The band signed to SST as, by 1986, label founder Greg Ginn was anxious for the label to move away from its American hardcore roots. The new lineup quickly began working on new material for their third album. In June 1985, during the Bad Moon Rising tour, Bert left the band and was replaced by Shelley. In retrospective reviews, critics cite EVOL as marking Sonic Youth’s transition from their no wave roots toward a greater pop sensibility, while bassist Kim Gordon has referred to it as the band’s “ goth record.” Pitchfork has praised the album, saying that EVOL ' where the seeds of greatness were sown', and placed the album 31st on their Top 100 Albums of the 1980s list, alongside Sonic Youth's next two albums, Sister and Daydream Nation, which ranked 14th and first, respectively. Released in May 1986, EVOL was Sonic Youth’s first album on SST Records, and also the first album to feature then-new drummer Steve Shelley who had just replaced Bob Bert. EVOL is the third full-length studio album by the American alternative rock band Sonic Youth.

Shadow of a doubt sonic youth