I just thought maybe Kim is the only one who can make lyrics spontaneous. But on the other hand, are SYRS just spontainly made? Or do they at least made some plan what they´re going to play?

I think SYR albums mostly improvised jams which they seem to have quite often and those ones that sound great are going to be released. The only exceptions are SYR4, SYR5 and SYR9. Basically SYR is their channel for releasing experimental stuff.

I hope there's gonna be plenty of new Sonic Youth releases in the future. I've understood they have massive archives of jams, gigs and other stuff waiting for to see the light.

What I mean to my earlier comment is do they just put record button down & start to play or do they plan what they´re going to play? There are electronics for example SYR3 & SYR6, so I think they´re pre-thinking they´re going to put certain sounds into the jams. And of course in SYR6 there are those films parts that direct also their playing. And I don´t think SYR1 & SYR2 material is from the first takes, I think they´ve played those themes before. I think SYR7 1-side & SYR8 are pure improvisations.

I've always thought jamming is their way to throw in ideas which eventually turn to be songs after several rounds of jamming and reworking those ideas. So that's why they record every rehearsal. I think that in the beginning those jams were not supposed to be released until someone listened tapes again and thought that hey, this sounds great! Maybe there have been some discussion or maybe not. I'm pretty sure that SYR1 & SYR2 are taken from some part of this iterative process, so they're not the first takes, but also not completely same songs than earlier takes. That's how I see it.

Good point! We've all heard Thurston trying to improvise lyrics on any given early version of a song (and sometimes beyond the early stage..), it's not pretty. Kim has more success with spontaneous vocal delivery/imagery.

Some songs are pre-conceived (Anagrama, Tremens, the Proud Marie portion of Slaapkamers, Stil, J'accuse Ted Hughes, possibly Agnes B?), some are trimmed down from larger improvisations (Improvisation Ajoutee, SYR3), some are live things with specific conditions (films in SYR6, timed entrances/exits in 8). I suspect much of SYR9 was at least mapped out before recording. Of course SYR4 was interpreted from the scores they worked out with Winant.

Every time I read this thread I mean to go listen to SYR7 and keep forgetting..not this time!

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Chris Lawrence again.

It´s very interesting to hear that also SYR3 is part of the larger improvisations (I think SYR9 is also?). After my last comment I also realised that there is that timing of entrances/exists in SYR8 that of course direct that improvisation.

I haven´t heard Thurston improvising lyrics. Are them on some bootlegs or live recordings?

he does some freestyle in the Year Punk Broke

Ok, I haven´t seen it (only some parts from youtube). Maybe I should watch it someday wholly.

Look for those June '88 Daydream shows...or Chapel Hill in "Blues Scale" (which you should watch AFTER you watch TYPB in its entirety!)

He never seemed to get Theresa right either...

Where can I find those shows? Youtube? Please share a link...

Ok, thanx! I have been these days very lazy to watch anything (I listen music instead), but I try someday.

Here Finland is very beatiful autumn (all those colourful sunrises, -sets & leaves in the trees). I just listened a thousand leaves and it sounded as great as always!!! I really love my life this moment...

same... i play and read some biography. it's kind a morbid feeling.

I do some crazy air guitar when there's the crazy part on Becuz.
Even when i'm driving my truck.
Dangerous.

Winner's Blues. Once a week, while either driving or at work I listen to this song. Usually more than once.

I listen to bad moon rising so much during the last few months of each year. Also i think dirty is a great album to listen too in the late fall.

Sounds great & funny!

Winner´s Blues is one of my fav SY songs too. I really loved that song when I put on Experimental first time, but the rest of the album was disappointment at first. It took me many years to start to love the whole album (I think it was some year in 2000-decade).

I listen to The Diamond Sea whenever I'm feeling nostalgic