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The Eternal
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The Eternal Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 78 Ratings

  • Summary: The double album from the punk legends was produced by John Agnello.

Top Track

Anti-Orgasm
Mission control to brain police Free lucky energy Penetration - destroys the body Violation - on a cosmic party Do you under - stand the... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Los Angeles Times
    100
    The music remains ageless and weird, fueled on chaos and clarity, but these are songs, not sound experiments for their own sake.
  2. The A.V. Club
    83
    The songs on The Eternal are more conventionally rock-oriented than any in Sonic Youth’s career, yet the album doesn’t really sound like a departure.
  3. Billboard
    80
    Hitting a second stride with "Murray Street" in 2002, the band maintains its leadership position among melodic noise-makers with The Eternal, which is so chock-full of hummable pop hooks you'd think a hit doctor lent a hand.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Both cerebral and corporeal, sacred and profane, The Eternal sees this band approach the level of The Velvet Underground, where chaos and beauty ravish each other within the same song. Clever old sods.
  5. Paste Magazine
    78
    These songs aren’t purely doom and gloom; they’re not tons of fun either, but hope and curiosity abound, even if they’re not easy to spot on first listen.
  6. Pitchfork
    68
    At the very least, some excellent songs lurk among these 12 tracks, and there's enough potential for debate about which are which to make The Eternal worthy of Sonic Youth's singular canon.
  7. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    Still sounding like an evening in your company will encompass discussions of Yves Klein and Lindsay Lohan? Check, check, check. But still cool.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 31
  3. Negative: 15 out of 31
  1. JackAn.
    Jun 9, 2009
    10
    Fantastic!
  2. nedp.
    Jun 15, 2009
    10
    This is without a doubt their best release since Daydream Nation.
  4. FelipeRS
    Jul 9, 2009
    10
    Perfect.
  5. Davidf
    Jun 17, 2009
    7
    Breaks no new ground, not as good as 'Rather Ripped.' Enjoyable just the same.
  6. AmandaR.
    Jun 10, 2009
    2
    The Eternal has its moments, but not so effective as "Rather Ripped". More of the same, no challenge here.
  7. MandyG.
    Jun 11, 2009
    1
    Their worst album since NYC Flowers, it's a shame.
  8. FabioM.
    Jun 9, 2009
    0
    Awful album and totally boring, It's a shame that's not so good like Rather Ripped.

See all 31 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Most Discussed Album of 2009