Master=Dik

Released after <i>Sister</i> showed the band playing it fairly straight, <i>Master-Dik</i> is an experimental EP that strengthened Sonic Youth’s artsy reputation. The cover of The Ramones' “Beat on the Brat” is decently done, but the remaining cuts are for those who enjoy ambient noise, feedback, and a vague sense of hip-hop. The title cut features Thurston Moore rapping with lots of aggressive guitar and noise following him. A snippet of a Swedish radio interview counts as a track (“Under the Influence of the Jesus and Mary Chain”), while “Traffik” is six seconds of white noise intended to work out a record’s inner groove. “Ticket to Ride/Master-Dik (Version)/Introducing the Stars” is pure silliness, with Moore singing just the tagline of the Beatles hit, imitating The Fall’s Mark E. Smith, and introducing jazz musicians that the band pretends are in the studio with them. Not for everyone.