Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen, 2006)

My maiden ride on the silver rocket began in 1988 or thereabouts. I was given a copy of Daydream Nation as an unwanted item from a friend's tape subscription to Columbia House. Don't know what he disliked, because the images of gritty life on the streets of NYC, noisy guitars, and seductive vocals (courtesy of Kim Gordon) fueled the jets for repeated listening. Thanks to the imaginative play list of 92.1 WOFM, more of the Youth's musical dutchie was passed. Whether it was DJ Al Mitchell spinnin' "Kool Thing" on the way to graduation ceremonies, Sara Trexler casting a "Shadow Of A Doubt," or a "Death Valley 69" lunch with Lydia, every wail of feedback and droning note hit hard. Strangely, I stopped paying attention to SY shortly after hearing "Bull In The Heather." As a result, my deaf ears missed the buzz of supposed classics like Washing Machine, Murray Street, and Sonic Nurse.

Not long ago, a rectifying aid came in the form of "Incinerate" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Piercing like a lost cut from EVOL or Sister, the song's pop charms meshed well with the per-usual intense strumming. The same can be said for the majority of Rather Ripped. "Reena" is an emotional wreck of a woman who's not easily tossed-off. "Turquoise Boy" and "The Neutral" lullaby with attitude. "Sleepin' Around" indicts bed-hoppers in a VU-cum-Ramones manner. "Rats" gnaws like Jim Morrison reciting gutter poetry. The conjunctional "Or" contains three questions put to every touring band. UK bonus tracks "Helen Lundeberg" (Max Ernst protégé?) and "Eyeliner" flash Mission Of Burma-like signals.

A striking pose, indeed.