Sonic Youth
The Destroyed Room

THE REVIEW

The last work by SY for Geffen (having fulfilled their contractual obligations) is a collection of b-sides and rarities, as the subtitle states.

The works presented here cover the last years of their career, from 'Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star' to the latest 'Rather Ripped' (missing are the outtakes from 'Dirty' and 'Goo', already released in their respective Deluxe Editions).

The start is not the best, the first track (Fire Engine Dream) is nice but too long (over 10 minutes), the second (Fauxhemians), already appeared on 'All Tomorrow Parties 1.1', is on the usual level (nice, but not memorable). Razor Blade, as well as Blink, represents the more acoustic side of SY, which I have never liked. Campfire is pure stylistic exercise.

Things improve in the second part of the album, with Loop Cat and especially Kim's Chords and Beautiful Plateau, the latter two included as bonus tracks in the Japanese version of 'Sonic Nurse'. Never before released on anything, Three-Part Sectional Love Seat and Queen Anne Chair. The last track is the splendid The Diamond Sea, proposed here with an alternative ending, but for the most part similar to the version on Washing Machine.

In conclusion, it is an album for fans that adds nothing new for those who already know them; however, in my opinion, it is not inferior to the SYR releases.

For those who are not, but might want to try listening to some of these tracks, they can be found on the official SY site (if I'm not mistaken, you can find Fire Engine Dream, Razor Blade, Three-Part Sectional Love Seat, and The Diamond Sea)