10. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr9q1x2fa3Q The avant-garde noise of Sonic Youth was never better than on their fifth album, the gloriously chaotic art-punk of Daydream Nation. This powerful album, led heavily by the twin guitar attack of Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, received great critical acclaim and is considered one of the most influential alternative rock albums of its time. Daydream Nation follows no particular plot, but instead covers a variety of topics. Everything from science fiction, to drug-fueled monologues, to surrealism are covered. However, it is not the lyrics, nor the vocal delivery, that make this a truly outstanding record. The sonic assault of Lee and Moore's guitars is at times both brutal and angelic. Ever the experimenters, Moore and Lee play around with a vast variety of strange tunings and chords, combined with a very adventurous use of non-traditional sounds. It is not all noise though. Perhaps the most beautiful moment comes on the second album. "Providence" blends an echoey recording of Thurston Moore tinkering magnificently on a piano with the hum of an overheating guitar amp. Recordings of answering machine messages left by Mike Watt, of The Minutemen, are dubbed over and drenched in wonderful reverberation. A very simple track, it is the peaceful moment, the eye of the hurricane that is Daydream Nation. Best of Album 1: 1. Silver Rocket 2. Teenage Riot 3. 'Cross The Breeze Best of Album 2: 1. Hey Joni 2. Providence 3. Candle