A thousand leaves

"... A Thousand Leaves loses that delicate balance between whimsy and craft in favor of the former. Rather than the idea-every-minute of the last few albums, the songs plod for long stretches. It really does sound like a demo - eleven songs waiting for better organization and cliché removal".

Read review

"Truth be told, the grunge era never quite fit Sonic Youth ... Beginning with Washing Machine, Sonic Youth returned to more adventurous territory, and in 1997, they released a series of EPs that illustrated their bond with such post-rock groups as Tortoise and Gastr del Sol. Those EPs, as well as the epic Washing Machine closer, "The Diamond Sea," provide the foundation for A Thousand Leaves, the band's most challenging and satisfying record in years ... It may be their most cerebral album in ages, but that only makes it all the more engaging".

Read review