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The Destroyed Room: B-Sides And Rarities
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The Destroyed Room: B-Sides And Rarities Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: Not the most accessible (sound-wise) of Sonic Youth's releases, this 11-track disc compiles some of the least accessible (availability-wise) of the band's obscure recordings, which have been remastered.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. Filter
    91
    An impeccably selected hodgepodge.
  2. Pitchfork
    72
    Each track offers something worthwhile, yet none raises any question as to why it ended up here.
  3. AllMusic
    70
    The Destroyed Room is a creative -- and quintessentially Sonic Youth -- approach to the rarities and B-sides comp.
  4. Uncut
    60
    This largely instrumental set is a nicely ambient version of their usual hellacious harmonics, but also a reminder how the band have attained creative control on a major label. [Feb 2007, p.85]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. NOW Magazine
    60
    More for the dedicated convert than the curious.
  6. Rolling Stone
    60
    Nonessential stuff, for sure, but worthwhile for anyone interested in hearing old pros kicking back and working out ideas.
  7. Dot Music
    30
    Track after track in an aimless blur of humming amps, pointless mucking about with effects, dreary jams propelled by meandering guitar interplay, and bleak, endless droning.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. rodolfos
    Dec 19, 2006
    9
    Casi es un disco perfecto
  2. DanJP
    Dec 17, 2006
    8
    I found The Destroyed Room to be quite enjoyable. The tracks have been well selected which gives it some cohesion- generally atmospheric, I found The Destroyed Room to be quite enjoyable. The tracks have been well selected which gives it some cohesion- generally atmospheric, mainly instrumental tracks.… Expand
  4. EricM
    Dec 18, 2006
    8
    How can you call Sonic Youth one of the pre-eminent rock bands of the past 25 years when all you know is Rather Ripped. Some people need to How can you call Sonic Youth one of the pre-eminent rock bands of the past 25 years when all you know is Rather Ripped. Some people need to desperately get a clue. This is a record of one-offs, experiments, jam sessions, and obscure soundtrack contributions. If you know anything about Sonic Youth then you will already have a pretty accurate idea of what this will sound like. The big surprise: it's a million times more engaging than I ever expected, not to mention a very welcome and successful re-emergence of their raw improv side, which is great to hear after their last record which was great but a bit too restrained for its own good.… Expand
  5. Joe
    May 24, 2009
    7
    A nice album.
  6. Seeds13
    Feb 9, 2007
    5
    Knowing all too well that the style of Sonic Youth is to just make experimental noise, I expected a 6 out of this record and that's what Knowing all too well that the style of Sonic Youth is to just make experimental noise, I expected a 6 out of this record and that's what it is. Some songs flat out blow to me. Some songs are insanely catchy. But mostly, since some of them gave me a positive charge, it was worth the listen. They'll come up in playlists here and there. Worth nothing more, nothing less.… Collapse
  7. ToddW
    Dec 14, 2006
    3
    After the pleasant surprise that was Rather Ripped, I guess Thurston, Kim, and the boys decided they needed to strike while the iron was hot. After the pleasant surprise that was Rather Ripped, I guess Thurston, Kim, and the boys decided they needed to strike while the iron was hot. Like My Morning Jacket, they did what any critically acclaimed, money-starved indie band would do; they quickly put out more product to capitalize on their new-found semi-mainstream popularity, and in time for Christmas, too! While not in the class with just about everything they've produced, there are a few interesting sonic tidbits here. However, that's not enough to justify spending $18.99. An admitted late comer to the power and the passion that is Sonic Youth, this offering is just, well, kind of blah. Now that they've cleared the decks, as well as their musical closets, perhaps their next album will find them back in the form expected for one of the pre-eminent rock-n-roll bands of the past 25 years.… Expand
  8. JPublius
    Dec 19, 2006
    3
    This band has not evolved one freaking iota for the last 20 years! Still the same crappy "noise." SY have been chronically overrated their This band has not evolved one freaking iota for the last 20 years! Still the same crappy "noise." SY have been chronically overrated their entire existence because no critic ever wants to tell them: learn to play your damn instruments, write an actual song, and *then* record. They've been punk, alternative, and now noise rock, and sounded totally insincere in all of them. Why would anyone need a collection of outtakes from a band that never produced anything *but* outtakes?… Expand

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