# Sonic Youth discography

The discography of American rock band Sonic Youth comprises 15 studio albums, seven extended plays, three compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, ten releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series, eight official bootlegs, and contributions to 16 soundtracks and other compilations.
In 1981, Sonic Youth signed with Neutral Records, and released its eponymous debut EP Sonic Youth the next year. The band's first full-length album was Confusion is Sex, released in 1983. Kill Yr Idols was released the same year under the German label Zensor Records. Bad Moon Rising was released two years later on Blast First, a label created specifically for Sonic Youth releases. In 1986, Sonic Youth signed to SST Records and released Evol later the same year. The album gained the band increasing critical acclaim and exposure, and the group released Sister and the double LP Daydream Nation in 1987 and 1988, respectively, the latter on Enigma Records.
In 1990, the band signed to major label DGC Records, and released Goo the same year. The band's 1991 tour with the then little-known band Nirvana was documented in the film 1991: The Year Punk Broke. In 1992, Sonic Youth released Dirty. Two years later, the group released Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, and Washing Machine the following year.
Forced to start from scratch after its instruments and equipment were stolen, the band released NYC Ghosts & Flowers in 2000. Sonic Youth released Murray Street in the summer of 2002, followed in 2004 by Sonic Nurse. Rather Ripped and The Destroyed Room: B-sides and Rarities were released in 2006, the latter featuring tracks previously available only on vinyl, limited-release compilations, B-sides to international singles, and other previously unreleased material. The Eternal was released three years later in 2009.

## Studio albums

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications |
| Year | Album details | US | AUS | BEL | FRA | GER | JPN | NLD | NOR | NZ | SWE | UK | Sales | Certifications |
| 1983 | Confusion Is Sex Released: February 11, 1983 Label: Neutral | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | US: 41,100 | |
| 1985 | Bad Moon Rising Released: March 29, 1985 Label: Homestead | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | US: 33,000 | |
| 1986 | Evol Released: May 2, 1986 Label: SST | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | US: 48,400 | |
| 1987 | Sister Released: June 29, 1987 Label: SST | — | 151 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | US: 72,000 | |
| 1988 | Daydream Nation Released: October 18, 1988 Label: Enigma | — | 144 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 99 | US: 162,000 | |
| 1989 | The Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth) Released: January 18, 1989 Label: Enigma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | | |
| 1990 | Goo Released: June 26, 1990 Label: DGC | 96 | 106 | — | — | — | — | 71 | — | 22 | — | 32 | US: 169,000 | BPI: Silver |
| 1992 | Dirty Released: July 21, 1992 Label: DGC | 83 | 22 | — | — | 59 | 53 | 57 | — | 5 | 26 | 6 | US: 329,000 | |
| 1994 | Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star Released: May 3, 1994 Label: DGC | 34 | 25 | — | — | 87 | 62 | 65 | — | 16 | 27 | 10 | US: 246,000 | |
| 1995 | Washing Machine Released: September 26, 1995 Label: DGC | 58 | 34 | 38 | — | — | 94 | 91 | 41 | — | — | 39 | US: 159,000 | |
| 1998 | A Thousand Leaves Released: May 12, 1998 Label: DGC | 85 | 66 | 28 | 32 | 84 | 43 | — | 37 | — | 43 | 38 | US: 66,000 | |
| 2000 | NYC Ghosts & Flowers Released: May 16, 2000 Label: Geffen | 172 | — | — | 61 | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | 113 | US: 46,000 | |
| 2002 | Murray Street Released: June 25, 2002 Label: DGC | 126 | 78 | 28 | 48 | 63 | 45 | — | 16 | — | — | 77 | US: 63,000 | |
| 2004 | Sonic Nurse Released: June 7, 2004 Label: DGC | 64 | 54 | 23 | 40 | 89 | 47 | 98 | 21 | — | — | — | US: 65,000 | |
| 2006 | Rather Ripped Released: June 13, 2006 Label: Geffen | 71 | 40 | 20 | 25 | 79 | 41 | — | 13 | — | 46 | 64 | | |
| 2009 | The Eternal Released: June 9, 2009 Label: Matador | 18 | 52 | 9 | 19 | 29 | 29 | 90 | 17 | 38 | 28 | 42 | | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |||||||||||||||

## Live albums

| Year | Album details | Notes |
| 1984 | Sonic Death: Early Sonic 1981–1983 Released: 1984 Label: Ecstatic Peace! | Originally released on cassette only. |
| 1986 | Walls Have Ears Released: 1986 Label: Not | Semi-official bootleg recording. Double album featuring tracks from three live sets from 1985: one with Bob Bert and two with Steve Shelley. Limited to 2,000 machine-numbered copies. Not was a short-lived Blast First imprint. Officially released on February 9, 2024, through Goofin'. |
| 1991 | Hold That Tiger Released: 1991 Label: Goofin' | Recorded in 1987. |
| 1992 | Live at the Continental Club Released: 1992 Label: Sonic Death | Recorded in 1986. Fan club release. |
| 2004 | Hidros 3 Released: 2004 Label: Smalltown Supersound | Collaboration between Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth, also featuring Lindha Kallerdahl, Loren Mazzacane Connors, David Stackenäs and Lotta Melin. Recorded in 2000. |
| 2009 | Battery Park, NYC July 4th 2008 Released: June 9, 2009 Label: Matador | Vinyl-only release (as a separate album). CD version only released in Japan as a bonus disc to The Eternal. Became more widely available to stream in June 2019 |
| 2012 | Smart Bar Chicago 1985 Released: November 13, 2012 Label: Goofin' | |
| 2018 | Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • August 17, 2002 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2018 | ABC Glasgow August 2007 Daydream Nation Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2018 | Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • November 5, 1988 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2018 | New York, NY • CBGB • December 13, 1988 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2018 | Berlin, Germany • Columbiahalle • October 21, 2009 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net | Also released as a 2x CD-R release in 2019. |
| 2018 | Brooklyn, NY • Williamsburg Waterfront • August 12, 2011 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | Los Angeles, CA • Veterans Wadsworth Theatre • May 28, 1998 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | Asheville, NC • Orange Peel • August 20, 2004 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | Trenton, NJ • City Gardens • May 22, 1987 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | San Francisco, CA • The Warfield • March 5, 1993 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | Irvine, CA • Crawford Hall • November 3, 1990 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | Paris, France • Olympia • June 7, 2001 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net | Digital-only release from Nugs.net |
| 2019 | Live in Moscow April 12–13, 1989 Released: 2019 Label: Feelee Records, Squeaky Squawk | Released in late 2019 on an LP by Feelee Records and digitally on Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page Released on February 7, 2020, on major streaming and d/l platforms Formats: LP (300 copies), download, streaming |
| 2020 | Live in Yugoslavia 1985/1987 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2020 | Live at Brixton Academy 1992 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2020 | Live at All Tomorrows Parties 2000 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2020 | Live in Denver 1986 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2020 | World Trade Center Benefit 2001 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released | Recorded at the Bowery Ballroom NYC on October 7, 2001 Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2021 | Live in Austin 1995 Released: 2021 Label: Self-released | Recorded at the Austin Music Hall, on Novembver 15, 1995 Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2021 | Live in Dallas 2006 Released: 2021 Label: Self-released | Recorded at the Gypsy Tea Room, in Dallas on June 24, 2006 Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2022 | Live in Kyiv, Ukraine 1989 Released: April 14, 2022 Label: Self-released | Recorded at DK KPI, in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 14, 1989 Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page |
| 2023 | Live in Brooklyn 2011 Released: August 18, 2023 Label: Silver Current Records and Goofin' | |

## Extended plays

| Year | EP details | Notes |
| 1982 | Sonic Youth Released: March 1982 Label: Neutral | Considered by the band to be their first studio album. |
| 1983 | Kill Yr Idols Released: October 1983 Label: Zensor | Released on CD with Confusion Is Sex by Geffen in 1995. |
| 1987 | Master-Dik Released: November 1987 Label: Blast First | The band's official site lists the record as having possibly been released on January 22, 1988. Peaked at #106 in UK |
| 1993 | Whores Moaning Released: February 1993 Label: Geffen | Released for Australian/New Zealand tour. Peaked at #44 in Australia and #33 in New Zealand |
| 1994 | TV Shit Released: February 1994 Label: Ecstatic Peace! (E #38) | With Yamatsuka Eye. |
| 1998 | Silver Session for Jason Knuth Released: July 14, 1998 Label: Sonic Knuth | Dedicated to Sonic Youth fan and radio DJ Jason Knuth. |
| 2001 | In the Fishtank 9 Released: July 2001 Label: Konkurrent | With Instant Composers Pool and The Ex. |
| 2002 | Kali Yug Express Released: 2002 Label: Geffen | |
| 2009 | Sensational Fix Released: January 2009 Label: Matador | |

## Compilations

| Year | Compilation details | Notes |
| 1995 | Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Released: April 25, 1995 Label: DGC | Compilation of songs from 1982 to 1989. The original promo version was released in 1994. |
| 2006 | The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities Released: December 12, 2006 Label: Geffen | Compilation of various B-sides and other rare material. |
| 2008 | Hits Are for Squares Released: June 10, 2008 Label: Starbucks | Compilation of songs chosen by various celebrities, plus an original song. |
| 2016 | Spinhead Sessions 1986 Released: June 17, 2016 Label: Goofin' | Rehearsal recordings made in preparation for the Made in USA soundtrack album. |
| 2020 | Rarities 1 Released: August 7, 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page. |
| 2020 | Rarities 2 Released: September 4, 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page. |
| 2020 | Rarities 3 Released: October 2, 2020 Label: Self-released | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page. |
| 2022 | In/Out/In Released: March 18, 2022 Label: Three Lobed Recordings | Five songs recorded between 2000 and 2010. |

## Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR) series

Sonic Youth have released a number of mostly experimental and instrumental releases under their own label Sonic Youth Recordings. The SYR series has established a tradition where each album is released in a different language. SYR1 has song titles and album sleeve artwork all in French, SYR2 is in Dutch, SYR3 is in Esperanto, SYR4 is in English, SYR5 is in Japanese, SYR6 is in Lithuanian, SYR7 is in Arpitan, SYR8 is in Danish, SYR9 is in French, and AUG5 is in English.
| Year | Album details | Notes |
| 1997 | SYR1: Anagrama Released: June 10, 1997 | |
| 1997 | SYR2: Slaapkamers met slagroom Released: September 2, 1997 | |
| 1998 | SYR3: Invito al ĉielo Released: February 24, 1998 | Sonic Youth's first collaboration with Jim O'Rourke. |
| 1999 | SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century Released: November 16, 1999 | Double-album featuring covers of avant-garde compositions. Collaboration between Sonic Youth and William Winant, Jim O'Rourke, Takehisa Kosugi, Christian Wolff, Coco Hayley Gordon Moore, Christian Marclay, and Wharton Tiers. |
| 2000 | SYR5: ミュージカル パ一スペクティブ Released: August 29, 2000 | Collaboration between Kim Gordon, DJ Olive, and Ikue Mori. |
| 2005 | SYR6: Koncertas Stan Brakhage prisiminimui Released: December 6, 2005 | Live recording of an Anthology Film Archives benefit show, played to silent films of Stan Brakhage. Featuring Tim Barnes. It is a CD-only release. |
| 2008 | SYR7: J'Accuse Ted Hughes Released: April 22, 2008 | It is a vinyl-only release. |
| 2008 | SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth Released: July 28, 2008 | It is a CD-only release. Live recording of the 2005 Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Featuring Jim O'Rourke, Mats Gustafsson, and Merzbow. |
| 2011 | SYR9: Simon Werner a disparu Released: 2011 | Soundtrack to the film Simon Werner a disparu. |
| 2020 | AUG5: Perspectives Musicales – Live at Cat's Cradle 2000 Released: 2020 | Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page. Live recording At Cat's Cradle 2000. |

## Official bootlegs

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1988 | Stick Me Donna Majick Momma | Bootleg 7-inch single. The title track being a studio recording from 1985 and an early version of "Expressway to Yr. Skull", while track two was recorded live on October 30, 1983, in Berlin, Germany. |
| 1990 | 4 Tunna Brix | Four covers of songs by The Fall (one being a cover of a cover of a Kinks song), recorded at the BBC for the John Peel show. |
| 1991 | Goo Demos | Fan club release. Collection of demos for the Goo album. |
| 1994 | Live in Bremen | Picture disc. Possibly released in 1995. |
| 1995 | Live Venlo, Holland December 27, 1983 | Live show from 1983, released through the band's fan club. Actual recording date is November 27, 1983. |
| 1995 | Blastic Scene | This bootleg had a semi-official release; recorded July 14, 1993, at Campo Pequeno in Lisbon |

## Singles

    Note: Sonic Youth have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Year | Single | US Alt. | AUS | IRL | NZ | UK | Album |
| 1984 | "Death Valley '69" | — | — | — | — | — | Bad Moon Rising |
| 1985 | "Flower/Halloween" | — | — | — | — | — | Bad Moon Rising |
| 1986 | "Flower / Satan Is Boring" | — | — | — | — | — | Bad Moon Rising |
| 1986 | "Starpower" | — | — | — | — | — | Evol |
| 1986 | "Into the Groove(y)" (as Ciccone Youth) | — | — | — | — | 165 | The Whitey Album |
| 1988 | "Teen Age Riot" | 20 | — | — | — | — | Daydream Nation |
| 1988 | "Silver Rocket" | — | — | — | — | — | Daydream Nation |
| 1989 | "Candle" | — | — | — | — | — | Daydream Nation |
| 1989 | "Providence" | — | — | — | — | — | Daydream Nation |
| 1989 | "Touch Me I'm Sick/Halloween" | — | — | — | — | 111 | split with Mudhoney |
| 1990 | "Kool Thing" | 7 | — | 24 | — | 81 | Goo |
| 1990 | "Disappearer" | — | — | — | — | — | Goo |
| 1991 | "Dirty Boots" | — | 145 | — | — | — | Goo |
| 1992 | "100%" | 4 | 67 | — | 30 | 28 | Dirty |
| 1992 | "Youth Against Fascism" | — | 123 | — | 39 | 52 | Dirty |
| 1993 | "Sugar Kane" | — | — | — | — | 26 | Dirty |
| 1993 | "Drunken Butterfly" | — | — | — | — | — | Dirty |
| 1994 | "Bull in the Heather" | 13 | 90 | — | — | 24 | Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star |
| 1994 | "Superstar" | 26 | — | — | — | 45 | If I Were a Carpenter |
| 1995 | "The Diamond Sea" | — | — | — | — | — | Washing Machine |
| 1996 | "Little Trouble Girl" | — | — | — | — | 81 | Washing Machine |
| 1998 | "Sunday" | — | — | — | — | 72 | A Thousand Leaves |
| 2000 | "Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)" | — | — | — | — | — | NYC Ghosts & Flowers |
| 2003 | "Kim Gordon & The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream" | — | — | — | — | — | split with Erase Errata |
| 2006 | "Helen Lundeberg/Eyeliner" | — | — | — | — | — | Rather Ripped |
| 2006 | "Incinerate" | — | — | — | — | — | Rather Ripped |
| 2006 | "Beautiful Plateau" | — | — | — | — | — | The Destroyed Room |
| 2019 | "Bull in the Heather" (live) | — | — | — | — | — | Battery Park, NYC: July 4th 2008 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||||||

## Music videos

| Year | Title | Director |
| 1985 | "Death Valley '69" | Richard Kern |
| 1986 | "Shadow of a Doubt" | Kevin Kerslake |
| 1987 | "Beauty Lies in the Eye" | Kevin Kerslake |
| 1988 | "Teen Age Riot" | Sonic Youth |
| 1988 | "Silver Rocket" | Charles Atlas |
| 1988 | "Providence" | Peter Fowler Sonic Youth |
| 1988 | "Candle" | Kevin Kerslake |
| 1988 | "Addicted to Love" (as Ciccone Youth) | Kim Gordon |
| 1988 | "Macbeth" (as Ciccone Youth) | Dave Markey |
| 1990 | "Kool Thing" | Tamra Davis |
| 1990 | "Disappearer" | Todd Haynes |
| 1991 | "Dirty Boots" | Tamra Davis |
| 1991 | "Tunic (Song for Karen)" | Tony Oursler |
| 1991 | "Mary-Christ" | Steve Shelley |
| 1991 | "Mote" | Ray Agony |
| 1991 | "My Friend Goo" | Dave Markey Joe Cole Kim Gordon Thurston Moore |
| 1991 | "Mildred Pierce" | Dave Markey |
| 1991 | "Cinderella's Big Score" | Dave Markey |
| 1991 | "Scooter + Jinx" | Richard Kern |
| 1991 | "Titanium Expose" | Phil Morrison |
| 1992 | "100%" | Tamra Davis Spike Jonze |
| 1992 | "Youth Against Fascism" | Nick Egan |
| 1993 | "Sugar Kane" | Nick Egan |
| 1993 | "Drunken Butterfly" | Stephen Hellweg |
| 1993 | "Swimsuit Issue" | Morty |
| 1994 | "Bull in the Heather" | Tamra Davis Kim Gordon |
| 1994 | "Superstar" | Dave Markey |
| 1995 | "Little Trouble Girl" | Mark Romanek |
| 1995 | "The Diamond Sea" | Spike Jonze Lance Bangs Dave Markey Steve Paine Angus Wall |
| 1998 | "Sunday" | Harmony Korine |
| 1998 | "Hoarfrost" | Lee Ranaldo |
| 1999 | "Piano Piece No. 13 (Carpenter's Piece)" | Sonic Youth |
| 2000 | "Nevermind (What was it Anyway)" | Kim Gordon Jim O'Rourke Chris Habib |
| 2002 | "The Empty Page" | Thurston Moore Chris Habib |
| 2002 | "Disconnection Notice" | Tom Surgal |
| 2004 | "Peace Attack" | Chris Habib |
| 2004 | "I Love You Golden Blue" | Dave Markey |
| 2006 | "Incinerate" | Claire Denis |
| 2006 | "Do You Believe In Rapture?" | Braden King |
| 2006 | "Jams Run Free" | Claire Denis |
| 2006 | "Reena" | Braden King |
| 2009 | "Sacred Trickster" | Tom Surgal |
| 2009 | "What We Know" | Chris Habib |

## Soundtracks, tributes and other compilation appearances

| Year | Title | Track(s) |
| 1986 | Sub Pop 100 | "Kill Yr Idols" |
| 1988 | Fast 'n' Bulbous – A Tribute to Captain Beefheart OST | "Electricity" (by Captain Beefheart) |
| 1988 | Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father | "Within You Without You" (by The Beatles) |
| 1988 | The Melting Plot | "I Am Right" (by Saccharine Trust) |
| 1989 | The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young | "Computer Age" (by Neil Young) |
| 1990 | Pump Up the Volume OST | "Titanium Exposé" |
| 1992 | Fortune Cookie Prize: A Tribute to Beat Happening | "Black Candy" (by Beat Happening) |
| 1993 | Judgment Night OST | "I Love You Mary Jane" with Cypress Hill |
| 1994 | If I Were a Carpenter | "Superstar" (by The Carpenters) |
| 1994 | DGC Rarities Volume 1 | "Compilation Blues" |
| 1995 | My So-Called Life OST | "Genetic" |
| 1995 | Made in USA OST | Original Score. |
| 1997 | SubUrbia OST | Three original songs and one from Thurston Moore solo album. |
| 1997 | Nowhere OST | "Hendrix Necro" |
| 1999 | Pola X OST | "Blink". |
| 2002 | Demonlover OST | Eight original songs. |
| 2003 | You Can Never Go Fast Enough | "Loop Cat" |
| 2006 | From the Kitchen Archives No. 3 – Amplified: New Music Meets Rock 1981–1986 | "World Looks Red", "Shaking Hell" |
| 2006 | The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited | "Dry Bones" with Roswell Rudd |
| 2007 | Like a Hurricane: A Tribute to Neil Young | "Computer Age" (by Neil Young) same recording as above |
| 2007 | I'm Not There OST | "I'm Not There" |
| 2008 | Juno OST | "Superstar" |
| 2011 | SYR9: Simon Werner a disparu OST | Original score |

## Video releases

| Year | Video details | Notes |
| 1985 | Live at Stache's Released: 1985 Label: Altavistic (ATV #2) | Concert video filmed on August 1, 1985, in Columbus, Ohio. |
| 1991 | Goo Released: 1991 Label: DGC (DGC #V-39508) | Compilation of music videos for every song on Goo. Featured on Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990–2002. |
| 1992 | Gila Monster Jamboree Released: 1992 Label: Sonic Death (SD #13005) | Concert video filmed on January 5, 1985, in the Mojave Desert. |
| 1993 | 1991: The Year Punk Broke Released: 1993 Label: DGC (DGC #V-39518) | Documentary featuring various alternative rock bands, mostly Sonic Youth. |
| 1995 | Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Released: 1995 Label: DGC (DGC #V-39550) | Collects all of the band's pre-DGC music videos and a couple of live performances. |
| 2004 | Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990–2002 Released: June 8, 2004 Label: Geffen (GEF #75409) | Compilation DVD of the band's Geffen-era videos, from 1990 to 2002. Certified gold in Canada. |