I'd go chronologically myself

Studio albums

* Confusion Is Sex (1983)
* Bad Moon Rising (1985)
* EVOL (1986)
* Sister (1987)
* Daydream Nation (1988)
* Goo (1990)
* Dirty (1992)
* Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994)
* Washing Machine (1995)
* A Thousand Leaves (1998)
* NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2000)
* Murray Street (2002)
* Sonic Nurse (2004)
* Rather Ripped (2006)

No-one needs a copy of A Thousand Leaves do they?

Although I've never been able to buy up a whole discography at once (well, if they have more than two albums at any rate), I do like trying to progress through careers in order. Be warned though: the earliest stuff can take a fair few listens before they reveal themselves, and Dirty is just pretty shitty in general.

I wouldn't go chronologically. There's only so much very early SY I can get through at one sitting.

WHy not listen to Confusion is Sex first and then Rather Ripped, then bad moon rising and then Sonic Nurse....

The real early stuff isn't all that hot.

I love Goo.

Basically we can't say where to start because everyone has a different era fav Sonic Youth... I like the 1991 - 1995 period myself, followed by the 1986 - 1990 period and 1998 - 2006 period... the earliest stuff is a bit passable.

think i'm just going to go through it all in order.

it cost about £95 all together, took me ages to find it all, had to scour brighton's record stores for hours!

cheers

* Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994)
* A Thousand Leaves (1998)
* NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2000)

oddly enoung in the middle of this lot is
* Washing Machine (1995)
which is essential, one of their best

EVOL, Sister, Daydream Nation, Washing Machine, A Thousand Leaves, Murray Street and Sonic Nurse.

if you listen chronologically don't be put off by the 1st couple of albums. they take a fair few listens before you can see past the noise.

sonic youth are my favourite band of all time and i find it mind-boggling how anyone can claim that washing machine is their best, or even one of their best, albums. the title track and 'the diamond sea' are both excellent, but 'junkie's promise'? 'panty lies'? 'skip tracer'? they're dire. i'm all for diversity of opinion but how can anybody claim it's their best...
to answer the question, start with Daydream Nation and Sister, then get Sonic Nurse and Evol, Dirty and you should be intrigued enough by then to negotiate the rest of their mighty back catalogue

The essential ones are Daydream Nation, Sister & A Thousand Leaves - the latter is absolutely beautiful, can't understand the hatred above...
And I agree with haribo7989 - Washing Machine is pretty terrible, there's summat about the production I really dislike. Goo and Dirty have their moments, but are also a bit clean-sounding for me - I'd take Experimental Jet Set over those...