Well, the frets will be tuned to B modal, because it's that same producer... Albino.

/obscure

Well they need not gripe so much about the "compromise," seeing as they've released some of their best work in recent years.

do they still do different alternate tunings for every song, therefore needing to change guitars every songs like in the early 90s? I kind of lost track of these guys

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I bought another Sonic Youth album and it sucked. It's just noise.

Youth?

The Glass Dragon: I bought another Sonic Youth album and it sucked. It's just noise.

It shouldn't be; they write REALLY good pop songs that happen to have a little noise around the edges.

H31N0US: Youth?


[snicker!]

They usually have at least 3 likable songs per album, the rest is filler. Also, more Kim, less Thurston vocals, his voice is depressing and monotonous.

/this is the 90's me talking
//2008 me lost interest years ago.

I imagine it went a little something like this...

Record Exec: Uhmmmm, instead of 18 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback, could we maybe pare it down to 16 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback?

Thurston: Listen man, I will not compromise my vision and my art to become more consumer friendly for your corporate profits. It's staying at 18 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback !!! In fact, I'm out of here. The culture of artistic oppression around here is just too much. I gotta go somewhere where I'm allowed the freedom of 23 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback.

H31N0US: Youth?

Utes.

Well I'm still excited that I'm seeing them in Philly in 4 days. Forget all y'all haters.

I'll never get Sonic Youth. I don't hate them, I just don't get the appeal...and I've tried. Meh.

InmanRoshi: I imagine it went a little something like this...

Record Exec: Uhmmmm, instead of 18 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback, could we maybe pare it down to 16 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback?

Thurston: Listen man, I will not compromise my vision and my art to become more consumer friendly for your corporate profits. It's staying at 18 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback !!! In fact, I'm out of here. The culture of artistic oppression around here is just too much. I gotta go somewhere where I'm allowed the freedom of 23 minutes of unlistenable guitar feedback.

LOL

Hey, I think Rather Ripped was their best work since Nation, and better than Sister. It was the album Dirty should of been.

Still a great band.

romanmaronie: I'll never get Sonic Youth. I don't hate them, I just don't get the appeal...and I've tried. Meh.

this

Breaking down the barriers
Like Sonic Youth
They got what they wanted
Maybe I can get what I want too
Come on indie rock
It's gone big
Come on indie rock
Just give me indie rock

mekkab: The Glass Dragon: I bought another Sonic Youth album and it sucked. It's just noise.

It shouldn't be; they write REALLY good pop songs that happen to have a little noise around the edges.

Sonic Youth can do no wrong with me at this point. Even discounting their kickass back catalog (and yes, not every album, let alone song, is a keeper), they still support younger bands thru their own labels, go to noise fests, and check out relatively unpopular sets at SXSW. Or maybe this is just Thurston I'm talking about. Whatever.

The Glass Dragon: I bought another Sonic Youth album and it sucked. It's just noise.

My sentiments are echoed here as well.

/I mean, 'this.'

Sonic Youth are good,
but they are no Kingston Trio.

stfu subby... You mean Where the guitars will be tuned...
Sonic Youth farking rules the world of alternate tunings..

craigdamage:

Sonic Youth are good,
but they are no Kingston Trio.


The Kingston Trio is good,
but they are no Skafish.

This just in - Kim Gordon is 78 years old.

/hot

mekkab: Well, the frets will be tuned to B modal, because it's that same producer... Albino.

/obscure

the boobies win

so they'll still suck but now they're "indie"

H31N0US: Youth?

Say what you want, but Thurston Moore still looks damn good for 50.

/I'd hit it.

sonic youth= god
move on!

Say what you want, but Thurston Moore still looks damn good for 50.

/I'd hit it.

http://nymag.com/images/2/daily/entertainment/07/11/08_moore_lgl.jpg



http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1268/1184490789_5cec05eb9f.jpg

How brave of them to shake that major label albatross, and risk the dangerous indie label waters of uncertainty.

I'm no fan of major labels, but when a band gets signed on to a major label, makes a boatload of money and enjoys worldwide fame, only to ditch them and say "screw you, our music has been so compromised the last 4 or 5 albums because of you", I have a really hard time respecting that, primarily because they've been willing compromise their musical integrity not once, but (according to Moore) four or five times (albums).

And while it may sound all noble to be returning to the indie scene so they can recapture their artistic integrity, it's hardly a gamble now that their fame and wealth is secure. There are many musicians who were never willing to compromise their music and instead chose to try and make it in the indie world. Many never stop struggling, never making it big. But at least they can look back at their career when all is said and done and have pride in what they've created throughout the entirety of their career.

Sonic Youth are good but they are no Max Rebo.

Sonic Youth is probably the most over-hyped, overrated band of all time, they suck no matter what Rolling Stone tells you. This is not a troll, its a PSA: Sonic Youth sucks

Chak: Sonic Youth is probably the most over-hyped, overrated band of all time, they suck no matter what Rolling Stone tells you. This is not a troll, its a PSA: Sonic Youth sucks

THIS. Don't let Rolling Stone tell you what's good. Sonic Youth ain't.

ricetiger:

Chak: Sonic Youth is probably the most over-hyped, overrated band of all time, they suck no matter what Rolling Stone tells you. This is not a troll, its a PSA: Sonic Youth sucks

THIS. Don't let Rolling Stone tell you what's good. Sonic Youth ain't.


As if Rolling Stone still influences anyone of any consequence at this point? That you both imply such a possibility inclines me to think that your opinions are no more relevant than the magazine's. Here's a quaint idea: maybe people can figure out for themselves what they think does or doesn't suck. Call me crazy...

DrBenway: ricetiger:

Chak: Sonic Youth is probably the most over-hyped, overrated band of all time, they suck no matter what Rolling Stone tells you. This is not a troll, its a PSA: Sonic Youth sucks

THIS. Don't let Rolling Stone tell you what's good. Sonic Youth ain't.


As if Rolling Stone still influences anyone of any consequence at this point? That you both imply such a possibility inclines me to think that your opinions are no more relevant than the magazine's. Here's a quaint idea: maybe people can figure out for themselves what they think does or doesn't suck. Call me crazy...

You're crazy, and they can't. Look at the Billboard Hot 100 (new window) for evidence.

And Sonic Youth still sucks.

DrBenway
Yes Rolling Stone as lame as it's been for the last 30+ years still influences people. There are people out there who think that what they say matters, and tons of these dumb asses bought into the Sonic Youth hype in the 1990's because Rolling Stone said they were a great band, they weren't and they still aren't.

I bought Daydream Nation on vinyl on the day it came out because I am so hip it hurts. (Old, too, I guess.) Goo was mostly good, but after that I've lost track of their albums. Somehow, though, I've managed to see them play seven times. I've never left a show disappointed. I love me some beautiful noise.

ricetiger: You're crazy, and they can't. Look at the Billboard Hot 100 (new window) for evidence.


What possible relevance would the Billboard Hot 100 have to someone who might be inclined to listen to Sonic Youth? Seems to me that your concern is misplaced -- I'd say "Hot 100" bands are a greater menace to the cause of good music than folks like Sonic Youth.

Sonic Youth rules. Daydream Nation is still the single greatest recorded work of music in human history.

carmody: Sonic Youth rules. Daydream Nation is still the single greatest recorded work of music in human history.

i could name thousands of better ones

falcon176: carmody: Sonic Youth rules. Daydream Nation is still the single greatest recorded work of music in human history.

i could name thousands of better ones

I could name plenty that I like better than Daydream Nation, but I bet that you like lots and lots of crappy ones more.

Rather Ripped was amazing.

As was Thurston's Trees Outside The Academy.

They may be old fogeys now, but they're on a roll.

i could name thousands of better ones

I could too.......and I ADORE "Daydream Nation"

If someone says "greatest in human history" I am pretty sure Coltrane,Stravinsky,Mahler,Ellington,Hendrix,Zappa,Chopin and many many others come first. Sorry.

I do regard Sonic Youth,Mission of Burma and Husker Du as high water mark for American punk music though.

I would say "Vs." and "Zen Arcade" are every bit as good as "Daydream Nation"

craigdamage: I would say "Vs." and "Zen Arcade" are every bit as good as "Daydream Nation"

Zen Arcade sucks! New Day Rising rules!

Okay, that's an exaggeration. ZA remains great. NDR and Flip Your Wig take it to another level, though, imho. The thought of a band coming out (cough) with two albums like that in a twelve month period just boggles my mind.

Sigh...Flip Your Wig could have been their major label debut instead of Candy Apple Grey if they wanted it. Things might have turned out differently.

hm, might be interesting. Rather Ripped seemed more rocking than their past few albums (anyone saying SY is atonal noise should probably check out that album as well as Daydream Nation), so here's hoping they continue in that vein. Their last few albums have been good, but seem to be rather "safe".

The music is good, their flag waving about being "indie" again is, however, completely tool-ish. Really, who cares? What do you want to prove? What, are you going to stick a flat head screwdriver in your guitar as an "effect" as opposed to a Phillips now? Just get in line with the other artists who doing a mass exodus from the majors and keep being Sonic Youth.

btw, did they sign with Starbucks before it went under anyway or was that a weird one-off deal?

I disliked their recent stuff. It's too poppy and they started believing what rock critics write about them.

I hope they get back to discordant noise. That being said, they are all in their 40s or older. It's time to let go of the "DIY OR DIE DUDE! INDIE LABELS 4 EVAH!" mentality.

Thurston's Trees Outside The Academy was straight-up shiatty yacht rock. I still went to see him live in a small venue, and was still not disappointed.

Saw Sonic Youth free on 4th of July, seeing them close McCarren Pool on Saturday.

Yeah, it's been time to pack it up since a long time ago, and their catalog is very hit-or-miss, but they're one of my favorite bands of all time.

I'd like them to compromise a little more, personally. The more they compromise the more listenable they are.