Album: EVOL by Sonic Youth (1986)
Genre: Alternative Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Happy
Record Label: DGC Records
Format: Album

Description: EVOL is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It was released in May 1986, through SST Records; the band's first release on the label. The album is notable for being the first with new drummer Steve Shelley, replacing Bob Bert, and for showing signs of the band transitioning away from their no wave past and toward a greater alternative rock sensibility. Sonic Youth recorded EVOL at Before Christ with Martin Bisi in Brooklyn, New York and had Mike Watt of the Minutemen play bass on "In the Kingdom #19" and "Bubblegum". The album was later re-issued on 180gram pink vinyl.

Despite not being successful at the time, the album was very well praised by critics later on with Pitchfork saying that EVOL "[was] where the seeds of greatness were sown", " and they placed EVOL thirty-first on their list of the one hundred best albums of the 1980s. and Allmusic said that EVOL is "a stunningly fluent mixture of avant-garde instrumentation and subversions of rock & roll." giving it a score of four and a half. Even Robert Christgau, with whom the band had sparred, gave it a B+.

Artist Background: Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. Their most recent lineup consisted of Thurston Moore (guitar and vocals), Kim Gordon (bass guitar, vocals, and guitar), Lee Ranaldo (guitar and vocals), Steve Shelley (drums), and Mark Ibold (guitar and bass). In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the no wave art and music scene in New York City. Part of the first wave of American noise rock groups, the band carried out their interpretation o... Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Alternative Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Ciccone Youth, Thurston Moore, Dinosaur Jr., Unwound

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Alternative Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Alternative Rock, Rock/Pop, Happy, 1980s, Album, DGC Records

Additional Context: Rating score: 8. Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


EVOL is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It was released in May 1986, through SST Records; the band's first release on the label. The album is notable for being the first with new drummer Steve Shelley, replacing Bob Bert, and for showing signs of the band transitioning away from their no wave past and toward a greater alternative rock sensibility. Sonic Youth recorded EVOL at Before Christ with Martin Bisi in Brooklyn, New York and had Mike Watt of the Minutemen play bass on "In the Kingdom #19" and "Bubblegum". The album was later re-issued on 180gram pink vinyl.

Despite not being successful at the time, the album was very well praised by critics later on with Pitchfork saying that EVOL "[was] where the seeds of greatness were sown", " and they placed EVOL thirty-first on their list of the one hundred best albums of the 1980s. and Allmusic said that EVOL is "a stunningly fluent mixture of avant-garde instrumentation and subversions of rock & roll." giving it a score of four and a half. Even Robert Christgau, with whom the band had sparred, gave it a B+.

EVOL

Sonic Youth

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