A Thousand Leaves

Infobox Album |
Name = A Thousand Leaves
Type = Album
Artist = Sonic Youth


Released = May 12 1998
Recorded = 1997 – 1998
Genre = Alternative rock, Psychedelic rock
Length = 73:36
Label = DGC
Producer = Sonic Youth
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g7520r4ay48b link]
*Entertainment Weekly (C+) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,63591,00.html link]
*Robert Christgau (A+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Sonic+Youth link]
*Pitchfork Media (7.1/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21888/Sonic_Youth_A_Thousand_Leaves Jun 1 1998]
*Rolling Stone Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/sonicyouth/albums/album/103532/review/5941057/a_thousand_leaves 5/6/98]
*Mark Prindle rating-10|7 [http://www.markprindle.com/sonicya.htm#thou link]
Last album = ""
(1998)
This album = "A Thousand Leaves"
(1998)
Next album = "Silver Session for Jason Knuth"
(1998)
Misc = Singles
Name = A Thousand Leaves
Type = studio
single 1 = Sunday
single 1 date = July 1998

"A Thousand Leaves" is the twelfth album by Sonic Youth. It was the group's first major album to be recorded in their private Manhattan studio, dubbed Echo Canyon.

Several references to France can be found on A Thousand Leaves. First, on the CD label the phrase "mille feuille" is crossed out and "a thousand leaves" is written under it. Mille-feuille is a French phrase that means "thousand leaves". Then, the first song's name is in French : "Contre le Sexisme" means "Against Sexism". Last, the 6th song is named "French Tickler".

"A Thousand Leaves" peaked at #38 on the UK Album Chart, in May 1998.

Track listing

All songs written by Sonic Youth.
# "Contre le sexisme" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) – 3:55
# "Sunday" (lyrics/vocals Moore) – 4:52
# "Female Mechanic Now on Duty" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) – 7:44
# "Wildflower Soul" (lyrics/vocals Moore, background vocal Gordon) – 9:04
# "Hoarfrost" (lyrics/vocals Ranaldo) – 5:01
# "French Tickler" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) – 4:51
# "Hits of Sunshine (For Allen Ginsberg)" (lyrics/vocals Moore) – 11:05
# "Karen Koltrane" (lyrics/vocals Ranaldo, background vocal Moore) – 9:20
# "The Ineffable Me" (lyrics Moore, vocals Gordon) – 5:21
# "Snare, Girl" (lyrics/vocals Moore) – 6:38
# "Heather Angel" (lyrics/vocals Gordon) – 6:09

Personnel

Band
*Lee Ranaldo – guitar, vocals
*Kim Gordon – bass, guitar, vocals
*Thurston Moore – guitar, vocals
*Steve Shelley – drums

Technical staff
*Sonic Youth – producers
*Greg Calbi – mastering
*Don Fleming – producer
*Wharton Tiers – producer
*Frank Olinsky
*Mark Borthwick – photography, lettering
*Marnie Weber – artwork

Album charts

Charting singles

In pop culture

The single "Sunday" is featured in the movie "Bongwater".
The single "Sunday is also featured in the movie "subUrbia".