As they release two live albums to benefit
abortion support groups, we rate the best of the
New York band who collided alt-rock with the avant garde in a thrilling noise
![Sonic Youth’s greatest songs – ranked!](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/85580070976843b0ace9775002fe0078945aeff6/0_0_2326_1395/master/2326.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=ab8d912db27c60c17c2080b74ccdb5e2)
Given short shrift on release, the reputation of the dense, chaotic, beat poetry-infused NYC Ghosts & Flowers has been burnished at least a little by time. The title track, which slowly builds over seven minutes from hushed intro to cacophonous climax, is the perfect example of the dark, bad-dream power the album wields at its best.