Era Of Diversion - Evol Intent

Advantages: sonic youth sonic youth sonic youth
Disadvantages: the tracklastings all in the wrong order

...EVOL,released in the mid 80s is the best representation of where sonic youth are at now. It is the band at their most ghostly and spectral.lodged between the two ultimate classics Sister and Daydream Nation it is an album often overlooked.It is short with only 9 tracks but many of them are bonafide SY classics.There is KIms Starpower,Lees Green Light and the only song that was ever like an anthem-Expressway to yr Skull (called here Madonna Sean and Me).It features weird spoken word stories ghostly instrumentals and it is all ace. It lacks the immediacy of Sister and doesnt rock half as hard as Daydream Nation but for a chill out Sonic Youth session there is no better album.File alongside the Made in USA instrumental LP. its also real cheap-about a fiver... Read review

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Advantages: Sonic Youth's creativity hasn't left them just yet
Disadvantages: Shame bonus tracks weren't part of the album proper

...on a short but sweet Moore-penned lyric, bookended by a mass of sprawling guitars, where both fuzz and melody run riot. 9. Lights Out: Thurston's voice oozes intent over a restrained instrumental section, guitar mimicing his vocal melody, Gordon's gruff growl joining him via an odd flange-like effect. It eventually gives way to a more urgent bridge complete with solo. 10. The Neutral: Shelley makes ample use of ride cymbal throughout, breaking into his trademark punkier rhythms to push Gordon's vocal along. Moore and Ranaldo combine for both twangy tunefulness and dirty overtones. 11. Pink Steam: the album's longest track at 6:57, remains for the most part an instrumental, a chance for the band to showcase its strengths. They do this with aplomb; Shelley's ever-changing rhythms highlight Moore and Ronaldo's ability to crank up the volume... Read review

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Advantages: Fun, bass-driven rock.
Disadvantages: Some ropey covers?

...The '50s Sci-Fi trashy side to Punk! This L.P. is filled to the brim with gems concerning subjects as diverse as flying saucers, teenage angst, the Cold War and female sculptresses!!! They paid tribute to their influences with two covers ("I Like It" and "Glad All Over") but the rest was pure 'zillos.... This album is really a lot of fun to listen to, lyrically, and the music is very much bass-driven. The Rezillos were sort of like the 'cartoon' band of the Punk era, and we love them all the more for that. A true 24-carat, one-off diamond of an L.P.!... Read review

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