Sonic Youth discographyStudio albums 15 EPs 8 Compilation albums 4 Singles 21 Video albums 6 Music videos 46 Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR) 10 Bootlegs 8 Soundtrack and compilation appearances 17
The discography of American rock band Sonic Youth comprises 15 studio albums, seven extended plays , three compilation albums , seven video releases, 21 singles , 46 music videos, ten 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 DGC 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. The Eternal was released three years later in 2009.[ 1] [ 2]
Studio albums
Year
Album details
Peak chart positions
Sales
Certifications
US [ 3]
AUS [ 4]
BEL [ 5]
FRA [ 6]
GER [ 7]
JPN [ 8]
NLD [ 9]
NOR [ 10]
NZ [ 11]
SWE [ 12]
UK [ 13]
1983
Confusion Is Sex
Released: February 11, 1983
Label: Neutral
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1985
Bad Moon Rising
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1986
Evol
Released: May 2, 1986
Label: SST
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1987
Sister
Released: June 29, 1987
Label: SST
—
151
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1988
Daydream Nation
Released: October 18, 1988
Label: Enigma
—
144
91
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
99
1989
The Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth)
Released: January 18, 1989
Label: Enigma
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
63
1990
Goo
Released: June 26, 1990
Label: DGC
96
106
—
—
—
—
71
—
22
—
32
1992
Dirty
Released: July 21, 1992
Label: DGC
83
22
—
—
59
53
57
—
5
26
6
1994
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
Released: May 3, 1994
Label: DGC
34
25
—
—
87
62
65
—
16
27
10
1995
Washing Machine
Released: September 26, 1995
Label: DGC
58
34
38
—
—
94
91
41
—
—
39
1998
A Thousand Leaves
Released: May 12, 1998
Label: DGC
85
66
28
32
84
43
—
37
—
43
38
2000
NYC Ghosts & Flowers
Released: May 16, 2000
Label: Geffen
172
—
—
61
—
—
—
37
—
—
113
2002
Murray Street
Released: June 25, 2002
Label: DGC
126
78
28
48
63
45
—
16
—
—
77
2004
Sonic Nurse
Released: June 7, 2004
Label: DGC
64
54
23
40
89
47
98
21
—
—
—
2006
Rather Ripped
Released: June 13, 2006
Label: Geffen
71
40
20
25
79
41
—
13
—
46
64
2009
The Eternal
Released: June 9, 2009
Label: Matador
18
52
9
19
29
29
90
17
38
28
42
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live albums
Year
Album details
Notes
1984
Sonic Death: Early Sonic 1981–1983
Originally released on cassette only.
1986
Walls Have Ears
Released: 1986
Label: Not
1991
Hold That Tiger
Released: 1991
Label: Goofin'
1992
Live at the Continental Club
Released: 1992
Label: Sonic Death
Recorded in 1986.
Fan club release.
2004
Hidros 3
Released: 2004
Label: Smalltown Supersound
2009
Battery Park, NYC July 4th 2008
Released: June 9, 2009
Label: Matador
Vinyl-only release (as a separate album).
CD version only released in Japan as a bonus disc to The Eternal .
Became more widely available to stream in June 2019[ 18]
2012
Smart Bar Chicago 1985
Released: November 13, 2012
Label: Goofin'
2018
Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • August 17, 2002
Released: 2018
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2018
ABC Glasgow August 2007 Daydream Nation
Released: 2018
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2018
Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • November 5, 1988
Released: 2018
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2018
New York, NY • CBGB • December 13, 1988
Released: 2018
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2018
Berlin, Germany • Columbiahalle • October 21, 2009
Released: 2018
Label: Nugs.net
Also released as a 2x CD-R release in 2019.
2018
Brooklyn, NY • Williamsburg Waterfront • August 12, 2011
Released: 2018
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
Los Angeles, CA • Veterans Wadsworth Theatre • May 28, 1998
Released: 2019
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
Asheville, NC • Orange Peel • August 20, 2004
Released: 2019
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
Trenton, NJ • City Gardens • May 22, 1987
Released: 2019
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
San Francisco, CA • The Warfield • March 5, 1993
Released: 2019
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
Irvine, CA • Crawford Hall • November 3, 1990
Released: 2019
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
Paris, France • Olympia • June 7, 2001
Released: 2019
Label: Nugs.net
Digital-only release from Nugs.net
2019
Live in Moscow April 12–13, 1989
Released in late 2019 on an LP by Feelee Records [ 19] and digitally on Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page[ 21]
Released on February 7, 2020, on major streaming and d/l platforms[ 20]
Formats: LP (300 copies),[ 22] download, streaming
2020
Live in Yugoslavia 1985/1987
Released: 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2020
Live at Brixton Academy 1992
Released: 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2020
Live at All Tomorrows Parties 2000
Released: 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2020
Live in Denver 1986
Released: 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2020
World Trade Center Benefit 2001
Released: 2020
Label: Self-released
Recorded at the Bowery Ballroom NYC on October 7, 2001
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2021
Live in Austin 1995
Released: 2021
Label: Self-released
Recorded at the Austin Music Hall, on Novembver 15, 1995
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2021
Live in Dallas 2006
Released: 2021
Label: Self-released
Recorded at the Gypsy Tea Room, in Dallas on June 24, 2006
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page
2022
Live in Kyiv, Ukraine 1989
Released: April 14, 2022
Label: Self-released
Recorded at DK KPI, in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 14, 1989
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page[ 23]
2023
Live in Brooklyn 2011
Released: August 18, 2023
Label: Silver Current Records and Goofin'
Extended plays
Year
EP details
Notes
1982
Sonic Youth
Released: March 1982
Label: Neutral
Considered by the band to be their first studio album.
1983
Kill Yr Idols
Released: October 1983
Label: Zensor
1987
Master-Dik
Released: November 1987
Label: Blast First
The band's official site lists the record as having possibly been released on January 22, 1988.
Peaked at #106 in UK
1993
Whores Moaning
Released: February 1993
Label: Geffen
Released for Australian/New Zealand tour.
Peaked at #44 in Australia[ 4] and #33 in New Zealand[ 11]
1994
TV Shit
1998
Silver Session for Jason Knuth
Released: July 14, 1998
Label: Sonic Knuth
Dedicated to Sonic Youth fan and radio DJ Jason Knuth.
2001
In the Fishtank 9
Released: July 2001
Label: Konkurrent
With Instant Composers Pool and The Ex .
2002
Kali Yug Express
Released: 2002
Label: Geffen
2009
Sensational Fix
Released: January 2009
Label: Matador
Compilations
Year
Compilation details
Notes
1995
Screaming Fields of Sonic Love
Released: April 25, 1995
Label: DGC
Compilation of songs from 1982 to 1989. The original promo version was released in 1994.
2006
The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities
Released: December 12, 2006
Label: Geffen
Compilation of various B-sides and other rare material.
2008
Hits Are for Squares
Compilation of songs chosen by various celebrities, plus an original song.
2016
Spinhead Sessions 1986
Released: June 17, 2016
Label: Goofin'
Rehearsal recordings made in preparation for the Made in USA soundtrack album.
2020
Rarities 1
Released: August 7, 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
2020
Rarities 2
Released: September 4, 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
2020
Rarities 3
Released: October 2, 2020
Label: Self-released
Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.
2022
In/Out/In
Released: March 18, 2022
Label: Three Lobed Recordings
Five songs recorded between 2000 and 2010.
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 , SYR4 is in English, SYR5 is in Japanese , SYR6 is in Lithuanian , SYR7 is in Arpitan , SYR8 is in Danish , SYR9 is in French, and AUG5 is in English.
Official bootlegs
Year
Title
Notes
1988
Stick Me Donna Majick Momma
Bootleg 7-inch single. The title track being a studio recording from 1985 and an early version of "Expressway to Yr. Skull", while track two was recorded live on October 30, 1983, in Berlin, Germany.
1990
4 Tunna Brix
Four covers of songs by The Fall (one being a cover of a cover of a Kinks song), recorded at the BBC for the John Peel show.
1991
Goo Demos
Fan club release.
Collection of demos for the Goo album.
1994
Live in Bremen
Picture disc.
Possibly released in 1995.
1995
Live Venlo, Holland December 27, 1983
Live show from 1983, released through the band's fan club.
Actual recording date is November 27, 1983.
Blastic Scene
This bootleg had a semi-official release; recorded July 14, 1993, at Campo Pequeno in Lisbon
Singles
Note: Sonic Youth have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Music videos
Soundtracks, tributes and other compilation appearances
Video releases
Year
Video details
Notes
1985
Live at Stache's
Released: 1985
Label: Altavistic (ATV #2)
1991
Goo
Released: 1991
Label: DGC (DGC #V-39508)
1992
Gila Monster Jamboree
Released: 1992
Label: Sonic Death (SD #13005)
1993
1991: The Year Punk Broke
Released: 1993
Label: DGC (DGC #V-39518)
Documentary featuring various alternative rock bands, mostly Sonic Youth.
1995
Screaming Fields of Sonic Love
Released: 1995
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)
References
General
Specific
^ a b c d e f g Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sonic Youth Biography" . AllMusic . Retrieved May 4, 2008 .
^ Maher, David. "Sonic Youth Unveil Rarities Comp Tracklist" . Pitchfork . Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006 .
^ "Sonic Youth Chart History: Billboard 200" . Billboard . Retrieved April 5, 2008 .
^ a b c Australian (ARIA Chart ) peaks:
Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Sonic Youth in Australian Charts" . Hung Medien. Retrieved March 7, 2016 .
Top 100 peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 260.
100+ peaks: "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing May 6, 1991" . Retrieved June 21, 2022 .
Youth Against Fascism: "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing November 16, 1992" . Bubbling Down Under . Retrieved November 16, 2024 .
"100%": "Chartifacts Week Ending 29th May, 1994 – Issue No. 224" . ARIA . Retrieved March 7, 2016 .
"Bull in the Heather": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 19 Jun 1994" . ARIA . Retrieved March 7, 2016 .
^ "Sonic Youth Belgian Album Charting" . Ultratop.be. Retrieved April 12, 2008 .
^ "Sonic Youth French Album Charting" . lescharts.com. Retrieved April 5, 2008 .
^ "Sonic Youth Germany Chart history" . offiziellecharts.de . Retrieved July 1, 2020 .
^ "Sonic Youth Japanese Album Charting" . Oricon . Retrieved October 10, 2008 .
^ "Sonic Youth Dutch Album Charting" . dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 5, 2008 .
^ "Sonic Youth Norwegian Album Charting" . norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved April 12, 2008 .
^ a b c "Sonic Youth New Zealand Charting" . charts.nz. Retrieved April 5, 2008 .
^ "Sonic Youth Swedish Album Charting" . swedishcharts.com. Retrieved April 12, 2008 .
^ a b "Sonic Youth Full Official Chart History" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved April 30, 2016 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "S/FJ: YOU THOUGHT I WAS BACKING OUT" . sfj.abstractdynamics.org . Retrieved March 17, 2022 .
^ "British album certifications – Sonic Youth – Goo" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 12 November 2018. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Goo in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: others (link )
^ "Walls Have Ears" . sonicyouth.com . Retrieved April 30, 2016 .
^ Corcoran, Nina (December 5, 2023). "Sonic Youth Announce Walls Have Ears Reissue, Share First Live Recording of "Expressway to Yr. Skull": Listen" . Pitchfork . Retrieved December 6, 2023 .
^ "Sonic Youth – Spotify" . Spotify . June 2019.
^ a b "Sonic Юность – Live In Moscow (2019, Vinyl)" . Discogs .
^ a b "Live in Moscow (April, 1989) - Album by Sonic Youth" . Apple Music . February 7, 2020.
^ "Live In Moscow 1989 | Sonic Youth" . Retrieved December 21, 2023 .
^ "Review: Sonic Youth's 'Live in Moscow' " . Rolling Stone . February 27, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2023 .
^ "Live in Kyiv, Ukraine 1989, by Sonic Youth" .
^ "Sonic Youth Chart History: Alternative Songs" . Billboard . Retrieved July 1, 2020 .
^ "Sonic Youth Irish charts" . irishcharts.ie . Retrieved April 18, 2008 . Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Sonic Youth".
^ "UK Singles Charts: 1987 (Including chart panel sales)" .
^ "Canadian Recording Industry Association – Search Certification Database" . Canadian Recording Industry Association . Archived from the original on May 1, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2008 . Note: User must define search parameters as "Sonic Youth".
External links
Studio albums Extended plays Live albums Compilations Other albums SYR series Singles Video albums Books Side projects Related articles