Tracklist:
1. (She's in a) Bad Mood
2. Protect Me You
3. Freezer Burn / I Wanna Be Your Dog
4. Shaking Hell
5. Inhuman
6. The World Looks Red
7. Confusion Is Next
8. Making the Nature Scene
9. Lee Is Free
Originally slated to be a seven-inch single to follow up their self-titled debut, Sonic Youth ’s Confusion Is Sex blossomed into the band’s first album: a brain-bludgeoning, completely fried endeavor of dissonance and disarray, a perfect soundtrack for running from a chain-wielding gang near the SIN Club. This was the sound of 1983 New York City: nothing like London where punks were starting to scrub their faces and sounds to get on Top of the Pops , and nothing like the jangly roots of college radio rock starting to formulate in Athens, Georgia. It sounded like no one else on Earth, for that matter. The raw, Wharton Tiers 8-track production is dark, the Kim Gordon-scrawled cover figure art of Thurston Moore is dark, Lee Ranaldo ’s back cover photo-collage and Catherine Ceresole ’s crumpled-xeroxed images that adorned the inside are dark. It’s an album that moves Sonic Youth forward from their first EP almost by devolving backwards into true ugly, lo-fi primitivity.
The bareboned arsenal of junkpile guitars and implementation of alternate tunings was growing, and so were the songs that matched the individual attributes of each instrument: certain ones groan and growl a specific way that the band started to realize itself could become the compositional germ of a song. Herein is the threshold of a new explosion of the band’s creativity , replacing the comparatively cleaner buzz of the Sonic Youth EP with guitars that spew fractured, uglier chunks of sound everywhere, held down by menacing minimalist basslines (actually played by Thurston on half of this LP, and for the only time ever on “Protect Me You,” Lee) and the brutal-yet-controlled metronomic drumming of Jim Sclavunos , augmented with replacement drummer Bob Bert’s notable bashing on “Making the Nature Scene” and grotty no-fi live rendition of “I Wanna Be Your Dog.” Hearing the crashed-window intro of “Inhuman” and subway-brake screech of “The World Looks Red,” you can attest that while Sonic Youth’s guitars are not quite yet being utilized in the totally controlled, lyrical fashion seen later on albums like Evol , Daydream Nation et al., they were well aware of the colors and tonalities that were unfolding and the possibilities presented. Also, they were getting a grasp on adding colors to the chaos with tempered, simmering moments like Gordon’s “Shaking Hell” and Ranaldo’s chimy, home-taped “Lee is Free.” “Making the Nature Scene” and “The World Looks Red” even toss in glints of hip-hop vocal approach way ahead of its time, albeit through a blender. While its confrontationalism might have put off some critics, time has rewarded Confusion with a truly distinctive air and atmosphere in the Sonic discography, enough to have Moore declare it his fave along with the band’s swan-song The Eternal.—Brian Turner
Will my shirt fit me?
Probably yes! But if you want to be sure then just consult our size chart below.
How can I Pay?
We currently accept payment by credit card or Paypal. Our store is operated in Euros but you can also pay in a variety of different currencies such as GBP or USD. Just select your local currency from the dropdown menu at the top of the page and all prices will be updated and the checkout will be processed in your currency of choice. Please note that the exchange rate is calculated automatically on the day of the transaction and therefore, in the case of a refund, the amount returned may be slightly more/less than the original amount.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping costs vary depending on what you're ordering, where it's going and whether you want to be able to track it. For a t-shirt, prices start at just 3.75 Euros for shipping within Germany, 7.90 Euros to the rest of Europe and 12.90 Euros Worldwide. You can always check exactly how much shipping will cost on the cart page before you head to the checkout though.
Will I be charged customs on my order?
Please note for all non EU orders any customs & duties owed on a shipment are entirely the customers responsibility. Please ensure that you provide all information required to ship by your local authorities and take care to inform yourself of local customs requirements. More information on local customs thresholds can be found here.
Will I get a tracking number?
We always give you the option of tracked shipping. Just be sure to select the DHL or Fed Ex option at checkout and you will be sent your tracking number so you can check the status of your item. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours after your order is shipping for your tracking number to be generated.
How long will my order take to reach me?
Approximate delivery times with untracked shipping. Please note the tracked option will always be considerably faster:
Within Germany: 2-3 business days
Within the EU: 5-20 business days*
Outside EU: 15-30 business days*
*We strongly recommend choosing the tracked option here due to the unpredictability of standard shipping caused by ongoing global logistical issues.
Can I return or exchange an item?
Of course you can! We will refund your purchase with no questions asked if...
1. The goods are returned to us within 30 days of you having received them.
2. We receive the goods back in exactly the same condition they were when they were shipped, i.e.: unwashed and unworn, free of odours from pets or perfume, no make up stains.
3. Where applicable (including when sending from the UK) provide all relevant customs information and pay any duties in advance. Please note your return may not reach us without this!
Please write your name clearly on the outside of the return envelope. Please also include the original packing slip or your order number when sending anything back as well as a short note detailing whether you would like a refund or a replacement (i.e. other size). The later is subject to availability so we recommend checking whether the desired exchange item is in stock before initiating a return.
Shipping and handling expenses will be applied to the re-shipment. Shipping will not be refunded for returned items. Please take care that all customs and duties are pre-paid to ensure your return reaches us safely. We are not liable for items that do not reach us due to unpaid customs fees.
Please send your return to:
Bingo Merch GmbH
Webshop Returns
Naumburgerstr. 4
12057 Berlin
Germany
Help, I haven't received my order!
Unfortunately, even the fine, qualified postal system loses a package now and again. If you have not received your package, we kindly ask you to let us know within 30 days (60 days for customers outside the EU) of your order date and we will credit your account or reship the item. Notices about undelivered goods received after the above time frames will not be considered for store credit or reshipment!
If your stuff does not arrive at your door within the delivery times listed above, please drop us an Email and we will look into it for you right away.
Information on Pre-orders
First off, we do everything in our power to ensure that you will! However with pre-orders we are reliant on external suppliers and labels sending all the stock to us in time. Rest assured though that as soon as we have items here, we will be working on shipping them out as fast as we can. Our aim is to ship them prior to release day so that you will have that record in your hands on the day it comes out! Also just be aware that if you include other items together with pre-order we will ship everything together when the pre-order is ready.
Please note that certain pre-order items are limited to a certain number of copies/items per person, we reserve the right to cancel any orders that exceed these limits.
Any other questions?
Please feel free to drop us an Email.
Responsible Person
Bingo Merch GmbH
Naumburger Str. 4, 12057 Berlin
shop(at)bingomerch.com