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 YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSalesCertificationsUSAUSAustralian (ARIA Chart) peaks: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: "100%": "Bull in the Heather": BELFRA GER JPN NLD NOR NZ SWEUK1983Confusion Is Sex Released: February 11, 1983 Label: Neutral — — — — — — — — — — — US: 41,1001985Bad Moon Rising Released: March 29, 1985 Label: Homestead — — — — — — — — — — — US: 33,0001986Evol Released: May 2, 1986 Label: SST — — — — — — — — — — — US: 48,4001987Sister Released: June 29, 1987 Label: SST — 151 — — — — — — — — — US: 72,0001988Daydream Nation Released: October 18, 1988 Label: Enigma — 144 91 — — — — — — — 99 US: 162,0001989The Whitey Album (as Ciccone Youth) Released: January 18, 1989 Label: Enigma — — — — — — — — — — 631990Goo Released: June 26, 1990 Label: DGC 96 106 — — — — 71 — 22 — 32 US: 169,000 BPI: Silver1992Dirty Released: July 21, 1992 Label: DGC 83 22 — — 59 53 57 — 5 26 6 US: 329,0001994Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star Released: May 10, 1994 Label: DGC 34 25 — — 87 62 65 — 16 27 10 US: 246,0001995Washing Machine Released: September 26, 1995 Label: DGC 58 34 38 — — 94 91 41 — — 39 US: 159,0001998A Thousand Leaves Released: May 12, 1998 Label: DGC 85 66 28 32 84 43 — 37 — 43 38 US: 66,0002000NYC Ghosts & Flowers Released: May 16, 2000 Label: Geffen 172 — — 61 — — — 37 — — 113 US: 46,0002002Murray Street Released: June 25, 2002 Label: DGC 126 78 28 48 63 45 — 16 — — 77 US: 63,0002004Sonic Nurse Released: June 7, 2004 Label: DGC 64 54 23 40 89 47 98 21 — — — US: 65,0002006Rather Ripped Released: June 13, 2006 Label: Geffen 71 40 20 25 79 41 — 13 — 46 642009The 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 YearAlbum detailsNotes1984Sonic Death: Early Sonic 1981–1983 Released: 1984 Label: Ecstatic Peace!Originally released on cassette only.1986Walls Have Ears Released: 1986 Label: NotSemi-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'.1991Hold That Tiger Released: 1991 Label: Goofin'Recorded in 1987.1992Live at the Continental Club Released: 1992 Label: Sonic DeathRecorded in 1986. Fan club release.2004Hidros 3 Released: 2004 Label: Smalltown SupersoundCollaboration between Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth, also featuring Lindha Kallerdahl, Loren Mazzacane Connors, David Stackenäs and Lotta Melin. Recorded in 2000.2009Battery Park, NYC July 4th 2008 Released: June 9, 2009 Label: MatadorVinyl-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 20192012Smart 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.net2018 ABC Glasgow August 2007 Daydream Nation Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2018 Chicago, IL • Cabaret Metro • November 5, 1988 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2018 New York, NY • CBGB • December 13, 1988 Released: 2018 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2018 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.net2019 Los Angeles, CA • Veterans Wadsworth Theatre • May 28, 1998 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2019 Asheville, NC • Orange Peel • August 20, 2004 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2019 Trenton, NJ • City Gardens • May 22, 1987 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2019 San Francisco, CA • The Warfield • March 5, 1993 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2019 Irvine, CA • Crawford Hall • November 3, 1990 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2019 Paris, France • Olympia • June 7, 2001 Released: 2019 Label: Nugs.net Digital-only release from Nugs.net2019 Live in Moscow April 12–13, 1989 Released: 2019 Label: Feelee Records, Squeaky Squawk Released in late 2019 on an LP by Feelee Recordsand digitally on Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page Released on February 7, 2020, on major streaming and d/l platforms Formats: LP (300 copies), download, streaming2020 Live in Yugoslavia 1985/1987 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page2020 Live at Brixton Academy 1992 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page2020 Live at All Tomorrows Parties 2000 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page2020 Live in Denver 1986 Released: 2020 Label: Self-released Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page2020 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 page2021 Live in Austin 1995 Released: 2021 Label: Self-released Recorded at the Austin Music Hall, on November 15, 1995 Digital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page2021 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 page2022 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 page2023 Live in Brooklyn 2011 Released: August 18, 2023 Label: Silver Current Records and Goofin' Remixed and remastered release of Brooklyn, NY • Williamsburg Waterfront • August 12, 20112026 Diamond Seas Released: April 18, 2026 Label: Geffen 32 live performances of "The Diamond Sea" from 1995 and 1996, plunderphonicaly orchestrated by John Oswald
Extended plays YearEP detailsNotes1982 Sonic Youth Released: March 1982 Label: NeutralConsidered by the band to be their first studio album.1983Kill Yr Idols Released: October 1983 Label: ZensorReleased on CD with Confusion Is Sex by Geffen in 1995.1987Master-Dik Released: November 1987 Label: Blast FirstThe band's official site lists the record as having possibly been released on January 22, 1988. Peaked at #106 in UK1993Whores Moaning Released: February 1993 Label: GeffenReleased for Australian/New Zealand tour. Peaked at #44 in Australia and #33 in New Zealand1994TV Shit Released: February 1994 Label: Ecstatic Peace! (E #38)With Yamatsuka Eye.1998Silver Session for Jason Knuth Released: July 14, 1998 Label: Sonic KnuthDedicated to Sonic Youth fan and radio DJ Jason Knuth.2001In the Fishtank 9 Released: July 2001 Label: KonkurrentWith Instant Composers Pool and The Ex.2002Kali Yug Express Released: 2002 Label: Geffen2009Sensational Fix Released: January 2009 Label: Matador
Compilations YearCompilation detailsNotes1995Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Released: April 25, 1995 Label: DGCCompilation of songs from 1982 to 1989. The original promo version was released in 1994.2006The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities Released: December 12, 2006 Label: GeffenCompilation of various B-sides and other rare material.2008Hits Are for Squares Released: June 10, 2008 Label: StarbucksCompilation of songs chosen by various celebrities, plus an original song.2016Spinhead Sessions 1986 Released: June 17, 2016 Label: Goofin'Rehearsal recordings made in preparation for the Made in USA soundtrack album.2020Rarities 1 Released: August 7, 2020 Label: Self-releasedDigital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.2020Rarities 2 Released: September 4, 2020 Label: Self-releasedDigital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.2020Rarities 3 Released: October 2, 2020 Label: Self-releasedDigital-only release from Sonic Youth's Bandcamp page.2022In/Out/In Released: March 18, 2022 Label: Three Lobed RecordingsFive 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.
YearAlbum detailsNotes1997SYR1: Anagrama Released: June 10, 1997SYR2: Slaapkamers met slagroom Released: September 2, 19971998SYR3: Invito al ĉielo Released: February 24, 1998Sonic Youth's first collaboration with Jim O'Rourke.1999SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century Released: November 16, 1999Double-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.2000SYR5: ミュージカル パ一スペクティブ Released: August 29, 2000Collaboration between Kim Gordon, DJ Olive, and Ikue Mori.2005SYR6: Koncertas Stan Brakhage prisiminimui Released: December 6, 2005Live recording of an Anthology Film Archives benefit show,played to silent films of Stan Brakhage. Featuring Tim Barnes. It is a CD-only release.2008SYR7: J'Accuse Ted Hughes Released: April 22, 2008It is a vinyl-only release.SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth Released: July 28, 2008It is a CD-only release. Live recording of the 2005 Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Featuring Jim O'Rourke, Mats Gustafsson, and Merzbow.2011SYR9: Simon Werner a disparu Released: February 15, 2011Soundtrack to the film Simon Werner a disparu.2020 AUG5: Perspectives Musicales – Live at Cat's Cradle 2000