Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Truth be told, the grunge era never quite fit Sonic Youth. They may have been at the peak of their popularity, but they had traded their experimentalism for sheer, bracing noise. It may have sounded good, but ultimately Dirty didn't have the cerebral impact of Sister, largely because it was tied to an admittedly effective backbeat. Beginning with Washing Machine, Sonic Youth returned to more adventurous territory, and in 1997, they released a series of EPs that illustrated their bond with such post-rock groups as Tortoise and Gastr del Sol. Those EPs, as well as the epic Washing Machine closer, "The Diamond Sea," provide the foundation for A Thousand Leaves, the band's most challenging and satisfying record in years. The blasts of dissonance that characterized their SST masterworks have been replaced, by and large, by winding, intricate improvisations. There's a surprising warmth to the subdued guitars of Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, and Kim Gordon, which keeps the lengthy songs captivating. Both Moore and Ranaldo concentrate on quiet material, which almost makes Gordon's noisy politicized rants sound a little out of place, but her best moments ("French Tickler," "Heather Angel") have unsettling, unpredictable twists and turns that greatly contribute to the success of A Thousand Leaves. It may be their most cerebral album in ages, but that only makes it all the more engaging.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Sonic Youth, Producer, MainArtist - Wharton Tiers, Producer - Lee Ranaldo, ComposerLyricist - Don Fleming, Producer, Additional Producer - Thurston Moore, ComposerLyricist - Steve Shelley, ComposerLyricist - Kim Gordon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 Geffen Records
Album review
Truth be told, the grunge era never quite fit Sonic Youth. They may have been at the peak of their popularity, but they had traded their experimentalism for sheer, bracing noise. It may have sounded good, but ultimately Dirty didn't have the cerebral impact of Sister, largely because it was tied to an admittedly effective backbeat. Beginning with Washing Machine, Sonic Youth returned to more adventurous territory, and in 1997, they released a series of EPs that illustrated their bond with such post-rock groups as Tortoise and Gastr del Sol. Those EPs, as well as the epic Washing Machine closer, "The Diamond Sea," provide the foundation for A Thousand Leaves, the band's most challenging and satisfying record in years. The blasts of dissonance that characterized their SST masterworks have been replaced, by and large, by winding, intricate improvisations. There's a surprising warmth to the subdued guitars of Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, and Kim Gordon, which keeps the lengthy songs captivating. Both Moore and Ranaldo concentrate on quiet material, which almost makes Gordon's noisy politicized rants sound a little out of place, but her best moments ("French Tickler," "Heather Angel") have unsettling, unpredictable twists and turns that greatly contribute to the success of A Thousand Leaves. It may be their most cerebral album in ages, but that only makes it all the more engaging.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 01:14:00
- Main artists: Sonic Youth
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: DGC
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1998 Geffen Records Inc. ℗ 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.