Confusion Is Sex (1983)

Bad Moon Rising (1985)

EVOL (1986)

Sister (1987)

Daydream Nation (1988)

Goo (1990)

Dirty (1992)

Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994)

Washing Machine (1995)

A Thousand Leaves (1998)

NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2000)

Murray Street (2002)

Sonic Nurse (2004)

Rather Ripped (2006)

The Eternal (2009)

Sonic Youth was an American rock band formed in '81. Members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) & Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the history of the band, while Steve Shelley (drums) joined in '85, rounding out the core line-up. Jim O'Rourke (guitar) was a member from '99-2005. Sonic Youth emerged from the experimental no wave art & music scene in New York before evolving into a more conventional rock band & becoming a prominent member of the American noise rock scene. A pivotal influence on the alternative & indie rock movements, they are praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do" using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings & preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks & screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre. After gaining a large underground following & critical praise with releases in the late ‘80s, they experienced mainstream success throughout the ‘90s & 2000s. In 2011, Ranaldo announced that the band was on hiatus but had not disbanded.