Sonic Youth - EVOL
SST
Sonic Youth's third studio album 'Evol' was released in May of 1986. I'm not sure of the exact date as no one else does either, as far as I'm aware.
The landscape of particular genres wouldn't be the same without certain acts and their unique approach to said genres. Acts that defy the status quo and push things forward or even backwards to their primal beginnings are few and far between. Sonic Youth are one of those acts within the realm of music. Distinguishing their sound is a tricky feat as they have covered so much ground. From the primordial to the further reaching fields of experimental tendencies the New York dwellers have sprawled their influence across the vastness of the music world.
Evol exists at a peculiar crossroads. You can tell that the band have tunes in them. But their desire for a more structure-free take on rock seems to guide their intuition. They intend on making 'rock music' but its not the conventional type. You could look at it as the think outside the box rock. While it may not be as enjoyable as your typical piece of music it is just as important and a necessary part of the evolution of all things. Evol is like the grey area of contemporary music.
Evol isn't fun to listen to in my experience. It can only really be enjoyed when you're familiar with where the band would head further down the line. 'Sister', the bands next album, would push the noise elements of this album further and 'Daydream Nation' would perfect the craft of songwriting and structure all within a fruitful three or four year period. It's one of the more interesting and enjoyable three record runs of the 80's alternative scene.
Starpower and Expressway To Yr. Skull are the two standout tracks for me. They both encapsulate everything great about this period of Sonic Youth's journey. Catchy but still packing that obscure, hard to describe, something. Is it in the atmosphere and awkwardness of the tunings or is it the fact that they're straight up pop tracks yet would never receive anything close to that recognition from a radio audience. Evol is halfway between two extremes. Pulled apart by its realization that it can perfectly teeter on the edge of sanity and insanity.
Sonic Youth are at the height of their enigmatic proclivities on Evol.
May(?) 1986.
