Confusion Is Sex

Confusion Is Sex is Sonic Youth’s first full length album, originally released in 1983. It was reissued first by SST in 1987 and then again in 1995 on DGC with extra tracks from the Kill Yr Idols EP. The album features a live cover of the The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog”. The cover image is a sketch by bassist Kim Gordon and guitarist Thurston Moore. This image was used on gig posters early in the band’s career.

Confusion is Sex is the only Sonic Youth album on which guitarist Lee Ranaldo plays bass, specifically on the song “Protect Me You”.

The album was recorded by Wharton Tiers in his Chelsea studio (which he had set up in the basement of a building where he worked as superintendent). It was mostly recorded during Jim Sclavunos’ brief tenure as drummer for the band, and he appears on drums for most of the album. Frustrated by the unconventional recording situation in Tiers’ studio and generally not clicking with the band musically, Sclavunos was ejected and Bob Bert was invited back, and recorded drums for “Making The Nature Scene”. Bert appears on this track and the live “I Wanna Be Your Dog” on the album.