← Back

Rather Ripped

by Sonic Youth

Released: June 13, 2006

Alternative rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

Notably, it marks the band's first release after the departure of multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke, who had been with them since 1999. "Rather Ripped" stands as Sonic Youth's fourteenth studio album, released on June 13, 2006, via Geffen Records. Its single, "Incinerate," accompanied by a music video directed by Claire Denis, was released in 2006.

Inside the Recording

Produced by John Agnello and recorded at Sear Sound in New York City, where the band had previously recorded their 1994 album, "Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star," this album marked the completion of Sonic Youth's contract with Geffen.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

Incinerate

Its single, "Incinerate," accompanied by a music video directed by Claire Denis, was released in 2006.

Or

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

It reached number 71 on the US Billboard 200 and number 64 on the UK Albums Chart upon release. Critics praised its cleaner melodies and the vocal delivery of singer and bassist Kim Gordon, with the album ranking at number 12 in The Village Voice's 2006 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

Now

Legacy

Regarded as one of their most accessible works, "Rather Ripped" features concise songs exploring themes of melancholy, such as adultery, sexual frustration, and infidelity.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Rather Ripped" stands as Sonic Youth's fourteenth studio album, released on June 13, 2006, via Geffen Records. Notably, it marks the band's first release after the departure of multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke, who had been with them since 1999. Produced by John Agnello and recorded at Sear Sound in New York City, where the band had previously recorded their 1994 album, "Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star," this album marked the completion of Sonic Youth's contract with Geffen.

Regarded as one of their most accessible works, "Rather Ripped" features concise songs exploring themes of melancholy, such as adultery, sexual frustration, and infidelity. It reached number 71 on the US Billboard 200 and number 64 on the UK Albums Chart upon release. Critics praised its cleaner melodies and the vocal delivery of singer and bassist Kim Gordon, with the album ranking at number 12 in The Village Voice's 2006 Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Its single, "Incinerate," accompanied by a music video directed by Claire Denis, was released in 2006.