'EVOL' & 'Sister'

Two rather contrasting albums for a band on the brink. Released in 1986 and 1987, respective, EVOL and Sister proved to be the jumping off point for Sonic Youth creatively and also as far as their careers go. 

EVOL was the first album released under the SST label. Dissatisfied with the label, they recorded Sister a year later with Enigma. EVOL, however, is considered the album that Sonic Youth’s alt-rock testicles dropped. Although, the next album, Sister, was far more palatable and melodic. So whatever step they took with EVOL, I would think it was taken a new or at least different direction with Sister.

Sister, for whatever it’s worth, was inspired by the life and times of science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, who was supposedly haunted by a twin sister that died shortly after birth.