Rather Ripped
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Rather Ripped Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 56 Ratings

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  • Summary: This self-produced 20th album finds the New York band back down to a four-piece, with Jim O'Rourke dropping out after two albums.

Top Track

Incinerate
I ripped your heart out from your chest, Replaced it with a grenade blast Incinerate, incinerate Incinerate, incinerate The firefighters hose me... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Stylus Magazine
    91
    This is their radio-rock record, and it's not a tribute, it's as close to the real thing as they've come since they actually had a chance at radio play back in the '90s.
  2. Slant Magazine
    90
    Rather Ripped is probably one of the best records in Sonic Youth's catalog, and definitely one of the best albums of 2006.
  3. cokemachineglow
    85
    A quietly brilliant album.
  4. Paste Magazine
    80
    About as accessible and smooth as this band is going to get. [Aug 2006, p.85]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. NOW Magazine
    80
    With Rather Ripped they continue their slow but remarkable progression that currently finds them, for the most part, dropping old SY standbys such as long experimental noise passages in exchange for a significantly more sedated route.
  6. Dusted Magazine
    70
    It’s a fitting overview of everything that’s always worked for Sonic Youth in the past.
  7. Spin
    40
    Ripped is about three- or four-minute songcraft--never the highlight of their resume. [Jul 2006, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. sebastianjoykill
    Jun 14, 2006
    10
    The concept is brillant, the new loud is quiet, the new unpop is poppy. Ripping sounds and riffs from early influencial pop bands and The concept is brillant, the new loud is quiet, the new unpop is poppy. Ripping sounds and riffs from early influencial pop bands and recreating them into new material with very personal themes which all at once gain a level of the personal and makes it universal; that is the goal of a true artist in any medium and to do this on their 15th album is genius and to make it enjoyable even more so. This album is the perfect summer album and will be listened to for years from now. Classic.… Expand
  2. J.R.
    Jun 20, 2006
    10
    Another great album in the Sonic's cannon. This is one for those that wouldn't normally get into this band's long expiremental Another great album in the Sonic's cannon. This is one for those that wouldn't normally get into this band's long expiremental jams since everything is laid out tight and concise this time around. Nice melodies and great tight playing - and just enough of that "otherworldliness" that the group is justifiably famous for. One of the best albums of 2006.… Expand
  4. Veillantif
    Sep 9, 2011
    10
    For a group whose reputation has long rested on tremendous risk-taking, to make a risk-averse album can be itself risky: it stands to beFor a group whose reputation has long rested on tremendous risk-taking, to make a risk-averse album can be itself risky: it stands to be denigrated as dull and half-assed by some critics who think that innovation can only go in one directionâ… Expand
  5. spence
    Jun 16, 2006
    9
    I'm not hearing the "Daydream Nation" comparisons, but def in the same vein as Murray Street and Sonic Nurse less the 3 minute guitar I'm not hearing the "Daydream Nation" comparisons, but def in the same vein as Murray Street and Sonic Nurse less the 3 minute guitar freak-outs and texture.… Expand
  6. DavidH.
    Oct 18, 2007
    8
    Compulsively listenable with a far more subtle quality to the arrangements and an altogether more organic feel than its predecessor; the Compulsively listenable with a far more subtle quality to the arrangements and an altogether more organic feel than its predecessor; the ambitious, but inconsistent Sonic Nurse. Sonic Youth sound more confident than they have ever been since Daydream Nation, I'm not kidding. Having accepted their arrival into middle age, Kim and particularly Thurston no longer sound as if they have any hangups about still trying to sound like college kids anymore. From Goo up until Sonic Nurse, there has always something of the grunge era to Sonic Youth. Though these albums had standout tracks and they maintained a willingness to give us complex song structures, a sense of genuine sonic experimentation and , by turn, authenticity had been missing from their music. Although Rather Ripped could never be mistaken for anything leftfield (the exhilarating noise of "Helen Ljungberg" aside), it's unique among SY's discography. Though they might be accused of not trying very hard, they don't need to. It's not their most fun album, but hey, they're taking life at a different pace now and while Rather Ripped falls way short of being a classic, it manages to be both dignified and consistently enjoyable. Roll on the next album.… Expand
  7. ReubenF
    Dec 18, 2006
    8
    While not up to the standards they set on Teenage Nation (1988), Goo (1990), Dirty (1992), or Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star (1994), While not up to the standards they set on Teenage Nation (1988), Goo (1990), Dirty (1992), or Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star (1994), it nonetheless comes close, which is saying alot, considering the forementioned albums rank among the greatest ever released.… Expand
  8. Joe
    May 24, 2009
    4
    Hm, don't get me wrong. Sonic Youth is my favourite band, but this album just isn't that good. I find it pretty boring, and their Hm, don't get me wrong. Sonic Youth is my favourite band, but this album just isn't that good. I find it pretty boring, and their worst album to date.… Expand

See all 31 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2006
99
#99 Most Discussed Album of 2006
53
#53 Most Shared Album of 2006

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