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Sonic Nurse
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Sonic Nurse Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 45 Ratings

  • Summary: The veteran New York band, again operating as a five-piece (with Jim O'Rourke still in the group), return with a successor to one of their best albums in recent memory, 2002's 'Murray Street.'

Top Track

Dude Ranch Nurse
Keep on running in the dark Dude ranch dream has fallen apart Stolen kisses let's pretend my friend You play sick and I will mend Let the action... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Drowned In Sound
    100
    ‘Nurse’ is the closest to creating a landmark on parallel with ‘Daydream Nation’ they’ve come since that particular record's nameday in ‘88, and in it’s dense textures it maybe signals the extinction of the antediluvian No Wave idyll; a Robert Zimmerman trip that somehow got mixed up with Joni Mitchell, Black Flag and a conceptualist oddball.
  2. Filter
    90
    A gorgeous, bona fide gem. [#11, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Dusted Magazine
    80
    Sonic Nurse is the happy medium they've been craving. The songs, despite being mostly over five minutes long, are all to the point without feeling meandering.... The balance between noise and melody is right, with each emerging and vanishing at just the right point.
  4. The A.V. Club
    80
    On the whole, Sonic Nurse compiles a laid-back hour of elaborate plucking and rhythm from five veteran musicians who reserve musical violence and poetic anger for when it feels most appropriate.
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    Finds them revelling in bursts of noise and awkwardness, but more surprisingly perhaps, taking as much comfort in sweet melody. [Jul 2004, p.124]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Spin
    67
    A strangely enervated Sonic Youth record, one that exchanges Murray Street's golden-years vigor for a sad sense of duty. [Jul 2004, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Splendid
    40
    A fairly average jaunt into familiar indie rock territory.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. SeamusS
    Mar 27, 2006
    10
    A surprisingly beautiful record. There's something in here that you'll find in the best of Sonic Youth's album. That something A surprisingly beautiful record. There's something in here that you'll find in the best of Sonic Youth's album. That something is their ability to make something sound beautiful and remain dangerous, never straining their sound or sounding like they're trying to hard. This ranks amongst their best.… Expand
  2. MosheL
    Jun 22, 2004
    10
    The best album of the year 2004!!!
  4. NickS
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    This was my favorite album of 2004. If you listen to Pattern Recognition and Unmade Bed, you'll find out why. The album as a whole rocks This was my favorite album of 2004. If you listen to Pattern Recognition and Unmade Bed, you'll find out why. The album as a whole rocks - and for these reasons - outstanding rhythm, guitar work, and lyrics. Kim Gordon rules!!… Expand
  5. samueld
    Jun 29, 2004
    9
    I remember when I got this CD. It was my last day of middle school and my mom took me to Best Buy. I was surprised to see multiple rows of I remember when I got this CD. It was my last day of middle school and my mom took me to Best Buy. I was surprised to see multiple rows of this CD. But, it was only the second day after it was released. I put it in my CD player on the way home and once Pattern Recognition started playing I got some chills. I don't know why, but I always seem to like the songs where Kim sings better. I love Pattern Recognition, Kim Gordon And The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream, Stones, Dude Ranch, and I Love You Golden Blue the best. The best album since Experimental Jet Set, I think.… Expand
  6. djm
    Dec 14, 2006
    9
    The only thing preventing a 10 is that not all of the tracks are up to the high standard of standouts such as Pattern Recognition and Unmade The only thing preventing a 10 is that not all of the tracks are up to the high standard of standouts such as Pattern Recognition and Unmade Bed, namely Kim's songs about Mariah Carey and Dude Ranch Nurse. They're only good if you are in the mood for them. This cd, to me, is among SY's very best.… Expand
  7. Futureman
    Jun 16, 2004
    8
    Great album. Not "Daydream Nation," and perahps not quite as good as "Murray Street." Yet it's another impressive album in their catalogue.
  8. Mike
    Jun 15, 2004
    0
    Wow, it's definitely not worth bothering with.

See all 24 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Most Discussed Album of 2004
29
#29 Most Shared Album of 2004

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