey
1990	"Kool Thing"	Tamra Davis
1990	"Disappearer"	Todd Haynes
1991	"Dirty Boots"	Tamra Davis
	"Tunic (Song for Karen)"	Tony Oursler
	"Mary-Christ"	Steve Shelley
	"Mote"	Ray Agony
	"My Friend Goo"	Dave Markey Joe Cole Kim Gordon Thurston Moore
	"Mildred Pierce"	Dave Markey
	"Cinderella's Big Score"	Dave Markey
	"Scooter + Jinx"	Richard Kern
	"Titanium Expose"	Phil Morrison
1992	"100%"	Tamra Davis Spike Jonze
1992	"Youth Against Fascism"	Nick Egan
1993	"Sugar Kane"	Nick Egan
	"Drunken Butterfly"	Stephen Hellweg
	"Swimsuit Issue"	Morty
1994	"Bull in the Heather"	Tamra Davis Kim Gordon
1994	"Superstar"	Dave Markey
1995	"Little Trouble Girl"	Mark Romanek
1995	"The Diamond Sea"	Spike Jonze Lance Bangs Dave Markey Steve Paine Angus Wall
1998	"Sunday"	Harmony Korine
1998	"Hoarfrost"	Lee Ranaldo
1999	"Piano Piece #13 (Carpenter's Piece)"	Sonic Youth
2000	"Nevermind (What was it Anyway)"	Kim Gordon Jim O'Rourke Chris Habib
2002	"The Empty Page"	Thurston Moore Chris Habib
2002	"Disconnection Notice"	Tom Surgal
2004	"Peace Attack"	Chris Habib
2004	"I Love You Golden Blue"	Dave Markey
2006	"Incinerate"	Claire Denis
	"Do You Believe In Rapture?"	Braden King
	"Jams Run Free"	Claire Denis
	"Reena"	Braden King
2009	"Sacred Trickster"	Tom Surgal

References

General

"Sonic Youth – Discography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-04-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
"Sonic Youth". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
"Sonic Youth home page". Sonic Youth. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
"Sonic Youth : Releases". Geffen Records. Retrieved 2008-04-12.

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sonic Youth > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
^ Maher, David. "Sonic Youth Unveil Rarities Comp Tracklist". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
^ ^a ^b "Sonic Youth – Artist Chart History – Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ ^a ^b "Sonic Youth > Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
^ ^a ^b "UK Top 40 Hit Database". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2007-09-28. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Sonic Youth."
^ ^a ^b "Chart Stats – Sonic Youth". ChartStats.com. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
^ "australian-charts.com - Sonic Youth". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
^ "Sonic Youth Germany Chart history". Musicline.de. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
^ "Sonic Youth French Album Charting". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
^ "Sonic Youth Norwegian Album Charting". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
^ "Sonic Youth Swedish Album Charting". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
^ "Sonic Youth Dutch Album Charting". dutchcharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
^ "Sonic Youth New Zealand Charting". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
^ "Sonic Youth Belgian Album Charting". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
^ "Sonic Youth Japanese Album Charting". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
^ "Canadian Recording Industry Association – Search Certification Database". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2008-07-10. Note: User must define search parameters as "Sonic Youth".
^ "Sonic Youth Irish charts". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-04-18. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Sonic Youth".

External links

[AMG_bio-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sonic Youth > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-05-04.

[2] Maher, David. "Sonic Youth Unveil Rarities Comp Tracklist". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2006-11-07.

[Billboard_200-3] "Sonic Youth – Artist Chart History – Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[AMG_US_Charts-4] "Sonic Youth > Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-05.

[UK_Charts-5] "UK Top 40 Hit Database". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2007-09-28. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Sonic Youth."

[UK_Charts_2-6] "Chart Stats – Sonic Youth". ChartStats.com. Retrieved 2008-04-20.

[Australian_Charts-7] "australian-charts.com - Sonic Youth". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2007-12-04.

[German_Charts-8] "Sonic Youth Germany Chart history". Musicline.de. Retrieved 2008-04-07.

[French_Charts-9] "Sonic Youth French Album Charting". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.

[Norwegian_Charts-10] "Sonic Youth Norwegian Album Charting". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-12.

[Swedish_Charts-11] "Sonic Youth Swedish Album Charting". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-12.

[Netherlands_Charts-12] "Sonic Youth Dutch Album Charting". dutchcharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.

[New_Zealand_Charts-13] "Sonic Youth New Zealand Charting". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2008-04-05.

[Belgian_Charts-14] "Sonic Youth Belgian Album Charting". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2008-04-12.

[Japanese_Charts-15] "Sonic Youth Japanese Album Charting". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2008-10-10.

[CRIA-16] "Canadian Recording Industry Association – Search Certification Database". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2008-07-10. Note: User must define search parameters as "Sonic Youth".

[17] "Sonic Youth Irish charts". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-04-18. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Sonic Youth".

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v t e Sonic Youth
Thurston Moore Kim Gordon Lee Ranaldo Steve Shelley Bob Bert Anne DeMarinis Richard Edson Mark Ibold Jim O'Rourke Jim Sclavunos
Studio albums	Confusion Is Sex Bad Moon Rising EVOL Sister Daydream Nation The Whitey Album Goo Dirty Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star Washing Machine A Thousand Leaves NYC Ghosts & Flowers Murray Street Sonic Nurse Rather Ripped The Eternal
Extended plays	Sonic Youth Kill Yr Idols Master-Dik 4 Tunna Brix Whores Moaning TV Shit Silver Session for Jason Knuth
Live albums	Sonic Death Walls Have Ears Hold That Tiger Live at the Continental Club Battery Park, NYC July 4th 2008 Smart Bar Chicago 1985 Live in Brooklyn 2011
Compilations	Screaming Fields of Sonic Love The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities Hits Are for Squares
Other albums	Made in USA In the Fishtank 9 Demonlover In/Out/In
SYR series	SYR1: Anagrama SYR2: Slaapkamers met slagroom SYR3: Invito al ĉielo SYR4: Goodbye 20^th Century SYR5: ミュージカルパ一スペクティブ SYR6: Koncertas Stan Brakhage prisiminimui SYR7: J'Accuse Ted Hughes SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth SYR9: Simon Werner a Disparu
Singles	"Death Valley '69" (feat. Lydia Lunch) "Flower"/"Halloween" "Flower"/"Satan Is Boring" "Starpower" "Teen Age Riot" "Silver Rocket" "Touch Me I'm Sick" "Kool Thing" "Dirty Boots" "100%" "Youth Against Fascism" "Sugar Kane" "Drunken Butterfly" "Bull in the Heather" "Superstar" "Sunday"
Video albums	Goo Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990–2002
Books	Goodbye 20th Century Girl in a Band: A Memoir Sonic Life: A Memoir
Side projects	Body/Head Chelsea Light Moving Dim Stars Free Kitten Harry Crews Gate
Related articles	Discography No wave 1991: The Year Punk Broke
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