"Daydream Nation" is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth, released on October 18, 1988. The band recorded the album between July and August 1988 at Greene St. Recording in New York City, and it was released by Enigma Records as a double album.
After its release, Daydream Nation received widespread acclaim from critics and earned Sonic Youth a major label deal. The album ranked high in critics' year-end lists of 1988's best records, being voted second in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop poll. It is widely regarded as Sonic Youth's greatest work and one of the greatest albums of all time, having a profound influence on the alternative and indie rock genres. The Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2005.
Sonic Youth's standard songwriting method involved Thurston Moore bringing in melody ideas and chord changes, which the band would develop into full-length songs. The writing process for Daydream Nation resulted in long jams, some lasting over half an hour. Several friends of the band praised their live improvisations and noted that their records often didn’t capture that energy. With Moore on a creative spree, the album expanded into a double album.
Daydream Nation was recorded at Greene Street studio with engineer Nick Sansano, who was more familiar with hip hop than rock. Despite this, the band embraced the sound, booking three weeks of studio time and paying $1,000 per day, their highest cost to date. The efficient recording process became rushed near the end due to a mastering deadline, leading to some dissatisfaction with the final mixes, particularly from Kim Gordon.
Musically, Daydream Nation is considered avant-rock, alternative rock, indie rock, art punk, and post-punk. The album features unorthodox guitar tuning and structures, with many songs concluding in lengthy instrumental sections. Its lyrics touch on themes of burnout, the music industry, and the crack epidemic of the late 1980s.
Notable tracks include "The Sprawl," inspired by William Gibson's science fiction, and "'Cross the Breeze," showcasing intense vocals from Gordon. "Hey Joni" is a tribute to Joni Mitchell, while "Providence" features a collage of sound recordings. The title track "The Wonder" reflects themes from crime fiction writer James Ellroy, and "Eliminator Jr." was inspired by the "Preppie Killer."
The title Daydream Nation came from a lyric in "Hyperstation." The album cover features Gerhard Richter's painting Kerze ("Candle"), with the back cover displaying another of his works. Each member of the band is represented by a symbol on the vinyl and CD versions, in homage to Led Zeppelin's iconic symbols.
Released on October 18, 1988, in multiple formats, Daydream Nation did not chart in the US but reached No. 99 in the UK. Three singles were released, including "Teen Age Riot," which became popular on alternative radio. The band promoted the album with a North American tour and later took the tour worldwide, finishing the year with their first network television appearance. In 2007, they performed the album live as part of the Don't Look Back concert series and toured with it into 2008.
