Search - Sonic Youth :: SYR 1: Anagrama

A bold new frontier

tksc | 01/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first track, "Anagrama," may be a succinct summary of all that SY has done right with their last two albums, Washing Machine and 1000 Leaves. And when the drums finally kick music never sounded more glorious and frightening. Move over Zarathustra.But contrasting the ethereal high of 'Anagrama' is the blatent and loud closer. The final track, "de corrosion," does just that. It is a maelstrom of flanged noises: pick scrapes and squeals, light snare, and even the perennial distorted rock chord. Are we looking at a taxonomy of sonic possibilities? Are these sounds to be taken as field studies for something more glorious? The flanger never sounded so fresh.I think that it is fitting that Geffen has released SY from their contract just when the band is reaching new heights. Geffen can look for the next teen sensation and we'll stick with the youth."

Best thing sonic youth has ever done

futurewave | 01/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"fans of impressionist paintings would love thisthis record, notably for track one, "anagrama", is my favorite record I own, no doubts. I love sonic youth, but understand that they are not for everyone. Anagrama is their pinnacle of listenability, it is the music for the dream of the story of your life. the two middle tracks seem to be schizophrenic variations/degradations of anagrama, until track four "mieux: de corrosion" which sounds to me like bombs being dropped on a car wash, with all the alarms of the cars going off. it is terrifying noise and is grandly irritating, which offsets the sheer beauty of the first track. while the fourth track is a gift to long-time sonic youth fans that have watched them evolve, the first track should be a gateway for those who have never heard SY before. No mix I make for someone lacks this song. it fits in nicely with the godspeed!, mogwai type of crescendo rock, but it is inherently beautiful and (along with SY's "unwind", "snare, girl" "beauty lies in the eye") is a wonderful testament to what sonic youth primarily does -- create something with noise that is no longer noise."

Dreamy drones & soothing soundscapes

Funkmeister G | 04/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 1st of the SYR series is not surprisingly the most accessible. Steve Shelley plays different sounding drums & the 3 guitarists just let it chime away for however long they feel necessary, minus the restraints which a vocals ong can place, well maybe Sonic Youth never had that problem really, but this way it's totally about the music. Most of theis disc really is quite pleasant, only moving along @ a casual strolling pace without being slow or boring, Anagrama & Tremens are the main themes here while the other 2 tracks are more experimental for their own sake. I eevn once thought Tremens could be filed under triphop, unfortunately for SY, the hype of that was starting to die off around '97 when this was done. Anagrama was performed as the opening tune on the Thousand Leaves tour & I was lucky to hear/see it live twice, a classic. Mieux: de Corrosion is the noisiest/ most abrasive track to end it off & is a preview to what would happen on the Silver Sessions. If you like this definitely get SYR2/Slaapkamers Met Slagroom as they complement each other well [it rocks harder too], avoid SYR4 though unless you really want a challenge. SYR5's not bad either. warning: this cd is 22:43 long, around 1/2 that of a 'proper album' so now you know, but it's still HIGHLY worthwhile. open yr mind & yr musical perspectives..."