Sonic Youth “Dirty” 1992. Grungy and experimental noise rock, produced by Butch Vig. This 2-disc LP is a remastered reissue; I originally bought Dirty on CD in ’92 while in college (it reminds of me of Christmastime so I’m guessing it was procured with some extra xmas money at B-Side Records on State Street). Dirty was Sonic Youth’s seventh album and one of their most successful releases. It hit #83 on the US charts and went all the way to #6 in the UK. Entertainment Weekly named it the best album of ’92 (I guess EW was cooler back then).

I love this whole album and it’s completely wrapped up with the sensory memories of my shitty Madison apartment, blasting this on my JVC cd boombox while getting ready to go out to bars since I was finally legal. My top songs include the four singles Sonic Youth released from Dirty: “100%” (#4 on the US alternative chart, #28 UK) about the murder of their roadie Joseph Cole in ’91; the video was directed by Tamra Davis and Spike Jonze and features Jason Lee skateboarding, pre-acting days; “Youth Against Fascism” (#52 UK) which features Minor Threat/Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye on guitar and the still-resonant lyric “I believe Anita Hill; “Sugar Kane” (#26 UK) – its video is the first screen appearance by Chloe Sevigny; and “Drunken Butterfly” – I don’t know if it charted but the video was a result of a 120 Minutes contest and the song’s lyrics are composed entirely from Heart song names and lyrics. I also like the punk grrrl growl of “Orange Rolls, Angel’s Spit,” the super-short, super-punk’d Untouchables cover “Nic Fit,” and “Purr” which has a late 80’s grungy Seattle feel in the vocals and guitar. The track “Stalker” is not on the CD version, it was added in 2003 when the record was released on vinyl in the US.